Juli Clover, MacRumors:

Apple recently made a quiet update to its Apple Support site, introducing a new feature that allows customers to find and schedule repairs for iPhones, Macs, and iPads from Apple Authorized Service Providers.

When troubleshooting a product, choosing “Bring in for Repair” after going through Apple’s support prompts now brings up all repair centers near a customer, including Apple’s own retail stores and retail locations where customers can get repairs from Apple Authorized Service Providers.

And:

In addition to including all nearby Apple Authorized Service Providers, the new repair site also lists availability, so customers can find the fastest repairs and get same-day service in many locations. There’s even an option to book a repair right from the site.

Here’s a link to the official Apple Support site so you can check this for yourself.

Apple VP Jennifer Bailey got onstage at the Code Commerce Series and spoke, interview style, about the current status of Apple Pay.

If you have even the slightest interest in Apple Pay, this is worth watching. Jennifer is well spoken, really knows her stuff, and offers some projections on where Apple Pay is going. For example, she proposed that in 2017, two thirds of the top 100 retailers will accept Apple Pay.

A few years ago, I wrote about Craig Federighi being a natural presence on stage. He’s confident, self effacing, well-spoken, and passionate. He does a terrific job representing Apple.

To me, Jennifer Bailey has that same personality. I think she’d be great on stage at an Apple event. She certainly breathes life into Apple Pay discussions.

I’m not a fan of the article’s title, but it is definitely an interesting read. At its core:

Taking advantage of an exemption tucked into America’s Byzantine tax code, Apple stashed much of its foreign earnings—tax-free—right here in the U.S., in part by purchasing government bonds, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. In return, the Treasury Department paid Apple at least $600 million and possibly much more over the past five years in the form of interest, a Bloomberg review of its regulatory filings shows.

And:

Blaming U.S. companies for following the tax code, however complex or flawed, is misguided, says Richard Lane, a senior analyst at Moody’s Investors Service.

“If these companies don’t need the money in the U.S., there’s no incentive to give Uncle Sam” that money in taxes, he said. “What sane chief financial officer, who’s doing their fiduciary duties to shareholders, would pay money to some entity for no good reason? If there’s a moral issue, I’m not sure whether there’s immorality to that.”

In a nutshell, the article details that Apple is buying US Treasury bonds to park overseas earnings, while still maintaining that money as overseas.

Given the availability of this strategy, if I’m an Apple investor, I suspect I’d be upset if Apple didn’t follow this strategy.

Phil Schiller’s tweet:

November 2016 was a record breaker for the #AppStore – the highest monthly sales ever in App Store history!

No matter the ebbs and flows of iPhone and iPad sales, the ecosystem continues to grow steadily.

Chance Miller, 9to5Mac:

As it does every year, Apple today has put together its end-of-the-year “Best of” sections on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store. The sections are meant to highlight the best content of the year across various categories. For instance, Apple has named photo editing app “Prisma” as the iPhone App of the Year.

Moving down the list, Apple has named “Clash Royale” iPhone Game of the Year, while “Severed” has been named iPad Game of the Year. “Sketchbook Motion,” meanwhile, has been named iPad App of the Year.

There are lists for Apps of the Year, Games of the Year, and things Drake has done…er…Song and Album of the Year.

BBC News:

Eight users have complained to Shanghai’s consumer watchdog that their iPhone 6 series handsets spontaneously combusted or exploded.

The US tech giant said it had conducted tests on the devices and had found “no cause for concern with these products”.

One technology analyst told the BBC she did not believe it to be a widespread problem.

And, most importantly:

Apple said the iPhones had external physical damage “which led to the thermal event”.

Neil Cybart, Above Avalon:

It feels like cracks are forming at Apple’s edges. The company is straining to push out hardware updates. Supply issues are getting worse. Apple is reportedly moving away from selling beloved products like stand-alone displays and wireless routers. Meanwhile, Microsoft, Amazon, and Snap are gaining buzz with new niche hardware while Apple appears to be hanging back and resting on its laurels.

Something feels off with Apple, and the blame is increasingly pointed at Tim Cook. I suspect these feelings are a result of Cook betting now is the time to milk the iPhone. Apple is doubling down on the iPhone to build one of the world’s most formidable tech ecosystems, and few are taking notice.

Not sure I agree with the title here. The term “milking” gives a sense that Apple is spinning its wheels, doing nothing but sucking every bit of juice it can get out of the iPhone line. But if you read the rest of the article, it’s clear that this is all about expanding and fortifying the iPhone ecosystem, something Tim Cook has done spectacularly well.

Thoughtful read, well worth the time.

Apple has been offering a path to custom greeting cards for a long time. Memory serves, Apple’s original iCard service disappeared back in 2013, finding a new home in iPhoto and then Photos.

In the linked article, Lesa Snider, writing for Macworld, walks you through the process. Pass this along.