14 DAY TRIAL // Siri, the personal assistant from Apple Inc., is now your shopping assistant too. Thanks to an update to the official Apple Store application for iDevices, Siri can now help you find prices and offers on Apple products.
Cupertino touts the Apple Store app as “the best way to research, personalize, and buy products from Apple.”
You can use it to buy products on the go and pick them up at an Apple Retail Store, or have them shipped to your door (in the U.S.).
The app can also be used to make Genius Bar appointments and workshop reservations at the Apple Store.
Apple Store version 2.4 lets users buy new Passbook-compatible gift cards and email them to anyone right from the app. The feature requires iOS 6 and a U.S. address.
Lastly, the update allows you to “ask Siri to help you find prices and shop for Apple products.” Naturally, you need a Siri-enabled device for this.
The Apple Store app can also be used to personalize an iPad or an iPod with free engraving, and to get signature gift wrapping for select products.
Mac buyers can custom-configure an order by including larger drives and more memory, and then they can track the status of current and previous orders in a handy order-status screen.
“While in an Apple Store, quickly purchase accessories on your own with EasyPay. Request help, check in for reservations, and meet up with a Specialist at the store,” Apple adds.
The Apple Store app is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad.
It requires iOS 5.0 or later and displays full-screen on the iPhone 5. However, it’s not natively supported on the iPad.