Filed under: iPhone
5th Avenue Store hosts mysterious giant iPhone display
Gallery: Giant iPhone at 5th Avenue
TUAW reader Andrew went into the 5th Avenue Apple Store late this evening and noticed a large, covered rectangular display. It was clearly an iPhone (because you can kind of see through the wrapping). Andrew chatted up a couple of employees, neither of which would admit what it was. And although someone eventually promised that the wrapper would be soon removed, he gave up waiting after about a half hour or so. Here are his exclusive pictures of the (still covered) display.
Andrew asked one of the employes how the iPhone sales would work at the store. She told him that they would not be activating the phones at the store itself. This is pretty much in line with what I heard when I called my local Apple store earlier this evening. My Apple sales person was refreshingly honest. Not only did she admit that no one at the store had a clue about how things would work regarding sales, initial stock numbers, restocking, and so forth, but also that she had no idea as to when they would receive their training. She did add that she (and others at the store) were under the impression that the phone would probably have to be taken over to an AT&T store for activation, but she also claimed that you'd need a two-year commitment, an item that I know is up in dispute and a fact that Apple employees are not yet clear on. If the no-activation-at-store bit proves true, then might it be possible to buy an iPhone at an Apple store and then just insert a SIM card and go?
All that aside, what do you think is under that wrapping?
Update: Check out this good quality photo that just popped up over at Flickr (Via MacRumors)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gene Cowan said 12:25AM on 6-22-2007
It's probably got a large LCD display embedded in it that will promote... hmm, some kind of product with a large display on it and rounded corners. Mystery!
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terssi said 12:36AM on 6-22-2007
Me thinks its the new iMac :)
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jtbandes said 12:37AM on 6-22-2007
What's under it? A giant iPhone! Duh! :P
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KR said 12:40AM on 6-22-2007
My bet is on a new iPod thats the same as the iPhone, just less... phoney...
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icruise said 12:46AM on 6-22-2007
Am I the only one who thinks that display doesn't look much like an iPhone?
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Thomas Huxley said 12:52AM on 6-22-2007
Well it's most definitley an iPhone, probably just showcasing YouTube or something like that most likely.
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Eric said 12:56AM on 6-22-2007
I find it a little worrisome that Apple employees still don't know the procedure for the 29th...I'd prefer to go to the Apple store here in Chicago...I think there will be a good vibe on launch day...but I don't want to have to run all over town to get my iPhone activated...
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Justin said 1:02AM on 6-22-2007
OMG! it's the new... MAC TABLET!
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Andrew Leven said 1:16AM on 6-22-2007
I think this whole "phone activation" thing is pretty annoying. I am a at&t customer, but through a business account. Based on previous rumors customers with business accounts cannot purchase the iPhone through at&t, but if I get one at the apple store, can I just simply put my existing SIM card in but keep my current plan? With any other phone the answer would be, "yes!" I need to know!
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Oscar Boleman said 1:23AM on 6-22-2007
What if the iPhone display is meant to be dangled inside the glass cube, temporarily replacing the Apple Logo?
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Dave Chartier said 1:30AM on 6-22-2007
I think it's a giant statue of Steve Jobs with automated arms, welcoming iPhone customers... and offering a 10% discount on accessories.
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Daniel said 1:58AM on 6-22-2007
ITS HUGE! It must be the Microsoft Surface! (Note Sarcasm)
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Simon Arch said 2:07AM on 6-22-2007
"All that aside, what do you think is under that wrapping?"
Portable Reality Distortion Field Generator, what else?
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macrocrap said 2:19AM on 6-22-2007
Lol people listening to Apple or AT&T retail employees like they know anything. The only people that know dont work in the stores thats for sure. BTW there are people that have the iphone and are allowed to give demos which i was lucky enough to witness tonight.
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Kasper Bræmer-Jensen said 2:22AM on 6-22-2007
I think it's Steve Jobs, hiding..
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Claire said 2:36AM on 6-22-2007
I just saw one in downtown Palo Alto a couple of hours ago, unwrapped and all, and it is definitely an iPhone.
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mackie said 2:46AM on 6-22-2007
Remember the TUAW post about the Middle East Media Research Institute's opinion that the 5th Av. cube was offensive to Muslims?
http://www.tuaw.com/2006/10/11/muslim-community-offended-by-apples-fifth-avenue-nyc-cube
Giant rectangle covered with a sheet? Maybe they're on to something! :D
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Alex Cormier said 3:16AM on 6-22-2007
I remeber someone saying a couple of months back that Apple was going to have a big interactive iPhone
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Alex Cormier said 3:19AM on 6-22-2007
"I just saw one in downtown Palo Alto a couple of hours ago, unwrapped and all, and it is definitely an iPhone."
ZOMG P1CZ0RS?
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andrew harrison said 4:34AM on 6-22-2007
icruise: "5. Am I the only one who thinks that display doesn't look much like an iPhone?"
how does that not look like an iPhone with a sheet over it?
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