Chat With Random Apple Store Customers

You know all those computers on display at the AppleStore? Yeah, well they all have an internet connection and are running iChatAV. Some of them even have iSight cameras hooked up and you can video chat with other computers in the store. Have you put these pieces together yet? ifo AppleStore did and what that means is, as long as you know the screen names of those computers, you can chat, or video chat with them too - from anywhere. This means if you are in Florida, you can chat with Apple Store customers in San Francisco. Or if you are in Chicago you can chat with customers in Japan.

The screen name for retail stores is constructed from the letters “ars” for “Apple Retail store,” the store’s official 3-digit number, a period, and a 2-digit computer number representing the computer. For example, this iChatAV screen name: ars047.05

This would be the Cherry Creek retail store in Denver, and computer #5, which is probably on the “Pro” table. Note that you use leading zeros for both the store number and the computer number. The computers are numbered starting with the front-most computer in the “Pro” section, which is on the left wall of the stores, then the Pro computers on the desk, the “Home” section desk, then the Home computers along the wall. The computer numbers continue left-to-right to the back of the store.

Only certain computers have an iSight camera connected, which currently seem to be #1, 3, 7, 10 and 16-18 at the small and medium-sized stores. At the San Francisco store, and perhaps the other flagships with an Internet café, the iSight-equipped iMacs are numbered from 68-74, and 02-06…give them a try!

Of course and easier way to find out which of these computers are connected is to go to the store, write down the screen names of the machines and publish them online. But where? Here. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to go to your local Apple Store and write down the screen names of the demo computers. Please note if they have iSights connected and send them to me (via e-mail or in the comments) and I’ll compile a running list here. What are you waiting for?