Power Mac Center launches online store

MANILA – Power Mac Center (PMC) has launched an online store as the Apple products retailer celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The new shop offers the same lineup of products, allowing customers to buy authentic Apple items online.

“We’ve been getting inquiries from customers who want to ensure they’re buying only authentic Apple products online. So here we are finally, the long wait is over. Customers now have all their tech needs right at their fingertips, delivered to their doorsteps in just a few taps,” Joey Alvarez, PMC’s director of product management and marketing, said in a statement.

“It’s our way of saying thank you for their continued support all these years and we hope that they will extend the same love and support for us in this new space we are venturing into,” Alvarez added.

To mark its launch, the PMC online store is offering discounts on selected products until Saturday, July 27, as well as free shipping for a limited time.

Currently, PMC has over 40 branches nationwide.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

iPhone battery replacement: Power Mac releases guidelines

MANILA - One of Apple's authorized distributors in the Philippines on Monday released guidelines for iPhone battery replacements, as the technology giant contained the fallout from its admission that it was slowing handsets with software updates.

Battery replacements will cost P1,500 for eligible units, inclusive of labor, Power Mac Center said in a statement, adding the price could change due to importation costs.

Since the replacement program was announced 2 weeks ago, Power Mac said it had replaced batteries on 150 iPhones.

Apple CEO Tim Cook last week said he was "deeply" sorry for slowing older iPhones, saying it was necessary to prevent the devices form shutting down unexpectedly.

Anyone with an iPhone 6 or later can avail of battery replacements, with discounts for out-of-warranty units, Apple said in December.

Power Mac said iPhone owners in the Philippines should have their phones checked for "battery condition and other internal and external physical/accidental damage or unauthorized modification that may or may not be visible to the naked eye."

"If such issues are found, the iPhone will be ineligible for the battery replacement," the retailer said.

Apple engineers will also recommend part or unit replacement should other issues arise during the inspection, it said.

Should customers decide not to proceed with the repair, they will be required to pay a diagnostic fee, it said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

iPhone X sells for P90,000 in PH gray market

MANILA - Apple's iPhone X went on sale in the US and other major markets Friday, leaving Filipinos who were shut out from the official release to contend with re-seller prices.

The 10th anniversary edition of the iPhone, the first with a nearly bezel-less display, sells for roughly P90,000 in local stores, almost double the price if based on its $999 tag in the US.

"Ang binabayaran kasi diyan is yung ikaw yung first few na unang magkakaron ng iPhone X dito sa Pilipinas," one online seller told ABS-CBN News by phone.

(What you're paying for is the privilege to be among the first few owners of iPhone X in the Philippines.)

Official Apple retailers in the Philippines, Power Mac Center and Beyond the Box, and Smart Communications list only the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus as forthcoming early Friday.

The two handsets, unveiled at the same time as the iPhone X last September, retain the same form factor that Apple started in 2014 with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. They have been available unofficially in the Philippines since October.

The seller said the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also sold for nearly P100,000 when they first hit the gray market.

Some merchants abroad even held bids for resellers in the Philippines, further padding the price of the iPhone X, according to the seller interviewed by ABS-CBN News.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Apple Watch arriving in PH on Friday

MANILA - Power Mac Center, the official reseller of Apple products in the Philippines, has announced that the much-anticipated Apple Watch will be available in the country starting Friday.

On Facebook, the store said that Filipinos will be able to purchase Apple's first wearable device and the Apple Watch Sport at Greenbelt 3 and Trinoma.

"Your wait is almost over," it teased.

WATCH: A closer look at the newest Apple Watch 

The Apple Watch has been on display in Apple stores around the world since April 10. It was recently launched last June in countries such as Italy, Mexico, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Power Mac Center re-launches biggest store with new look

MANILA -- Power Mac Center, an authorized re-seller and service provider of Apple products, recently re-launched its branch in SM Megamall, which is now the company's largest retail space.

The branch, its first ever retail location in the Philippines, underwent a major makeover with new design elements to become "more responsive to the needs of its clients."

“When we opened the SM Megamall store for the first time in 1994, it was a remarkable feat that marked the entry of Power Mac Center in the Apple business,” Power Mac Center marketing director Joey Alvarez said in a statement released Tuesday.

"The additional space allows our first store to further its offerings and provide a more immersive and enjoyable shopping ambiance for Apple enthusiasts,” Alvarez added.

The highlight in the new transformed store is the Apple Authorized Service Provider, which allows Apple customers to get guaranteed safe repair and maintenance services.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

A 'perfect' bag for your iPad arrives in PH

MANILA - When it comes to portable technology like the iPad Mini, finding a comfortable and practical way of carrying it around can be troublesome.

Booq, a new line of bags that recently arrived in the Philippines, may just save you the hassle.


Based in California, Booq boasts bags of varying sizes to fit each one's "personality and style," as well as several of Apple's current offerings.

Made from polyurethane-backed ballistic nylon, each bag is designed to be water-repellent and to stay completely dry even during heavy rainfall.

The line also features a metal tag dubbed Terralinq, which can be used to locate lost bags through an online database system.

Booq currently has five specific line of bags available to Filipinos, namely: Boa, Cobra, Mamba, Taipan, and Viper.

Dubbed as the "heavy duty travel partner," Boa is the biggest of the bunch, whose backpack line can fit a 17-inch MacBook easily, as well as one's DSLR camera.

Cobra, which is the smallest, is a compact shoulder bag that can carry any 10-inch iPad model, while the Mamba, Taipan and Viper can fit pretty much any device in between the two previously mentioned.

Booq can be found in select Power Mac Center, iStudio, and Switch outlets. It is also available online through Lazada

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Smart gadget promises to track fitness goals

MANILA -- Power Mac Center, an Apple service provider in the Philippines, on Wednesday introduced the Misfit Shine personal tracker, which is aimed at those who are pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

“Fitness is a fundamental concept in attaining one’s well-being, and Misfit Shine certainly ups the ante in the fitness device industry as it integrates product technology with style," Misfit Wearables channel manager Aurelien Joly said in his media presentation held in SM Aura, Bonifacio Global City.

"With Misfit Shine, Apple users are outfitted with a fashionable and practical tool that delivers health and wellness solutions," he said.

Joly explained that Misfit Shine allows users to craft their physical fitness targets and also keep track of their achievements towards these goals. Touted as a user-friendly device, the Misfit can be set to determine the user’s various physical activities from running, swimming -- it can be used underwater to a maximum of 50 meters -- or even sleeping.

Misfit Shine can track the user’s progress on a daily basis through health indicators and activity data. For instance, it monitors sleeping patterns from light to deep. It can also count the calories burned in a workout.

Crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum, Misfit Shine is stylish and durable. It syncs wirelessly with no charging required and is compatible with iOs and Android devices.

It can be worn on any piece of clothing using a magnetic clasp or as a bracelet using the rubberized plastic wristband. It is priced at P6,850.

Brand ambassadors for Misfit Shine include football player Anton del Rosario, actor and blogger Chuckie Dreyfus and stylist Alyanna Martinez.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Local Apple store vows 'faster' repair for iPhones

MANILA -- Local authorized Apple service provider, Power Mac Center, has introduced a more efficient way for Filipinos to have their iPhones repaired, without having to wait several weeks or have the unit replaced entirely.

Starting this week, Power Mac Center is rolling out its iPhone Same Unit (SUR) program, which will allow iPhone users in the country to have their units repaired by trained Power Mac engineers. The program boasts a vastly improved 72-hour turnaround time.

“We at Power Mac Center are glad to be able to bring to Filipinos the convenience of having iPhone repair service made locally available,” said marketing director Joey Alvarez.

The iPhone SUR program covers iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S and 5C units purchased not only from any Power Mac Center location but also from other Apple authorized resellers.

It is also free for all units that are within the standard one-year Apple warranty.

Units that are no longer under warranty, however, will be considered as “billed service,” which will include diagnostic fees, price of parts and labor fees.

Before availing of the SUR program, all iPhone units will be subject to unauthorized modification check to be conducted by Power Mac Center’s mobile device engineers.

These mobile device engineers are mandated to pass the iOS Qualification Exam and adhere to the strictest standards set by Apple.

“Through the iPhone SUR, customers are assured that the replacement parts are genuine Apple parts. Both the parts and the service are of the highest quality to give iPhone users the best value for their money,” Alvarez said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com