Tim Cook reportedly wants to boost iPhone sales at Apple retail, teases a bevy of new products for fall

Apple Stores will reportedly be changing how they market and sell the iPhone, in hopes that more phones will be sold through their own Apple Store retail locations. This according to comments Tim Cook was said to have made at Apple's annual retail leadership gathering. Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac:

The iPhone is Apple?s central ?gateway product? to other devices like iPads and Macs, so it is critical that the Apple smartphone is sold via an Apple Store so new customers are immediately exposed to iPads, Macs and other devices on the showroom floor. Even though 80% of iPhones are not sold at Apple Stores, 50% of all serviced iPhones are troubleshooted, repaired, or replaced at Apple Store Genius Bars. Cook reportedly hinted that he would like those numbers to be more in line.

Incentives will be offered to customers who buy iPhones from Apple Stores, with Apple's 2013 Back to School promotions being the first part of the new push. Another element that was hinted at during the event was an iPhone trade-in program at Apple Stores. Details on the program are scarce at this time though it appears that it might allow customers to trade in their older phone for a refurbished version of a newer phone. The retail leaders are said to have left the event confident in this fall's product lineup.

It's likely that we'll see this new approach with the launch of new iPhone, iPad, and Mac models, widely expected for this fall. Apple's physical stores have often been credited as playing a major role in Apple's success over the last 12 years, in part because it let customers walk in and see the entire selection of products that Apple was offering. With increasing competition in mobile, the retail stores will continue to be critical differentiators, especially given that Apple can be in full control of the presentation of their products, something that isn't true in other retail locations.

Did you buy your iPhone at an Apple retail location? If not, why not, and is there any way Apple could convince you to buy your next one there?

Source: 9to5Mac

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/85y7r0BUqJQ/story01.htm

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Robin Thicke "Give It 2 U" Single: Even More Inappropriate Than "Blurred Lines"!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/07/robin-thicke-give-it-2-u-single-even-more-inappropriate-than-blu/

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Sandra Bullock Thinks Melissa McCarthy's Spirit Animal Is...

In the new buddy comedy The Heat, Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy play law enforcement officials who are reluctantly paired up to take down a ruthless drug lord. But when quizzed about each other’s personalities in real life, you wouldn’t guess these two actresses were anything but BFFs.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/exclusive-heat-stars-melissa-mccarthy-sandra-bullock-play-newlywed-game/1-a-540668?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aexclusive-heat-stars-melissa-mccarthy-sandra-bullock-play-newlywed-game-540668

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Stocks edge gain in early trading on Wall Street

In this Friday, June 28, 2013 photo, trader Robert Vella, left, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. stocks are getting off to a slow start after a three-day rally. U.S. stock futures are rising with industry watchers expecting automakers to post banner sales. The government also releases its May factory orders report Tuesday, July 2, 2013, and economists are looking for signs of an extended recovery in manufacturing. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

In this Friday, June 28, 2013 photo, trader Robert Vella, left, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. U.S. stocks are getting off to a slow start after a three-day rally. U.S. stock futures are rising with industry watchers expecting automakers to post banner sales. The government also releases its May factory orders report Tuesday, July 2, 2013, and economists are looking for signs of an extended recovery in manufacturing. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Stocks gained early Tuesday, led by financial companies, in quiet trading ahead of the July 4th holiday in the U.S. Ford got a boost after reporting its best June for auto sales since 2006.

U.S. stocks have recovered from a slump last month after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank was considering cutting back on its stimulus later this year, if the economy continues to improve. The central bank is buying $85 billion a month in bonds to keep interest rates low and encourage borrowing.

The Dow Jones rose 52 points, or 0.4 percent, to 15,030 as of 10:14 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained four points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,619. The Nasdaq composite added 11 points, or 0.3 percent, to 3,445.

As well as watching for clues of when the Fed will start to ease its stimulus and ultimately start to raise rates investors will this month turn their focus back to corporate earnings.

"We're in the middle of a transition," said Chris Wolfe, chief investment officer, at Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group. "You would expect to see over the balance of this year and going into next year, somewhat stronger macro economic data that translates directly into stronger corporate revenue growth."

In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.49 percent from 2.48 percent on Monday.

In commodities trading the price of oil rose 85 cents, or 0.9 percent, $98.85 a barrel. Gold fell $3.80, or 0.3 percent, to $1,251.90 an ounce. The dollar against the euro and the Japanese yen.

Among stocks making big moves: ? Zynga jumped 32 cents, or 10 percent, after the troubled maker of "FarmVille" and other online games said its CEO Mark Pincus would step aside. The company's stock is down almost 70 percent since its 2011 initial public offering at $10 per share.

? Achillion Pharmaceuticals fell $1.92, or 22.6 percent, to $6.46 after the drug developer said federal regulators Monday placed a hold on an early-stage study of a drug combination involving its potential hepatitis C treatment.

? DaVita HealthCare Partners fell $7.14, or 5.9 percent, to $113.90, after the government proposed cutting the rates of Medicare payments to dialysis service providers.

? Ford rose 29 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $16.03 and General Motors rose 86 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $34.86. Ford reported that its vehicle sales jumped 13 percent last month compared with a year ago. GM reports sales later in the morning.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-07-02-Wall%20Street/id-04d8617cec714cd2b278d11d9bc34536

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It Took Two Years to Get This Fog-Filled San Francisco Timelapse Right

The early morning when the whole city is still sleeping and the sky is changing from black to pink to orange to blue is the best part of the day. For his short movie, Adrift, filmmaker Simon Christen spent two years getting up before the sun to capture a timelapse video of the fog rolling in over the San Francisco Bay.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VBY1AzYkhYc/it-took-two-years-to-get-this-fog-filled-san-francisco-646334815

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Smartphone cases seem to prevent damage

By Ken Y-N ( July 2, 2013 at 22:17) ? Filed under Hardware, Mobile, Polls

Advertisement

japan.internet.com reported on a recent survey by goo Research into smartphone cases.

Demographics

Between the 21st and 24th of June 2013 1,078 members of the goo Research online monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 54.1% of the sample were male, 13.6% in their teens, 15.7% in their twenties, 21.5% in their thirties, 17.2% in their forties, 14.9% in their fifties and 17.1% aged sixty or older.

Note that a previous survey had found that a vast majority own smartphone cases.

I don?t have one for mine, and it?s only ever had a couple of minor spills out of my pocket onto carpeted floors.

Research results

Q1: Do you currently use a smartphone case? (Sample size=1,078)

Yes (to SQ1)	40.0%
No (to SQ3)	12.6%
Don?t have smartphone	47.4%

Q1SQ1: Have you ever dropped your smartphone? (Sample size=431)

Q1SQ2: What was damaged, broke when you dropped your smartphone? (Sample size=283, multiple answer)

Damaged the side	31.1%
Damaged the screen	14.5%
Damaged the rear cover	11.0%
Dropped but never damaged, broke	58.0%

This was the last question for smartphone case users.

Q1SQ3: Why do you not use a smartphone case? (Sample size=136, multiple answer)

Too bulky	29.4%
Can?t find a design I like	27.9%
Makes the phone heavy	22.1%
Looks cooler without one	15.4%
Makes phone difficult to carry	14.7%
Missed an opportunity to buy one	10.3%
Other	8.1%
No particular reason	16.9%

Q1SQ4: Have you ever dropped your smartphone? (Sample size=136)

Q1SQ5: What was damaged, broke when you dropped your smartphone? (Sample size=87, multiple answer)

Damaged the side	46.0%
Damaged the rear cover	29.9%
Damaged the screen	21.8%
Dropped but never damaged, broke	34.5%

Read more on: case,goo research,smartphone

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WhatJapanThinks/~3/bUR1cUH72RI/

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SF Bay Area braces for first day of transit strike

Jeanette Sanchez holds a sign supporting Bay Area Rapid Transit workers as she waits for a train at the 24th Street Mission station in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Bay Area Rapid Transit workers vote Tuesday on whether to allow their union to call a strike if it is unable to reach a new labor deal with management. The transit agency's two largest unions are holding strike authorization votes throughout the day as the two sides continue negotiations. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Jeanette Sanchez holds a sign supporting Bay Area Rapid Transit workers as she waits for a train at the 24th Street Mission station in San Francisco, Tuesday, June 25, 2013. Bay Area Rapid Transit workers vote Tuesday on whether to allow their union to call a strike if it is unable to reach a new labor deal with management. The transit agency's two largest unions are holding strike authorization votes throughout the day as the two sides continue negotiations. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) ? Commuters braced for traffic snarls Monday morning as two of San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit's largest unions went on strike, halting train service for the first time in 16 years.

The walkout promised to derail the more than 400,000 riders who use the nation's fifth-largest rail system and affect every mode of transportation. Transportation officials say another 60,000 vehicles could be on the road, clogging highways and bridges throughout the Bay Area.

The strike was called after an 11th-hour effort to resume negotiation failed to produce a new contract by the deadline of midnight Sunday. Both the unions and management said they were far apart on key sticking points including salary, pensions, health care and safety.

"A strike is always the last resort and we have done everything in our power to avoid it," said Josie Mooney, a negotiator for Service Employees International Union Local 1021.

"Our members aren't interested in disrupting the Bay Area, but management has put us in a position where we have no choice," said Antonette Bryant, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1555.

Negotiations fell apart Saturday and the unions walked away from the table. California Gov. Jerry Brown's office had urged both sides to resume discussions Sunday with rush hour on the horizon.

But talks between the two sides came to an end Sunday night with BART accusing negotiators of walking away from the bargaining table, while the SEIU countered in a statement that management "threw in the towel."

The unions, which represent nearly 2,400 train operators, station agents, mechanics, maintenance workers and professional staff, were asking for a 5 percent raise each year over the next three years. BART said that train operators and station agents in the unions average about $71,000 in base salary and $11,000 in overtime annually. The workers also pay a flat $92 monthly fee for health insurance.

BART spokesman Rick Rice said the agency had up its original offer of a 4 percent pay rise over the next four years to 8 percent. The proposed salary increase is on top of a 1 percent raise employees were scheduled to receive Monday, Rice added.

The transit agency also said it offered to reduce the contribution employees would have to make to their pensions, and lower the costs of health care premiums they would have to pay.

Bryant said Sunday that BART's latest proposal is not an actual pay increase, calling it "surface bargaining."

BART's last strike lasted six days in 1997. The transit agency handles more than 40 percent of commuters coming from the East Bay to San Francisco with the Bay Bridge handling another 50 percent said John Goodwin, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Other transit agencies in the region urged commuters to consider carpooling, taking buses or ferries, working from home and, if they must drive to work, to leave earlier or even later than usual.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said the city will offer increased transportation options, including at the airport, and increase staff for traffic management. BART said it will let commuters use parking lots at their 33 stations free of charge for the purpose of carpooling.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-07-01-US-BART-Strike/id-63cb2d08f6d740f6b362db099dd790f3

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