Filed under: Retail, Software, Apple
Apple Store Concierge on your own Mac
If you've ever been to an Apple store you've probably noticed the launcher-like buttons in the middle of the desktop of all the Macs on the floor. The buttons give you access to that store's Concierge (for Genius Bar and Studio appointments), events calendar, product info and other store info.
What if you could have those same DesktopButtons on your own Mac, giving you access to the same information - but without having to actually go to the store? I know, it's actually kind of useless, but sometimes we do things just because we can. DesktopButtons is apparently Docktop, an app that costs a mere $4, so if you like the interface itself, you really should buy it.
But what if it's the Concierge you're after? There's a torrent in the wild that will give you your very own copy of Concierge. Once configured with your local store's ID code, it will display the Concierge for that store. As ifoAppleStore points out there's a good chance the software was downloaded from an actual Apple store's computer, so it might not be in the wild for long. But for now, ifoAppleStore has all the details you need to see this all for yourself.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GadgetGav said 9:13AM on 10-06-2006
Isn't that just something you can get to via a web interface anyway..? No BitTorrent needed...?
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SubGenius said 10:50AM on 10-06-2006
You can access concierge through Apple.com
The URL is as follows:
http://concierge.apple.com/store/R139
R139 is the store number.
What is more interesting is that Concierge 1.0 was implemented using Flash.
The recently updated Concierge 2.0 has gotten rid of the Flash interface and has gone with more traditional web design.
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mighty-joe said 11:42AM on 10-06-2006
Seems like Concierge is a nice kiosk-mode web browser. With a nice effect after starting. As it turns out, you can change the URL its is loading and the Effect. (Concierge.app->Contents->Resources->Default.plist)
Possible Values for "Effect" are blend, blur, cube, drop, flip, shrink, slide, spiral and spiralout. In addition to the you can change the "direction" of these effects. (In, you might have guessed it, effects.plist)
Cheers,
joe
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mighty-joe said 11:43AM on 10-06-2006
By the way, the store number of the "Fifth Avenue"-Store is R095. Put it in Defaults.plist and off you go!
Cheers,
joe
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Kyle Nilson said 12:28PM on 10-06-2006
Docktop is NOT the same application. Actually, it's an extremely light app stored in /Library/Desktop Buttons (or similar). It calls up four urls stored in a text file next to the app. The text shown by the app is actually an image stored in the RSRC file within the application resources (ditto the icons). You need ThemePark and a quality photo editor (Photoshop) to alter the program.
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Aron T said 12:32PM on 10-06-2006
Would this not cause a problem if a malicious person decided to flood the concierge with appointments?
=aron=
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Thorn said 1:22PM on 10-06-2006
Aron, everyone's always had the ability to use the web interface to flood the concierge with appoinments anyways.
I feel sorry for anyone who visits the Genius Bar frequently enough to actually get good use from having the Concierge application installed on their Mac!!!
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Mitchell said 2:48PM on 10-06-2006
I always wondered if this type of software was available. Not that I would use it, but it's a good idea.
Now, how do I code something like that?! That's the question....
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Aron T said 4:29PM on 10-06-2006
Mitchell, if you will code it, I will use it
Thorn, Are you sure? I thought the web concierge service did some sort of check on whether you had an appointment already or something...
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Joseph Crawford said 4:44PM on 10-06-2006
I have downloaded and tested this and it is not a working solutions. The local store in Crossgates mall is R017 and when i entered that then launched the app. It stated i was at store zTest Store 1, the website says Crossgates for the store. I think i will stick to the website interface and I hope i dont have to visit often enough to get use out of this application.
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Brad said 5:45PM on 10-06-2006
Joseph, I have had the new version of concierge and desktop buttons since the day it came out. Not only do you need to enter your stores number into the .plist file, but also the text file for the url to the apple site.
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John Russell said 5:53PM on 10-06-2006
I borrowed the concierge application from the Pioneer Place Apple store (R077) a long time ago. I have had no need to use it though.
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Spark said 3:54PM on 10-08-2006
Brad, Where in the plist file. I mean right after their url or put the url to your store location in there with the number? Which plist file. There seem to be 2.
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Someone said 1:56AM on 10-11-2006
Man, what people will do...
The Concierge application is just a windowless web browser that does some nice effects. It behaves the same as going to apple.com/retail and choosing your store's Concierge. Why would you need this?
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Leonard said 6:45AM on 1-02-2007
So how exactly do you get the web interface?
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