Walmart introduces ‘Black Thursday’ in a conspiracy against family traditions

You better plan ahead - way ahead - for upcoming Black Friday sales this year, especially now that Walmart will open up stores at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Thursday.

Walmart officially hates families. It’s not crazy enough that people have to stuff turkey into their mouths like a July 4th hot dog eating contest so they can be out and in line by midnight for Black Friday, now the superstore aims to move the sale up to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving night. Or what you’d otherwise call “dinner time.”

The retailer also announced that anyone already inside Walmart between 10 to 11 p.m. will be guaranteed three gadgets of their shopping heart’s desires – including an Apple iPad (albiet the second-generation edition) priced at $400 with a $75 Walmart gift card. The stores will be open overnight onto the standard Black Friday sales hours to accommodate shoppers not willing to leave Thanksgiving dinner to shop just yet. But of course, you snooze, you lose so don’t blame the retailer if your sought-out laptop is gone by the time you arrive.

“We got customer feedback that says ‘I like to shop earlier so I can go to bed earlier,’” Duncan MacNaughton, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer, said in a statement.

Walmart says this year’s sales will be its most “aggressive” yet, including video games starting at $10, a 43-inch Samsung 720p HDTV for $378, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones for $179, and a Nintendo Wii console for $89. MacNaughton says any combination of the aforementioned items will be available during the Thursday night sales hours, and Walmart will have enough inventory to meet the anticipated demand. “We bought deep, very deep, and we bought deep on items that matter to our customers,” he said.

In addition to the earlier extended hours, Walmart will also include online-specific deals that will be available on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. We’re not sure who Walmart polled to decide to ruin family traditions with consumerism, but if you need an excuse to escape your family or don’t so much as care to watch the annual Thanksgiving NFL football game, you’ll probably want to plan for a Thanksgiving lunch this holiday season. You poor, lonely, materialistic thing.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Booksellers push back against Amazon’s titles

After years of undercutting physical booksellers with cheaper titles and greater selection, Amazon is facing trouble placing the books it publishes in stores in the real world.

With its continuing growth in areas outside of its original core business of selling books online – Amazon has, this year, announced the formation of its own videogame studio and is rumored to be getting into the wine business, in addition to its already existing movie production house, digital publishing house, electronics, clothing and grocery stores and “Pinzon” label household products – you’d be forgiven for thinking that everything was coming up Amazon these days. And, while that may be true in the virtual world, the Seattle, Washington company is said to be facing unexpected trouble in another of its satellite business ventures in a way that may make you wonder whether or not there really is such a thing as karma.

The New York Times reported yesterday that booksellers are refusing to handle The 4-Hour Chef, the new book from self-help guru Timothy Ferriss that just so happens to be the first product of his deal with Amazon’s publishing arm. Despite Ferriss’ proven track record in book sales – His first book, The 4-Hour Workweek sold almost half a million copies in its original edition, according to Neilsen BookScan figures, with the sequel The 4-Hour Body reaching similar sales heights (Both made it onto the New York Times’ non-fiction Bestseller list) – booksellers from independent one-store outlets to competitive chains like Barnes & Noble will not be stocking Chef, citing Amazon’s involvement as the reason why.

“We don’t think it’s in our best interests to do business with Amazon,” said Bill Petrocelli, co-owner of Book Passage, a store in Marin County, CA. Michael Tucker, owner of the Books Inc. chain agrees. “At a certain point, you have to decide how far you want to nail your own coffin shut,” he explained. “Amazon wants to completely control the entire book trade. You’re crazy if you want to play that game with them.” (Books Inc. will special order the title for any customer who asks, however.) Barnes & Noble, one of Amazon’s largest competitors in both the book trade and digital reader business, agrees, and has made it clear that it won’t be stocking Amazon product, with Walmart and Target both only carrying the title in their online stores.

There’s also ill-feeling from stores towards Ferriss for signing with Amazon in the first place. “[Previous publisher] Crown put in a lot of effort to promote [Ferriss' first two] books,” Petrocelli pointed out, adding that Ferriss “decided to walk away. That’s his decision to make but I can’t say I applaud it. I think writers should be supportive of publishers that are supportive of them.”

Not all bookstores are boycotting the book. San Francisco’s Green Apple will stock it, although store buyer Kevin Ryan said that the store won’t be “go[ing] out of our way to promote something from Amazon. We’re not going to stretch.”

For his part, Ferriss seemed prepared for this kind of response. He told the NYT “By signing with Amazon, I expected this type of blowback.” Saying that he’s “griding [his] loins” in preparation, he added “I don’t feel like I’m giving anything up, financially or otherwise” with his new deal. Time will tell if that continues to be the case when The 4-Hour Chef is released on November 20.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple sold 3 million iPads (big and small) in opening weekend

Apple managed to sell a million iPads a day since the iPad 4th generation and iPad mini hit their first wave of stores just three days ago.

Apple didn’t specify how many iPad mini’s and iPad 4′s were sold but the total number is still worth mentioning.

The 3 million are all Wi-Fi only models and Apple expects the Wi-Fi + Cellular options of both tablets to ship in a few weeks in the US with more countries to be added later this year.

According to Brian White, a Topeka Capital Markets analyst, the iPad mini was sold out at around 60% of surveyed Apple retail stores in the US.

The 3rd generation iPad set record sales in its first weekend back in March by selling 3 million units. Releasing a new iPad as soon as Apple did doesn’t seem to have slowed the pace at which their tablets sell, even if we’re talking about two separate devices this time around.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Starbucks rolls out test of wireless charging stations in Boston

Definitely more convenient than hunting down a power outlet while holding a latte, Starbucks and Duracell are testing wireless charging at retail stores.

Detailed on Boston.com earlier today, the Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks is launching a pilot program that will install wireless charging stations at seventeen franchise locations around the city of Boston. Partnering with Duracell, Starbucks management is utilizing inductive charging technology and installing large Duracell Powermats within the tables at retail stores. In order to take advantage of wireless charging, customers will either need to purchase a Power Matters Alliance (PMA) compatible wireless power case or borrow a loaner case from a Starbucks employee. Duracell currently makes PMA-compatible cases for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S as well as the Samsung Galaxy S III Android smartphone.

When asked about the new technology rolling out at Boston locations, Starbucks chief digital officer Adam Brotman stated “We’re building the Powermat technology into some of the tabletops, just to get a sense for how our customers will react, compared to having to plug their mobile devices into the wall. A few weeks into the test, we’ll do some in-store giveaways, and we will have some behind the counter available to loan out.” 

Starbucks plans to roll out a minimum of eight Powermats per store in order to gauge customer demand and the first stores to receive the upgrades are located within Boston’s financial district. As more people start using the wireless charging stations instead of the power outlets within each store, it’s likely that it will free up charging space for customers with laptops or other devices.

AT&T has also started to sell PMA-compatible cases and Delta airlines has started installing wireless charging spots around gates at major airports within the United States. Earlier this year, General Motors announced that the company would be adding a PMA-compatible powermat station into Cadillac, Chevrolet, and Buick automobiles. In addition, popular venue Madison Square Gardens in New York City has added hundreds of wireless charging locations as a service to visitors.  

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Bad manners? UK store stops serving customers yakking on mobile phones

Staff at a store in England have become so annoyed with people talking on their mobile phones at the cash register that they're now refusing to serve them.

The County Stores in south-west England says on its website that visitors will be able to find, among its many offerings, “a bakery, our delicatessen counter, a small and friendly butcher, quality chocolates and coffee.” They’ll also find a notice informing them that should they approach a cash register while talking on a mobile phone, they won’t be served.

Staff at the store, which has been in business since 1836, have become so fed up with distracted customers yakking away on their handsets that in the end the notice seemed like the only solution.

“Quite simply, if someone’s on their phone, we’ll serve the next person,” store assistant Sharon Kidd told the Daily Mail. “People refusing to hang up when it’s their turn to be served is happening increasingly, and…..the queue can get quite long.”

Kidd said that on the whole that the policy has been well received by customers, with only one or two visitors getting upset after being ignored.

The owner of the store, Hugh Duder, understands his workers’ disgruntlement at visitors who appear unable to take a break from their mobiles, saying, “It’s disrespectful to be on the phone when you want to get served, and the counter assistants shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

The store isn’t first in the UK to adopt such a policy. Earlier this year Darren Groom, owner of a coffee shop in Norwich in eastern England, decided to “strike a blow for basic manners” by putting up a sign indicating that he would refuse to serve customers talking on a phone.

Groom explained that he’d become fed up with people expecting him to be able to lip read their order.

“In the shop we need to ask a few questions, like whether they’re having it in or taking it away, whether they want whole milk or not, sugar or not,” he told the BBC, adding “When people come in we like to say ‘hello’. It’s nice if people respond to that. They should have the basic manners to converse with us.”

In the case of retail stores, it’s possible the issue of customers talking on their phone while at the cash register is a bigger annoyance than many people realize. However, beyond sticking up notices, there’s little staff can do. If only cell phone jammers weren’t illegal….

[Image: Arcady / Shutterstock]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

More iPhones are sold through carriers than in Apple’s own stores

In the U.S., Apple stores have achieved a type of mythical status by being able to generate more revenue per square foot than any other retail outlet, particularly because there are only 250 locations nationwide.

However, it seems that carriers, namely AT&T and Verizon, are shouldering the heavy load when it comes to iPhone sales.

For the six month period ending in August 2012, a combined 54% of iPhones were sold in either Verizon or AT&T store locations, as opposed to 21% in Apple stores.

As far as iPad and Mac computers are concerned, Apple still holds the lion’s share of the pie, with 40% of iPads and 47% of Macs being sold in retail stores or through online sales.

Where did you buy your iPhone from?

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Whole shipment of iPhone 5s stolen from French airport

Just before the Japanese launch of the iPhone 5, three stores were robbed of a total of 191 units. Then about a week ago, an employee of a London O2 store made off with an entire shipment of 250 iPhone 5s, which are worth about £100,000.

Now there’s a report that on Tuesday there was yet another major iPhone 5 theft, which occurred in France. The number of units stolen wasn’t confirmd, but the whole thing played out like a heist movie.

The iPhone 5 shipment was being loaded on a plane at Marignane airport when three armed robbers blocked the vehicle used to load the plane with two BMWs. The gunmen then forced the driver to follow the two cars and a Renault Master that lead the way.

About 10km down the road, the robbers stopped and loaded the shipment (which also included a number of Apple laptops) in the van. After they were done, they set the airport’s truck on fire and drove off.

The police investigating is ongoing.

Note: the image above is not an actual photo of the incident, just a photo of something being loaded on a plane with a quickly photoshopped Apple logo.

Source (in French)

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

A prank video shows Apple fans reaction to falling boxes full of iPhone 5s

We all saw the absurdly long lines in front of the Apple Stores full of people waiting for days (or even weeks) to be among the first ones to get hold of the spanking new iPhone 5. Imagine how those people would feel if they saw the boxes full of iPhone 5 units fall before their eyes, generating the unmistakable sound of shattered glass.

Well, that’s exactly the kind of prank the guys over at AwesomenessTV pulled off in front of a few Apple Stores. The results are absolutely hilarious!

Check out the video below and see for yourself.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Lytro light-field camera coming to Amazon, Target, Best Buy

The Lytro light-field camera is moving into the big leagues of Amazon, Target, and Best Buy online stores next month.

 

The revolutionary Lytro light-field camera is about to get easier to buy. The company announced today that it is expanding its retail reach in the U.S. and around the world starting next month.

On October 9, photography enthusiasts in the U.S. will be able to purchase a Lytro camera through Amazon.com, Target.com, and BestBuy.com. In November, CityTarget stores in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Westwood, California, will also begin carrying the Lytro. Brick-and-mortar stores in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore will offer Lytro cameras, as of October.

“Since our first shipments of the Lytro camera only six months ago, we’ve been inundated with requests to bring the Lytro camera to countries near and far and to stores near you,” said Charles Chi, CEO of Lytro in a statement.

Currently, the Lytro has only been available through Lytro.com. The camera costs $400 for the 8GB version, or $500 for the 16GB model.

For those of you unfamiliar with Lytro, the device is anything but ordinary. The first thing you’ll notice is its look — a rectangular block, with none of the buttons or detachable lenses that you’d find on an traditional camera. But this isn’t just an aesthetic choice; the Lytro uses light-field technology, which captures 11 million different rays of light, “megarays,” rather than traditional megapixels, a difference that dictates the camera’s shape. By capturing all this light, Lytro removes the need to focus when taking the picture.

Lytro pictures — which are digital-only — are then ported to a computer and processed by Lytro’s software. From there, users can choose the focus of their picture with a click of the mouse. Don’t like the way it looks? Refocus again and again. These pictures can also be embedded onto Web pages, where anyone can manipulated the focus to their heart’s content.

Check out some examples below. (Just click on the point in the picture where you want to focus.) And be sure to peruse our full Lytro review here.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Walmart taking iPhone 5 pre-orders Friday morning, cheaper than competitors

Walmart will be taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5 at its US stores from Friday morning – for a price that undercuts its competitors.

Following the unveiling of the latest iPhone in San Francisco on Wednesday, it’s possible many owners of the 4S are already looking at their device like it belongs in a museum. It’s a safe bet many will be chomping at the bit to rid themselves of their ‘ancient’ handset in favor of the new one, with its bigger screen and faster processor.

If you happen to be one of these people, or if your current phone is on its last legs and the iPhone 5 seems like a fine replacement, you may be interested to know that Walmart will be taking pre-orders for the new handset at its US stores from Friday morning – for a price that undercuts its competitors.

The retail giant is offering the 16GB version of Apple’s new phone with a $189.97 price tag, as part of a two-year contract. Meanwhile, Apple, AT&T and Verizon will be selling the same phone for 10 bucks more – $199. Walmart’s prices for the 32GB and 64GB versions aren’t known.

Those choosing to buy the new handset from the store are asked to pre-order in person. In return for a $25 deposit, you’ll be given a reservation card, needed for when you collect the phone a week later.

Walmart is also slashing the price of the old iPhone 4S from $148 to $89.97, with a two-year contract. Even cheaper is the iPhone 4, going for just 97 cents with a two-year contract. That’s down from $48.88. If the iPhone 5 seems a little on the pricey side but you’d still like to bag yourself an iPhone, you have choices.

Many analysts believe sales of the Cupertino company’s new smartphone will break all records, selling 10 million units even before the end of the month. The iPhone revolutionzed the handset market when it burst onto the scene in 2007, and in the intervening years has sold a staggering 244 million units.

Users upgrading from an earlier iteration to the new model will gain a lighter, slimmer device with a larger screen, a faster processor, 4G LTE compatibility, and a better camera.

It’ll be available for pick-up on September 21.

[Source: Bloomberg, LA Times]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple approved: Paradigm’s CT 2.1 speaker system

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September 7, 2012

The big news from Paradigm this year is that Apple likes its products and will soon feature Paradigm speakers and earphones in its stores.

We could tell something was going on as we approached Paradigm’s booth at CEDIA 2012. A little more than the usual amount of glimmer in the team’s eyes and some extra-wide smiles tipped us off that Paradigm was pleased with the news it had to share with us. Now we get it. 

It turns out that Paradigm has been courting Apple for the last few months. Paradigm developed a prototype speaker system, showed it to Apple, and the way we hear it, it took Apple about 20 seconds to let Paradigm know it loved what it heard. With its foot in Apple’s door, Paradigm got busy redesigning its Shift series of earphones, developing an Airplay speaker and finalizing the design of what you’ll see in this video, the Paradigm CT 2.1 system. 

With Paradigm’s products due to hit Apple’s online and brick and mortar stores in mere weeks, a whole new generation of listeners is about to become familiar with Paradigm’s products and signature sound. No wonder Paradigm is grinning.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Europe finally gets the Kindle Fire (and Fire HD too), pre-orders now live

The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD and the refreshed Kindle Fire slates announced just yesterday in the USA, are already heading to Europe (for the first time).

All EU Amazon stores are already taking pre-orders for the Kindles and will launch them in the end of October.

The refreshed Kindle Fire costs €159/£129 and will be released on October 25.

The 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will become available on the same day and will cost you €199/£159 for the 16GB version and €249/£199 for the 32GB model.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Apple store cuts? Tech giant reportedly reducing working hours of staff and axing recent hires

It seems that Apple is in the midst of reducing the working hours of staff at its retail stores, and even laying off those recently taken on.

Apple has reportedly been making cuts to its retail workforce, many of them new employees fresh out of the store’s training program.

Apple fan site MacRumors said that in recent weeks it had been told of lay-offs from a number of Apple stores – particularly in the UK – though long-term cuts in working hours for part-time staff in the US and Canada have also been reported.

According to MacRumors, one particular Apple store in the UK dismissed all employees with less than six months of service, “including a group that had been hired only one month ago and had just completed their training program.”

A separate case reported to the fan site indicated that besides new workers being laid off, some long-term retail staff who’d recently been promoted had apparently been returned to their original job position and never saw any pay increase.

An unnamed source based in the UK also told MacRumors that several training groups had been dismissed in the last week alone, “all of whom were still within their probationary periods as new employees.”

As for Apple store employees in North America, working hours have reportedly been slashed for part-time staff. Employee vacations have also been cut for full-time staff in order to reduce reliance on part-time workers.

There appears to be no obvious reason for the reported cuts and lay-offs, which come just a couple of months after reports of some fairly hefty pay rises for store workers in a bid to boost what had been considered by many to be some rather light pay packets.

Any shake-up in its retail operations will be the work of John Browett, brought in by Apple in April to oversee its retail business. Browett had been working at Dixons, a major electronics chain in the UK. While there, he made some major cuts in order to streamline the business – but Apple stores? Aren’t they performing well?

And as MacRumors points out, if the lay-offs are for real, the timing seems a little bizarre. Next month the company is almost certain to unveil the next iteration of its iPhone, a device for which demand is likely to be huge; and then soon after that we’ll be in the holiday season. It looks like the existing store employees have a busy time ahead of them.

Some 20 million visits a month are paid to the tech giant’s retail stores, of which there are currently 373 in 13 countries.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com