Every week the OWC Blog Staff picks a free iPhone/iPod Touch App to try out and review. This week’s selection is Apple Store by Apple, Inc.
Description
Tap the Apple Store app on your iPhone or iPod touch, and you can do all things Apple. Buy Apple products and accessories, read customer reviews, find an Apple Retail Store, stay up to date with in-store events, and make Personal Shopping, Genius Bar, or One to One appointments.
The Apple Store app is also the easiest way to buy or reserve your new iPhone — right from your current iPhone. You can do it in just a few taps, without entering your AT&T account information. Order your new iPhone from the Apple Online Store and it’s shipped to you free and ready to use. Or reserve your new iPhone, pick it up at an Apple Retail Store, and we’ll set it up for you in minutes.
With the Apple Store app, you can:
– See new and featured products from Apple.
– Shop the full selection of products available from the Apple Online Store.
– Find the latest accessories and software.
– Read customer reviews and get answers to product questions.
– Buy or reserve a new iPhone with just a few taps.
– Locate any Apple Retail Store in the world, instantly.
– Make Personal Shopping, Genius Bar, and One to One appointments.
– Sign up for workshops and events at your favorite Apple Retail Store.
OWC Chris’s Review
I really wanted to like this app. I really did. However, I found myself incredibly apathetic towards this one.
Yeah, it’s cool that you can make appointments at the Genius Bar. Same for finding and making reservations for events at the store. I wouldn’t necessarily want to purchase actual equipment via the App, but that’s an option too. Unfortunately, as much as I want to, I just couldn’t find myself getting that excited over this App.
I think, however, the problem lies within myself, rather than within the App. Perhaps if I were more on the “consumer” end of Apple’s customer spectrum, I could find this useful, and it certainly makes sense, as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are all generally consumer-level devices, and most of the seminars and events available (at least in my area) seem to be oriented more towards that section of their clientele.
As a long-time Macintosh “power user,” though, the features of the Apple Store App has very little appeal to me. I won’t be purchasing things via the app – if I have to get something from the Apple store, I’ll be going in person to the one 20-30 minutes up the road from me. I’m not signed up for their “one-to-one” option, and if something breaks on my Mac, I’m not very likely to bring it to a Genius Bar – if I can’t fix it myself, I’ll bounce the problem off our Tech Support staff to see what they think. So, really, what’s the point for me?
Final Verdict: I give this App a solid “Meh…” Will it stay on my Touch? Probably. Will I use it a whole lot? Outside of the occasional check for an advanced workshop, probably not. I’m sure it’s a great app; it’s really just not geared for someone like me.
OWC Mike H.’s Review
This app gets a big “enngh… s’ok” in my book. It’s a solid app, with a zippy interface, and well designed wherein I really never had to think about how to navigate… I just tapped and browsed. If I needed more genius coverage, or attended the Apple Store workshops this app is great for looking up times and such. For the storefront, I’d rather just click around the Apple web site as that’s the storefront I know and love to peruse and discover within.
One item this app beats out Apple’s main web site is the Apple Store finder. It’s soooo much easier with the app and faster to see the goings on at any particular store.
I can see how the app would be useful, it’s just not mega-useful for me. Others’ results may vary and since it’s a solidly built app that’s easy to use I’d have to leave it to you, the readers, on the usefulness of the app. It’s definitely a must try in my book, I’ll likely keep it for a while just for the store info.
OWC Michael’s Review
As far as an app goes for browsing and purchasing items goes, this one is very intuitive. If you’ve ever been on Apple’s website, you’ve seen the format and navigation before without many surprises.
Where I ran into an issue was in trying to put the computer I’m still lusting after into my cart: the 27″ iMac Core i7. The problem I was running into though is that like the Apple online store, only the Core i5 machine shows with the “add to cart” option. I clicked that button, just as one would on the online store, but then no option came up to upgrade my processor, the memory, the hard drive, etc. Options did arise for Apple Care and additional software items I might be interesting in purchasing, but absolutely no mention of configuring the machine past the base model.
I was also taken aback (although not really surprised) that there were no settable preferences in the app. I was really hoping that an option could be set to send a push notification anytime the apple store went down. It would have saved me a little time off my Tuesday morning ritual to see if the store went down or if any new computers were added or updated to Apple’s lineup. Maybe there is a separate app for that? *wishful thinking*
Overall: It works, but a few details weren’t ironed out before launch (I’m sure there’ll be an update to correct). I’ll still make my purchases online or visit a physical store myself.
Your Review
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