By AppleInsider Staff
Published: 02:00 PM EST
Apple's online store went temporarily offline Wednesday, only to return with a a more visible return policy. Also, contrary to an earlier report, Apple will not be exhibiting at the BookExpo America conference, but will be holding private meetings.
Apple Store downtime yields minor update
Anytime Apple's online store becomes unavailable, it leads to speculation that the company could be adding new products to its lineup. But any hopes for a new product after the latest maintenance update to the storefront were dashed on Wednesday.
Instead, as
first discovered by
AppleBitch, Apple added a link to "Returns" at the bottom of every page on its store, alongside other links including "Help" and "Contact Us."
The single added link was the only change found on the Web store, as Apple decided to more clearly display its return policy. The "Returns & Refunds" page itself was not modified or changed in any way.
Customers still have up to 14 calendar days from the time they receive their items to return eligible Mac, iPad, iPod and third-party products. Other items, such as opened memory, personalized iPods, and Apple Gift Cards cannot be returned.
Apple not exhibiting at book expo
Following a report
on Tuesday that Apple would promote its iBooks digital bookstore at the BookExpo America conference next week, the original of the story at
PaidContent.org has
been updated with new details. Though the BEA's website lists Apple as an "exhibitor," the iPad maker will not be exhibiting at the show.
Instead, a spokesperson for the event reportedly said that Apple will be meeting with publishers in a private room at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The expo will be held May 24 through 26.
Major book publishers attending the event include Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, Scholastic, Disney Books, Penguin, Rodale, and Wiley. The change would suggest that Apple will quietly attend the show to strike deals with publishers, rather than publicly promote e-books sold through the iBookstore.
The BEA's site listing for Apple reads: "Private Meeting Room: Publishers, please contact us to reserve a meeting time." Apple will be represented by Scott Simpson of the iBookstore.
The iBooks e-reading application and its accompanying storefront launched
last year alongside the iPad, and was
later made available for the iPhone and iPod touch. Since, more than 100 million books have been downloaded from the service.
