The Consumerist Web site claims to have held an instant messaging session with someone whose “mate” purchased a “refreshed” MacBook, presumably from the Regent Street store, and discovered “porn on the desktop” when he got the laptop home. The materials were further described as a “desktop full of JPGs.” The account is fragmented by the [...]

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I earlier noted the change in desktop buttons on computers at the retail stores. They’ve now been simplified into Concierge, Need Help? and Classes+Events. Clicking on one of the icons takes you to the Genius Bar appointment system, notifies a Mac Specialist that you need assistance, or displays the store’s events calendar. The Help button [...]

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The second level of The Grove (LA) store has been reconfigured to match today’s consumer demands. The store was the 36th opened in July, 2002, and included a theater and very long Genius Bar. Now the theater is gone, replaced by a software and accessories section, and the ‘kids’ table. The Genius Bar was reduced [...]

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The iStyle Authorized Premium Reseller store opened in Prague (Czech Republic) earlier this month, with a store that includes many of the design features of U.S. stores–albeit the first generation prototype. Now renderings of the store have surfaced, matching others produced by Apple’s European architects to assist resellers when upgrading their stores. The renderings show [...]

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It’s a concept that seems limited to the UK and Italy so far, but another iPod-only retail store opened in Rome (Italy) on November 4th. The store is located within the Warner Village Cinemas in Parco de’ Medici, which is on the southwest side of the city. The FuturaGrafica store sells only iPods and accessories, [...]

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A survey of Apple’s retail stores on Black Friday by a financial analyst showed a “likely upside” to previous retail revenue estimates for December. Analyst Jonathan Hoopes of ThinkEquity Partners LLC wrote to clients that the survey by volunteer observers covered 28 stores in eight states, and logged per-hour traffic ranging from 69 visitors in [...]

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While Apple hasn’t expanded the mini-store concept to universities, it has not neglected those institutions for retail sales. Although these sales fall within the company’s Education group, they still constitute retail efforts. First, an unknown number of universities have physical stores on campus that sell Apple products, selected third-party products, and provide a point of [...]

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Apple has rolled out a new collection of red holiday T-shirts for retail store staffers, accompanied by some clever slogans. On the upper back of each shirts is a terse slogan that promotes the Apple concepts.
Give movies, give music, give TV shows.

Give now. Borrow later.

They asked for something colorful. They didn’t mean a sweater.

Tech the [...]

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Even in sunny and warm climates, a snowman means Christmas. So that’s the window theme Apple is using at the retail stores to signal the holiday shopping season. In this case, a five-foot snowman is wearing a wool cap, carrying a small decorated Christmas tree, and is holding a pink iPod mini (not the Product [...]

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Apple’s original iTunes Music Store has expanded way beyond its music origins, and now the retail stores are also selling TV show and movie gift cards. Each store has three plexiglass racks, one for each type of downloadable media, holding a supply of gift cards in $15, $25 and $50 denominations and white envelopes. In [...]

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Apple has distributed a low-key 2006 Holiday Gift Guide that promotes, “The season’s most thoughtful no-brainers.” The front of the guide uses the new Product Red iPod mini and a simple red ribbon as its only reference to the Christmas season. In fact, the only Christmas keywords are “holiday” and “the season.” Inside, the brochure [...]

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Apple is filling in retail store coverage between its Aventura and Boca Raton stores on the lower east coast of Florida with a planned store along Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The 3/4-mile stretch of shops and restaurants is just east of downtown and adjacent to Riverwalk. The store could open by May 2007, [...]

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In a program corresponding to School Nights at U.S. and Canada Apple stores, the company has instituted College Nights at stores in Japan. The program allows educational institutions to reserve the store for an evening to showcase their creative work for parents, teachers and the general public. The program’s Web page has photos of previous [...]

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In honor of the holiday shopping season, visitors to the UK Apple stores will be offered one-day discounts this Friday, Dec. 1st. The UK stores will also host live music DJs at all the stores. In addition, the Regent Street store will reveal its renovations, which include a glass elevator like the one at Fifth [...]

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Apple has posted special one-day, Black Friday pricing for its on-line store, which should also apply to its retail stores. The Web page shows savings of up to $31 on iPod models, $101 on MacBooks and iMacs, and from $5 to $51 on various audio and computer accessories, and software. These latter discounts vary depending [...]

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