Chicago

Apple Pay with Express Transit en route to San Diego, Philadelphia and other cities

By

Apple-Pay-Express-Transit-London
Paying for your journeys just got a lot faster.
Photo: Apple

One of the best features of Apple Pay is finally starting to roll out to more public transit systems in the U.S. next year.

After being adopted by Washington D.C. and New York City this year, Apple Pay with Express Transit mode will reportedly be adopted by Philadelphia and San Diego next year, with other major cities planning to support it out by 2023.

Verizon 5G goes live in Chicago and Minneapolis

By

5G
The Galaxy S10 5G is one of the only 5G-ready phones announced.
Photo: Samsung

Verizon’s rollout of 5G mobile data service is finally underway in the U.S. after nearly a year of hype about the technology.

Certain parts of Chicago and Minneapolis are the first two places Verizon customers will find 5G coverage, though it is fairly limited. At least 30 cities are expected to get Verizon 5G by the end of the year, but getting on the network isn’t so simple.

Apple pays $2.5 million in annual rent for Chicago flagship store

By

Chicago Apple Store 1
Yep, that's pretty prime real estate!
Photo: Apple

If you think your rent is expensive you might want to spare a thought for the amount Apple pays for its spectacular waterfront flagship store in Chicago.

Located on Chicago’s iconic “Magnificent Mile,” the iconic glass Apple Store with the MacBook-inspired roof costs Apple a massive $2.5 million in rent each year — and prices go up 10 percent every five years.

Apple celebrates young developers at Chicago store event

By

Everyone Can Code
Chicago's Mayor attended the event.
Photo: Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Apple held a special “Today at Apple” session on Wednesday at its Michigan Avenue, Chicago store to celebrate young developers.

The event took place under the banner of Apple’s “Everyone Can Code” initiative, and featured students who had participated in the “One Summer Chicago” program, giving a public demonstration of their Swift-coded apps.

Everything Apple revealed at its ‘field trip’ event

By

“Education then, beyond all others devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men.” - Horace Mann
Apple is making education a bigger focus.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple is ready to make a major push into the education market. During its keynote in Chicago this morning, the company revealed how it plans to make students and teachers fall in love with Apple.

Armed with a bevy of new apps, APIs and other software tools, Tim Cook and company revealed Apple’s cheapest iPad ever. Apple pitched it specifically at students, though we suspect it will prove pretty popular with normal Apple fans, too.

Check out all the new stuff Apple unveiled today:

Live blog: Apple’s first big product unveiling of 2018

By

Apple Education Event invitation
Apple is focusing on students and teacher for its first keynote.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s first big event of 2018 is practically here! Unlike most Apple keynotes, today’s “field trip” education-oriented event in Chicago won’t be streamed live.

Don’t worry. Cult of Mac will be in attendance and we’ll be live blogging everything with up-to-the-minute info on all the new goodies. Not only is Apple expected to preview some new educational software, but we could also see a new iPad, improved Apple Pencil and maybe even a new MacBook Air.

The keynote starts Tuesday, March 27, at 10 a.m. Central time. So save this page and get ready for Apple’s most mysterious event in years.

What to expect from Apple’s big ‘field trip’ event

By

What to expect from Apple education event 2018.
Apple took us to schoo
Image: Apple

Apple will take a field trip out of Silicon Valley to host its first major event of 2018 tomorrow. Instead of focusing on iPhones and Apple Watches, this Apple keynote will be all about education and creativity.

Rumors have been swirling for months that new MacBook Airs and an updated, inexpensive iPad could arrive this spring. We might see those, but Apple probably has a couple other surprises in store that you haven’t heard of.

Apple will not provide a livestream of the event, but Cult of Mac will be in attendance. Joins us Tuesday morning for our liveblog of everything that’s going down at the event. In the meantime, here’s our handy guide to what to expect.

Apple ‘re-programs’ its Chicago Apple Store roof to deal with snow

By

Chicago Apple Store 1
Apple has fixed falling icicles at its Chicago Apple Store with a software update.
Photo: Apple

Apple has responded to the recent cold weather in Chicago by “re-programming” the roof of its new Apple Store on Chicago’s waterfront so that it doesn’t form dangerous icicles.

As we reported at the end of last month, Apple’s flagship Chicago Apple Store on North Michigan Avenue recently ran into problems when the roof, designed to look like a giant MacBook, seemingly struggled to cope with the snowfall — resulting in the closure of the retail store’s outdoor area.

Apple will make changes to Chicago store to save birds

By

Chicago apple store
Apple's new store is located on Magnificent Mile.
Photo: Apple

Apple has agreed to dim the lights of its fancy new Chicago Apple Store during the fall months due to deadly bird strikes.

According to the volunteer group Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, dead birds have been found at the Apple Store ever since it opened earlier this month, due to their propensity for becoming disoriented due to the lights, before crashing into the walls.

Tim Cook discusses his CEO replacement in new interview

By

Tim Cook still hid a few surprises up his sleeve for the iPhone X event.
Who will replace Tim Cook?
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook says he wants people to see Apple’s retail locations as more than just a place where you buy things.

To celebrate the opening of the new flagship Apple store in Chicago, Cook and Apple retail boss Angela Ahrendts sat down for a wide-ranging interview. The duo discussed everything from why physical Apple stores are still vital in the digital age to whether Apple’s political stances will cause pushback from customers.

Angela Ahrendts is in Chicago for flagship Apple store opening

By

Michigan
Apple's retail guru with some of the company's employees.
Photo: Angela Ahrendts/Twitter

Apple retail guru Angela Ahrendts is in Chicago, ahead of the opening of the new long-awaited flagship store Michigan Avenue store on October 20.

Ahrendts shared a photo on Twitter of her with retail staff, with a glimpse of the newly constructed staircase leading down to the store. “Thank you to this wonderful team and the many more who are bringing #AppleMichiganAve to life for our customers this week!” she wrote.

Apple’s new Chicago store roof looks like a giant MacBook

By

Chicago Apple Store
The new Apple Store in Chicago.
Photo: DNAinfo/David Matthews]

Construction on Apple’s new flagship store in Chicago is nearing completion this week as crews were spotted adding a finishing touch to the roof that wasn’t in the original plans.

Early renderings of the metallic roof for the Michigan Ave store showed a pretty plain looking roof, but a new Apple logo has been added to the top and it makes the entire roof look like a giant MacBook.

Check it out:

YouTube TV arrives to shake up streaming world

By

YouTube TV is only available in 5 cities for now.
YouTube TV is only available in 5 cities for now.
Photo: YouTube

YouTube’s new tv streaming service for cord-cutters has finally arrived for customers in five major US markets.

The new service, dubbed YouTube TV, gives subscribers access to dozens of channels that normally would require a cable subscription, putting it in direct competition with the likes of Hulu, Sling TV, DirecTV Now and Playstation Vue.

Apple shows off new renderings of flagship Chicago store

By

Apple is setting up shop right on the riverfront.
Apple is setting up shop right on the riverfront.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new digs in Chicago are shaping up to be one of its most beautiful flagship stores ever, based on new renderings released by the iPhone-maker.

The current structure Apple is renovating on North Michigan Avenue doesn’t look like much, but once it’s finished, the new Apple store will feature massive glass walls an inviting open layout.

Here’s another angle:

Apple’s flagship store in Chicago comes with $62 million price tag

By

IMG_2433
An artist rendering of Apple's store on the north bank of the Chicago River.
Photo: Chicago Department of Planning and Development

The new store being built by Apple along the Chicago River is shaping up to be one of the company’s most expensive new locations of 2017.

Apple’s store on the iconic “Magnificent Mile” is being mostly built underground at 401 N. Michigan Ave., but Apple wants the plaza-level entrance to be absolutely fabulous, so it’s going to cost more than $60 million.

Apple Store targeted in ‘organized criminal enterprise’

By

2048x1152
Six people were arrested as a result of the scheme.
Photo: Apple

Apple Stores in Chicago were the target of “an organized criminal enterprise,” resulting in the arrest of six people from New York State, according to a new report, citing Lake County authorities.

The sheriff’s office claims that the suspects made fraudulent purchases from Apple Stores using stolen identities and credit cards.

Apple to build new flagship store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile

By

Apple's looking for a new home in Chicago.
Apple's looking for a new home in Chicago.
Photo: Zeller Reality

Apple is planning to open a magnificent new flagship store in the heart of Chicago, according to a new report that claims the iPhone maker has zeroed in on 401 N. Michigan Ave. Apple already has one retail store on Michigan Avenue, but supposedly plans to shut down that one and move a half-mile south to the southern tip of the Magnificent Mile.

Apple Watch a hit on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile

By

Shannon Stroh, of Plymouth, Minn., tries on a Apple Watch at the downtown Chicago store. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac
Shannon Stroh, of Plymouth, Minn., tries on an Apple Watch at the downtown Chicago store. Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

CHICAGO — It didn’t matter that Mel Torgusen had already ordered her Apple Watch at 2 a.m.

She still had to be at the Apple Store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at 10 sharp — just to touch one.

“Ever since the announcement, I’ve been counting down the days,” said Torgusen, standing at one of a dozen stations the store had set up for prospective buyers to try the watch. “I’m an Apple person and I didn’t need to try it on to know I’d want one.”

A steady stream of the curious and devoted filed into the store Friday for the big Apple Watch preview. There were about 20 people who had signed up for the early appointments lined up outside the store when the doors opened. Others who did not schedule appointments for a personal tour went past a showcase of watches, then quickly registered for private showings.

Hammo Stereo Headphones: High Definition Audio That Looks As Good As It Sounds [Deals]

By

CoM - Hammo

Every time I see someone wearing over-ear headphones out in public, I can’t help but think of the scene in the “Starsky & Hutch” film where Ben Stiller is running along the beach listening to “Old Days” by Chicago. There’s something odd about over-ear headphones being worn not only in that situation – but really in any public situation. To me, earbuds or in-ear headphones work best in public. And that’s not because of sound quality. It’s because they are a lot more discreet.

That said, if you’re up to wearing over-ear headphones anytime and anywhere, then Cult of Mac Deals is offering Hammo Stereo Headphones for 43% off the regular price for a limited time.

Microsoft Starts Guerilla Surface Ad Campaign Near Chicago Apple Store

By

surfaceadbyapple

 

Microsoft is gearing up to launch Windows 8 really soon along with Windows 8 Phone and the Microsoft Surface to compete with the iPad. The Surface might even be released around the same times as Apple’s iPad Mini, which could make the tablet wars pretty interesting.

Getting a jump start on their Surface ad campaigns, Microsoft has littered urban areas with guerrilla Surface ads and the lastest ones have been placed near a highly trafficked Apple Store in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago.

One U.S. Senator Is Worried Apple’s Detailed 3D Maps Will Aid Criminals & Terrorists

By

View some of the most beautiful cities and landmarks in the world with Flyover.
These detailed images could be blurred in places if one U.S. Senator has his way.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new Maps app that’s coming to iOS 6 looks really incredible. Its detailed 3D maps blow the traditional satellite view right out of the water, and allow you to view high resolution images of cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Las Vegas, and more. But what happens when those detailed images get into the wrong hands.

Well, U.S. Senator for New York, Charles E. Schumer, is worried the detailed images could be used to aid criminals and terrorists, and he has privacy concerns over the military-grade spy planes Apple uses to capture these images.

Spectrum Issues Cause AT&T LTE Slowdowns in Chicago And Other Major Markets

By

AT&T's LTE service won't be as fast as Verizon in several markets
AT&T's LTE service won't be as fast as Verizon in several markets

 

As AT&T continues to roll out its LTE network across the country, some markets are getting markedly lower speeds for LTE iPads and other devices. In fact, two of the company’s largest markets are getting speeds below the national average for AT&T’s LTE service and below Verizon’s LTE service in those areas. Those two markets are Los Angeles and Chicago – but several other cities may be in for the same issues as AT&T expands its LTE service in the coming months