Rise and shine, shoppers. According to AppleInsider, Apple retail stores will open at 8:00 AM this Friday, July 11th to begin selling the iPhone 3G. AT&T stores will also open at 8:00AM.
The longer work day will create time for the in-store activations, credit checks, etc. that the new iPhone will require. For me, this is a real bummer. Activating my original iPhone via iTunes in the quiet comfort of my own home was a pleasure; a typically "Apple" experience. Now, I've got to stand around like every other shmoe and wait for the workers to click this, type that, sign here and blah, blah. Oh, well.
Last February, we forwarded a report on China's first Apple Store. At the time, it seemed the store would open on August 8th to coincide with the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics.
This week, The Shanghai Daily is reporting that the Sanlitun-based store will open on July 19, with a second store also scheduled to open during the Olympic Games (in the Qianmen area). China is the world's largest mobile phone market and second largest computer market.
No official opening dates have been released, so please send us any specifics or spy shots you take. Thanks!
Today Apple posted the schedule for Apple Camp. Apple Camp is held at Apple retail stores for kids 8-12 to go learn about creative things like: making presentations with Keynote, taking and managing photos with iPhoto, creating music with GarageBand, and making movies with iMovie.
Each sessions lasts about 3 hours and is available at all Apple retail locations. Kids attending will receive a DVD or CD with their creations on it, field guide, t-shirt, and will be able to get other giveaways. Best of all, Apple Camp is free though registration is required.
In June of last year, we wrote about the Apple Store that has been planned for Munich, Germany. At the time, rumors identified an opening date of "...the 2nd half of 2008."
Today, Apple has posted several retail job openings for Munich, from concierge up to store manager; eleven in total. If they've begun looking for employees, the store must be near completion.
The iPhone was made available to Germans in November of last year, and a June store opening would coincide nicely with the rumored 3G iPhone release.
If you're a TUAW reader in Munich, head down to 1 Rosenstrasse (formerly home to Sport Schuster sporting goods) and let us know what you find! The time has almost come for Germany's first Apple Store! Thanks, Chris!
Much like crew of the Starship Enterprise, the roles played by employees at Apple Retail stores will be identifiable by the color of their shirts.
Now, before you confuse the guys in blue shirts for science officers and those in red for security, we'll explain how it's going to work. According to a post at ifoAppleStore, Geniuses and Creatives will wear dark blue. Specialists will wear light blue, and the Concierge will wear orange.
Also, orange shirts will bear the slogan, "I know people," while the dark blue will read, simply, "Business." Finally, the crew in the back room will wear the traditional black T-shirt, assuming the role of the guy you don't recognize in an away team who's sure to die.
One must imagine that the Concierge will console irate customers by offering them Earl Grey tea "...in my ready room."
Security is job number one here at TUAW. Well, irreverent enthusiasm is job number one, but security is in the top ten at least. That's why this report of a break in at Seattle's University Village Apple store hits so close to home, even though my home is in Philadelphia.
Thieves apparently cut a hole in the ceiling and dropped into the back room where repaired Macs were quietly waiting to be reunited with their owners. Sadly, those reunions will most likey never happen. That's right, those cads stole all the laptops in that room, as well as a bunch of iPhones. I can only hope that those Macs were setup to make it a little difficult for the thieves to get their hands on the personal information contained therein (though knowing Mac users as I do I imagine those machines don't even require a password to login). Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
One of our Weblogs, Inc. designers sent a Twitter the other day bragging that his new Aliph Jawbone had appeared on his doorstep. After a quick Google search, I realized he wasn't talking about a new part of his anatomy, but rather a hot little Bluetooth headset. They don't get slicker than this-- not only does it look like it taps right into your face, but apparently the science works, too, if the demo is any indication. At $120, it ain't the cheapest headset you'll find, but according to our designer, it's completely worth it.
And so I wasn't that surprised to see, according to Macworld, that Apple is going to be selling these babies in their stores, right alongside the iPhone. Apparently a quality (and expensive) phone calls for a quality (and expensive) Bluetooth headset, and we're sure Aliph is thrilled to get shelf space next to what is already set to be one of the hottest products of the year. There's no word if the Jawbone is in Apple stores yet, but Aliph says if you want one, they'll be sitting right there in 157 Apple stores across the country next Friday.
David Chartier and I made the obligatory pilgrimage to Cupertino this week to snag some Apple swag for ourselves, friends, family and potentially even for you - to win in a future contest. We've posted some Company Store and generic campus pics in the gallery for your enjoyment. So... enjoy!
Just as the image above states, The Apple Store SoHo is joining the 5th Ave Apple Store in staying open 24 hours a day until Christmas Day, December 25, 2006. The Fifth Ave store is always open 24/7/365, of course, but the SoHo store generally closes at 7pm, 8pm or 9pm (depending on the day). This is a nice holiday treat for those of us who prefer never to step foot above 23rd St this time of year, in an effort to avoid the crowds.
Specifically, The SoHo shop will open at 9:30am this Wed, Dec 13th and remain open until 11:59pm on Sun, Dec 24th. The store will then be closed Dec 25th and will re-open at 9am on Dec 26th.
Now go buy something shiny and expensive with an Apple logo on it. That is, after all, the true spirit of Christmas!
Rapaport News reports that online retail sales have jumped this season, up by 60 percent or more in many European countries, which by any measure is a significant gain. The article, which is based on a ComScore report, out of the Reston, VA-based research firm, states that online consumer spending have been strong throughout the end-of-year period.
In particular, the Rapaport article mentions Apple and Amazon. Apple has consistently performed as a top retail site in the UK, France and German according to this report. "[C]onsumers armed with high-speed access and positive online retail experiences are increasingly comfortable shopping online."
ifoAppleStore has a list of the slogans that adorn the red holiday t-shirts worn by Apple Store employees. My favorite is, 'For a PC user it's not a gift. It's an intervention.'
Andrew & Chris sent us some nice shots of yesterday's ABQ Uptown Apple store opening in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Obligatory Mac O'Lantern from the 2nd-in-line, who camped out overnight on Halloween, included!
Mark has some pics too. Anyone else with pics? Post a link in the comments.
Look like a nice place to spend a few thousand dollars and it uses the new & improved interior layout Apple's been rolling out. Congrats on your new neighbor, Albuquerque!
Survivingcinemas.org.uk has uncovered the future location of Apple's first store in Scotland. 147 Buchanan Street, Glasgow will house Scotland's Apple Store as well as a glass spiral staircase and a Genius/iPod bar. This former theater will have an estimated £1,1,68,000 pumped into it to covert it into an Apple store with stainless steel encased ceilings (signage will be approved separately). Interestingly, it would seem that this store will not have a theater which is becoming a trend in new Apple Stores.
Canoga Park, CA in the San Fernando Valley may be known for its Antique Row - but there's a new attraction in town. Apple fans lined up yesterday morning to be the first to enter the new Apple Store, located on the 2nd floor of the newly renovated Westfield Topanga Mall. This appears to be one of Apple's updated designs featuring a wider layout, more display space and a dedicated iPod bar.
TUAW tipster Mack (aka realmacgenius) was there with his camera, thinking of us. Enjoy his pics. It's just like being there.
ifoAppleStore is
reporting on a month-long contest that is going on at the Beverly Center Apple Store in Los Angeles, CA.
Several Mac owners living in southern California have recently received a contest notification via email, which states,
"...Every night in March we’ll give away an iPod [30 Gb], iPod nano [2 Gb], or iPod shuffle [512
Mb]." You can see the full invitation after the jump.
Rise and shine, shoppers. According to AppleInsider, Apple retail stores will open at 8:00 AM this Friday, July 11th to begin selling the iPhone 3G. AT&T stores will also open at 8:00AM.
Last February, we forwarded 
Today Apple posted the schedule for 
In June of last year, 
Much like crew of the Starship Enterprise, the roles played by employees at Apple Retail stores will be identifiable by the color of their shirts.
Security is job number one here at TUAW. Well, irreverent enthusiasm is job number one, but security is in the top ten at least. That's why 
One of our Weblogs, Inc. designers sent a Twitter the other day bragging that his new Aliph Jawbone had appeared on his doorstep. After a quick Google search, I realized he wasn't talking about a new part of his anatomy, but rather a 
ifoAppleStore has 
Canoga Park, CA in the San Fernando Valley may be known for its Antique Row - but there's a new attraction in town. Apple fans lined up yesterday morning to be the first to enter the 
ifoAppleStore 
