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Apple launches new Support app, saves your holiday tech-support nightmare

Published Nov 12th, 2016 12:00PM EST
Apple Support App
Image: Zach Epstein, BGR

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“Hey, while you’re here, would you just mind checking my iPhone? It’s been doing this ‘updating’ thing recently. Oh, and my emails keep on not sending, could you take a look at that? And this wireless printer never does what I want it to.”

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Trading turkey for tech advice is a time-honored and always-awful ritual for anyone under the age of 30 who still has parents. This year, Apple has seen the oncoming tide of woe, realized it needs to curry favor with young people to keep iPhones hip, and has launched an app to help.

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The app gives you information about how to use your Apple products (assuming you can install the app in the first place!), schedule appointments at the Apple Store, or live-chat with a support rep. For most situations, and with a little training, it can replace your phone number in your grandparents’ book for tech support.

Even better, it knows what devices you have registered with your Apple account. Rather than having to explain the difference between A1701 and A1702 to someone, you can just ask them to log into the Support app and see documentation.

The app is available in most app stores apart from the US store, strangely. Hopefully, it should be rolling out state-side in the next few days, just in time for you to visit home.

Chris Mills
Chris Mills News Editor

Chris Mills has been a news editor and writer for over 15 years, starting at Future Publishing, Gawker Media, and then BGR. He studied at McGill University in Quebec, Canada.