Apple Store App Updated With New Configure Options and Better In-Store Support

  

Apple made a pretty big revamp to its retail experience over this past weekend. What sites have started calling “Apple Store 2.0” now features interactive iPad displays for each product and enhancements for customer and Apple employee interaction.

Alongside Apple Store 2.0, Apple has updated its official Apple Store app with a few enhancements. You can now configure a new Mac with specific customizations (like on Apple’s website), and do things like see how many people are in front of you in line at your local Apple store…

  

What’s New in Version 1.3

- Enhanced in-store mode lets you get help and support quickly when you’re at an Apple Retail Store.
- The ability to custom-configure a new Mac with the options you want.

Apple knows how to do customer service the right way, and the update to the Apple Store app only affirms that truth. It’s super easy and straightforward to schedule an appointment with a Genius, access Mac OS X Tips and Tricks, workshop schedules, and even see how many people are in front of you in line.

Here’s a nice video walkthrough of the new interactive iPad displays in Apple stores worldwide:

The Apple Store app is available for free in the App Store.

Make sure to head over to your local store with your updated Apple Store app and let us know how everything goes. Let us know what you think of the new iPad displays, too!

Via By: iphonedownloadblog.com & [MacStories]

Chronic Dev Team Gives an Update on iPad 2 Jailbreak and GreenPois0n Support for iOS 4.3.X

Last week, iOS hacker and member of the Chronic Dev Team p0sixninja was quoted saying it was just a matter of weeks until the team releases an update to their jailbreak toolGreenPois0n, which was supposedly going to work with the iPad 2 as well.

It seems that p0sixninja spoke a little too fast, and got every jailbreaker out there a little too excited. In order to make things clearer, the team posted an update on their blog today. This update covers the iPad 2 jailbreak and support for iOS 4.3.x in GreenPois0n…

As a post aimed at encouraging people to stop asking questions about the iPad 2 jailbreak and GreenPois0n, it seems that if anything, this post just did the opposite. After reading the “State of the Chronic”, I was left asking myself the exact same questions as I was 20 minutes before: when? What?

About the iPad 2 jailbreak, and in regards to p0sixninja “few weeks” estimate for the jailbreak, the team was quoted saying:

WE will hold him to that, please do NOT badger him with “is it done yet, when will it be ready?!?!, does it wear a slipcover from an elevator sandwich?”

About the iOS 4.3.x support in GreenPois0n, the team was quoted saying:

it has now become possible to easily update and execute a workflow to enableRC6.2 (tentatively speaking… mmm #dirt) to be released “soon”…

How many weeks are considered to be a “few weeks”? How soon is soon? Two questions that didn’t get an answer in this update.

As usual, and by respect for the great work the Chronic Dev Team is doing, we ask you to refrain from asking them details or ETAs about their jailbreak. Not only they will not share any info with you, but they will be more annoyed than not by constantly being asked the same questions.

In the meantime, Everyone be patiently waiting for our iPad 2 jailbreak.I will keep you updated, so stay tuned and Follow me on: Twitter@yeahjacklim

Via By: iphonedownloadblog.com 

iOS 5 Multitasking and App Switching Concept Video

Although it is just a concept developed by a person not related to Apple, it’s still interesting to see how things might work one day on the iPhone. Jan-Michael is back at it this week with a concept video of how multitasking and app switching might work on iOS 5.

Even though Apple made a huge step forward with iOS 4 and the introduction of multitasking, there is still some room for improvement, and this video is the proof of it…

Personally, I would definitely be excited to see this on my iPhone. What about you feel?

Via By: iphonedownloadblog.com 

What’s the Status of the iPad 2 Jailbreak?

The iPad 2 is one of the most successful Apple products to date in a number of categories. One of those categories is, it has yet to be jailbroken. Now I say that lightly, because I realize that a handful of intelligent folks have hacked their iPad 2s. But nearly 3 months after its release, there is still not a widely available jailbreak solution for Apple’s new tablet.

Recently iDB reported that infamous iDevice hackers p0sixninja and GeoHot were in a friendly competition to see who could break into the iPad 2 first. That unfortunately does not seem to be the case. In a recent online Q & A session with p0sixninja, the hacker confirmed that GeoHot has since declined the iPad 2 challenge due to media attention. I guess you can get a little paranoid after being taken to court by the likes of Sony.

So what now? Comex is out, GeoHot’s not in, are we ever going to see a jailbreak for the iPad 2? A ray of sunshine cast down on the Twitter world yesterday, as p0sixninja once again speculated on the status of the new iPad jailbreak. A Twitter follower asked the Chronic Dev team member if the iPad 2 jailbreak would be weeks, months, or years. Apparently the answer is just weeks!

Joshua Hill (p0sixninja) seems to be the most vocal on the status of the iPad 2 jailbreak. After a known exploit was patched by Apple last month, the Dev Team and other hackers have been very quiet about their progress. It’ll be interesting to see if Hill and the rest of the Chronic Dev team can deliver an iPad 2 jailbreak within weeks as predicted. I know of many iPad 2 owners that would greatly appreciate it. I will keep you updated.

Just do Follow me on: Twitter@yeahjacklim 

Via by: www.zipadblog.com

Explosion Occurs at iPad Factory, Apple and Foxconn Comment

iDB hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like there’s been an accident at Apple’smanufacturing partner, Foxconn’s Chengdu, China factory. At this point details aren’t completely clear but it seems the explosion at the factory plant unfortunately caused sixteen injuries and two deaths.

The Chengdu plant opened up last year in an effort to increase production of Apple’s iPad tablet. The explosion reportedly occurred at 7pm Chengdu time yesterday. Foxconn states that they are working with security officials to find out exactly what caused the accident. Both Apple and Foxconn have released statements regarding the explosion… 

Here’s what Foxconn said:

“We can confirm that at approximately 7 pm on May 20, there was an explosion at our Chengdu campus. At this point, we can also confirm that there were two fatalities with injuries to 16 other employees. We are working with medical officials to provide treatment to the injured employees and we are working with government and law enforcement officials to contact the families of all employees affected by this tragedy.

The situation has been brought under control by the fire department and the cause of this explosion is being investigated by local police officials. Foxconn is cooperating fully with that investigation.

Production has been suspended at the site of the explosion until the completion of the investigation. The safety of our employees is our highest priority and we will do whatever is required to determine and address the cause of this tragic accident.”

In a statement to All Things Digital, Apple stated:

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy at Foxconn’s plant in Chengdu, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” Apple said in a statement provided to AllThingsD. “We are working closely with Foxconn to understand what caused this terrible event.”

Apple declined to say what the impact to production might be, or comment beyond the statement”.

Furthermore, it seems the explosion has indeed impacted iPad 2 production times, as Apple has increased ship times from 3-5 days to 1-2 weeks worldwide.

Here is some video footage of the explosion from yesterday.

Via By: iphonedownloadblog.com & [Gizmodo]