Apple on Friday announced a worldwide replacement program for a limited number of USB-C charging cables that were shipped with 12-inch MacBook with retina display units or sold separately through June of 2015. A design flaw in these cables may cause unexpected premature failure.
As a part of the program, anyone with an affected cable is eligible to gain a free replacement through Apple.
In addition to jacking up prices of its AppleCare+ extended hardware coverage for the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus by an extra $30, Apple appears to have discontinued the combined AppleCare+ warranty for the iPhone and Apple Watch, as first noted by 9to5Mac.
Following April 2015 debut of the Apple Watch, the Cupertino firm introduced combo warranty plans for iPhones that are up to six months old and Apple Watches for combined prices of $149 (Apple Watch Sport + iPhone), $169 (Apple Watch + iPhone) and $1,600 (Apple Watch Edition + iPhone).
Best Buy could start selling the AppleCare and AppleCare+ extended warranty protection plans for various Apple products as soon as Sunday, September 13. According to an internal training video obtained by MacRumors, Best Buy's outlets in the United States are gearing up to sell Apple's extended warranty plans for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and other eligible products, such as the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display.
If the sources are right, Best Buy will become Apple's first non-carrier retailer to sell extended warranty plans which are normally offered via Apple's retail store and on the company's online store.
AppleCare+ protection for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch has refreshed its terms to cover batteries that retain less than 80 percent of their original capacity within the extended warranty period. The new rules apply to Apple Watch Sport, Watch and Edition models, as discovered by MacRumors.
Previously, the extended warranty used to cover Apple Watch batteries that retained less than 50 percent of their original capacity. Apple officially guarantees the Apple Watch battery will retain up to 80 percent of its original capacity at 1,000 complete charge cycles. Assuming an average of one full charge cycle per day, the specification gives the device's battery a lifespan of about two-and-a-half to three years.
The full AppleCare+ extended warranty pricing for the Apple Watch is now live on the Online Apple Store. All Watch models include Apple's standard 1-year warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support, but now these extended warranty plans are optionally available.
For the entry-level aluminum Apple Watch Sport, the AppleCare+ coverage costs $49. The mid-tier stainless steel Apple Watch models command a cost of $69 for the extended AppleCare+ coverage, while owners of the gold Edition models will need to fork out a whopping $1,500.
But that's not all.
While Apple did confirm during its second Apple Watch media event on March 9, 2015 that it will be offering its AppleCare+ extended coverage plan for the wearable device, it did not present pricing for the extended support plans tailored specifically to the Watch.
Friday, MacRumors shared some purported AppleCare+ pricing information for the Apple Watch models, obtained from a source. According to writer Juli Clover, AppleCare+ for each version of the Watch will be priced differently, with the gold-plated Apple Watch Edition commanding the highest premium in terms of extended warranty coverage.
As we outlined in a report earlier this month, Apple has gone ahead and doubled the AppleCare+ purchase window for new iPhones and iPads. Customers are now eligible to purchase AppleCare+ for their new iPhone and iPad up to 60 days after purchasing the device, whereas it was previously 30 days. AppleCare+ extends Apple's 90-day complimentary support to two years and includes accidental damage coverage.
AppleCare+ costs $99 for both the iPhone and iPad plans, purchasable through the Apple Store both in-store and online. Apple has updated its website to reflect the new 60-day policy that is now in effect in all regions outside of Japan, where the 30-day window remains. These changes do not apply to Macs, iPods or any other Apple products outside of the iPhone and iPad…
The United States wireless carrier Sprint, the nation's third-largest, on Monday introduced a new equipment protection plan that offers additional protection for your tablet and smartphone devices for an additional two bucks per month. The Sprint Total Equipment Protection Plus (TEP Plus) plan costs thirteen bucks per month, per device.
It offers everything included in Sprint's existing $11 per month Total Equipment Protection - theft insurance, accidental damage and next-day loss, to name a few - and then some more: data security, personalized tech support and automatic media backups.
Jump past the fold for the full reveal...
Apple's just made an important change to its iPhone return policy. According to the firm's newly-updated Retail Store Purchase Policies, customers who bought an iPhone directly from the Apple Online Store and in Apple Retail Stores now have 14 days to return it for a refund.
"For iPhone returns, you may return your undamaged iPhone with its included accessories within 14 days of purchase for a full refund," Apple acknowledges.
Previously, people had 30 days to return their iPhone for a refund. The company has apparently shortened the return window in order to match carriers' 14-day policy...
For quite some time now, Apple has been at odds with EU watchdogs who've been complaining a lot about the iPhone maker's unacceptable stance and practices when it comes to educating EU buyers on their consumer rights.
At the heart of the issue: Apple's unwillingness to explain to its users in an unambiguous manner that EU consumer laws entitle them to at least two years of coverage on consumer electronics.
As Apple's standard warranty provides twelve months of coverage, the company was caught cunningly beating around the bush by attempting to upsell buyers to its pricey AppleCare+ extended protection plan, which it introduced last September in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and elsewhere in Europe.
Apple was even fined over this in Italy and now comes word that a Belgium judge has contemplated blocking access to all Apple websites in the country because the company has continued to mislead consumers about warranty protections available for products purchased from its brick-and-mortar and online stores...
Apple has come under fire again for its overseas warranty practices this week. The company is being forced to change its return and repair policies to fit under Australian consumer law after it was found to be lying to consumers about their entitled coverage.
Under ACL, warranties are expected to be kept in effect "for the amount of time that it is reasonable to expect, given the cost and quality of an item." So essentially, there's no set expiration date to them. But apparently, Apple has been telling folks differently...
Hot on the heels of yesterday's iPhone 5s/5c introduction, Apple has quietly brought its premium $99 AppleCare+ iPhone coverage to the United Kingdom, France and Italy. The extended coverage plan - previously limited to customers in the United States, Canada and Japan - covers up to two incidents of accidental damage from handling of your device.
Not only is Apple taking the AppleCare+ coverage to more places, but more devices as well. Today, we learn that AppleCare+ is now available for two iPod devices: the iPod touch and the iPod classic...