Apple to Expand Presence in Ireland and North Carolina

[MacRumors]

Apple is expanding its presence in Ireland with a new product testing center, the Irish Examiner reports, alongside opening a new office in North Carolina.

Apple will open a new product testing center in Cork, Ireland, in what will be the first facility of its kind to test Apple devices in Europe. At the site, Apple engineers and technicians will use a range of equipment, including electron microscopes and CT scanners, to test products with the aim of improving durability and performance.

The testing center is located nearby to Apple's campus at Hollyhill, and was previously used to store hard disks, manuals, and documentation. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Apple's vice president of European Operations Cathy Kearney said the new test facility was "a natural evolution from all the investments in recent years" in Cork:

The focus of this facility is to ensure the best product, durability and performance, and the lab team here will be testing and analysing Apple's entire range of products. This facility is the first of its kind in Europe and we are delighted to have it here in Cork.

The new testing facility in Cork follows the establishment of an Apple team in Ireland dedicated to researching artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Meanwhile, WRAL reports that Apple is planning to spend $19.3 million to renovate the seven-floor MetLife Building 3 in Cary, North Carolina. The location is a temporary space ahead of the opening of a new, $1 billion Apple campus in the state. Apple is in the process of recruiting a range of technical staff, developers, and engineers for the new office, according to Cary Chamber of Commerce President Mark Lawson.

Article Link: Apple to Expand Presence in Ireland and North Carolina

 

[Squozen]

Sod the testing centre, give us a goddamn apple store. It’s ridiculous that the EU headquarters is in Ireland and we don’t have a single store.

 

[ErlichBachman]

Sod the testing centre, give us a goddamn apple store. It’s ridiculous that the EU headquarters is in Ireland and we don’t have a single store.

They want to use Ireland for the tax breaks but have no interest in their Irish customers

 

[Random_Matt]

They want to use Ireland for the tax breaks but have no interest in their Irish customers

Was about to mention tax, spot on.

 

[rpmurray]

In what sweatshop was that picture taken?

 

[WestonHarvey1]

They want to use Ireland for the tax breaks but have no interest in their Irish customers

Why do they dislike the Irish so much? They have stores literally everywhere! You don't get a single Apple store on the whole d*mn island?!!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Ireland is probably Apple's favorite country. Lovely reduced tax saving Apple lots of money.

 

[BrownyQ]

I'm curious to see what the repercussions are of having Apple build another spaceship here in Raleigh. Things have been on a steep & steady rise since the rumors started, and it looks like it'll only raise the cost of living here more and more.

 

[Corsig]

Name one company that isn’t looking for a tax break. Tax laws are set up and if a company follows those laws to profit where is the unethical issue?

 

[Mr. Dee]

They want to use Ireland for the tax breaks but have no interest in their Irish customers

Ding, Ding, Ding!!! The reasoning just doesn’t make any sense about testing product durability. Like aren’t they doing that already in Cupertino?

 

[troublador]

Name one company that isn’t looking for a tax break. Tax laws are set up and if a company follows those laws to profit where is the unethical issue?

Greed is good, eh? Apple has so much money it doesn't know what to do with it. It's tax dodging just because it can.

 

[twolf2919]

Greed is good, eh? Apple has so much money it doesn't know what to do with it. It's tax dodging just because it can.

It's 'tax dodging' because it has a responsibility to its owners - i.e. the shareholders - to maximize their return on investment. You're barking up the wrong tree: tell inept governments to close those tax loop holes and companies will stop taking advantage of them.

 

[citysnaps]

Who among the above infuriated and outraged will be standing up and voting with their wallets, and purchase competing computers and phones?

 

[Corsig]

Greed is good, eh? Apple has so much money it doesn't know what to do with it. It's tax dodging just because it can.

So would you and I if we could pay less taxes.

 

[JM]

I'm curious to see what the repercussions are of having Apple build another spaceship here in Raleigh. Things have been on a steep & steady rise since the rumors started, and it looks like it'll only raise the cost of living here more and more.

Raleigh and Charlotte have been the only reasons anyone has heard of NC in the last 15 years, and the only reason most people move there for job seeking. Building an Apple spaceship sounds right in line with its growth.

Of course there’s also Asheville ?

 

[Sciomar]

Greed is good, eh? Apple has so much money it doesn't know what to do with it. It's tax dodging just because it can.

Make sure you're not claiming any exemptions or using tax breaks when you file, otherwise that's being greedy. Should everyone move to higher taxed states to also not appear greedy? They are too successful, entered a higher earnings threshold and must now not look for ways to continue earning profits?

They have so much money they're looking to open up new offices, renovate an old one, and hire more employees. Why is this a bad thing?

 

[troublador]

It's 'tax dodging' because it has a responsibility to its owners - i.e. the shareholders - to maximize their return on investment. You're barking up the wrong tree: tell inept governments to close those tax loop holes and companies will stop taking advantage of them.

So would you and I if we could pay less taxes.

I'm sick of apologists for the super-rich.

 

[troublador]

Make sure you're not claiming any exemptions or using tax breaks when you file, otherwise that's being greedy. Should everyone move to higher taxed states to also not appear greedy? They are too successful, entered a higher earnings threshold and must now not look for ways to continue earning profits?

They have so much money they're looking to open up new offices, renovate an old one, and hire more employees. Why is this a bad thing?

Yeah, because my personal situation is remotely comparable to the multinational money-hoarding Goliath that is Apple. Christ.

 

[anthogag]

Was the new green iPhone colour designed and tested in Ireland?

Put a Cork in it.

 

[bookofxero]

I'm curious to see what the repercussions are of having Apple build another spaceship here in Raleigh. Things have been on a steep & steady rise since the rumors started, and it looks like it'll only raise the cost of living here more and more.

It has been incredibly steep - suburbs an hour out from Raleigh have houses at $300-400K+. I think the new campus is planned to be closer to RTP and Durham, though, as parts of those areas have not been as steeply affected yet - which is why so many more great new restaurants are opening on that side of things. As a Brooklyn native, when I first went to Durham, it reminded me a lot of Queens. It seems to be on a similar relative path with its gentrification and stratification.

 

[anthogag]

Sod the testing centre, give us a goddamn apple store. It’s ridiculous that the EU headquarters is in Ireland and we don’t have a single store.

Unbelievable, not one Apple Store in Ireland. ?️

 

[dcingie]

I'm curious to see what the repercussions are of having Apple build another spaceship here in Raleigh. Things have been on a steep & steady rise since the rumors started, and it looks like it'll only raise the cost of living here more and more.

Yup. I live in Cary. This is horrible. The only ones that support this are those that stand to profit, and think the financial benefit is going to outweigh the quality of life impacts.

 

[Corsig]

I'm sick of apologists for the super-rich.

You should get help for that sickness

 

[ErlichBachman]

Name one company that isn’t looking for a tax break. Tax laws are set up and if a company follows those laws to profit where is the unethical issue?

Come for the tax breaks but not solely for them. They benefit from Ireland, so treat it at least like most other countries in Europe. Don't make it your EU hub, research hub, tax break hub and then not even have a store for customers.

 

[farmerabc]

I think their tax situation is actually the reason for not having any stores in Ireland.

I've heard their current tax arrangement in Ireland is conditioned on not having a retail presence.