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Apple confirms Grand Central store opening Friday

Apple confirmed today that it will open its Grand Central store Friday morning.

The store will have a unique look, integrating Apple's typically modern polish with the classic look of Grand Central station. It will occupy the east and northeast balconies of the terminal, overlooking the main concourse.

The store will almost certainly be considered Apple's flagship location in Manhattan, which already has four other eye-catching stores on Fifth Avenue, the Upper West Side, SoHo, and the Meatpacking District. The Grand Central store, however, is the only one with a guaranteed flow of consumer traffic as countless commuters … Read more

Apple teases its new NYC store--oh, and what's this about 3D iPads?

Apple took this week off as a company holiday, but that doesn't mean things stood still.

The week kicked off with a rumor that Apple was planning to open up its Grand Central Terminal retail store in New York in time for Black Friday, but that deadline came and passed. Not all was uneventful though--Apple put up a sign confirming that the store was "arriving soon."

The space is more than 23,000 square feet and stretches between two balconies. By comparison, Apple's Regent Street store in London is 25,000 square feet, 22,000 square … Read more

Apple's Grand Central store won't open by Black Friday

Grand Central Station commuters looking to score a holiday deal at Apple's imminent New York City store may have to wait a while.

Recent rumors had pegged the launch of the new Grand Central Terminal store for sometime this week as the holiday shopping season officially kicks into gear. But a construction worker reportedly confirmed to Mashable yesterday that Apple's latest store probably won't open for business until next month.

"It won't be any time too soon," the worker told Mashable. "We still have a lot to do, so my guess is that … Read more

The secret sauce to Apple's retail success? This man made it

As the former vice president of retail at Apple, Ron Johnson partnered with Steve Jobs to plan the first Apple store. Now the CEO of J.C. Penney, Johnson reveals why Apple stores work.

Writing about his efforts in fashioning the Apple store in a Harvard Business Review guest post, Johnson explained that a store has to do more than just offer products for sale. It has to create an experience--something that turns it into more than just a store.

"Any store has to provide products people want to buy," Johnson wrote. "That's a given. But … Read more

Apple's Grand Central store to open this week, report says

Apple's latest retail store in New York's iconic Grand Central Terminal may have its opening date announced tomorrow, with a launch by the end of this week, a new report says.

Without citing sources, 9to5mac says that Apple plans to literally take the wraps off the store's opening date tomorrow by uncloaking a massive sign affixed to its exterior (pictured above). The company is said to be stocking up the store with products in time for a launch as early as this Friday, to coincide with start of holiday-shopping season on Black Friday.

When reached for comment … Read more

Apple may open Grand Central store this month

Apple's long-rumored Grand Central Terminal store in New York, currently under construction, could be open by the end of November, a new report claims.

According to Apple rumor site 9to5Mac, the iPhone maker has been putting its employees through "Core" training at a hotel in Times Square, and it could open the store as early as "the Saturday before Black Friday." If true, that would mean that the store would open on November 19.

It is worth noting, however, that Apple has yet to confirm that it is even opening a Grand Central Terminal store, … Read more

The 404 938: Where crikey! That's so grouse, Gary! (podcast)

CNET Australia transplant Ty Pendlebury joins the cast of The 404 to talk about the brand-spanking-new GTA V trailer, online sales tax, and Aussie Rules Football.

It's been a while since Rockstar Games even mentioned the Grand Theft Auto franchise, let alone gave details on the next installment in what's widely regarded as the most infamous video game series in history. We'll chat about the new trailer and whether or not it impresses.

Next up we'll talk online sales tax and how it may become a reality for consumers who shop at sites like Amazon.com. We've been enjoying tax-free shopping for years now, but will that soon be coming to an end?… Read more

First Grand Theft Auto V trailer debuts

Last week, Rockstar Games released a teaser site and logo for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto V, which led to widespread speculation as to where the next game in the open-world chaos simulator would take place.

This morning we finally have an answer, as the first-ever trailer for GTA V has been released. The game will take place in a fictional Los Angeles-inspired town.

We're sure there will be much more about GTA V in the coming months, but what are your thoughts based on this trailer?

IBM names first female CEO

Nokia shows off its first Windows Phone handsets, Amazon's Kindle Fire is in hot demand, and Big Blue appoints Virginia Rometty as its new CEO.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

The 404 932: Where one size misfits all (podcast)

Whew! Today was an extralong episode, and we start things off speculating about the mysterious location of Grand Theft Auto V. The teaser Web site from Rockstar Games hints at a financial theme, so we're definitely thinking an American city known for its financial institutions...Washington, maybe? Or maybe it's Billings, Mont.? Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, perhaps? We'll know for sure on November 2.

Bringing up GTA inevitably devolves into a discussion on the negative effects of video game violence on children (Godwin's law, too), but luckily the ophthalmologists over at the Micro Surgical Eye Clinic in Kolkata, India, are using games for good.

This team has found that a modified version of the first-person shooting game Unreal Tournament can be used to strengthen the eyesight of teenagers suffering from amblyopia, or "lazy eye syndrome." Still no progress being made on the cure for "lazy everything else" syndrome.… Read more