Here’s a piece of trivia that should surprise no one: Apple designs its storefronts so that the edges of the various elements used in the design are in symmetrically perfect alignment with each other, according toa report by ifoAppleStore. In designing the recently openedApple Store on 4th Street in Berkeley, the company’s designers ensured that the glass panes facing outwards and even the edges of the sidewalk were lined up with the floor tiles laid inside the store....

Apple’s recent announcement on in-app subscriptions might have ruffled some feathers, but it appears that there’s more to the story than what Apple is telling. In an announcement today, Applehas changed its mindsomewhat on in-app subscriptions, lowering the barriers to entry and bringing more developers back into the fold. Interestingly, Apple didn’t state a reason for backtracking, but we might have some inside information. TNW has been contacted by a rather successful iPhone app developer who we promised would remain nameless....

China is a notoriously tough market for American brands. The last few years has seen tech giants like Google struggle to do business due to restrictive censorship and retail giants like Best Buy and Home Depot have found that heavy price competition makes it hard to gain a toehold. Yet, despite the conventional wisdom, Apple’s business in China is booming and it’s not lower prices but better presentation that’s driving their success....

Withrecent reportspopping up all over the web, it’s been confirmed that iPhones (and iPads that are 3G-enabled) are being tracked — at least since the update to iOS 4. While many are up in arms over the hidden nature of this tracking, it very well could be one of the coolest features of the iPhone. The fact that it is hidden is the problem, really. There are plenty of folks out there who would love to be able to see where they’ve taken their iPhone in their travels — as long as they’re aware of it....

Andy Miller, Apple’s Vice President of Mobile Advertising, is leaving the company to join Highland Capital, reportsAll Things D. The venture firm funded Miller’s advertising company Quattro Wireless, which was snapped up by Apple in 2007 after it lost out on a purchase of competing firm AdMob to Google. Quattro operated as Apple’s primary way of delivering mobile ads until it fired up the iAd platform last year. The departure is notable as, after alaunch with large partnersand aninitial boomin ad revenue for developers, Apple has recently been struggling in the mobile advertising arena,slashing priceson advertising buys to boost adoption....