Apple stores go down all over the world

What could Apple possibly be announcing today that would cause a whole bunch of its international stores (Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, etc.) to go down? And what's with that new iPhone tab showing up on those sites? We're so confused. Hold us.

Update: Rolling outage now fully global.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Xavier @ Jun 9th 2008 10:19AM]

Back up already?

[tails2 @ Jun 9th 2008 10:32AM]

I wonder if apple will introduce a proper handheld gaming device. Their own PSP/DS. Would be a big surprise!! ha ha

[bohsocks @ Jun 9th 2008 10:42AM]

Uhhhh so the stores are down all over the world... but not all the stores are down? I would say that isn't all over the world then.... unless countries have multiple stores?

Me fail English?

[jaquesy @ Jun 9th 2008 10:47AM]

UK Store down now too!

[JimReaper @ Jun 9th 2008 10:47AM]

@ Mark

The world suffers and us lemmings happily distract ourselves while you wallow in your own depressive nature and try to drag everyone down with you.

So sad.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 9th 2008 10:52AM]

"Update: Rolling outage now fully global."

Damn, that was a very fast update! I was *just* looking at the Buy Now screen and looking at the different models (8GB, 16GB) that were unavailable. I guess it's kind of sporadic at Apple today.

[Darkroom @ Jun 9th 2008 10:59AM]

@ Mark

Mother Teresa is sooo 90s.

[esteban @ Jun 9th 2008 11:09AM]

US store just went down

[J @ Jun 9th 2008 11:14AM]

@Mark
What are you doing here, go make a change somewhere where you CAN make a change... like the Red Cross or Peace Corps and stop badgering us for the things we choose to do.

So hypocritical

[DarkUltra @ Jun 9th 2008 11:45AM]

Hey!
who says we cant do both? Support the economy by buying a new phone, support the environment by buying one that lasts a while. Give 2% of your earnings to a charity foundations (and dont forget to change the receivers when you discover none of your money actually went to anyone who needed it... No j/k :-).

Of course, posting in a depressed way is no good, be a little enthusiastic but serious. Thank you.

[JJV @ Jun 9th 2008 11:47AM]

@Mark and what have you been up to??
youve been commenting over 250 times on engadget
why arent you helping??

So hypocritical AND sad.

[John Shillabeer @ Jun 9th 2008 11:59AM]

The iPhone tab is only there becuase they use the same template when a store goes down.

It links to apple.com/iphone, instead of apple.com/au/iphone for an Australian iPhone page. :(

[billrfletcher @ Jun 9th 2008 2:05PM]

UPDATE!

I bought apples at the store today, everything is fine, go back to sleep

[thetinguy @ Jun 9th 2008 10:19AM]

oh snap

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jun 9th 2008 11:25AM]

DAMN! The US store is now DOWN! I repeat DOWN!

[whowhatme @ Jun 9th 2008 11:52AM]

whoohoo it's my birthday!

no, seriously, it is...

[wickedpheonix @ Jun 9th 2008 10:19AM]

WWDC = Epic win

[Dook_In_The_Urinal @ Jun 9th 2008 10:33AM]

WWDC-What Would Desus Chew

[MastrCake @ Jun 9th 2008 10:39AM]

WWDC=What Would Jesus Compute?

[MastrCake @ Jun 9th 2008 10:40AM]

Jesus=Desus. SORRY!!!

[fanman @ Jun 9th 2008 11:32AM]

Why is that low ranked? It is pretty witty...

[egotman @ Jun 9th 2008 1:50PM]

Because 'D' is nowhere near 'J' on the keyboard!!!!

[unearthed @ Jun 9th 2008 10:19AM]

really thanks for this info.

[et @ Jun 9th 2008 10:20AM]

the austrian store is still up and running!

[m0nkey @ Jun 9th 2008 10:20AM]

Hmmm, the Norwegian store is still up.

[insertAlias @ Jun 9th 2008 10:20AM]

Up for me.

[Luke. @ Jun 9th 2008 11:36AM]

Still not for me :(

*looks at pack of viagragain*

[doylemb @ Jun 9th 2008 10:21AM]

Store not down in the UK? Or is it a sudden re-open to spur on last minute sales?

[looseinthedeuce @ Jun 9th 2008 10:21AM]

"Apple stores still up all over the world"

[JerseyBricklayer @ Jun 9th 2008 10:21AM]

oooohhhh man, ... im so excited.

[Eckofish @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22AM]

Premature. I think Steve set that up just to mess with the loyalists.

[Lamp @ Jun 9th 2008 10:49AM]

yes.
oh jobs,
you big kidder, you.

[Brian Ketterer @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22AM]

iPhone no longer available to ship... how odd

[Matt @ Jun 9th 2008 10:38AM]

It's been like that for weeks

[Maestro @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22AM]

Wow! This is completly out of left field! Who would have thunk it?

[Ben @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22AM]

Apple store is still working in France

[Aniruddh Chaturvedi @ Jun 9th 2008 10:22AM]

iPhone.... Here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Edmund @ Jun 9th 2008 10:23AM]

They're all back up now..

[apple_rox13 @ Jun 9th 2008 10:23AM]

the us store is up, australia was down

[ChiWax @ Jun 9th 2008 10:23AM]

Maybe today's announcement really has more to do with people living outside of the U.S.? Just maybe? Q.

[Ramin @ Jun 9th 2008 10:23AM]

Once again, people are getting a little TOO excited. Calm down, it's only Apple......

...who am I kidding?

Apple FTW - CAN'T WAIT!!!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 9th 2008 10:38AM]

@Ramin

Good one.

I'm trying to contain myself, but I'm starting to get antsy. Looks the keynote announcement is gonna deserve a 10 minute victory dance over a whole bunch of WinMo and Symbian handsets.

Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers! Developers!

3G iPhone = WORLD DOMINATION = APOCALYPTIC WIN

Any bets that Steve Jobs will be wearing a mock turtleneck to match the color of the 3G iPhone.

*********************************************

Low-Ranked due to annoyance factor. Thank you.

[MeatPop @ Jun 9th 2008 11:32AM]

Sometimes I think you're being facetious and mocking the typical rabid fanboy and other times I think you really do believe some of the outlandish shit that you post. So Mr. Jobs care to enlighten us?

[Rich @ Jun 9th 2008 11:45AM]

Apple are so clever.

1) Release version 1 of the product missing a boat-load of features commonplace in the market.
2) Watch as hipsters/fanatics/fashion victims/occasional person who the product actual suits buy it
3) Announce new version containing some of the missing features.
4) Profit.

[LumixLover @ Jun 9th 2008 12:18PM]

To 'Rich'...

"2) Watch as hipsters/fanatics/fashion victims/occasional person who the product actual suits buy it"

That is the first time that actually sounds like a compliment...

Creeping up to middle age, I'd be glad to be any of those one-dimensional caricatures - Hipster? I should be so lucky. Fanatic? Beats being casual. Fashion victim? Seems better than out-dated. Occasional person, etc...? Oh, dear, actually buying something that suits me. How daring...

[JimReaper @ Jun 9th 2008 10:24AM]

Up in the UK... he's playing with your mind man!

[Luis @ Jun 9th 2008 10:24AM]

US STORE Open and Running

[Toby @ Jun 9th 2008 10:24AM]

Only down in a few countries. Australia especially :) gota love the new iPhone tab at the top.

[d @ Jun 9th 2008 10:32AM]

that's a standard page, Canada had an iPhone tab up before the new iPods last September, and still does not have the iPhone. I think the Aussies will have one after today, personally, but this doesn't mean anything.

[Jakob Henner @ Jun 9th 2008 11:07AM]

Yes when you press the Store tab it just sends you to the American one. I've tried Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden, so it's not a sign of the iPhone coming (except the iPhone is announced for these countries ;)