'Today at Apple' Sessions About Art, Music, and Coding Expanding to Every Apple Store in May

[diipii]

"At the heart of every Apple Store is the desire to educate and inspire the communities we serve.”
NO. Not Apples job. Sounds fake and needy. Like they don't have a clue what they are doing so just fall back on syrupy sentimentality. This works on 13 year olds clutching iBaubles but that only flies for so long. Phones are old so are pads. Move on Apple back to before FCP was about to oust Avid, Jobs died, Cook and the Cookettes took over and everything went to pot. You must get the pro kit sorted then you get the respect back then you found the dynasty. It's just about not too late so get on with it.

 

[larspetterh]

"Video is available in the United States only"

No it's not. It's available in Norway too.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It has to do with: "smart" devices (tables, mobiles) -- indeed, irrespective of OS and brand -- are not good learning tools, they do not make people "smart" or creative.
Why do you think Steve Jobs did not let his children use iPads?
Do you think the next Steve Wozniak will learn his electronics skills by tapping on an iPad (or Samsung Tab, or LG, or ...)?
Compare and contrast the first Apple computers with the iPad. One requires skill and creativity to build and use, the other one... not so much.
"Smart" devices are creativity (and attention span, and social skills, and ...) killers.

Read the article again. It's not an iPad or iPhone app curriculum. At least not exclusively. Last I checked Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X were Mac only. Swift is iPad, but it does teach one how to start coding. It's not a brain dead app. Nothing about the program description says it's to teach people how to play games and Facebook. Your point is lost on me in regards to this initiative which isn't really new. When the first Apple Stores opened they had a theatre and seminars were held to teach people how to use Macs and Mac software.

 

[Vash108]

I can hardly move around when I actually go there in the first place.

 

[Admiral]

I've had family and some friends who aren't Mac users just flabbergasted that they're still around... people walk into them, but no1 ever seems to buy anyways. FWIW, I've seen stores throughout the nation where folks do pick up their fair shares of iPhones, whereas one person dropped 3 or 4 grand on Mac hardware alone. AFAIK, their margins are large enough that they really don't need to make THAT MANY sales to stay afloat.

What's interesting is that Apple's sales per square foot are the highest of any retailer in America, and Apple increased its sales per square foot by 12% from 2015 to 2016.

 

[iShater]

Wait ... is Apple going to sell coffee now?

 

[WatchFromAfar]

"Video is available in the United States only"

No it's not. It's available in Norway too.

Works in UK too.

 

[vixster1901]

Just because we use technology doesn't me we want to be submerged in it. Need a space to hang out: it would need to be relaxing, no blue or red shirt hawking you, plenty of food, drink, and views. Augment reality "chill time" made in the mind, not technology.

 

[78Bandit]

People go to Starbucks because they offer a space to get out of the office, sit down, get a cup of coffee and a snack, do some creative work on their computer using Starbucks Wi-Fi, or maybe even collaborate for an hour or so. It works because there is a Starbucks on every corner that is convenient for almost every city, suburban, or traveling worker to get to.

What is Apple going to offer? You go to an Apple store and get coffee? Use their computers to do your work? Distract all the other people there who are trying to get Genius help or purchase a computer?

Sorry Angela, you aren't justifying your $100 million+ compensation with an idea like this. Even done right it would amount to nothing more than an expansion of the Genius Bar to include group training sessions which are not conducive to collaboration. Besides, Apple typically has only one store in an entire city. It isn't going to draw people in at random times to meet, eat, and work like they do at Starbucks. You want to offer additional training and support, fine; just don't try and call it a social experience.

 

[cbstevek]

The only way to get people to hang out like a Starbucks is to put a Starbucks inside the Apple store.

 

[FrenchRoasted]

That video clip was frightening. This is an example of the brain trust at Apple?

As has been echoed repeatedly throughout MR for the past few years, Apple needs to focus on the product, not the hype. Say what you want about Job's reality distortion field, he was laser focused on the actual product. Employees feared being confronted by him, having to explain why a product was less than insanely great.

 

[Bacillus]

Has working for Apple aged Angela, or is that my imagination?

Probably she gave up on motivating Jony, Phil and other product guys for innovation.
Indeed she looks tired and apparently conformed herself to the Cookette "sell refurb as new" paradigm, not only for products but now also for promotion.
Because this program already existed for a few years in some AppleStores.
Sorry to say Angela, but perceived "coolness" isn't a virtue by itself that will perpetuate forever. It comes with cool products or services. And it flies with the wind...

 

[26139]

I worked for Apple retail 2003-07, and they were gathering places for YEARS until Apple's own policies ended that. My GM repeatedly told me to stop talking to customers for as long as I was, and to not share tips outside of classes.

Shame.

 

[NOV]

Don't know, nowadays I feel quite bored going through the local Apple Store (The Hague, Netherlands). The only interesting part for me is the space where they sell third-party products, just to check if there is anything exciting in there. Even the free toilet they closed recently, so one reason less to go there

BTW Angela looks quite old and tired in the vid.

 

[mrarick]

That's nice for people that live in big cities. What do the rest of us do? Closest Apple store is 210 miles from Destin, FL.

 

[Bacillus]

Really hesitant to say this, but the force is strong: Angela needs to watch this interview and be objective re: her appearance. My reaction is that she looks very "strained". You want to look natural. Having said that, there are alt instances where guys like Eddie and Phil are over-doing the "casual" look. They are all so strained. Then there is Tim's weird (imho) pacing when he presents. My guess is that they all (A, E, P, T) have all hired experts who get paid a lot of money to help them create an appearance halo like Steve. Come on folks, it was natural for him. If you are hiring folks to get the same vibe... well just think about that for a moment.

So true. The curated "padding of the ordinary" (AppleStore employees) is nothing more than a spinned hug, pre-programmed by the spindocter team whose mission is to prove her empathy.
Sadly, Apple has no empathy.
It employs a digital shredder behind feedback@apple.com and doesn't listen to customers (except for selling their collective data in impersonalised and undocumented ways)
It actively ignores customers when it comes to hints, tips and requests.
And Angela doesn't think "money to be important" - probably as long as her compensation remains the same/more.
She "never asked for it" (ignoring that her benefit packages probably got secured by a recruitment agency) Or either she got enough - then it's time to terminated that and look for someone who can start something fresh and doesn't look programmed like a computerized bozo with fabricated smile's and half-truths that seem an integral part of the game.

 

[photosbynick]

I worked at Apple from 2005-2010 and they have been trying to make the Apple retail stores a "meeting place" since then. They have also done the pro classes too. They used to be paid, so the new free thing is to align more with the latest millennial mentality where they want **** for free. Its a good idea and a nice try, but Apple will not become the meeting spot for people unless they are here to buy ****. No way in hell am I going to an Apple store to meet with a client of mine. Every 30 seconds some employee will come over and ask me if I need help. NO F you dude im meeting with a client!

 

[imanidiot]

That video clip was frightening. This is an example of the brain trust at Apple?

As has been echoed repeatedly throughout MR for the past few years, Apple needs to focus on the product, not the hype. Say what you want about Job's reality distortion field, he was laser focused on the actual product. Employees feared being confronted by him, having to explain why a product was less than insanely great.

Agree. It's a little sad. It feels like Angela is trying to justify her existance (at Apple). Like, we're paying you X-millions for what again? Remind us.

 

[Bacillus]

Agree. It's a little sad. It feels like Angela is trying to justify her existance (at Apple). Like, we're paying you X-millions for what again? Remind us.

Indeed. I have absolutely nothing against her being with Apple, but at a nominal fee.
If she really means that money is not important to her, cut her excessive compensation to (re)establish core activities and fund new Mac development.
Customers rather see (and for that matter: fund) a few models re-engineered than a person hardly interested in her/his compensation, which is frankly quite frustrating to observe anyway.
Leaving the impression of a loaded, spoilt generation.
It's time for a spindocter to educate her spindocter

 

[Larry-K]

Finally caught the video, God she's scary, is "TrumpTan" Spreading?

Have to admit, she almost looks lifelike, it's those weird gestures that give her away.

 

[tommyminahan]

I feel like Apple needs to split into two stores. A Genius Store and a Retail and Training store.
70% of the "Customers" at most Apple stores are there for repairs or other genius issues.. ( I say "customers" because I don't include the myriads of high schoolers there just playing on the devices to kill time at the mall)

I miss the days when I could walk into an apple store and get a genius appoint in the same hour, let alone the same day now..

 

[ackmondual]

Breaking news: Apple hiring baristas.

Serving drinks in 3 sizes:
iPhone 7 thin
MacBook Air thin
iPad Air thin

 

[rainafterthesun]

I've had family and some friends who aren't Mac users just flabbergasted that they're still around... people walk into them, but no1 ever seems to buy anyways. FWIW, I've seen stores throughout the nation where folks do pick up their fair shares of iPhones, whereas one person dropped 3 or 4 grand on Mac hardware alone. AFAIK, their margins are large enough that they really don't need to make THAT MANY sales to stay afloat.

Lol i guess this depends on the area you're in. Where I'm at, there's three apple stores within the city within 2-4 mile radius of each other. They pull some impressive numbers but then again the iPhones are already a couple hundred for one.

Margins aside they take decent (re: better then most retail not counting rtw type of boutique/stores) of their people.

As the years have gone by, less tables and counter space for computers of varying configurations with varying gadgets to get hands-on with, and more and more tables of iPhones and iPads and watches. Remind me why I want to go to an Apple Store?

I'm like you. I only go in to buy a product because I can't wait for it to come in the mail. But I'm sure there's a lot of folks who can. The thing is, most aren't like us...or me rather. I don't need the experience of a specialist. I don't need them to run down with me the pros and cons. I know what I want and I'm in and out. No, I don't need you to help me set it up (they're always so helpful in offering that feature). No, I don't need you to activate it.

I'm also the kind that rarely returns.

Do my research way in advance.

And for the most part easy but very boring.

 

[thekeyring]

An audacious goal, a vision for what the Apple retail experience will be, and a pinch of criticism from the wider crowd. Sounds like it has all the ingredients of success.

 

[Bacillus]

Today at Apple:
MacPro => 4 years ago at Apple
MacMini => 3 years ago at Apple
MacBook Air, iMac, iPodTouch => 2 years ago at Apple

I worked for Apple retail 2003-07, and they were gathering places for YEARS until Apple's own policies ended that. My GM repeatedly told me to stop talking to customers for as long as I was, and to not share tips outside of classes.
Shame.

But this formula, developed since Ron Johnson, has now been refurbished by a $200 million compensated woman - who during this interview earned $266.000.
So I presume it should be far better now.