Now that we’ve gotten iOS 5 out of the way, Apple (News 
- Alert) is readying to launch its new and improved store app, not to be confused with its App Store. The app, which now has trusted sources leaking information, comes with a few new bells and whistles.
Among the changes noted by Boy Genius (News - Alert) Report include:
- You'll be able to pick up an item at a local store as soon as 12 minutes after the online order goes through.
- If an item isn't in stock, you'd be sent a pickup date notice after the order completes and then receive another alert when it reaches the store.
- People who opt for the in-store pickup option will be given priority over other customers.
- Buyers will also be able to return items bought online to the retail store if the purchase is not to their liking.
The addition of in-store pickup isn’t exactly new. Best Buy (News - Alert) is one of a few retailers that already offers it. According to BGR, Apple’s approach will be far more streamlined than its competitors.
If BGR's account is true, Apple will allow customers to scan items on display, pay for them through the app, and walk out of the store without their bags being checked. According to 9to5Mac, concerned staffers have dubbed this feature EasyTheft, a play on the company's EasyPay service.
In other Apple app news, rumors are surfacing that Gmail might be issuing its own native iOS app.
Tech columnist MG Siegler reports that Google (News - Alert) is "on the verge of" launching its own native iPhone app. Based on information he has gathered from multiple sources, Siegler infers that the app may even be going through the Apple App Store approval process right now.
Word is in the air that the iPhone (News - Alert) Gmail app would incorporate some of the most expected features like push notifications, simple yet elegant user interface, and probably Google+ integration.
Seigler believes that the iPhone Gmail app has already been submitted to Apple and is pending approval. While we would be certainly glad to see it launch soon, we are not exactly sure of the time frame.
Given the uncertainty of launch date, it wouldn’t be unfair to predict its release sometime before the dawn of the new year.
Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
