World of Apple

AppleInsider is reporting that the EasyPay system which Apple adopted in 2005 to improve queues at checkouts will be phased out this later this year. The system which currently runs on PDA devices running Windows Mobile will reportedly be replaced with iPhone units running customised point of sale software.

The device will also hook up to an external credit card reader thanks to the new iPhone 3.0 OS and the POS software will reportedly offer concierge, ordering and store management features according to AppleInsider.

The system is expected to hit stores in July with a full rollout by September.

AppleInsider reports that some Apple Stores in North America are selling iPhone 3G units for the full non-subsidised price of $599 for the 8GB version and $699 for the 16GB models.

Earlier in the week AT&T also began selling non-subsidised iPhones with no AT&T contract but limited sales to one per customer, in Apple’s case no such limit applies.

AppleInsider adds that although the iPhones are technically not locked they will still only be supported on AT&T’s network but naturally they could be unlocked for use on other carriers.

This weekend Apple opened its first Apple Store in Germany. On Saturday morning a massive crowd packed into the plaza at Rosenstrasse (Munich), according to ifoAppleStore there were 4000 visitors to the store in the first four hours.

Apple has posted a selection of photos on its website and several Flickr sets are available, of note are the ones from smokeonit and Oifi74. A QTVR panorama (caution, adjusts window) is also available.

It has been reported that Apple has informed its employees that it will have some kind of price-matching program in place for Black Friday.

The report comes after Best Buy announced that it is offering $150 off all Macs.

Back in 2005 we reported that Apple had purchased a large building across from the Empire State Building on 34th street in Manhattan.

Now according to the NY Post plans for a 34th street Apple Store are dead and Apple is attempting to offload the site back to developer Robert K. Futterman. According to one source Apple CEO Steve Jobs visited the site and said, “This is not for Apple.”

The developrrs Web site says the property, which can support about 18,000 square feet on three levels will be available for 13 years starting April 1, 2009.

This week saw the opening of another Apple Store in the UK, on Thursday Apple held the grand opening for the Highcross Apple Store in Leicester.

Apple is also set to extend its presence in Australia, just three month ago the first Apple store in the country busted open its doors in Sydney, that store was followed closely by the Chatswood Apple store.

Now a third store is ready to open on September 13 at 10.00am in Chadstone.

Moving back to Europe, ifoAppleStore is reporting that the first Apple store is due to open at the end of September in Geneva. The store recently received a new black facade that read “Bientôt ouvert,” meaning, “Opening soon”.

ifoAppleStore is also noting that Switzerland’s second Apple store is nearing completion in Zurich at the Glattzentrum shopping mall northeast of downtown.

Orange is hiring actors to stand outside of Polish stores to intensify the hype of the release of the iPhone in Poland. From the Reuters article:

“We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone,” a spokesman said.

Apple sold about one million of the new iPhone models in the United States around the July launch weekend, but buyers in Poland may be reluctant to pay hefty monthly charges.

There were no queues at T-Mobile’s (DTEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Era stores, which will also due to launch the iPhone on Friday.

Fake lines (or any lines) have not formed in front of local T-Mobile stores. Good luck to those who are looking forward to buying an iPhone in their home country!

Local businesses and residents of the New York SoHo Apple Store have begun complaining about the ever increasing crowds and foot traffic that the store attracts.

Curbed website reports that The SoHo Alliance has written for help from the Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer, saying that, “No bar, nightclub or construction site comes close to ruining continually our quality-of-life like Apple SoHo has”.

Alliance director Sean Sweeney said the “final straw” was Tuesday August 12th when the Jonas Brothers played at the Apple Store attracting “thousands of young teenage girls who screamed incessantly”.

Sweeney also explained acts of “irresponsible corporate behavior” by Apple, such as night construction without a permit, and “Apple employees during their breaks lounging, eating, smoking, littering–in effect trespassing–on nearby people’s stoops”.

Sweeney is looking for a solution to the issues from the borough’s president.

Over the weekend Apple opened its seventh store and most easterly store in Canada. The two-story Apple store opened in Montreal to a large crowd.

Apple Store, Sainte-Catherine
1321 Rue Ste-Catherine Ouest
Montréal,
Quebec,
H3G 1P7

Photos of opening available from MacCheech.

A note on Apple’s retail page states that Apple Stores will now open at 8am every day except Sunday to help cope with the demand for the iPhone 3G.

Your favorite Apple Retail Store is making it easier and more convenient to purchase an iPhone 3G. All stores will now open at 8:00 a.m. every day but Sunday and, to accommodate demand, we’re adding staff to help you get up and running as quickly as possible.

While standing in line for the iPhone 3G store staff will “prequalify” you which will involve things like administrative paperwork and credit checks. If you pass “prequalification” then you will receive a ticket for an iPhone 3G which can either be redeemed on the spot or before 6pm that day (4pm Sunday)

Apple also recommends checking iPhone availability using the iPhone Availability checker which updates every evening after 9pm.