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Apple reveals new glass cube at 5th Avenue Apple Store
The revamped glass cube entrance of New York City's 5th Avenue Apple Store has been revealed. While the store didn't officially open until 10:00 AM Eastern time, work was finished on the cube earlier this morning, revealing the new, streamlined structure. According to the store's web page, it closed at 10:00 PM last night so that final renovations could be completed. MacRumors has published pictures of the new cube that were taken this morning. The new structure is made of 15 large panes of glass (the original cube used 90 panes of glass) and offers a stunning, streamlined appearance. The reconstruction began in June, 2010 and is reported to have cost US$6 million. The original cube (below) cost $7 million to construct.
5th Avenue Apple Store new glass unloading: Video and pics
As astute TUAW readers know, the flagship 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York City is being renovated. The glass cube is being rebuilt, this time out of 15 huge panes of glass instead of the 90 that were in place. While construction is going on, the store is still open 24/7. One of our readers, Justin Parmer, was in the Big Apple and on hand as construction crews began unloading the huge glass panels. He took several photos of the process, and then shot some video as well (the video has been sped up by Parmer). Apple and the architects working on designing the Apple Stores have been making great use of large expanses of glass. The cylindrical store in Shanghai, China uses curved glass panels that are thought to be some of the largest manufactured to date, and the new Apple Headquarters campus in Cupertino, California will make good use of the same manufacturing process. A close-up look at the glass being held by the workers shows that it is about two inches thick, and it certainly can't be lightweight. Many thanks to Justin for providing the photos and video.
5th Avenue Apple Store's iconic glass cube to be reinstalled
Apple has begun construction on the glass cube at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in NYC. According to building permits, Apple is replacing the glass on the building and upgrading portions of the surrounding plaza. The renovations will cost a whopping US$6 million, which is just shy of the $7 million Apple originally spent to build the structure in 2005. Plywood walls now surround the iconic cube, and scaffolding is expected to go up in the next few days. Work should be completed by the end of November. So much for those summer and fall photo ops.
iPad 2 linewalk videos: NYC and Austin, TX
It's not high-concept, as videos go: an admittedly shaky walk around the block or down the street to gauge the number of hardy souls willing to stand and wait for something they could just as easily have shipped to their front door. Nevertheless, we salute the line-standers, and it is in their honor that we share these clips with you: a brisk linewalk at NYC's iconic 5th Avenue store, and one at the pop-up store in Austin for SXSW. Enjoy!
Fifth Ave. Apple Store recreated in Minecraft
The Minecraft Mac was cute and all, but if you think that was the pinnacle of Mac-related creations in Minecraft, you're underestimating our readership. Reader Simon sent along this set of Flickr pictures, which shows off an entire recreation of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, complete with glass cube on top and a store full of products down below. Unfortunately, there's no way to model out iPads or iPhones in Minecraft, so there's just a whole bunch of what looks like Mac minis on sale. But then again, that sounds like a great store, too. Very nicely done, Simon. I'd like to know how long something like this takes -- I've built a few things in Minecraft myself, but nothing this, err, realistic, and definitely nothing of this magnitude. Awesome stuff, though -- what's next?
iPhone 4 Launch: Line gallery from 5th Avenue NYC store
We're eagerly awaiting tomorrow's iPhone 4 retail launch, even as the pre-orders begin to show up on desks and on doorsteps. Photographer Matthew Redmond is in line at the 5th Avenue NYC flagship store, and he's sending us pictures all through the day and night as the enthusiasm builds (and it better; it's getting up into the 90s today in the city). Thanks to Matthew for his pictures! Update: Sorry, we dropped a paragraph in the editing process -- the firefighters and ambulance pictures, you ask? One of the line standers (according to Matt, a guy who was paid by another would-be buyer to hold his place in line) walked off unexpectedly and then collapsed in the middle of the street. Emergency personnel responded, and the side street was closed for about 20 minutes while he was treated. %Gallery-96117%
Inside the 5th Ave Store & some retail tidbits
We're inside the 5th Avenue store and the fun continues, with stacks of iPad boxes on the counters, plenty of cases and accessories... and customers, customers, more customers. Gallery below. Some things we know now re. the retail situation: Yes, there was an all-hands call this morning, at least here at 5th Ave. No, there wasn't a ban on employees bringing their iPhones with them, as far as we can tell. Yes, the retail staff didn't get to touch iPads until this morning, so for the first couple of hours they will be catching up. Yes, they are carrying small blue chamois cloths to polish fingerprints off of the display units. Frequently. %Gallery-89672%
iPad launch at Apple Store 5th Ave
Do the words "mob scene" mean anything to you? No, in fairness the walk-in and cheering was handled with the usual Apple retail aplomb, and buyers are merrily checking out now. Pictures from the launch below. We're also tweeting updates through the day. %Gallery-89668%
iPad line watch: the few, the proud? (updating, Woz on deck!)
We just landed at Apple's 5th avenue flagship, "The Cube," and it's... a little bare. We count less than 15 people in line at this point (still headed by the inimitable Greg Packer), and most of them actually have pre-orders. Despite the minimal line situation, Apple has a huge section of The Cube's plaza cordoned off to make room for more, and the NYPD is here with barriers galore, ready to lay down the law. We're told the lines will be split between pre-orderers and non-pre-orderers at 6:30PM, at which point the scene will look truly pitiful. Presumably the crowd will grow later tonight and swell early next morning, as those pre-orderers with nothing to worry about shuffle in, breakfast in their bellies. Or maybe everyone just went to the beach for the weekend. Have you spotted a line in your city? Send us a tip! Not planning on braving the beautiful spring weather for a shot at this revolutionary / magical device? Make sure to check out Josh's iPad-equipped Jimmy Fallon appearance later tonight. CLICK HERE TO READ ENGADGET'S FULL REVIEW OF THE IPAD! Update: News is filtering in from all over -- check it after the break, and make sure to send in what you're seeing, wherever you are! Update 2: The line at The Cube is moving! Check out the update after the break. Update 3: We're Ustreaming live from NYC's Cube store. Check it after the break! %Gallery-89648%
Found footage: the first guy in the iPad line at 5th Avenue Apple Store
It's not surprising at all that someone has already been sitting in front of the iconic 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York City. This video was posted this morning (April 1, 2010) and from the discussion with the person who is sitting there, he was in line yesterday. He kind of looks lonely, but if past practice is any indicator of the next few days, he'll make a lot of new friends as the line begins to grow in the hours leading up to 9 AM EDT on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010.
iPhone 3G S Launch Day: More pictures from the field
We snuck past the line into the glass cube, and got some pictures of the well-behaved crowd downstairs in the 5th Avenue store who were buying and activating their phones (and also checking out the new MacBook Pro lineup while they were there). %Gallery-66341% Erica's in line at the Cherry Creek Mall in Colorado and sent us a few quick snapshots. %Gallery-66343% If you want to catch every moment of launch day, take a look at Cnet's liveblog from around the country.
iPhone 3G S Launch Day: Photos from 5th Avenue
Good morning! All day today we'll be updating with reports from iPhone 3G S purchasers around the country, both here and on Twitter. So far the lines seem modest and activation is reportedly going smoothly. Victor notes that AT&T store lines are short where he is and if you are not the primary account holder on your cell plan, you have to go to AT&T anyway to upgrade. Morning schedules and slow subways kept me from the 7 am store open at 5th Avenue (since Apple moved it earlier from 8 am due to AT&T opening its stores at 7), but by 7:30 the line was still active and purchasers were beginning to emerge. NYPD reports that about half the barricaded area was full at 7 am. %Gallery-66325%
Found Footage: Waiting in line for an iPhone 3G
Our good friends over at Engadget posted an exclusive interview from the line that is forming outside of the 5th Avenue Apple Store. In the video, they interview the first three people in line and ask them what they're doing. According to Daniel, the group leader, they are trying to "break a world record for most time spent waiting in line to buy something."
5th Avenue Apple Store starts iPhone 3G line
GearDiary is reporting that a lineup of about 10 people started queuing up Friday for the iPhone 3G launch at the 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York. You may recall last year's 5th Avenue store queuing started about a week early as well. The iPhone 3G goes on sale at 8 a.m. on July 11th. The first people in line are a man, his wife and their young child. According to GearDiary, the couple told security that they're trying to set a record for time waiting in line and possibly having a baby waiting with them. Police are allowing the 10 people to wait in line and currently have no plans to use barricades. GearDiary has posted some pictures for your viewing pleasure. Update: Engadget, our sister blog, has posted more pictures and an exclusive interview with the people in line. [via MacNN]
Top 100 retail landmarks: Apple makes the list
RetailWeek recently compiled a list of the top 100 retail locations around the world. What did they find? Well, Apple holds two positions in their list: one for the 5th Avenue store (New York) and one for the Regent Street store (London). According to the list, the 5th Avenue store has all three key deciding factors: "excitement, education and ease." They go on to say that the glass cube is in line with the "DNA of the brand." Does this change your mind about shopping at Apple's retail stores? Be sure to take our poll and drop a comment. %Poll-16401%[via MacNN]
Apple's 5th avenue store elevator gets stuck
Not all visitors of the NYC 5th Avenue Apple Store are having the retail experience of their lives, as one group of customers were trapped in the glass elevator for 45 minutes. Ultimately, the hydraulic lines had to be leaked in order to lower the elevator down to the store where the NYPD had to pry the doors open. Store employees who were looking for a fix before the boys in blue arrived were able to lower water bottles down into the elevator.I wonder if this is what happens when you leave the Apple Store without purchasing anything?[via UNEASYsilence. Thanks also to everyone who sent this in!]
Photos from inside the new NYC Apple Store
Those kooky cats at the Gothamist are in attendance at Apple's in store press preview of their new 5th Avenue store. They had a chance to snap some pics, and confirmed that this store will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.As we know, most of the store is underground. This store has no theater, and won't be carrying photographic equipment. The first 2500 people will get a t-shirt, and they will be giving out a MacBook an hour for a few days.
5th Avenue cube revealed!
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.
