Latest news with #Apple-shaped
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Tim Cook appeals to Trump's love of gold with a 24-karat base for Apple plaque
Apple CEO Tim Cook visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Aug. 6, and brought with him a custom gift that seemed to be tailored to the president's tastes. The two announced Apple's $100 billion in new U.S. investment, an addition to the $500 billion previously announced, as the tech giant tries to protect its products from Trump's steep tariffs. Apple is also set to expand its factories in the U.S. With trembling hands, Cook opened an Apple box he said was made in California, took out a circular plaque with an Apple-shaped cutout in the middle made of glass apparently made in Kentucky, and attributed the design to a former U.S. Marine Corps corporal who now works at Apple. The plaque was set in a 24-karat gold base Cook said was made in Utah. Part of Trump's longstanding "America First" approach to policy is pushing to have more goods made in America. Though Trump has also been gifted a Tesla Cybertruck with a picture of himself on it and a framed copy of his grandfather's German birth certificate, Cook's gift appealed to more than just Trump's preference to have things made in America. Trump adorns his space and the things he makes in gold. More: Donald Trump's White House 'Gold Guy' is a 70-year-old cabinetmaker who lives in Jupiter Gold tweezers, gold sneakers and a gold guy in the White House Trump's affinity for gold predates his time in the Oval Office. Here is a look at some of his golden adornments throughout the years: Apple touts additional $100 billion in U.S. investment Cook was one of several tech leaders who attended Trump's inauguration earlier this year. Apple had said in February that it would spend $500 billion in U.S. investments over four years, but the Washington Post reported most of that would cover the regular cost of doing business. The White House announcement brings the total investment figure up to $600 billion. Still, Apple broke ground on a Houston factory to make advanced AI servers earlier this year, and Trump said on Aug. 6 it would invest billions to construct data centers across the country, including in North Carolina, Iowa and Oregon. "I'm proud to say that Apple is leading the creation of an end-to-end silicon supply chain right here in America," Cook said. Trump said the planned 100% tariff on semiconductors and computer chips would not apply to companies that make a commitment to manufacture in the U.S., like Apple. Contributing: Joey Garrison, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Aysha Bagchi, Lauren Villagran, Marina Pitofsky, Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
West Australian
25-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Apple Perth City: New Forrest Place store to offer guided tech tours and pick-up counter in Australia firsts
Guided tech tours and a dedicated pick-up counter mark Australia-firsts for Apple as the global brand prepares for the grand opening of its new Perth City store on Friday morning. After a 15-year residence on Hay Street, the city's flagship store has relocated to the ground level of the former Commonwealth Bank Building, intersecting Forrest Place and Murray Street Mall. Deirdre O'Brien, Senior Vice President of Retail & People, told The West the move was driven by the company's mission to deliver local customers the best available products and services. 'When we decided to reopen this store, it's really about being able to bring the transformative benefits of Apple innovations to even more customers in the community and further elevate a world-class shopping experience,' she said. The development represents somewhat of an anniversary celebration, with the iconic brand's first official bricks and mortar residence in Perth opening on June 26, 2010. Its second Perth store opened at Westfield Booragoon — then Garden City — in September 2012. With a focus on convenience, community, and delivering collaborative experiences through passionate personnel, Ms O'Brien said Apple Perth City would offer local customers services that are yet to be rolled out anywhere else in the country. 'In a first for Australia, Apple Perth City features a new space where customers can interact with Apple Watch guided by one of Apple's knowledgeable Specialists,' she said. 'In another first for Australia, we're also introducing Apple Pickup at a dedicated counter, which makes it even easier for customers to place an order online and pick up products when it's most convenient for them. 'And for customers wanting to unlock new tips and tricks on their favourite device, they can sign up for a free Today at Apple session hosted at the dedicated tables for a more personal experience.' Commuters might have noticed recent updates to the building's facade, with the store's exterior displaying dark green wallpaper to compliment an Apple-shaped light fixture hanging from a central arch as it points to its official unveiling date. Ms O'Brien said the brand's move to the heritage building is no coincidence, with every inch of the new space designed to celebrate the company's varied clientele, and stay true to its commitment to sustainability. The city store will run on 100 per cent renewable energy, with the shop's interior transformed to reflect modern design features while nodding to the building's history. 'Our team meticulously restored and mended heritage fabric throughout the building, including the marble tiling, ceilings, and plaster columns, to create a truly unique space for customers to shop,' Ms O'Brien said.
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
New Apple store opening in Perth next week
Tech juggernaut Apple will officially be closing its Hay Street store in Perth City on June 25, unveiling a shiny new replacement store in the heart of the CBD just two days later. The brand's flagship WA outlet will be resurfacing down the road at the old Commonwealth Bank Building, taking up residence at 1 Forrest Place. The store's official opening is set for Friday, June 27 at 9am. It will intersect the Murray Street Mall shopping strip and Forrest Chase open area. Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc. Credit: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg Commuters might have noticed recent updates to the heritage building's facade, with the store's exterior displaying dark green wallpaper to compliment an Apple-shaped light fixture hanging from a central arch. Days out from the launch, the brand's website promises an extension of the previous outlet's interactivity. 'Prepare to discover a flourishing hub of creativity, as we open the door to a new era of growth for Perth and for you,' it reads. The move comes almost exactly 15 years after Apple's first bricks and mortar entry into Perth which launched on June 26, 2010. The Apple store in Perth's CBD is moving into the city's main mall. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian The West reported in 2024 that the new store would take up two shops at the building, including the one currently leased by Pandora jewellery store and one previously leased by City Beach clothing. Apple operates its second Perth store at Westfield Booragoon, which opened to the public in September 2012. To get local fans hyped about the change, specially curated collections of entertainment have been recommended, which feature Western Australian musical artists, films, TV shows, and books accessible across Apple's suite of media platforms.
