Genius Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

iTunes 11 for the change-averse: Where did all that stuff go?

by Erica Sadun (Dec 7th, 2012)

Is the new iTunes 11 interface making you a little hot under the collar? Reader response was so strong and so warm to our first iTunes 11 "where did it go?" post, we decided to follow it up with a handful of additional tips. Here are five things you might be looking for and struggling to find in ...

Apple Store remodel to introduce two-row Genius Bar

by Kelly Hodgkins (Sep 13th, 2012)

The Apple Store of the future could feature not one, but two Genius bars for technical service support, says a report in ifoAppleStore. The Garden State Plaza store in Paramus, NJ is moving to a significantly bigger location and redesigned the store to include the company's first double-row ...

Apple switches on Genius recommendations in iOS 6

by Steven Sande (Sep 4th, 2012)

In a sign that iOS 6 is inching ever closer to general release, Apple flipped the switch on Genius recommendations in the App Store on Friday. The feature had been, according to developers familiar with the new OS, responding with a comment that it was unavailable. Now asking for Genius ...

How to be an Apple Genius: A look inside the manual

by Mike Schramm (Aug 28th, 2012)

Gizmodo has gotten its hands on an Apple internal training manual for its retail Geniuses, and it's just as Apple-like as you'd expect it to be, complete with very structured, high level how-tos for creating and pushing the always unique Apple brand. It all makes sense, really: Apple is now the ...

Apple reportedly to stop running "Genius" TV ads

by Steven Sande (Aug 7th, 2012)

You know those "Genius" Apple ads that started running the night of the Olympic Games opening ceremony? They feature a friendly Apple genius in his trademarked blue T-shirt and with his ID hanging around his neck, helping airline passengers and the husband of a woman who was going into labor, ...

Apple's new Mac ads feature a helpful Genius

by Michael Rose (Jul 28th, 2012)

My first thought, when I saw Apple's trio of new Mac ads that premiered during NBC's Olympics coverage last night: "Was it a deliberate casting choice to go with a guy who would remind us of Ferris Bueller?" This Genius Bar stalwart -- who does wear his blue shirt and badge everywhere he goes, ...

"Bartending" chronicles life as a former Apple Genius

by Kelly Hodgkins (Apr 9th, 2012)

Former Apple Genius Stephen Hackett recounted his years working at an Apple Store in his recent book, Bartending: Memoirs of an Apple Genius. The short book is just under 50 pages and details the customers and problems Hackett saw while working as a Genius. It's a lighthearted, personal ...

Apple TV now offers Genius recommendations for movies, TV shows

by Chris Rawson (Feb 3rd, 2012)

A silent update to the backend has introduced Genius recommendations for movies and TV shows to the Apple TV. No user action is required to access the new feature, as it's not part of a device firmware update. Instead, Apple has updated its own servers to send this information to the Apple TV from ...

Apple TV 101: Create a genius playlist on Apple TV

by Matt Tinsley (Jul 22nd, 2011)

Of late, the Apple TV hasn't received all that much attention here at TUAW. We can only assume that's because it simply does what it says on the tin -- it just works! But the other day, I found myself trying to do something quite simple on my Apple TV, and it wasn't "just working!" Using ...

iTunes 101: Making the most of contextual menus

by Chris Ward (Apr 28th, 2011)

I love contextual menus. In Mac OS X, you find them when you right-click, two-finger-click (on a trackpad) or when you hold down the Control key and click. They're handy in scores of applications and in the Finder; if you're looking to supercharge your iTunes usage in particular, Macworld's ...

Mobile version of iTunes Store gets Genius recommendations

by Chris Rawson (Feb 6th, 2011)

The desktop version of the iTunes Store has had Genius recommendations for quite some time, but the feature has been missing from the iPhone/iPod touch version of the Store -- until now. Tapping on the "More" tab at the bottom of the iTunes Store app will reveal the usual options, with a new option ...

iPad app store gains genius section

by Keith M (Aug 6th, 2010)

Sometime early this morning, Apple quietly unleashed the genius section of the iPad app store, something that's been in the iPhone app store for quite some time. It's interesting how Apple is always "quietly" releasing new things, while making a big to-do about others. What's also interesting is how ...

Proximity sensor woes caused by reflective ear canal

by Aron Trimble (Jul 6th, 2010)

Following the recent release of iPhone 4 several of you reported an issue with the proximity sensor running amok during your calls. Our poll results were dead even with 50.1% of readers seeing issues and 49.9% having no problems. At the time I considered myself in the all-clear category, but ...

Two super simple DIY hacks for the iPhone

by Mike Schramm (Jan 14th, 2010)

I've been reading the Unplggd blog from Apartment Therapy a lot lately, because I recently moved into a new place and am trying to fill it up with cool stuff. And someone over there must be an iPhone fan, because I've seen not one but two great and simple tricks for the iPhone there recently. The ...

Moodagent: Going iTunes Playlists one better

by David Winograd (Dec 19th, 2009)

Moodagent [iTunes Link] (free for now) puts a new spin on the iTunes Genius Playlist system. Instead of leaving it up to Apple to give you category based Genius Playlists, Moodagent, gives you some control over what songs will appear in a 25 song customizable playlist of your music. You are given ...