Apple Store

Apple Store app gains 3D Touch support, now available in more countries

Apple on Thursday pushed out an update for its Apple Store iOS client, bringing the app to version 3.7. The update brings about new 3D Touch features on compatible devices, and makes the app available in new countries.

As for 3D Touch support, iPhone 6s users have long been able to utilize Quick Actions on the app icon, but now the Apple Store app supports Peek and Pop. So force-pressing on a link within the app now opens up previews.

Grab popular journaling software Day One 2 at no charge through the Apple Store shopping app

Bloom Built's journaling app, Day One 2, has gone temporarily free courtesy of the Apple Store shopping app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

A significant update to the original Day One app (now renamed Day One Classic), Day One 2 released as a brand new app in the App Store last month so you're looking at a cool $9.99 savings here.

Rebuilt from the ground up but staying true to Day One’s original simplicity, this app comes with two headlining features: multiple journals and multiple photos per entry.

iPhone screen protector installation service is now available in Apple Stores around the world

A new retail service by Apple, which offers to apply screen protectors on customers' iPhones using dedicated in-store machines, is now available at Apple Stores in the United States and around the world, MacRumors reported.

Based on Belkin's ScreenCare+ Application System, the system allows store employees to apply Welkin-Branded screen protectors (either a Belkin TrueClear InvisiGlass Screen Protector or a Belkin TrueClear Anti-Glare Screen Protector) on the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus devices.

Apple rolled out the system a week ago in its retail stores in Japan. As of this morning, the service is available across Apple Stores internationally.

Apple Stores in Japan are now offering iPhone screen protector installation service

As first noted by MacOtakara, employees of Apple Stores in Japan have now received specialized Belkin tools to install screen protectors on iPhones in-store, though it's unclear if this iPhone screen protector installation service might soon expand to other Apple Stores around the world.

Using Belkin's TrueClear Pro device, store employees are able to apply a screen protector in a straightforward and easy manner. Prices range from 2,180 yen to 4,280 yen, depending on material and device size, which works out to about $19 to $37.

Apple files application to open retail stores in India

Apple has filed an application with India's department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) to build and operate its own retail stores in the populous country, India Times reported Wednesday.

Apple is also seeking to sell its products online in India. The official move is the culmination of Apple's multi-year effort to bring the official retail presence to shoppers in the 1.25 billion people market.

Pixite’s Union photo app is free right now within the Apple Store app

Heads up folks, Apple is giving away free copies of the popular Union photo app by Pixite right now. You can find promo codes for the app, which normally retails for $1.99, within the 'Stores' section of the Apple Store app on iOS.

For those who aren't familiar with it, Union is an elegant image blending tool that allows you to create superimposed, silhouetted, and double-exposed photos. It comes from the same team that created Fragment, Shift and Pigment.

Apple Stores to offer iPhone photography and iPad illustration workshops next year

As part of a major retail streamlining under the watchful eye of Apple's head of online and brick-and-mortar stores, Angela Ahrendts, the company will be hosting a number of workshops next year at its stores that will take its existing and basic photography workshops to the next level.

The new workshops were designed to teach customers about the tips and tricks concerning iPhone photography, as well as drawing, painting and sketching on an iPad, with the promise of giving customers “at all skill levels” a chance to learn about more advanced image-capturing techniques, CNET said today.

How to quickly search the Apple Store website using Alfred

I've been a big fan of Alfred for quite some time, and it's one of the first utilities that I install on my Mac after a fresh and clean reinstall. Really, this utility is absolutely essential to my daily workflow, and turns mundane repetitive tasks in to easy shortcuts.

Today, Sebastien and I were discussing how inefficient and ambiguous Apple's online store search experience is, and after that conversation, I decided that I was going to relegate Apple Store searches to an Alfred custom search. This has resulted in the ability to quickly search the Apple online store from anywhere on my Mac.

Apple launches Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader to support USB 3.0 transfer speeds on iPad Pro

If you're looking to quickly transfer photos and videos from your camera's SD Card to the iPad Pro, then look no further than Apple's own Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader ($29.00) to handle the job. Apple explicitly states on its store page that the peripheral supports USB 3.0 transfer speeds on the iPad Pro.

Interestingly, the same cannot be said for Apple's Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, as that still only supports USB 2.0 transfer speeds. The Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, which just launched and is available to ship in 3-5 business days from Apple's online store, appears to be the only accessory to support USB 3.0 transfer speeds on the iPad Pro at this time.