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Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Wireless, Odds and ends

This just in: California 'cool car' law may hose your iPhone reception

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Oct 13th, 2009

Whenever I visit California, I'm always amazed with the number of state laws that have been enacted for one reason or another. For example, you're warned about alcohol's effect on pregnant women (duh!) when you go into bars and restaurants, and many buildings have mandated warning signs outside telling you if there are materials inside that might be cancer-causing.

Well, the latest California state law that will affect almost everyone in the Golden State is the new "cool car" regulation, set to take effect in the next decade. The idea here is that by reducing solar heat in cars by mandating reflective metal oxide additives in window glass, car air conditioners won't have to work as hard and gas mileage will be improved. The law calls for the coatings to prevent 45% of the sun's thermal energy from entering vehicles by 2014, raising the limit to 60% by 2016.

While this is a noble and worthy goal, there's one major issue -- these materials, according to a post on our sister blog Autoblog, seriously degrade the transmission of radio frequency energy as well. That means that just about any electronic device that depends on signals from the outside world, including iPhones, GPS receivers, and wireless broadband cards for laptops, will be "adversely affected by the metallic reflective standard." You think AT&T's service is bad now? Just wait until you're sitting in a car that is shielding you from any wireless signal!

Most likely, California vehicles will also need to be equipped with a group of (hopefully) aerodynamic external antennae to ensure continued wireless and GPS service as the law goes into effect.

Tags: air conditioning, AirConditioning, california, energy efficiency, EnergyEfficiency, idiots, regulations, stupid laws, StupidLaws, wireless

Filed under: Retail, Apple

Apple to open 250th retail store

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2008

When Apple opens a new retail store, they typically mark the occasion with an opening day giveaway and free T-shirts. The story will be different in Modesto, California when Apple Store Vintage Faire opens on Saturday, November 14th at 6:00 PM Pacific.

Apple Store Vintage Faire will be Apple's 250th retail store, and they're celebrating with a week of special events, including classes, workshops, presentations and more, all free of charge. As usual, visitors who show up on opening day can grab a free T-shirt and register for the grand opening giveaway.

Apple Store Vintage Faire is located in the Vintage Faire Mall, at 3401 Dale Rd in Modesto, between Coach and Bebe. You'll find full travel directions here. It sounds like fun, so let us know if you attend.

A week of free events is cool and all, but for my money, you can't beat hula dancers.

[Via MacDailyNews]

Tags: apple store, AppleStore, california, retail

Filed under: Apple Corporate

Apple opposes Calif. Prop 8, donates $100k to 'No' campaign

by Robert Palmer (RSS feed) on Oct 24th, 2008

Apple issued a short statement on its Hot News page today saying it is publicly opposing California Proposition 8, and donating $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign.

Proposition 8 seeks to amend California's constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. A "no" vote on the measure means marriages between same-sex couples would continue to be valid in California.

"Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees' same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation," the statement read.

"Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8."

Update: Comments on this post are now closed. Thanks for your civil and constructive (mostly) responses.

Tags: california, election, prop 8, Prop8

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, iTunes, Apple

CA lawmakers want to tax iTunes downloads

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Mar 18th, 2008

The California Assembly, apparently facing an $8 billion deficit, has introduced a bill that would apply sales taxes to "media downloads," namely the music sales going through iTunes (which, as we've reported, is challenging even retailer giant Walmart for music sales numbers). But it seems as though (since new taxes require a 2/3 majority in California) they're going about it in a pretty weird way.

Basically, to duck the majority rule, they're instead trying to have "digital property" count like normal, taxable property. That way, all they're doing is changing a definition, not actually adding a new tax. Even then, they've got another hurdle to jump -- the California Assembly, of course, can only tax things bought in California, unless they charge a "use" tax, which is for people things buy elsewhere but only use in California. Which no one ever pays anyway. Yeah, it's weird.

Eventually, they'll probably pull something off -- Apple already charges sales tax in quite a few states, so it's not surprising that California, Apple's home base, would try as well. It seems like politics is making the process a little bumpier than elsewhere, though.

[Via Macdailynews]

Tags: assembly, brick-and-morter, california, itunes, taxes, walmart

Filed under: Retail

Apple Store Fashion Fair: Your reports

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jun 10th, 2007

This past Saturday, Apple opened its newest retail store in sunny Fesno, California: Apple Store Fashion Fair. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. So, did you go, and if you did, how was it? Let us know in the comments. Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt (not to mention the opening day contest's grand prize!).

In other retail news, the staff at ifoAppleStore are live blogging the opening of another California store in San Luis Obispo. You may remember the early spy shot of this store we received from reader Earnest a couple of months ago.

Tags: apple store, apple store fashion fair, AppleStore, AppleStoreFashionFair, california, retail

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Spyshot: Apple Store San Luis Obispo

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Apr 6th, 2007

How we love our eagle-eyed TUAW operatives across the globe! This time, Earnest comes through with this shot of an Apple Store under construction in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California. A quick glance at Apple's jobs page revealed that sales positions are still available for this location.

Keep your eyes peeled, TUAWers, and let us know what you find!

Thanks, Ernest!

Tags: apple, apple store, AppleStore, california, retail

Filed under: Retail

New PA and Cali Apple Stores: Your reports

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on May 13th, 2006

Earlier today, Apple opened two new retail stores, one in Pennsylvania and one in sunny California. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended the openings to share their reports and/or pictures. So, did you make it out to the events this weekend? Let us know in the comments.

Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt.

Tags: apple store, AppleStore, california, grand opening, GrandOpening, pennsylvania, retail

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Apple Stores set to open in PA, CA

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on May 10th, 2006

Apple has announced the grand opening of two new retail stores for this weekend. The first is Apple Store Simi Valley, which is located at 1555 Simi Town Center Way Space #535, near the Center Court next to Eddie Bauer. You can find complete travel directions here.

The second is Apple Store Suburban Square in Ardmore, Pa which Scott posted about earlier. This store can be found at 61 St. James Place in Ardmore, next to Wachovia Bank, just off Montgomery Avenue. Both stores will open this Saturday, May 13th at 9:00 AM.

As usual, the first 1000 visitors to each location will be rewarded with commemorative t-shirts. Visitors can also enter to win the "Grand Opening Sweepstakes," which will award one winner with an iMac, an iPod nano, a Canon digital camera, a Sony Handycam CCD-TRV138, and an HP inkjet printer.

If you're going to attend either of these openings, please send us links to your photos and reports! Good luck and have fun.

Tags: apple store, AppleStore, california, pennsylvania, retail

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Apple Store Irvine Spectrum: Your reports

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Feb 13th, 2006

This past weekend, Apple opened its newest retail store at Irvine Spectrum in California. As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. Reader George Masters got some nice shots. How about you? Let us know in the comments. Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt.

Tags: apple store, AppleStore, california, irvine spectrum, IrvineSpectrum, retail

Filed under: Rumors, Steve Jobs

Governor Steve?

by C.K. Sample, III (RSS feed) on Aug 20th, 2005

Steve JobsPeter over at Engadget has the scoop on some possible political plans (don't ya love alliteration) of Steve Jobs. Actually, it's all largely conjecture based on an article about the current Governator of California. However, we know that Steve reads Engadget, so if he wasn't really thinking about it, now maybe he is. There's evidence for this being a logical move for Steve. He's recently made the tough type of phone calls that politicians must sometimes make. He's given commencement speeches, and he's as American as Apple pie. He even has his own plane should he have to fly to the other end of the state for a political emergency and he already receives odd courtesies from public enforcement officers.

Would he have a chance of winning against the Governator? As long as Al Gore's bad political luck hasn't rubbed off on him from their years of working together, sure. Why not?

Tags: california, governor, steve+jobs, SteveJobs

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