A few days ago, the world was shocked to find out on CNN and other news networks that the creator of many, many Apple products, Steve Jobs, had died. He made the Mac, the iPhone, the iPod, the iPad, and many other life changing technologies. He changed the world from just having something to talk to people on, to something that could do email, MMS, the net, a calendar, clock, and many, many other things. He was a great man. Steve Jobs: 1955-2011. He was 56 years old.
Now, why am I talking about this? Well, yesterday, on Oct. 10, we went to an apple store in an outdoor mall (a lot of buildings in a circle stuck together) to figure out how to get the movies from my video camera to Mom's computer. For months on end, we had been trying to put movies about our trip to YouTube. But, we had been failing, to no avail. That's one reason why we came.
Another reason was that Dad's iPad was cracked and he wanted it fixed. And yet, another reason was that my computer and mom's couldn't be on a website at the same time. With our computers, Dad's iPad, and a book to keep me entertained, we set off in the jeep and then parked in the outside mall.
We got all our stuff and made for the apple section, with clothing and food all around it. In front of this small tight area, was candles, pieces of paper with words on it, and red apples, some with words on it. This was obviously some memorial to the late Steve Jobs, and there was some pictures of him. As we went in, I made a little frown, as if to say "Too bad."
The store was very well laid out, but then again all apple stores are. I am sure at least half of my readers have been to one. Anyway, it was little, and had all the silver and black and white prettiness of the company. It was modern, that was for sure, and it was a carbon copy of other apple stores. The only difference was the size and location. Style and merchandise... the same.
Another thing about the store was that it was exceedingly busy. People lining up, everyone hovering over the technology, just waiting with anxiety to get that phone (or ipad, or ipod, or mac, etc.). Still others, however, were there at the "Genius Bar", as they call it, to repair their apple merchandise that aren't quite acting right. In this place, employees were at the feet, always walking, always waiting on customers, not even stopping to sit down or get a drink of water. I kind of felt sad for them.
But, they couldn't fit us in, either. "I'm sorry sir," a young women of about 30 and with brown hair and pale skin said to Dad, "we can't fix your iPad but we can get you a new one. On line, you will have to get all your apps and things from the website. THAT, will cost you nothing. However, the new iPad will be about $429.
"As for the computer/video problem," she continued, "That will be a little harder to deal with. You see, only our genius bar employees are certified to operate on that, and the next open genius bar appointment we have will be about 4:45. "
The time was 1 something. We couldn't wait that long. "But," she continued once more, "The apple store at the Woodfield Mall can take you at...(she paused as she looked it up on her iPad, for all things) at 2:45. So, your best bet is with them.
Defeated for the moment, we traveled to the mall. In a large, large entrance, we got in with the computers and then noticed how humongous the mall actually was. Four floors, many, many stores. You couldn't visit them all in one day. Well, maybe you could. But not at a leisurely pace.
It had ramps, elevators, escalators, shops, modern designs of balconied illusion, more shops, a lot of people, and even more shops. It was crazy. Just to name a few: T.G.I.F., Kay Jewelers, MC Donald's, ice cream shops, a park, and sears and Sephora (not exactly sure what that is, it was just lodged in my memory). Of course, all malls are big, but even seeing the map showed it was on an extraordinary size.
On the map, it took us five minutes to find the apple store. Finally, at the corner of J.C. Penny and Kay, was the apple store. This one was small too, but not terribly. It was less crowded, but still many people were there. We waited a while, and I read some Alex Rider. We finally got to the genius bar, and we told our problem and all we did to a man with a little beard, named Bob. Bob helped me with all of the kinks, but we kept getting stuck. A thin lady with a little coat and her hair back in a pony tail came over and explained that she has a DCR- SR47 and it is compatible with mac. We have a DCR-SR68, and it is listed on the compatibles. The lady said her name was Barb and she was very helpful. She even showed us a video!
Bob said that we would need a firewire cable to make the import process faster. He said that was the problem. He said that radio shack might have it.
We paid Bob goodbye, and then ate at Ruby Tues. After that, we left and came home and watched a football game of the Detroit Lions. I finished the Alex Rider Skeleton Key book, that I purchased at a book store in Petoskey where I met an English person named Diana. She has the blog. (Anybody remember?)
But anyway, I really do appreciate it that our readers take the time to read this. It really makes me smile.
Goodbye, for ever! (just kidding, goodbye for NOW. In other words, see you next time.)
Hmmm, this is a good apple! Wait don't eat that! It's a trade mark, not a real one! Oh.,
Andrew.
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