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Verizon 5G goes live in parts of Miami and five other cities
If it wasn't already clear that Verizon (Engadget's parent company) is in a rush to meet its 5G coverage goals, it is now. The carrier has switched on 5G in parts of six cities, including Miami, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, Grand Rapids, Greensboro and Spokane. As with earlier deployments, though, you shouldn't expect far-reaching access. Miami's access, for example, is limited to parts of downtown along Biscayne Boulevard as well as landmarks like American Airlines Arena, Hard Rock Stadium and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Leaked Sprint WiMAX roadmap names new cities for 2009 rollout
Well, what do we have here? One of our readers sent us a screenshot from Sprint's Sales Portal that included the above roadmap for its WiMAX rollout this year. A number of the yet-to-be-launched cities we've already heard about -- Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Charlotte -- but to the best of our knowledge, the rest of them are brand new entries. Additionally, Baltimore residents can look forward to some sort of coverage update in the fourth quarter. We'd be lying if we said we weren't jealous that Salem (population 3,000) and Milledgeville (population 19,000) are getting the wireless network before most of us on staff, but the service has to start somewhere, right? No indication here of 2010 plans, but last we heard that included Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Update: As tipster Carlos points out, Clearwire's website already has some coverage maps for some of the cities listed in the third quarter, as well as some markets not listed here.
Greensboro store opening draws cheering crowds
After extended delays and much anticipation, the Greensboro, NC Apple Store at Friendly Center finally opened its doors yesterday to paying customers. The photo here is courtesy of the Iconfactory's Talos Tsui, who appears momentarily in this local news coverage from prior to the store open; unfortunately, his colleague Gedeon Maheux is misidentified as "Corey Marion" in the clip. Whoops! Perhaps that lingering closeup on the Twitterrific icon in the store window will help soothe the pain.You can check out all the Greensboro excitement from those who were there: The Triad's newspaper story iPhone Savior's post Before and after stories from the News & Record (money quote: "'Welcome home,' general manager Dave Arnold shouted to the crowd before letting the first customer inside...") More photos from Frijole, and his tumblog of the campout The store's official page, with event schedule and directions, is at Apple's retail site. See Talos' video from inside the store in the second half of the post.
Greensboro, NC Apple Store set to open this weekend
We've been waiting for this opening for a long time. Way back in July, we posted a photo of what (we thought) was the Greensboro store. It turned out to be a Williams-Sonoma. Next the launch date got pushed back, as Apple decided to make an even larger store than what was originally planned. This time, we've got official word.Apple Store Friendly Center (doesn't that sound nice?) will open Saturday the 21st at 10:00 AM. This store is located at 3320 West Friendly Center in Greensboro. If you attend this opening, lets us know! We'd love to see your photos and stories.
Georgetown Apple Store to move forward after redesign is approved
ifoAppleStore has an update on the battle between Apple and Washington D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commission: A new design for the Georgetown Apple Store is close to approval, and includes a subtle Apple logo and trees growing inside the building. The ANC's objections, ranging from rejecting an all-glass storefront to requiring a two-story masonry facade had been the reason for so many design submissions from Apple. While Apple wanted to maintain consistency among all its stores, the ANC wanted to make sure the Apple Store fit in with the other, older buildings on that street. Most interestingly is the rear 20 feet of the store: It has a higher ceiling and skylights to accommodate two living trees inside the building. This isn't the final design, however: The ANC is requesting additional minor changes, and has wondered aloud why there isn't an actual second story behind the two-story facade. Even so, locals suggest the plan is likely to be approved today. If it is, the store will likely open in 2010. In other retail store news, MacNN notes that stores are planned or in progress for: Churchill Square in Brighton, UK Rideau Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada Hamburg, Germany (Thanks, Steffen!) and Greensboro, NC, which we mentioned in July. [Via MacNN.] Update: Commenters Brad and Chris noted that in a meeting last night, the Georgetown board rejected Apple's plans even after the ANC approved them. So much for that. Thanks, guys!
$1.7 million for Greensboro Apple Store
I'm not exactly sure why there's so much excitement centered around the upcoming Greensboro Apple Store (my guess is it's because our friend Ged of the Iconfactory can't wait for it to open), but the excitement is there, and Ed Cone has some insight into how the store's deal got put together. Apparently Greensboro won't see the story by December 25th, as there's apparently some argument with the property's owners over whether Apple is "just another computer store" or deserves a better place in the location. You know our answer on that one.An anonymous reader also tells Ed that the store's construction cost a pretty penny -- $1.7 million for 5,873 square feet, according to the building permit. Unfortunately, we're not sure if that's more expensive than usual or not: most retail places seem to cost a little less according to this, but then again, $1.6 million per store for Apple is about right, according to past numbers.Either way, hopefully the wrap will be taken off the store soon -- we don't think Ged can wait that much longer.
TWC adding 11 HD channels in Greensboro, NC, Triangle seen fuming
You can't be serious. No, really -- this cannot be happening. Merely days after Time Warner Cable did its best to appease rightfully frustrated Raleigh-based subscribers with four new HD channels, in flies word that our pals up I-40 are getting set to receive 11. It's been no secret that TWC favored the Triad in the high-def department, but this is just blatant. Beginning on Wednesday, Greensboro, NC-area customers will see SPEED HD and Bio HD hit the lineup, with Fox Sports Network South HD, Cinemax East HD, Cinemax West HD, Starz HD, The Movie Channel HD, Weather Channel HD, FX HD, Hallmark HD and Pay Per View HD joining that duo "in the coming months." Suffice it to say, Triangle dwellers everywhere are hoping and praying for that U-verse investment to amount to something sooner rather than later. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]Update: A new source asserts that TWC will begin the rollout of 20 new HD channels in its "Carolina Region" starting on October 29th. Unfortunately, there's no mention of what areas will get what channels, we'll remain cautiously pessimistic that the entire state won't see all 20 until we hear otherwise.
TWC adding ESPNU HD / Planet Green HD in Greensboro, NC
One word Time Warner Cable: pathetic. Look, we're as stoked as we can be for our pals up in the Triad area of North Carolina -- after all, ESPNU HD and Planet Green HD are coming just months after a trio of others arrived -- but the lack of attention in the Triangle is sickening. While the Raleigh area limps along with an absolutely anemic HD lineup, Greensboro is being promised two more on Friday. The stations will be available on slots 570 and 559, respectively, and at least the former should provide plenty of entertainment as the football season really gets going. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]
First picture of the Greensboro, NC Apple Store under construction
North Carolinians can start to polish up their credit cards, as the long-awaited Greensboro Apple Store (to be located at The Shops at Friendly Center, a heck of a nice place to spend your money) is now underway. The Iconfactory's Ged Maheux was kind enough to send us this parking-lot snapshot of the site -- looks like a big one.ifoAppleStore had a mid-summer target for the Greensboro store to open, which seems optimistic bordering on impossible at this point. A commenter on Ged's blog hinted that the delay in construction may have been the result of a proximity dispute; Apple is a bit picky about which stores can cohabit with the glass wonderlands, and now that the neighborhood is up to snuff the project is underway.By the way, if you've ever wondered what the offices (and the denizens) of the Iconfactory really look like, you can catch a glimpse via this local news report on the company.
TWC adds three more HD channels in Winston-Salem / Greensboro, NC
Hey, Time Warner Cable. We've been holding back on asking this for awhile, but we just can't button our lips anymore: Ever heard of a little place called Raleigh? You know, that huge, sprawling area also referred to as the Triangle? Evidently not, as the past two updates in North Carolina have been aimed directly at the Greensboro region without nary a pat on the bottom for us folks parked just an hour so down I-40. Nevertheless, we can begrudgingly say that we're very excited that our pals up in Winston-Salem / Forsyth County (and the greater Triad area, from what we can tell) have gained a succulent trio of HD channels: ESPNews HD (565), Disney HD (566) and ABC Family HD (567). No, TWC isn't saying when (if ever) these will filter down to the Triangle, but seriously, our patience is growing exceptionally thin. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Prime]
DISH Network ready to launch HD locals in eight more markets?
Call it a hunch, but we're being told that DISH Network is gearing up to launch HD locals in eight new markets within the next 24 to 48 hours. Right around a week after it got busy with its last round of HD local rollouts, we're fully expecting a handful of other cities to get the same treatment. In no specific order, Greensboro, NC, Providence, RI, Burlington, VT, Greenville, SC and Knoxville, TN will all see high-def versions of their nearby ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX stations. Meanwhile, Huntsville, AL (CBS, NBC, FOX), Jackson, MS (ABC, CBS, NBC) and Mobile, AL (ABC, CBS, FOX) will be receiving higher-resolution versions of three out of the four major broadcast networks. Keep a close on that EPG, and be sure to let us know when these areas go live.[Thanks, HDJ]
TWC adds Discovery suite to Piedmont Triad region of NC
In a move sure to make those in the neighboring Triangle exceedingly envious, Time Warner Cable has seen fit to add in the Discovery suite to its HD lineup just down I-40 in Greensboro / High Point / Winston-Salem. As of today, subscribers in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina can turn their attention to TLC HD (546), Animal Planet HD (547), Science Channel HD (548) and Discovery Channel HD (549). Here in Raleigh, we're still doing without, but hopefully TWC will string the newcomers down sooner rather than later. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Prime and Mike]
No HD Super Bowl if your local affiliate and cable company can't agree
We've seen it noted in a few of the comments here, some HDTV cable subscribers having to go antenna or not at all if they want to watch the Super Bowl in high definition while their provider and the owners of local stations squabble. We know a lot of HDTV owners are sports fanatics, and so do advertisers and television companies who are determined to get every dollar they can.This article notes a typical battle currently going on in North Carolina and other areas. We recently posted about the owner of this affiliate, Sinclair, reaching a deal in Columbus, Ohio for HDTV broadcasts. Unless someone bends unexpectedly it doesn't look like Greensboro residents can expect the same. Is there anything customers can do when stuck like this? Switching to satellite or using an antenna isn't always feasible or desirable. I think local sports bars are at the bottom of a massive conspiracy, you heard it here first.
