Apple is temporarily closing stores due to COVID-19

It’s no surprise, given the state of the pandemic, but Apple has closed nearly 100 stores across the US and in other regions worldwide. According to the Verge, this includes all stores here in California, as well all stores in Tennessee, Utah, and Minnesota. There are closures in other states as well, but it mostly depends on the area, as some are still operating.

It’s probably the right move, considering how many people these stores attract. Plus they were never really designed with social distancing in mind, so keeping them open does present some risk. There is a bit of a silver lining for our industry though. With Apple stores under temporary closure, there is an opportunity for independent repair shops to attract new clientele and show them the value that local shops

What you should know about in iOS 13

iOS 13 is officially out and it looks to be quite a big upgrade. There are so many features and changes that it would take a massive blog post to go over them all. Thankfully, MacRumors has already done that, so if that’s something you’re interested in, head over to their post. Instead, we will be going over some of the more “need-to-know” traits that are relevant to repair professionals. Quick note- if you come across someone who has yet to upgrade, try to discourage them from taking the leap just yet (more on this later in the article).

Better Support and Performance

The most crucial upgrade in iOS 13 is its focus on performance. Apple has made optimization and efficiency tweaks all over the OS, resulting in faster app-launching times, smaller app downloads and updates, and even quicker Face ID and Apple

Image via Apple

Apple announced today that it will be launching an Independent Repair Provider (IRP) Program in order to offer customers “additional options for the most common out-of-warranty iPhone repairs.” Essentially, this will make genuine Apple parts, tools and resources available for purchase by qualified independent repair shops (following successful application to their free program). The only listed requirements are that the shop be a legitimate repair business in a commercially-zoned area, and that technicians be Apple-certified (certifications are offered online and test fees are waived for approved IRP businesses).

It goes without saying that this is BIG news- but whether or not it is good news remains to be seen. Personally,