Updated this morning, the latest version of Apple’s ‘Apple Store’ app, (designed to allow customers to search, view and purchase products from Apple’s online store both quickly and easily), now includes full support for asking Apple’s personal assistant – Siri – for the latest pricing and information on products in Apple’s current available line-up.
Whether you’re looking for retail prices on the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, or accompanying accessories, a simple voice command to Siri will now result in the company’s separate ‘Apple Store’ app launching to provide you with the pricing information and details you need.
For example, asking Siri: “Find me the latest prices on the iPad” … now results in the personal assistant responding: “OK … let’s check that out at the Apple Store,” before proceeding to launch the official Apple Store app.
While we would have liked to see Apple integrate pricing information and product details as built-in responses, so that users didn’t have to leave Siri to find the information they’re after – (much like movies and sports scores are handled by the virtual assistant today), it’s definitely a start to Siri becoming a true personal assistant.
The new update to Apple’s retail store app does appear to still be propagating in some areas, but, providing you’ve got a Siri-enabled device – once available – you’ll be able to try it out for yourself right here.
Full changelog for this version below. Interestingly, this new version also adds the ability to buy iTunes Gift Cards Apple Store Gift Cards directly from the app itself, with these cards also able to be stored as virtual ‘passes’ in Apple’s new Passbook app.
- Buy new gift cards and email them to friends and family right from the app. These gift cards are easily integrated with the new Passbook app (U.S. only, iOS 6 required).
- Ask Siri to help you find prices and shop for Apple products. (Siri-enabled device required.)
Our bad. It appears the new cards now up for grabs through the app are, in fact, Apple Store Gift Cards, not iTunes Gift Cards – (which make sense when you think about it further).
Our friends at 9to5Mac have a screenshot of all the Gift Cards Apple currently has on offer, and notes that Apple Retail Stores in the U.S have already begun receiving the necessary camera equipment to enable the scanning and redeeming of these special store cards – (using Passbook).
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