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Tag: U.S.

Rumor: Apple considering removing mask mandate for some U.S. Apple Store retail employees

Having lifted its requirement for customers to wear face coverings in some U.S. states, Apple is reportedly considering allowing its Apple Store retail staff to also go unmasked.

Apple lifted its mask mandate for a number of in-store shopping locations in states such as Ohio, Georgia, and more. While it has yet to lift the restriction across all of its stores, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims it is considering letting Apple Store staff take off masks too.

It’s not clear whether such a move would only apply to the same stores where customers are no longer required to wear face coverings.

Apple previously relaxed its mask mandate in November 2021, but COVID-19 variants such as Omicron forced the reintroduction of the mandate only one month later.

It’s unclear if this move heralds in-person Apple events, like the summer WWDC. The expected spring release event will likely still be remote.

Via AppleInsider and @markgurman

February 24, 2022
Netflix to raise prices in U.S. and Canada this year

If you’re a resident of the United States or Canada, you’re going to be paying a bit more for Netflix this year, depending on your plan. The move marks the first price increase for the service since October 2020.

Per Reuters:

The standard plan, which allows for two simultaneous streams, now costs $15.49 per month, up from $13.99, in the United States. The U.S. price of Netflix’s premium plan, which enables four streams at a time and streaming in ultra HD, was increased by $2 to $19.99 per month.

The increase also helps the service develop original content, allowing them to keep the full revenue stream for these shows.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via The Mac Observer and Reuters

January 18, 2022
Apple educational promotion now offering free AirPods with qualifying Mac or iPad purchase

Apple has begun giving away a free pair of AirPods to both students and teachers who purchase an eligible Mac or iPad in countries outside the US including Australia and New Zealand.

Customers who purchase a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, iPad Pro, or iPad Air will receive free second-generation AirPods, but users can opt for AirPods 3 or AirPods Pro for an additional fee.

The promotion also applies to students and teachers in Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Brazil. Both Macs and iPads in these countries are also available as a discounted educational price point if purchased through Apple’s educational storefront.

Users who add one of the eligible Macs or iPads to their carts through the education store will receive the option to add the AirPods or upgrade to the third-generation AirPods or AirPods Pro.

The discounted educational pricing is available to current or new college students, parents purchasing gear for students, and teachers or educational staff. Interested users will need to sign up via UNiDays to get the discounts.

Apple regularly holds back-to-school promotions throughout the school year, and generally runs similar deals towards the end of the summer for students and teachers in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via AppleInsider

January 7, 2022
Verizon to expand 5G UWB network to 1,700 U.S. cities this month, offers new service plans

Wireless carrier Verizon has announced that the company will offer ultra-fast 5G UWB connectivity to over 1,700 US cities that will cover more than 100 million people. The company has also stated that it is improving its 5G smartphone plans with up to six free entertainment subscriptions and offering customers up to 50 percent off its 5G Home Internet.

Per Verizon’s press release:

This month, more than 100 million people in 1,700-plus cities around the nation will have access to speeds up to 10x faster than 4G LTE via Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network. This means nearly one in three Americans live in areas where they could experience the transformative speed, reliability and power of 5G Ultra Wideband on the go, or at their homes or business.

Verizon also highlighted that its 5G UWB can reach speeds up to 1 Gpbs (1000 Mbps).

The 5G UWB network is already available in over 60 U.S. cities via 5G Home Internet and 5G Business Internet.

Verizon is offering 50 percent off its 5G Home Internet starting January 5 for existing mobile customers and it will also be making more improvements to its 5G smartphone plans like up to six entertainment subscriptions for free, 50GB hotspot data, and more.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via 9to5Mac and Verizon

January 5, 2022
Apple reinstates mask requirement to all U.S. Apple Store retail locations

It never hurts to be safe.

Apple is reinstating a requirement for customers to wear masks when visiting an Apple Store in the United States, due to a rise in cases of COVID-19.

While the company was in the process of reducing its social distancing measures in its stores in November, having ended its mask requirement in approximately 100 stores on November 5 before rolling out to others. In the face of pandemic changes, it’s reversing course and bring masks back.

Prior to the rollback, the mandate had been dropped at roughly half of its retail outlets.

Apple has also begun limiting store occupancy at “several locations.” At the height of the pandemic, Apple had changed the design of some stores to enable pickup and drop-off of products, as well as only allowing limited numbers of customers enter stores at a time.

The decision was made in the face of the fast spread of the Omicron variant, which has resulted in a surge of infections in the U.S. and other countries.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via AppleInsider and @markgurman

December 15, 2021