Free iPhone

Back in January, blogger Seattle Rex announced that he would be suing Apple over issues related to his 2008 MacBook Pro that appears to have suffered from an NVIDIA graphics card failure. According to Rex, the graphics chip on his top-of-the-line 17-inch MacBook Pro began to flake out late last year, two months after his AppleCare extended warranty expired, and a month later the machine died completely, refusing to boot.

Upon taking the machine to the Genius Bar at a local Apple retail store, Rex was informed that because the machine could not be booted to confirm that the graphics chip was indeed defective, he would have to pay for all repairs to the machine, up to $600.I proceeded to explain my displeasure with the “genius”, firmly, but politely. I explained, calmly, that a $4,500 laptop that fails in 3 years and 3 months is defective. Period. I explained to him that a chip on the mainboard was known to be defective, and that Apple had admitted as much. I was calm, but at this point, I think my temper was starting to show, because I could feel that telltale flushness in my face.Following an additional two months of speaking to various levels of Apple’s support and executive relations teams and filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, all to no avail, Rex filed suit against Apple in small claims court seeking compensation for his dead MacBook Pro and associated expenses.

And finally, Rex earlier this week published a lengthy blog post outlining his experience facing off against two Apple lawyers last week and winning an unspecified sum sufficient to purchase a new computer. Among the interesting incidents from the proceedings:

- Apple’s lawyers argued that Rex’s MacBook Pro wasn’t covered by the repair program because he had purchased a build-to-order machine with a faster processor, even though the machine carried the same GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip that was the subject of the repair program. Only after Rex presented this information to the court did Apple’s lawyers admit the fact and concede that the machine should be covered for repair.

- Rex had refused to accept a replacement logic board for his MacBook Pro, arguing that he would simply receive yet another defective GeForce 8600M GT chip. Apple’s lawyers conceded that the machine could only accept the GeForce 8600M GT chip, and the judge ruled that Rex’s machine was not repairable.

- Apple fought the case even though a repair could have been made at no expense to Apple, as NVIDIA was covering the cost of repairs related to the defective chip.At one point, the judge asked Apple how much it would have cost them to have simply replaced my logic board when I had taken it in, and one of the Apple guys said “Oh, it wouldn’t have cost us anything, Nvidia foots the bill for each board we replace.”

The judge’s face almost hit the floor as he shot me a quizzical look, to which I just shrugged. I knew that he, and everyone else in the courtroom was thinking the same thing:

If Apple could have replaced my logic board at no cost to themselves, then why in the hell did they drag this out for so long, and why did they send two people to court to try and make sure that I got absolutely nothing? Friends, this is a question I have been asking myself for three months, and it is a question that I do not have the answer to.Rex still has to collect on the judgment, which covers the cost of a new computer and compensation for court costs and other minor expenses, and he remains concerned that Apple will try to avoid making the required payment.

Beyond his own case, Rex notes in an update to his post that the response from readers has been overwhelming, with numerous readers sharing similar tales of being unable to have suspected NVIDIA graphics chip failures covered by Apple’s repair program. Consequently, he is now considering organizing a class action lawsuit to allow those affected by the issue to band together in seeking compensation.

Back in January, blogger Seattle Rex announced that he would be suing Apple over issues related to his 2008 MacBook Pro that appears to have suffered from an NVIDIA graphics card failure. According to Rex, the graphics chip on his top-of-the-line 17-inch MacBook Pro began to flake out late last year, two months after his AppleCare extended warranty expired, and a month later the machine died completely, refusing to boot.

Upon taking the machine to the Genius Bar at a local Apple retail store, Rex was informed that because the machine could not be booted to confirm that the graphics chip was indeed defective, he would have to pay for all repairs to the machine, up to $600.I proceeded to explain my displeasure with the “genius”, firmly, but politely. I explained, calmly, that a $4,500 laptop that fails in 3 years and 3 months is defective. Period. I explained to him that a chip on the mainboard was known to be defective, and that Apple had admitted as much. I was calm, but at this point, I think my temper was starting to show, because I could feel that telltale flushness in my face.Following an additional two months of speaking to various levels of Apple’s support and executive relations teams and filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, all to no avail, Rex filed suit against Apple in small claims court seeking compensation for his dead MacBook Pro and associated expenses.

And finally, Rex earlier this week published a lengthy blog post outlining his experience facing off against two Apple lawyers last week and winning an unspecified sum sufficient to purchase a new computer. Among the interesting incidents from the proceedings:

- Apple’s lawyers argued that Rex’s MacBook Pro wasn’t covered by the repair program because he had purchased a build-to-order machine with a faster processor, even though the machine carried the same GeForce 8600M GT graphics chip that was the subject of the repair program. Only after Rex presented this information to the court did Apple’s lawyers admit the fact and concede that the machine should be covered for repair.

- Rex had refused to accept a replacement logic board for his MacBook Pro, arguing that he would simply receive yet another defective GeForce 8600M GT chip. Apple’s lawyers conceded that the machine could only accept the GeForce 8600M GT chip, and the judge ruled that Rex’s machine was not repairable.

- Apple fought the case even though a repair could have been made at no expense to Apple, as NVIDIA was covering the cost of repairs related to the defective chip.At one point, the judge asked Apple how much it would have cost them to have simply replaced my logic board when I had taken it in, and one of the Apple guys said “Oh, it wouldn’t have cost us anything, Nvidia foots the bill for each board we replace.”

The judge’s face almost hit the floor as he shot me a quizzical look, to which I just shrugged. I knew that he, and everyone else in the courtroom was thinking the same thing:

If Apple could have replaced my logic board at no cost to themselves, then why in the hell did they drag this out for so long, and why did they send two people to court to try and make sure that I got absolutely nothing? Friends, this is a question I have been asking myself for three months, and it is a question that I do not have the answer to.Rex still has to collect on the judgment, which covers the cost of a new computer and compensation for court costs and other minor expenses, and he remains concerned that Apple will try to avoid making the required payment.

Beyond his own case, Rex notes in an update to his post that the response from readers has been overwhelming, with numerous readers sharing similar tales of being unable to have suspected NVIDIA graphics chip failures covered by Apple’s repair program. Consequently, he is now considering organizing a class action lawsuit to allow those affected by the issue to band together in seeking compensation.

Though the new iPad was announced on March 7, Apple continues to advertise the iPad 2 in prime advertising real estate on top of the West 14th Street Apple Retail Store, as noticed by AdAge.

The billboards on top of the store, a flagship in the middle of the trendy Meatpacking District in New York City, were apparently included in the lease for the location. The billboards have always been advertising Apple products, since the opening of the store.

Though the 16GB iPad 2 is still for sale, it seems odd that Apple wouldn’t be advertising its newest tablet on some of New York City’s best advertising real estate. Click through to AdAge to see the full picture.

A mall in Dalian, China, has begun advertising that the “world’s biggest” Apple Store is set to open in the near future.

Apple appears to be working on plans to open its largest retail store yet, advertising a forthcoming store in the main Century City shopping district of Dalian, China. M.I.C. gadget posts a photo showing promotional signage in a shopping center there calling the forthcoming store the “world’s biggest”.

Signage in Dalian’s Parkland Mall advertising upcoming Apple retail store as the company’s largest


Interestingly, the article also reports on an incident that has brought Apple some additional attention, with other stores in the area complaining about new barricades for construction of the Apple retail store encroaching too far onto a public plaza.

The dispute quickly escalated just minutes after the barricades were erected yesterday, with security officers working on behalf of a neighboring business facing off with Apple-hired security guards and ultimately forcibly dismantling the barricades. A portion of the glass curtain wall on the Parkland shopping center was also smashed in the process, and police were called to the scene to address the situation.

M.I.C. gadget‘s report suggests that the dispute stemmed from jealously between shopping centers over Apple’s choice of venue for its store, but our reading of the source article from We54.com [Google translation] indicates that the controversy is more about encroachment upon public spaces that other retailers fear will impact their business during the construction process.

Dailan, a city of 3.5 million people with a total of over 6 million people in the region, is located on the Liaodong Peninsula separating the Bohai Sea from Korea Bay in northeastern China. It is a major seaport, financial center, and tourist magnet for the region, drawing significant numbers of visitors from China, Japan, and Korea.

In line with our report from late yesterday about a new AppleCare+ extended warranty program for iPad, Apple has indeed introduced the new program with accidental damage coverage today. Availability is listed as “coming soon”.Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support. AppleCare+ for iPad extends your coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPad and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a $49 service fee. Whether you use your iPad with a Mac or a PC, just one phone call can help resolve most issues.Priced at $99 in the United States, AppleCare+ for iPad must be purchased within 30 days of the date of purchase for the covered iPad. AppleCare+ purchases made separate from the iPad purchase must be made at an Apple retail store in order to verify the device purchase date and condition of the device.

Right on schedule, Apple has shut down their online store for an update, complete with their usual cutesy post-it note. Since we’re expecting the iPad 3 to be announced this afternoon, it’s likely that they’re just getting things ready to showcase new products.

Even if online ordering becomes available today or later this week, it’s a safe assumption that a lot of folks will be lining up in front of the brick and mortar stores on launch day.

But tell the truth, you’re hitting refresh every 30 seconds until it comes up, right?

So are we. Follow along with our live podcast starting at 10am PT/1am ET/6pm GMT and we’ll find out together!

Business Insider points to a report [Google translation] from French newspaper Le Figaro noting that Virgin will be vacating its landmark retail store on Champs-Élysées in Paris and that Apple is one of the primary candidates rumored to be interested in taking the spot.

Interior of Virgin Megastore on Champs-Élysées (Source: Flickr/Ju_li_a)


The entire Virgin store checks in at roughly 75,000 square feet, with nearly 50,000 square feet of it dedicated to the sales floor. Apple’s largest flagship retail stores at Regent Street and Covent Garden in London currently offer roughly 25,000 square feet of space, and while Apple could presumably opt to take only a portion of Virgin’s space at the Paris location if it is indeed interested, the space certainly would give Apple an opportunity to build by far its largest retail store in a very prominent location.

It is also interesting to note a report from Hardmac claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook was in Paris earlier this week for unknown reasons. There is obviously no specific evidence tying his rumored presence to the Virgin store vacancy, but those hoping that Apple might pursue the project are welcome to speculate about whether he may have been in town to personally survey the site amid other company business.

Apple today updated its Apple Store app [App Store] for iOS to version 2.1, adding several new features and making the app available in the Netherlands for the first time to support the Amsterdam store opening this week.

Among the most notable additions to the app is a new “Account” section where users can update their billing information and addresses as well as shipping addresses right from the app. Users have until now had to log into their accounts through the Apple website in order to update payment methods if they wished to change them for an in-store EasyPay purchase. Apple also touts the ability for customers in the United States to choose from any of the three iPhone carriers when purchasing an iPhone through the app.What’s New in Version 2.1

- Choose iPhone plans from all three U.S. carriers — AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint (U.S. Only)


- Make your shopping experience even more convenient with new account management editing and billing options.


- The Apple Store app is now available in the Netherlands.


- Requires iOS 4.3.3 or higher.Apple rolled out its EasyPay functionality in a major update last November. The feature allows customers to scan the barcodes of any self-service items at an Apple retail store and charge the purchases to their iTunes Store accounts, eliminating the need to track down store employees to conduct the transactions.

Urban Toronto reports that it has received information indicating that Apple has reached an agreement to occupy 1 Bloor Street West in Toronto, potentially signaling plans for a major new flagship store in the heart of one of Toronto’s major commercial districts.

Stollery’s clothing store at 1 Bloor Street West in Toronto


The space is currently occupied by Stollery’s, a 30,000 square-foot clothing store. It is unclear how Apple would choose to reconfigure the space for its own uses, but the potential for a large flagship store is certainly present at this key location.

Apple had previously been rumored to be looking to occupy retail space in an 80-story tower planned for 1 Bloor Street East, directly across Yonge Street from the newly-rumored location, but the tower project stalled amid financing concerns. A plan for 1 Bloor East has been resurrected by a new developer working on a 65-story condominium tower, but it appears that Apple has now pursued alternate plans for its forthcoming store.