Cube posts

While the entire retail sector is in the doldrums of recession and reduced consumer demand, there's a shiny spot in midtown NYC with a big glass cube sitting on top of it. Apple's 5th Avenue store should replace that glowing Apple with a big ol' dollar sign, according to a report from Bloomberg News.

The story says that while overall retail sales in New York have fallen between 8 and 10% since 2008, and US retail sales for the first half of 2009 are down 9.2% from the same six months of 2008, Apple's retail operations are still holding steady.

In particular, the 5th Avenue store stands out; while Apple did not release store-by-store numbers, Bloomberg quoted an estimate of about $350 million in annual sales; that's $35K per square foot of the 10,000-sf store. By comparison, high-end jeweler Tiffany & Co. does only about $18K per square foot. That $350M number is lower than the New York Post's $440M estimate, but still astonishingly good business.

A couple of months ago I wound up in Paris and received a surprising direct message via Twitter from a young employee at Visua Mobile. Having nothing better to do in the City of Light, I wound up at their offices. I'm often suspect when a "mobile" development company rings me about their iPhone stable. Just like my tea, I prefer my developers steeped in Apple. Well, Visua Mobile is certainly made up of Apple fans. Just check out the gallery of their offices to see what I mean.

Visua's raison d'etre would be iPhone apps. To my astonishment, none have been runaway hits. They are beautifully designed and generally work well (some 3.0 bugs crept up). Visua gained some noteriety around their app, Fracture, that would make the iPhone screen appear broken when pressed. But they make a host of already-approved apps, including Celebrity, which features a special magazine cover just for TUAW fans.

Although the Power Mac G4 Cube is one of the all-time classic cool-looking Macs, wouldn't it be even cooler if your Cube could transform into a robot? TUAW reader W from thinkingbricks.com used a LEGO Mindstorms NXT kit and a Cube body to create a Cube-bot with both autonomous and remote control modes. The following video is one of four on thinkingbricks.com that show the 'bot in action.

Here's a challenge to W: could you take an old original Mac case and do the same? It would look a lot like the walking Mac of Bloom County comic strip fame...

Here's a clever blending of Apple past and present, in keeping with our post yesterday on Mac mini mods. Rich Willis has managed to stuff a Mac mini, an external HD, and an Airport Extreme into the clear plastic shell of an old G4 Cube.

Moving very slowly (to avoid melting the acrylic Cube case) he cut away the back of the case to give access to the various ports and then installed some acrylic supports to hold everything up. Voilà -- the Cube lives again, sorta. Rich has a gallery up that documents the entire process.

[via Engadget]

This week's rig is another Cube mod. Reader bigtimeproducer has posted a picture of an Apple Cube case that has been stripped clean and retro-fitted with a Mac mini, external hard drive and an Airport Extreme. It looks cool, and probably gets a good wireless signal (seeing as the basestation is inches away).

"Mac Mini Cube Oblique View" posted by bigtimeproducer.

If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Each Sunday we'll comb through the most recent entries and declare a "Rig of the Week!"

This week's rig comes from reader nash_h, who modded a Cube to look like a tiny Mac Pro. First of all, we love Cubes and secondly, this is one sweet mod. Nice job, nash_h.

"new mac pro" posted by nash_h.

If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. Each Sunday we'll comb through the most recent entries and declare a "Rig of the Week!"

Now we know why Steve loves his cube so much: It's free advertising space! Earlier yesterday morning (Monday, March 12th), workers placed a huge iPhone ad over one side of the cube. It features the now familiar image of a hand holding an iPhone and the line, "Introducing iPhone. Apple reinvents the phone."

So, what's going to be the next ad on the cube?

Thanks, Arnold!

This is just so perfect I want to cry.

Those that know me already know that I'm an Apple Cube fanatic. And if you didn't know - well now you do. My own Cube sports a a shiny black aluminum PowerCube enclosure (with obligatory white Apple logo affixed to the front), a Dual 1.7GHz 7447A CPU, 1.5GB RAM, 250GB WD HD, an FX 5200 video card with Dual 24-inch LCD Displays and an 8x DL SuperDrive. It's a sweet rig and I rarely find myself wanting or needing more from a desktop computer. Even with a base fan and a small blower on the video card it's also still virtually silent, as a Cube should be. And it looks stunning on my glass top suspended above a powder-coated steel desk.

I must admit, however, that this mod takes the Cube to an entirely new level. Presenting Anthony's Mac mini Cube:

"My inspiration for this project came from the Fifth Avenue Apple Store and the recently released black MacBook. I wanted to recreate the G4 Cube as if Apple had never discontinued it and make it into a true media center. I did not want to simply put the 'guts' of an Intel Mac mini inside and 'dress it up', but to refresh the Cube and create something that could stand out. Here are my confessions of the project, enjoy... "

Dear Steve Jobs: If you build it, they will come. I'm just sayin'...

Check out all the glorious pictures as well as an admirably detailed description of the process - which is far more elaborate than you might be thinking - at 123Macmini.

Great job, Anthony! Thanks to Jamie, Rick, and the hundreds of friends, relatives and readers who sent this tip directly to my inbox!

The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports that the glass Cube Apple erected earlier this year on New York's tony Fifth Ave, dubbed Apple Mecca by many of the Mac faithful, is offensive to Muslims due to the Cube's resemblance to the Ka'bah (aka The House of Abraham). The report goes on to say that there's a genuine belief that the design of the store was specifically meant to provoke Muslims and cites other contributing insults such Apple housing "bars" that sell alcoholic beverages within the Cube structure and it being open 24/7.

I'm speechless. But, as you know, that rarely stops me from speaking anyway. I'm hesitant to get into this territory for obvious reasons and I truly mean no disrespect to anyone, but... you and I both know that the design of the 5th Ave store has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, Muslims, Mecca, Abraham, the Kaabah or any religious icon, affiliation or idol whatsoever. It has everything to do with Steve Jobs' affinity (fetish?) for the design of the Power Mac G4 Cube (a fetish of mine also), as well as his pet NeXT Cube. We also know that the "bars" in question don't sell anything resembling alcohol.

It's unfortunate when anyone gets offended by wholly innocuous things that were never intended or designed to offend, and much more so in the current world climate, but seriously... there's no there there.

The MEMRI report is dated October 10, 2006, though it clearly was written before the 5th Ave Cube was completed, based on the references to stopping the project before it progressed. I'd like to think that now that the black panels have come down, the clear glass Cube that is NYC's flagship Apple Store is recognized to be nothing more than a den of iPodolatry, rather than Idolatry.

[via The Apple Core]

UPDATE: I have added a question mark to the title of this post in an effort to keep some of the commenters and, indeed, the community as a whole, from becoming more enraged than they may already be. I am also working on a follow-up post in response to the uproar, which I'll put up within the next few days. Some of you make some very valid points and I am anxious to address some of the concerns expressed here.

UPDATE: Follow-up post is here.

iLounge is reporting that Incase has pulled out all their case-making stops and introduced a complete lineup of cases for Apple products that commemorate New York and some of its major landmarks. To top things off, these cases are exclusive to the new 24/7 5th Avenue Apple Store that opened last weekend.

The lineup consists of white and black cases for the 5G iPod, iPod nano and MacBook Pro. No word yet on whether Incase has been chosen to create the leather case for the giant glass cube that Dave mentioned yesterday.

[image via iLounge]

Ok, so maybe it's just a joke, but it's still funny. Macenstein has written an amusing parody post, stating that the NYC cube (which is made of the same material as the iPod's screen) will don a protective case designed by Incase, after receiving a 30-foot scratch over the weekend. Nice one, Macenstein.

As featured on Apple.com. I think Steve is really in love with that cube (I know I am), though I do wonder how they are going to keep it clean.

Hooray, it's opening day! You cannot deny the lure of the cube, New Yorkers. Resistance is futile. While Apple Store Fifth Avenue in New York City doesn't officially open its doors until 6:00 PM, we'll be taking your reports all day. Use the comments of this post to share your experiences:

• When did you get in line?
• What's the atmosphere like?
• Have you seen any celebrities (from the Mac community or otherwise)?
• Will you be moblogging photos with your phone?
• Is your credit card literally burning a hole in your pocket?
• Does your boss think you're home sick?

Check back throughout the day for updates. Have fun, New Yorkers! Here's hoping you score a T-shirt.

Updates:

Steve writes: "I'm standing out in front of the Apple location right now. The extreme cold and rain has scared off most of the mac faithful. Right now there are only about 20 soaking wet fans waiting outside. We haven't seen any celebs yet, although ABC news dropped by and interviewed some of us..."

More updates from Steve:

"...Steve Jobs has just showed up. He and some of the other Apple bigwigs are currently looking over the outside of the premises. It's getting better by the minute."

TUAW reader Ben took some great photos of Steve Jobs at the 5th Avenue store! He writes:

"So I'm outside the new Apple store but [I'm] not near the crowd and Steve Jobs comes from behind me, I think a lot of people were surprised...here are some photos." Very cool! Thanks, Ben!

TUAW reader Dave Thorup lives in NYC, and decided to wander down to the 5th Avenue Apple Store that's scheduled to open this Friday. He was lucky enough to witness the unveiling of the huge glass cube that marks the store's entrance, and he took these photos.

Thanks so much for sending these in! That place is going to be incredible (and the Apple logo looks really cool lit up at night).

Photo courtesy Dave Thorup.

Update: Dave's bandwidth limit was used up, however, he posted the entire set to Flickr. Have a look.

The Apple Store on Fifth Avenue has been rumored to be open 24 hours a day. ifoAppleStore now reports that not only will Apple's new flagship store be open 24 hours a day, but also 365 days a year (366 on leap year).

If this is true I imagine that some Mac geeks will be ringing in the New Year at the Apple Store.

Who is going to be attending the grand opening?  I am pondering taking the trip into NYC to see the mystical cube with my own two eyes.