Random prize: Send us your local Apple Store Network screengrabs and get a free iTunes gift card

Man, it’s hard to find free help these days! I wanted to check out the amount and kinds of computers on display at various Apple Stores across the country, and figured the best way would be to ask Apple Store shoppers to send me screengrabs of the “Shared” window on whatever computer they were using. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Random prize: Send us your local Apple Store Network screengrabs and get a free iTunes gift card", url: "http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1413" });

Plano Texas Apple Store evacuated for bomb scare during iPhone launch

Well, the Plano Texas Apple Store has officially won the coveted 2008 “Worst iPhone Activation Experience” Award. While various Apple stores have all had their fair share of activation problems/server outages this morning, the launch at the Plano Texas Apple Store in particular deserves special mention. Faithful Macenstein reader Trish tells us that in addition [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Plano Texas Apple Store evacuated for bomb scare during iPhone launch", url: "http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1491" });

Fort Worth University Park Village Apple Store almost there

The picture above is not the actual Fort Worth University Park Apple Store, but we presume it'll look something like this when it opens later this month. Our Twitter buddy Jamie Phelps says that "the innards are finished" and the store should be open within the next week or so. If you were on our last Talkcast, you know how wildly interesting it is to see an Apple Store opening (our own Robert Palmer attended one just last week), so keep an eye on this one, Texans.Of course, we should mention that as incredibly awesome as our readers are, they are not always trustworthy when it comes to Apple Store news. Our good friend Ged Maheux kindly tipped us a little while ago about an Apple Store opening near him in Greensboro ... which then turned out to be a Williams Sonoma instead (the Apple Store is still opening there, but not until next year). We love our readers -- more than is socially accepted in some parts of the world, really -- but as always, take their Apple Store tips with a requisite grain of salt. Permalink | Email this | Comments

What’s the best way to get kicked out of an Apple Store?

Section: Apple, Apple News, Retail & Apple Store, Software + Apps, Games, Third-Party, iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & AppsWhat happened? Four teens in Palo Alto have been officially banned from all Apple Stores. How long? Forever. Wow, let’s just take a moment to consider how hard that must be… Alright, time’s up. The reason for this banishment according to the Palo Alto Daily News is that the teens downloaded an unnoficial, third party car racing game called Raging Thunder at Apple’s University Avenue Store.  After being detained for two and half hours, the teens were supposedly told they were not ever welcome in another Apple Store. That’s harsh, but what do the teens have to say? “I can’t walk down University Avenue without going in there,” said senior Daniel Fukuba. “I’ll have to get a friend to buy stuff for me, like a drug deal.” “We thought that it was completely harmless,” Eric Vicenti said “I’m not going to take it out on Steve Jobs or anything.” However, some questions still remain. Have you ever played Raging Thunder, and is it worth getting kicked out of an Apple Store? Why was Apple so harsh to these teens when I’m sure it has happened at other Apple Stores all over the world? Are they seriously banned forever? Let us know what you think of all this. Via [Palo Alto Daily News] Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Details emerge on future Apple Stores

Details are beginning to emerge on future Apple Stores. First of all, ClarionLedger is reporting that Mississippi's first Apple Store is in the works. They've begun advertising for retail positions in at the Renaissance at Colony Park, with rumors saying that the store could open in the next couple of weeks.Likewise, the first Apple Store in the southern hemisphere moved one step closer to opening day in Sydney, Australia. Similar to a tactic they used in Boston, the facade hiding the store from the public has been covered with a sign that reads, "Drop in soon. Apple Store, Sydney."TUAW readers in Mississippi and Sydney: Keep your eyes peeled for us and let us know if you see anything interesting![Via MacDailyNews]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Apple Stores Confirmed Down Under

Section: Apple, Apple News, Commercials, Retail & Apple Store, Rumors, iPod + iTunes, iPod Family, iPod nanoAccording to a nice, big Bondi Blue billboard, Australia is going to be hit with their first Apple Store.  The sign, which read “Drop In Soon.  Apple Store, Sydney”.  Although an official date of opening has not been announced, some other specs on the building have been released.  The store, located on 77 King street, encompasses three levels, each coming in a 445 square meters of retail space.  Rumor has it that the store is slated for a June 19th grand opening.  Also rumored is two more Apple Stores, coming to the North Shore suburb of Chatswood, the other in Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre.  The banner, which features a wave of iPod Nanos, wasn’t cheap.  Reports have it coming in at $10-$12 dollars per square foot, putting this monster at over $25,000.  ifoAppleStore reports the following: Passersby say the inside of the store is still visibly “unfinished,” while local real estate and construction sources say the store will open in mid-June. A cool little wave of Nanos. When put in perspective, the sheer size of the new store is revealed. Three stories of Apple goodness.  Now if only we had an Apple Store in Vermont. via [ifoAppleStore] Full Story » | Written by Mark Rowland for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »