Mac News: Apple Retail

Best Buy Clears a Spot on Its Shelf for iPhone
August 13, 2008

Big-box retailer Best Buy will begin stocking the iPhone 3G this September, giving the device shelf space both in the Mac section of the store as well as in Best Buy Mobile. Best Buy will sell the phone at the suggested retail price of $199 for the 8 GB model and $299 for the 16 GB model with the start of a new two-year service contract -- the same prices found at AT&T and Apple retail locations.

Best Buy Kiosks Aim to Snag Customers on the Fly
August 11, 2008

Consumer electronics retailing giant Best Buy is coming to an airport near you. With 965 stores in the U.S. alone, Best Buy is already one of the most ubiquitous retail chains in America. Now, the Richfield, Minn.-based company will soon have kiosks peddling electronics gear at major airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco.

Network Held Hostage, Cyberterror Battle Plan, Evil Genius Wannabe
July 18, 2008

A City of San Francisco systems administrator is a living testimonial to the importance of preventing any one person in an organization from having too much power. Terry Childs, who is now in jail, holds in his brain the passwords that will let city officials access San Francisco's Fiber Wide Area Network.

Mac Bloggers Surf Safari 3.1, Fuss Over Flash, Swoon for Unlimited iTunes
March 21, 2008

It may be some time before any Apple news rivals the iPhone software development kit or the MacBook Air, but it's nonetheless been a busy week for Apple-focused bloggers. Apple updated its Airport Express WiFi mini router to the faster 802.11n standard, delivered a new version of Safari, fixed dozens of security weaknesses, and saw Mac sales shoot through the roof in February.

'DVD Jon' Wipes Out iTunes DRM, Judge Shuts Down Wikileaks, Microsoft Embraces Open Source
February 22, 2008

Jon Lech Johansen was born to kill digital rights management technology. He started as a teen, adopting the handle DVD Jon. In addition to cracking open the technology used to encrypt DVDs, he's taken his hammer to Apple's FairPlay DRM. Recently, DVD Jon and partner Monique Farantzos founded DoubleTwist, a company that offers products designed to simplify the flow of media across devices and social networks.

Code-Cracker 'DVD Jon' Nullifies iTunes DRM
February 20, 2008

DVD Jon, who gained fame as a teenager for hacking the encryption scheme for DVD movies and has since been a thorn in Apple's side, is going corporate. The hacker, whose real name is Jon Lech Johansen, has released two products that simplify the flow of media across devices and social networks.

Wishing and Hoping in the Apple Store Aisles
November 14, 2007

It's still all about the iPod. In the past year, Apple has introduced two products hailed as revolutionary in at least some corners. The iPhone came to market with almost unmatched buzz for a mobile device. The Apple TV, meanwhile, got a more lackluster welcome, but was still viewed as a steppingstone toward making the Internet a more viable distribution channel for feature-length video.

Your Cash Is No Good at the iPhone Store
October 29, 2007

Consumers planning to splurge this holiday season and buy iPhones for the whole family will have to make other plans and they will have to pay for any iPhone purchased with a credit or debit card. Apple and AT&T have tightened restrictions on sales of the popular sought device in an effort to prevent resellers from scooping up the handsets.

Riding Apple's Retail Coattails
October 01, 2007

The newly opened Apple store in the Natick Collection just outside Boston is a brightly lit, minimalist space meant to highlight the company's cutting-edge products. Employees swirl around the store to answer questions and keep a close eye on the iPhones being pawed near the front window. Meanwhile, just a few miles west, Mac reseller Macs at Work reflects an entirely different philosophy.

iPhone to Enter More Complex Market in Europe
July 05, 2007

Wireless carrier O2, owned by Spain's Telefonica, is leading the race to become the exclusive iPhone provider in the UK, according to press reports. However, the company has denied cutting a deal with Apple. A variety of other carriers also reportedly are making headway in vying for contracts in other European countries: T-Mobile in Germany, Orange in France and Vodafone in a number of other areas.

Roxio Crunch Hits Store Shelves
May 10, 2007

Roxio has released a software application that converts computer-based video file formats and DVDs into files compatible with Apple TV, the iPod and the soon-to-be-released iPhone. The converter, dubbed "Roxio Crunch," is designed for Mac users. It can convert native QuickTime file formats such as MPEG-4, as well as non-QuickTime file formats such as MPEG-2 and DivX.

An Apple for Your Eyes
March 22, 2007

After a slight delay, Apple said it is now shipping Apple TV, a set-top box for playing computer-based video on television sets. Last month, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company delayed the launch of the much anticipated gadget designed for streaming video and other content from computers to TVs. The device is priced at $299.

Apple TV Device Not Ready for Prime Time
February 27, 2007

Apple has delayed the launch of its Apple TV device for playing computer-based video on television sets, but offered no explanation for the change. The much-anticipated set-top gadget from Apple, designed for streaming video and other content from computers to TVs, was to debut this month for $299.

Dell Eyes Retail Again, With Apple Stores as Model
May 24, 2006

Apple Computer this past weekend made national news -- once again -- by opening another retail store, this one right in midtown Manhattan, on Fifth Avenue. Located next to Prada, Tiffany & Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue, the store will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.