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Friday, February 8, 2019
Apple Reportedly Advised Technicians to Push iPhone Upgrades to Customers With Out-of-Warranty Devices
http://bit.ly/2nnS1PJ
Last month, Apple lowered its revenue guidance for the first quarter of its 2019 fiscal year by up to $9 billion due to fewer iPhone upgrades than it anticipated, primarily due to economic weakness in the Greater China region.
A few months prior to the announcement, Apple began heavily promoting iPhone XR and iPhone XS trade-ins with a limited time promotion, prominent banner on its website, emails to older iPhone users, store signage, App Store editorials, and other uncharacteristically aggressive tactics aimed at boosting sales.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple reassigned some of its marketing staff to focus on bolstering sales of its latest iPhone lineup in late October, around the time the iPhone XR launched. The report cited an unnamed source who described the efforts as a "fire drill."
In a report this week about Deirdre O'Brien succeeding Angela Ahrendts as Apple's retail chief, Gurman elaborated a bit more on Apple's tactics to promote its latest iPhones, claiming that the company advised its technicians to "push iPhone upgrades to consumers with out-of-warranty devices."
Senior retail staff were also tasked with making sure other employees were suggesting upgrades, according to Gurman:
It's unclear if the tactics had any influence on Ahrendts stepping down from her position. Unlike her short-lived predecessor John Browett, who reportedly pushed Apple retail employees to aggressively upsell products, Ahrendts focused on the experience with free Today at Apple creativity sessions and more.
Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that "customers are holding on to their older iPhones a bit longer than in the past." In a letter to shareholders, Cook said Apple is undertaking and accelerating initiatives to improve its results, such as making it simple to trade in a phone at its stores.
Apple's reported efforts to push iPhone upgrades creates an interesting juxtaposition. On one hand, the company's environmental chief Lisa Jackson recently said customers using its devices longer "is the best thing for the planet," and on the other hand it is more aggressively encouraging customers to buy a new iPhone.
Skip to 1:23:51 mark for Lisa Jackson's comments
Whether the tactics are effective will be harder to gauge going forward, as Apple no longer discloses unit sales in its quarterly earnings report. Apple forecasted revenue between $55 billion and $59 billion in the current quarter, which would be down from $61.1 billion in the year-ago quarter.
This article, "Apple Reportedly Advised Technicians to Push iPhone Upgrades to Customers With Out-of-Warranty Devices" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2TFWPhB
Last month, Apple lowered its revenue guidance for the first quarter of its 2019 fiscal year by up to $9 billion due to fewer iPhone upgrades than it anticipated, primarily due to economic weakness in the Greater China region.
A few months prior to the announcement, Apple began heavily promoting iPhone XR and iPhone XS trade-ins with a limited time promotion, prominent banner on its website, emails to older iPhone users, store signage, App Store editorials, and other uncharacteristically aggressive tactics aimed at boosting sales.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple reassigned some of its marketing staff to focus on bolstering sales of its latest iPhone lineup in late October, around the time the iPhone XR launched. The report cited an unnamed source who described the efforts as a "fire drill."
In a report this week about Deirdre O'Brien succeeding Angela Ahrendts as Apple's retail chief, Gurman elaborated a bit more on Apple's tactics to promote its latest iPhones, claiming that the company advised its technicians to "push iPhone upgrades to consumers with out-of-warranty devices."
Senior retail staff were also tasked with making sure other employees were suggesting upgrades, according to Gurman:
In December, as Apple executives worried about demand, the company asked retail employees to promote the new iPhones using methods not seen before. Technicians were told to push iPhone upgrades to consumers with out-of-warranty devices. Senior sales staff had to make sure other retail workers were suggesting upgrades, and easels offering generous trade-in deals for the iPhone XR were erected in stores. Apple's online homepage was also replaced with reduced iPhone pricing that required a trade-in of older models.We presume this refers to Genius Bar technicians at Apple Stores, but there is also a network of Apple Authorized Service Providers, some of which double as authorized resellers that offer the latest Apple products for sale.
It's unclear if the tactics had any influence on Ahrendts stepping down from her position. Unlike her short-lived predecessor John Browett, who reportedly pushed Apple retail employees to aggressively upsell products, Ahrendts focused on the experience with free Today at Apple creativity sessions and more.
Last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted that "customers are holding on to their older iPhones a bit longer than in the past." In a letter to shareholders, Cook said Apple is undertaking and accelerating initiatives to improve its results, such as making it simple to trade in a phone at its stores.
Apple's reported efforts to push iPhone upgrades creates an interesting juxtaposition. On one hand, the company's environmental chief Lisa Jackson recently said customers using its devices longer "is the best thing for the planet," and on the other hand it is more aggressively encouraging customers to buy a new iPhone.
Whether the tactics are effective will be harder to gauge going forward, as Apple no longer discloses unit sales in its quarterly earnings report. Apple forecasted revenue between $55 billion and $59 billion in the current quarter, which would be down from $61.1 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Tag: bloomberg.com
Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Neutral), iPhone XR (Buy Now)
This article, "Apple Reportedly Advised Technicians to Push iPhone Upgrades to Customers With Out-of-Warranty Devices" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2TFWPhB
MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240
http://bit.ly/2TD0NYf
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Jackery to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Jackery Portable Power Station Generator 240, which offers 240Wh (67000mAh) of power for camping, emergencies, and more.
Jackery makes a wide range of battery packs and portable power stations in different sizes, and the Power Station 240 is one of its largest.
Priced at $250, the Power Station 240 is ideal to have on hand for power outages, and it's also useful for camping, RV use, and other activities where you need a lot of portable power.
There's an AC outlet, a car port, and two 2.4A USB-A outputs so you can charge up multiple devices at once. According to Jackery, it can charge a smartphone 18 times, an iPad Pro 6 times, a laptop up to 4 times, and a GoPro 40 times.
Despite the power it's packing, the Power Station 240 is portable, measuring in at nine inches tall, seven and a half inches wide, and 5 inches deep. It weighs 6.8 pounds and has a handle at the top to make it easy to carry.
There's an LCD display at the front that lets you know how much charge is left, and a built-in LED flashlight is included for when the power is out.
There are multiple ways to recharge the Jackery 240, including using a 50W Jackery solar panel (needs to be purchased separately), a carport, or an AC wall outlet. It takes approximately eight hours to recharge via the standard methods, or 10 hours with the add-on solar panel.
We have two of the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240s to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The contest will run from today (February 8) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 15. The winners will be chosen randomly on February 15 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2Sjm50w
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Jackery to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Jackery Portable Power Station Generator 240, which offers 240Wh (67000mAh) of power for camping, emergencies, and more.
Jackery makes a wide range of battery packs and portable power stations in different sizes, and the Power Station 240 is one of its largest.
Priced at $250, the Power Station 240 is ideal to have on hand for power outages, and it's also useful for camping, RV use, and other activities where you need a lot of portable power.
There's an AC outlet, a car port, and two 2.4A USB-A outputs so you can charge up multiple devices at once. According to Jackery, it can charge a smartphone 18 times, an iPad Pro 6 times, a laptop up to 4 times, and a GoPro 40 times.
Despite the power it's packing, the Power Station 240 is portable, measuring in at nine inches tall, seven and a half inches wide, and 5 inches deep. It weighs 6.8 pounds and has a handle at the top to make it easy to carry.
There's an LCD display at the front that lets you know how much charge is left, and a built-in LED flashlight is included for when the power is out.
There are multiple ways to recharge the Jackery 240, including using a 50W Jackery solar panel (needs to be purchased separately), a carport, or an AC wall outlet. It takes approximately eight hours to recharge via the standard methods, or 10 hours with the add-on solar panel.
We have two of the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240s to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
Tag: giveaway
This article, "MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2Sjm50w
Deals Spotlight: AT&T Discounting Apple's Silicone and Leather iPhone Cases to Just $5
http://bit.ly/2DnyAO6
AT&T today is offering a selection of silicone and leather iPhone cases for just $5.00 in new condition, during a limited time promotion. Cases in the sale cover the iPhone XS, iPhone X, and iPhone 8 Plus, and these are as much as $45 off their original prices with lowest-ever price points seen for new versions of the accessories.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with AT&T. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple's leather and silicone cases are built to fit snugly onto their respective iPhones, providing full access to the volume, silence, and lock buttons. iPhone XS cases do fit on iPhone X devices, although there may be some small gaps in the camera cutout on the rear of the case.
You can shop for all of the special prices offered by AT&T on Apple's iPhone cases in the list below. At this time, it's unclear how long these prices will be staying around.
This article, "Deals Spotlight: AT&T Discounting Apple's Silicone and Leather iPhone Cases to Just $5" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2TAcsqY
AT&T today is offering a selection of silicone and leather iPhone cases for just $5.00 in new condition, during a limited time promotion. Cases in the sale cover the iPhone XS, iPhone X, and iPhone 8 Plus, and these are as much as $45 off their original prices with lowest-ever price points seen for new versions of the accessories.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with AT&T. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.Apple's leather and silicone cases are built to fit snugly onto their respective iPhones, providing full access to the volume, silence, and lock buttons. iPhone XS cases do fit on iPhone X devices, although there may be some small gaps in the camera cutout on the rear of the case.
You can shop for all of the special prices offered by AT&T on Apple's iPhone cases in the list below. At this time, it's unclear how long these prices will be staying around.
iPhone XS
- Silicone Case in White - $5, $35 off
iPhone X
- Leather Case in Taupe - $5, $45 off
iPhone 8 Plus
- Leather Case in Black / Saddle Brown / (PRODUCT)Red - $5, $45 off
Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals Spotlight: AT&T Discounting Apple's Silicone and Leather iPhone Cases to Just $5" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2TAcsqY
iPhone vs Android market share
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J
We look at the latest figures to see which mobile platform the world prefers to use. It's iPhone vs Android!
from Latest iPhone Articles from Macworld UK http://bit.ly/2SIJwjq
We look at the latest figures to see which mobile platform the world prefers to use. It's iPhone vs Android!
from Latest iPhone Articles from Macworld UK http://bit.ly/2SIJwjq
Apple Begins Selling Refurbished 2018 MacBook Air and Mac Mini Starting in UK
http://bit.ly/2SiWhBO
Apple today began selling refurbished 2018 models of the MacBook Air and Mac mini for the first time, although availability is currently limited to the United Kingdom. Listings for refurbished 2018 MacBook Air models have also gone live in the United States, but the purchase button does not work yet.
The base model MacBook Air is priced at £1,019, which is £180 off Apple's regular price of £1,199 brand new. The base model Mac mini is priced at £679, reflecting savings of £120 off the brand new price of £799.
The refurbished MacBook Air models will start at $1,019 in the United States when they become available to order. That is a discount that is worth passing over, as authorized resellers such as Amazon and B&H are currently offering the 2018 MacBook Air brand new in box for $999, a savings of $200:
Apple says certified refurbished MacBook Air and Mac mini models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged, with all manuals and cables included in the box. In our view, a refurbished Mac is virtually indistinguishable from a brand new one, and is also backed by Apple's standard one-year warranty.
A refurbished Mac's warranty can be extended to three years from the refurbished purchase date with AppleCare+.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and B&H. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This article, "Apple Begins Selling Refurbished 2018 MacBook Air and Mac Mini Starting in UK" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2WPedCC
Apple today began selling refurbished 2018 models of the MacBook Air and Mac mini for the first time, although availability is currently limited to the United Kingdom. Listings for refurbished 2018 MacBook Air models have also gone live in the United States, but the purchase button does not work yet.
The base model MacBook Air is priced at £1,019, which is £180 off Apple's regular price of £1,199 brand new. The base model Mac mini is priced at £679, reflecting savings of £120 off the brand new price of £799.
The refurbished MacBook Air models will start at $1,019 in the United States when they become available to order. That is a discount that is worth passing over, as authorized resellers such as Amazon and B&H are currently offering the 2018 MacBook Air brand new in box for $999, a savings of $200:
- Amazon: 1.6GHz Core i5 / 128GB SSD / 8GB RAM / Space Gray
- Amazon: 1.6GHz Core i5 / 128GB SSD / 8GB RAM / Silver
- B&H: 1.6GHz Core i5 / 128GB SSD / 8GB RAM / Space Gray
- B&H: 1.6GHz Core i5 / 128GB SSD / 8GB RAM / Silver
Apple says certified refurbished MacBook Air and Mac mini models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged, with all manuals and cables included in the box. In our view, a refurbished Mac is virtually indistinguishable from a brand new one, and is also backed by Apple's standard one-year warranty.
A refurbished Mac's warranty can be extended to three years from the refurbished purchase date with AppleCare+.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and B&H. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Related Roundups: Mac mini, MacBook Air
Tags: refurbished, United Kingdom
Buyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Buy Now), MacBook Air (Buy Now)
This article, "Apple Begins Selling Refurbished 2018 MacBook Air and Mac Mini Starting in UK" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories http://bit.ly/2WPedCC
Native PDF Annotation for Chromebooks Is Live in The Dev Channel
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