ivaua

arthurba said:

Let me share an 'outside the US' perspective.

All this discussion about RCS is moot.

If I send an SMS/RCS to any Android contact, I never get a reply and they never see it.

Why?

Because Android users use WhatsApp.  In other countries it's WeChat.  

They see it as a combination iMessage/Facetime app and use it just like us Apple users use iMessage/Facetime - ie: we don't use anything else.

I asked a friend about my text message and they showed me their phone: no sign of my message, and no sign of any app that would show an SMS either.  They either hadn't installed it or deleted that app.

I'm guessing in the US it's different, but I wouldn't think that it will be different for long.

Let me support you on this with both hands and feet!!! 
Remembering dark times of only SMS and understating to an extent how it works, I can't understand all the fuss of Apple not giving a support to RCS. Of course now it does, but does it help much, since RCS is a 99% function of MOBILE OPERATOR (messaging server+exchange/interconnect with other operators) and not a manufacturer of the phone. In many cases, even with SMS there are hiccups to this day since some some operators are not signing agreements about SMS exchange (thus no technical implementation of exchange) and you can't send a message to someone abroad. And personally, I'm expecting the same happening in RCS space, in your bubble, everything works fine but just step left or right, and it is all shambles. Another issue, how mobile operators are going to charge for this service, are they going to do the same as with phone calls by screwing customer and with implementing of VoIP (read oLTE, oWiFi) and still charging you minutes as if it is old time GSM or god forbid NMT with CDMA.
ZERO optimism on RCS.
And yes, there are nearly 6 billion people living outside of USA...

I wish Apple updated Airport Express with AirPlay 2 at least as a farewell... 

I'm three full replacement in + one bud replaced. First replacement happened two weeks in since purchase. All warrantees passed together with special maintenance program from Apple... and they are crackling AGAIN, so they are just seating on the desk as emergency spare.

And AirPods Max are in trash together with infamous case. Three replacements at first year of usage and later when they broke again, I went to Apple to ask what's the repair cost and I was give a quotation EXCEEDING by 25% the price of new pair of MAXs from Apple. As a consolation I was offered a 10% discount to purchase a new pair. 
Still loving Apple, but this was the most frustrating, infuriating experience I've ever had with any product I've ever bought from Apple.

I can't understand why everyone is so concerned about 5G, the network which in is testing mode EVERYWHERE with a lot of question to quality and stability of that type of communication. On top of this frequencies are not harmonized across the globe, for a mobile phone OEM it is a nightmare to produce models for specific market with questionable possibilities of roaming in 5G. A technology requiring a HUGE pile of money (incomparable to 3G/4G) for mobile operators to deploy the network. I would expect Apple in this case release 5G supported model not earlier than 2022, that's an optimistic scenario...

randyl said:

Would be nice if the article included the (city) location of the new store. 

https://maps.apple.com/?address=Westfield%20Mall%20of%20Scandinavia,%20Stj%C3%A4rntorget%202,%20169%2079%20Solna,%20Sweden&auid=7738415038470224894&ll=59.370563,18.003462&lsp=9902&q=Westfield%20Mall%20of%20Scandinavia