Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.


There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an iPad.

This change was spotted by Macworld and the French blog Consomac, among others.


On the MacBook Pro ordering page, for example, you start by choosing a 14-inch or 16-inch display and a color. Next, you have the option to upgrade to a nano-texture display. Then, you choose from the list of M-series chips and core counts that are available for the MacBook Pro size that you selected. Finally, you can customize the amount of RAM and SSD storage, choose a power adapter, and choose a keyboard language.


Before, there were some preconfigured models available, and you could proceed to upgrade certain specs after selecting one. Now, it is entirely à la carte.

Unfortunately, the MacBook Pro still cannot be configured with an M5 Pro or M5 Max chip, as the wait continues for new models. Hopefully that changes soon!
This article, "Apple Changes How You Order a Mac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products.


Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, and the gift card offer is now live in those countries as expected.

The store is down in the United Kingdom and many other European countries right now, and it will soon go down in the United States and Canada.

Many readers email us about Apple's online store going down ahead of Black Friday, so this is our annual reminder that it does not relate to new products.

In case you missed the earlier announcement, Apple is offering a free gift card with the purchase of an eligible product in select countries, from November 28 through December 1. In the U.S., the gift card values range between $25 and $200.

Black Friday is one of the few occasions per year when Apple directly offers deals on its products, but better deals are often available through resellers like Amazon, so make sure to check out our Black Friday deals coverage for the latest discounts on iPads, Macs, AirPods, Apple Watches, accessories, and more.
This article, "Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has announced that its store at Roosevelt Field in Garden City, New York, will reopen on Friday, November 21 at 10 a.m. local time, following renovations.


Roosevelt Field is the largest shopping mall on Long Island. Apple first opened its store there in 2002, just months after the iPod launched. The renovated store will feature a modern design with more wood paneling, instead of stainless steel.

Apple has yet to share photos of the renovated store, so the exact design remains to be seen.

Apple opened a temporary store at Roosevelt Field while it renovated the original store, which has been closed for around a year.

Apple is also renovating its store at The Forum in Carlsbad, California, and it has opened a temporary store there in the meantime, as seen below.


Apple continues to renovate at least three other U.S. stores:

• Apple South Coast Plaza, in Costa Mesa, California


• Apple The Galleria, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida


• Apple Baybrook, in Friendswood, Texas

Apple's relocated store at University Park Village, in Fort Worth, Texas, opened last month.


Finally, renovations were recently completed at Apple Chatswood Chase, near Sydney, Australia.
This article, "Apple Store With All-New Design Opening on Long Island This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has announced that its retail store at the Chatswood Chase shopping mall in Australia will reopen on Thursday, October 30, at 9:30 a.m. local time.


Apple is expected to release new products this month, and the company's next earnings call is on October 30, so the store could be reopening during a busy launch week.

Apple Chatswood Chase has been closed for renovations since July 2024. When it reopens, it will feature an all-new design and updated amenities, including an Apple Pickup station for customers to collect orders placed through Apple's online store. Apple has yet to share photos of the new store, though, so the exact design remains to be seen.

Chatswood Chase is located in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood, on the North Shore.

Earlier this month, Apple permanently closed its store in Hornsby, which is located further north on Sydney's North Shore. Apple said all affected retail employees would be given the opportunity to work at the Chatswood Chase store.

Elsewhere in Australia, Apple moved its store in Perth into a historic bank building in June.

Thanks, @AbstracTech!
This article, "Apple Store Near Sydney Reopens With All-New Design Later This Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced its store at the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall, in Hornsby, Australia, will be permanently closing next month.


Hornsby is a suburb of Sydney, on the Upper North Shore. Apple opened its store there in 2011, and it will close for good on October 4, at 5 p.m. local time.

In a statement shared with some Australian media outlets a few months ago, Apple said it had decided not to renew its lease at Westfield Hornsby. Apple said all affected retail employees would be given the opportunity to work at Apple's nearby store at the Chatswood Chase shopping mall, in Chatswood, which is set to reopen in October.


Apple Chatswood Chase has been closed for renovations for many months. Apple said the store will be completely redesigned, and it will offer an Apple Pickup station for collecting online orders, and a dedicated area for Today at Apple sessions. With the Chatswood Chase store set to expand, Apple decided to close its Hornsby store.

The company has six other stores in the Sydney area.

Apple has permanently closed a handful of its stores in 2025, but it has also opened many new locations this year, including in Miami, Shenzhen, Osaka, Bengaluru, and elsewhere. Earlier today, Apple announced that its all-new store in Downtown Detroit will be holding its grand opening on Friday, September 19, at 5 p.m. local time.

Elsewhere in Australia, Apple relocated its store in Perth to a historic bank building in June.
This article, "Apple Store Near Sydney Permanently Closing Next Month" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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