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Apple store workers vote to unionize

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Apple Store workers in Maryland vote to unionize
Apple store employees in Towson, Maryland, voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
Photo: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Employees at an Apple store in Maryland have made it the first of any of the Mac-maker’s retail locations to vote in favor of joining a union. Several other such stores are preparing to hold their own votes. Meanwhile, Apple is trying to discourage any efforts by its employees to unionize.

It’s not clear how all this will affect users of Apple devices.

Kids can learn about creating with iPad at in-person Apple Camp

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Kids can learn about creating with iPad at in-person Apple Camp
Apple Camp lets families create and learn together.
Photo: Apple

You know about band camp and football camp, but did you know there’s also Apple Camp? This is the twentieth year of the free program for children and families. And this year, it’s returning to in-persion sessions at Apple Store locations around the world.

Sign-ups began today, and the two-hour sessions are available starting next week and running through the summer.

New scheduling policies make Apple stores better places to work

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Apple West Lake
Improvements to scheduling rules for Apple retail employees are likely intended to head off unionizing efforts.
Photo: Apple

Apple U.S. retail store employees now get a minimum of 12 hours between shifts, up from 10 hours. And they won’t have to work more than five days in a row. These are just two of the changes Apple is reportedly making to how it schedules workers at its 270+ retail locations.

It’s likely these are intended to reduce employee interest in joining unions.

Apple allegedly intimidates retail workers into canceling union vote

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Apple Store employees in Atlanta and New York work to unionize for higher pay
Apple Cumberland Mall will not become the first Apple store with a union.
Photo: Apple

Employees of an Apple store in Atlanta won’t be voting to form a union after all. They withdrew their request with the National Labor Relations Board, and said Apple had carried out “a systematic, sophisticated campaign to intimidate them.”

It remains unknown how this will affect employees trying to unionize at an Apple retail store in New York

Apple accused of hindering employee efforts to unionize

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Apple moves to head off employee union efforts
It seems Apple won't sit quietly while its retail employees unionize.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Workers attempting to form unions at multiple Apple retail stores allege the iPhone-maker is breaking federal labor laws in its attempts to block these efforts.

If the allegations bear out, it’s more than a bit hypocritical – Apple requires its component suppliers to allow their employees to join unions.

Apple now sells Mophie’s tiny but powerful new USB-C GaN chargers

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Compared to Apple's most similar charger, Mophie's 67W GaN unit is quite small.
Compared to Apple's most similar charger, Mophie's 67W GaN unit is quite small.
Photo: Mophie

Mophie’s latest ultra-compact USB-C wall chargers, containing gallium nitride (GaN), are available exclusively at Apple or Mophie’s parent company Zagg, the companies said Wednesday.

The Mophie Speedport chargers, designed to power up iPhone, iPads and Macs, come in 30W and 67W sizes.

Apple pushes February MacBook Pro orders back to June

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Apple pushes February MacBook Pro orders back to June
Buying a high-end MacBook Pro requires money and patience.
Photo: Cult of Mac

People who ordered a top-tier MacBook Pro in February are being notified that it won’t be delivered until June. The delay results from COVID-19 lockdowns in China hampering notebook assembly.

New orders also face delays of several months, making a refurbished 2021 MacBook Pro a better option for some buyers.

Apple moves to head off employee union efforts

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Apple moves to head off employee union efforts
It seems Apple won't sit quietly while its retail employees unionize.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly working with Littler Mendelson, a law firm with a history of helping companies prevent their employees from unionizing. The move comes in the wake of workers at several Apple stores moving to form unions.

If true, then Apple is going to do what it can to prevent the thousands of employees at its 250+ retail locations in the United States from organizing for collective bargaining.

Apple store workers eye unions for higher pay

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Apple Store employees in Atlanta and New York work to unionize for higher pay
The Apple Store in Cumberland Mall could soon become the first to have a union.
Photo: Apple

Dozens of workers at an Apple store in Atlanta reportedly plan to file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board asking to become a union. Employees at an Apple retail store in New York are moving in that direction, too.

These could be the first U.S. Apple store employees to unionize. Both groups are asking for higher wages.

Celebrate Earth Day the Apple Pay way, auto-donating $1 at a time

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Use Apple Pay to donate to a good cause this year around Earth Day.
Use Apple Pay to donate to a good cause this year around Earth Day.
Photo: Apple

If you care about environmental causes, Apple just gave you a pretty painless way to give. Starting Thursday and running through Earth Day on April 22, Apple will donate $1 to the World Wildlife Fund for every Apple Pay transaction in Apple stores, on the store app or on Apple.com.

So start buying stuff and join the fight to save the planet’s beleaguered species.

Pics and K-pop: Cupertino shows off big new Apple Store opening in Seoul

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Apple Myeongdong, Apple’s newest location in South Korea, opens Saturday, April 9.
Apple Myeongdong, Apple’s newest and largest store in South Korea, opens on Saturday in Seoul.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest retail location, Apple Myeongdong, opens on Saturday in South Korea’s capital, Seoul. Ahead of the opening of its biggest store in the country, Apple showed off a preview with photos and descriptions of the store’s Today at Apple programs celebrating Korean culture, including a new K-pop session.

Remarkably, the new, two-level Apple Store will employ a whopping 250 people who, collectively, speak 11 languages. So, wherever you’re coming from, you’re likely to be understood as you drop a bundle on new Apple gear!

Apple can now repair Face ID on iPhone X without replacing the device

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face id
Easier and more affordable for everyone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple Store technicians and Authorized Service Providers can now repair Face ID issues on iPhone X without replacing the entire handset.

Apple last month began performing Face ID repairs on newer iPhone models, but iPhone X was excluded from the list of supported devices. A leaked internal memo reveals that the 2017 flagship has now been included.

Apple now sells 14- and 16-inch MacBook refurbs with big discounts

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Apple preps subscription service for iPhone, Mac and more
But Amazon is still cheaper.
Photo: Apple

Refurbished versions of the newest MacBook Pro models are now available to purchase from the Apple Store online. Both 14- and 16-inch units are available with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and customers can save up to $350.

This is the first time refurbs of these machines have been made available by Apple since they made their debut last year. But if it’s a bargain you’re after, you’re likely to find a better deal elsewhere.

Apple stops fixing iPhones reported as stolen

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fixing of taptic engine on iPhone
Be careful who you buy that used iPhone from. If it’s hot, Apple won‘t ever fix it.
Photo: iFixit

An iPhone reported missing or stolen to an industry database can not be repaired at an Apple Store, according to a new company policy.

This means that people need to be careful who they buy from. If they get a deal on a device that turns out to be stolen, they might not able to get it fixed.

Mac Studio, Studio Display and iPad Air reach customers around the world

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Mac Studio and Studio Display launch
Are you getting new Apple devices today?
Photos: Joe Dawson and Pawan

Apple’s new Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPad Air and iPhone SE officially go on sale today. That means customers who preordered early (before shipping dates slipped) are beginning to receive the first deliveries around the world.

If you, like me, are disappointed not to be reveling in the same delight as they are, here are a whole bunch of photos that highlight what we’re missing out on.

Apple now sells iPhone 12 and 12 Pro refurbs in the US from $619

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Get your iPhone 12 ready for resale.
Sweet savings on devices that look brand-new.
Photo: Apple

You can now buy official iPhone 12 and 12 Pro refurbs through the Apple Store online in the United States. Prices start at $619 for a regular 6.1-inch model with 64GB of storage. Apple doesn’t yet offer iPhone 12 mini or 12 Pro Max.

A range of color options are available and all units are unlocked for use on any carrier. As is always the case with refurbs, stock levels are likely to fluctuate, so it might be best to bag one soon if you’re interested.

You can now preorder iPhone SE 3, iPad Air 5 and iPhone 13 in green

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iPad Air 5
Secure yours before delivery dates start slipping.
Photo: Apple

The Apple Store is live again after several hours of downtime on Friday morning, and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to place your preorders for the third-generation iPhone SE, the fifth-generation iPad Air, and iPhone 13 in green.

All three devices are scheduled to make their official debuts one week from today — on Friday, March 18. But initial stock is likely to sell out fast, so if you want one on launch day, you’d better secure your preorder quickly.

Wait times for Mac Studio stretch into April

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Colleen Novielli, the Mac product line manager, details the new Mac Studio.
The Mac Studio was recently unveiled and wait times are already into April. And into May in some cases.
Photo: Apple

The launch date for the Mac Studio is March 18, but preorders placed today won’t arrive until well after that. The wait for the version with the M1 Ultra processor is six weeks or more.

Just because the new desktop is already backordered doesn’t automatically mean there’s huge demand. But it’s not a bad sign, either.

BRB: Apple Store goes down ahead of Peek Performance event

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Apple Store down iPhone 13
New products on the way!
Image: Apple

With just hours to go until Apple kicks off its big Peek Performance event, the Apple Store has predictably closed its virtual doors.

“Be right back” reads the message that greets visitors who attempt to purchase anything through the company’s website this morning. When it returns, we expect a whole bunch of new additions, including an iPhone SE with 5G.

Apple removes face mask requirements for corporate and retail employees

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Apple's CEO and Spanish singer Rosalía take a selfie with Madrid Apple employees.
Apple employees have a lot to celebrate.
Photo: Tim Cook

Apple is dropping the requirement for most of its corporate employees to wear masks, but there are still limitations. And the company has begun allowing some of its retail employees to take off their face mask at Apple Stores.

The policy change takes place as the surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant is essentially over.

In-person ‘Today at Apple’ events resume after 2-year COVID-19 stop

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Today at Apple resumes after COVID-19 stop
Today at Apple is back with Lady Gaga.
Photo: Apple

Apple today confirmed that it will resume in-person “Today at Apple” events in the United States. Beginning March 7, customers will be able to visit their local Apple Store to “explore the art of remixing with GarageBand” — and Lady Gaga.

The events were stopped two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also forced most Apple stores to close. “We can’t wait to welcome more of our communities back to our stores,” said Apple retail chief Deirdre O’Brien.

Apple puts its own embargo on Russia (and you can help Ukraine, too)

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Caviar Putin iPhone
This Putin-themed iPhone from Caviar seems painfully ironic now.
Photo: Caviar

Apple has stopped selling its products in Russia as the country’s war on Ukraine stretches on. The Mac-maker is taking other steps as well, like removing the state-backed news applications RT and Sputnik from the App Store.

“We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Apple said Tuesday in a statement. “We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region.”

Apple brings fresh designs to stunning new Abu Dhabi store

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Apple's newest store is in Abu Dhabi's financial district. Check out that golden carbon fiber roof.
Apple's newest store is in Abu Dhabi's financial district. Check out that golden carbon fiber roof.
Photo: Apple

Apple previewed its “dramatic” new Al Maryah Island store in Abu Dhabi Thursday, showcasing design elements never seen before at Apple stores, as well as special programs.

The retail location opens Friday at 5 p.m. United Arab Emirates time.