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Apple set to open massive European flagship store in Liechtenstein
It may be one of the smallest countries in Europe, but Vaduz, Liechtenstein will soon host Apple's largest European flagship Apple Store. The store, which will be located adjacent to the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein (Liechtenstein's Museum of Modern Art) and open in September, will be even larger than London's 28,000 square-foot Regent Street Apple Store, measuring 43,000 square feet. The first floor will be dedicated to showcasing Apple products, while the second floor will be comprised of multiple Genius Bars and staffed by over 100 multilingual Geniuses. The third floor will reportedly be an interesting mix of technology and art, including what might be a shared theater/gallery with the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein as well as a state-of-the-art digital library using iBooks sharing. The library was added to the plans at the last minute when Apple found out Liechtenstein is one of only two countries in the world with a 100 percent literacy rate (interestingly, this is probably the reason Apple is rumored to be requiring all future iBooks to be uploaded into the iBookstore in both English and Alemannic German).
Apple introduces reserve and pick-up
As a guy who likes shopping online, but who still appreciates the act of going into a retail store for big purchases, I love this news. Apple has introduced a "Reserve and Pick-up" service for the holiday season. The name is a little unwieldy, but it gets the point across. You go onto the Apple web site to find what you want, click to reserve the product at a nearby Apple Store, and then go to the store and pick up the goods while you're doing your holiday shopping between December 15 to 24. For many folks, this might seem awkward -- why not just buy the product online and get it shipped, or just go to the store and buy it? For guys like me, it's perfect -- all of the convenience of choosing a product online, with the added bonus of being able to check out the retail store during the holidays. iLounge notes that there's no AppleTV on the list, so if you were planning to pick one up as a gift, you'll have to go a more traditional route. There's also no way to actually reserve an iPhone. Instead, you're told to get an iPhone gift card to give to some lucky recipient. Nevertheless, I like the idea of reserve and pick-up, an interesting mix of online shopping and in-store purchasing for the holiday season. It's Apple take-out.
First pic of Microsoft retail store's construction -- both Abercrombie & Fitch visibly nervous
Here you have it, folks. We knew this was coming, but the first photographic evidence of a Microsoft retail store under construction has just come to us -- via the company's Twitter account -- and we have to say, it brought a few tears of joy to our eyes. The first two stores are set to be opened in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California this fall. Wonder if the inside will look anything like those plans we saw?
Microsoft confirms leaked retail store plans are legit
Those leaked Microsoft retail store plans certainly seemed like the real deal when Gizmodo got a hold of them last week, and Microsoft itself has now finally come out and confirmed that they are indeed legit. It's also quick to point out, however, that they're still far from finalized, noting that, "as a part of our process in briefing creative agencies, we shared some early prototypes and concepts of our retail store plans." Otherwise, company spokesman Frank Shaw would only go so far as to reiterate that "no final decisions have been made," and that Microsoft is still on track to open its first retail stores sometime this Fall. Update: Looks like the folks at Redmond have picked the first two retail locations for its stores, and according to CNET, those lucky locales are Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California -- yeah, not exactly the most exciting picks, but perhaps the local authorities were quicker to sign the leases. Unsurprisingly, the California store is in a mall where an Apple store also resides -- let's hope the two stores find themselves within earshot of one another.
Microsoft confirms retail stores coming this fall
Well, this is going to be fun! Microsoft, which hired former Wal-Mart exec David Porter to be its corporate vice president of retail stores back in February, has just confirmed that stores are, indeed, on the way -- and soon. COO Kevin Turner confirmed the plans at the Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans yesterday, saying the stores are due to open this fall (maybe to coincide with the launch of Windows 7?) -- and what's more, Redmond's bringing the fight directly to Apple's doorstep. "Stay tuned, because we're going to have some retail stores opened up that are opened up right next door to Apple stores." Things are about to get saucy, people.
Apple's new online tool lets you check iPhone 3GS availability from the comfort of your own home
If you're one of the hapless folks out there still having trouble tracking down a new iPhone 3GS, Apple is making things a little bit easier on you with an online tool to check up on stock at Apple retail stores. There's a full breakdown of color and capacity, which might seem like overkill to some, but given the fact that stores with stock in all four current models are a bit of an exception (outside of NYC, anyways), we'd have to say that this is just the sort of overkill we need.[Via iLounge]
Apple to host UK Special Event 18/9
Thanks to tipster Lee for sending this, courtesy of MacFormat. Apple has announced an invite-only event to be held next Tuesday morning (18th September) at London's Regent Street Apple Store. The event invite is simply headed with the tagline "Mum is no longer the word" and instructions on how to get to the Regents Street store. My money, as with most, is on an iPhone announcement - possibly UK-specific given that it's just one week before Apple Expo Paris (Europe's largest Apple event) - however we'll clearly have to wait until next week to get any more out of Apple.
Apple upgrading online Concierge reservation system
It looks as though Apple's Concierge, their online system allowing for Genius Bar reservations, is undergoing a bit of an upgrade. There wasn't much warning, and we don't have any details of what shiny new goodies are going to debut, but it was an already pretty slick system that is bound to get even better if they're making this big of a deal out of it. Stay tuned.[Upate: Someone (no, literally: "someone") in our comments pointed out that Apple has already rolled out this shiny upgrade to some of their retail stores, and you can already access it at the San Francisco's store site. Looks like a handy new system.]
Latest UK Apple Store opens this weekend
This Saturday, January 28th at 9:00 AM in London, Apple will open its newest Apple Store at Brent Cross. This store is located in the Upper West Mall of the Brent Cross Shopping Centre. You can find complete travel directions here. As usual, the first 1000 visitors will be rewarded with commemorative t-shirts. Visitors can also enter to win the “Grand Opening Sweepstakes,” which will award one winner with an iMac, an iPod nano, a Canon digital camera and camcorder and an HP inkjet printer.If you're going to attend the opening at Brent Cross, please send us links to your photos and reports! Good luck and have fun.
