Spiral glass staircase at future NYC Apple store; Hard Drive Update 1.0

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Wednesday evening release a hard drive software updated for owners of its iMac and Mac Pro desktops. Meanwhile, Manhattan's third Apple flagship shop is due to receive a snazzy spiral glass staircase. And reports claim that an iPhone line has already formed outside the Regent St. Apple store in London.

Hard Drive Update 1.0

The Hard Drive Update 1.0 [1.4MB] includes bug fixes and important updates for iMac Core 2 Duo systems running Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later, and Mac Pro workstations running Mac OS X 10.4.7 or later.

To complete the firmware update process, Apple instructs users to follow the instructions in the updater application. The updater will launch automatically when the Installer closes.

Meatpacking store to get spiral glass staircase

Though it seems that Apple has successfully courted its construction contractors to join its tight-lipped regiment, one eagle-eyed Manhattan resident was still able to scope out an intriguing nugget of info on the company's upcoming flagship shop in the island's Meatpacking District by studying a posted building permit.

"As I was walking past the sidewalk permits, something caught my eye and I stopped to shoot a photo of one of the permits with my blackberry curve," reports Musings of a VC in NYC. "As I was taking the photo, the construction site boss came out and started glaring at me. He asked me, 'What are you doing and who are you?' I told him I was Fred Wilson and I was taking a photo of the sidewalk permit. I mentioned that it is a public permit and that it was there to inform the public about what was going on there. He just stood there staring at me and I checked my photo to make sure I got what I wanted and then headed on."

What caught Fred's eye was that the permit contained a reference to a "large glass circular stair," which is expected to join floors one and two of the approximately 10,000-square-foot retail outlet.

Apple has already played this card before to much success. The first instance came by way of the company's Osaka, Japan-based flagship shop back in 2004, where a 24-step, spiral glass stairway was suspended from the second floor, forming the centerpiece of outlet and greeting patrons as they pass through the location's glass entranceway. Apple later built similar structures into its Shibuya store in Japan, its Fifth Ave. flagship in Manhattan, and its recent Buchanan Street store in Glasgow, Scotland.

Apple's first spiral glass stairway erected in Osaka Japan.

Interestingly, the Cupertino-based company has received multiple patents on its glass staircase designs, which list chief executive Steve Jobs amongst their inventors. The latest patent, granted in January, focuses on the engineering and manufacture of the laminated glass panels used in the structures, as well as the employment of titanium inserts to attach the panels together.

The spiral glass staircase used in Glasgow is a near twin of the one in Osaka.

The upcoming flagship shop at West 14th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan's Meatpacking District had been rumored for an opening ahead of this year's holiday shopping season, though it's presently unclear if it will make the cut.

iPhone line forms in London

Apple will launch the iPhone in the UK at 6.02pm tomorrow night, and a queue is already forming outside its doors on Regent Street, reports Macworld UK.
"It's not the longest queue -- yet, but two people have arrived outside the store equipped with warm weather clothing, folding chairs and grim, dogged determination to be among the first people in the UK to get hold of an iPhone.

Professional line waiter Greg Packer awaits iPhone outside Apple's flagship shop in Midtown Manhattan back in June.

The move replicates the US experience, where the first queues began to form outside Apple and AT&T shops the day before the product launched. Hundreds had joined these queues by the time the iPhone went on sale."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[stompy]

Was that last photo really necessary?

[wopwop]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple has already played this card before to much success. The first instance came by way of the company's Osaka, Japan-based flagship shop back in 2004, where a 24-step, spiral glass stairway was suspended from the second floor, forming the centerpiece of outlet and greeting patrons as they pass through the location's glass entranceway. Apple later built similar structures into its Shibuya store in Japan and its recent Buchanan Street store in Glasgow, Scotland.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Let's not forget that there's a big ol' spiral glass staircase right in the middle of Apple's other NYC store, on 5th avenue!

[wirc]

Originally Posted by wopwop

Let's not forget that there's a big ol' spiral glass staircase right in the middle of Apple's other NYC store, on 5th avenue!

At the SOHO it's not spiral, but it is glass and there is also a bridge.

Personally, I think it would be cooler if they used glass only for the supports and made the treads metal and stone. Not only would it be suggest a continuation of the floor upstairs, but it would also look really cool.

[bdkennedy1]

This guy needs to pick up a Nike Sports Kit while he's there.

[JakeTheRock]

Originally Posted by stompy

Was that last photo really necessary?

It burned my eyes out.

[Flick Justice]

Perhaps rather than spending money on a new phone our chubby friend there should go ahead and buy a gym membership and/or a shirt! hide your shame sir.

flick.

[melgross]

It's too bad that Apple had to put carpet over the glass stairs in the GM Plaza store. I assume someone must have slipped. The grey carpet pieces look terrible.

If they're going to have to do that, then I don't see the point to the glass.

I haven't been to the SoHo store in a while, so I don't know if they did that there as well.

[wirc]

Is that permanent? I thought they only do it when it rains.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by wirc

Is that permanent? I thought they only do it when it rains.

My daughter and I went when it was warm and dry. I don't go every week, so I can't say if it's still installed, but it was the first time I've seen that there, and I've been there over a dozen times.

[KennyWRX]

What a waste of money. Instead they could have installed normal stairs and have lower prices.

[nagromme]

Marketing--including store design--is always a waste of money. Retail flagship stores should be in barns with hay floors. THAT would be good marketing. And what's with lighted signs on stores? These stores think you can't read by sunlight and streetlamps? Waste of money.

PS, why are people lining up now, if they already know Apple DID make enough to meet demand last time? People will probably walk in 30 minutes after the line clears and get one without all the fuss

[melgross]

Originally Posted by KennyWRX

What a waste of money. Instead they could have installed normal stairs and have lower prices.

If anything I've read that was silly recently, this is it.

Just how could installing "regular" stairs in a few stores lower prices?

[ThinkExpensive]

I have two insightful comments.

1. That man is a hobo, not an iPhone customer.

2. Those glass staircases are created for one purpose only: to look up girls skirts.

</insightful comments>

[wopwop]

Originally Posted by wirc

At the SOHO it's not spiral, but it is glass and there is also a bridge.

Right, that's why I said "Apple's other NYC store, on 5th avenue!"

[melgross]

Originally Posted by ThinkExpensive

I have two insightful comments.

1. That man is a hobo, not an iPhone customer.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't know.

2. Those glass staircases are created for one purpose only: to look up girls skirts.

</insightful comments>

Nah, I tried it, it doesn't work.

[KennyWRX]

Originally Posted by melgross

If anything I've read that was silly recently, this is it.

Just how could installing "regular" stairs in a few stores lower prices?

You know what a budget is?

Sure they look cool and they fit with Steve's current glass craze, but come'on. In the end it's Mac users who end up paying more for their toys.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by KennyWRX

You know what a budget is?

Sure they look cool and they fit with Steve's current glass craze, but come'on. In the end it's Mac users who end up paying more for their toys.

So you think that a few hundred thou' if that's as much as it would cost over "regular" stairs, spent across the world, would change the pricing on the millions of computers, or tens of millions of iPods Apple sells each year? So that a $24 billion dollar company would even notice that expense?

You're just joking, right?

Right?

[wirc]

Originally Posted by wopwop

Right, that's why I said "Apple's other NYC store, on 5th avenue!"

I dunno, I think glass staircases are pretty cool whether spiral or not.

[TenoBell]

You're just joking, right?

Maybe he doesn't understand the difference between thousands, millions, and billions.

[iMartini]

I work just a couple blocks away from the Fifth Avenue store and have walked their pretty staircase many times. They only bust out the carpet strips when it's raining or snowing outside.

I wonder if the new 14th Street store will also get one of those cool all-glass elevators like they have at Fifth Avenue.

[beta.services]

from what i understand. the-steve-a-nator had one of these staircases installed in his house some years ago.

apparently he was quite particular about how it was supposed to look. and became extremely angry and 'animated' when the construction guys didnt get it quite right.

atleast he tested the idea on himself first. gotta give him credit for that.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by TenoBell

Maybe he doesn't understand the difference between thousands, millions, and billions.

One would have to assume so.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by iMartini

I work just a couple blocks away from the Fifth Avenue store and have walked their pretty staircase many times. They only bust out the carpet strips when it's raining or snowing outside.

Possibly then they left them on for an extra day or so to dry out.

[KennyWRX]

Every bit just adds up.

[billin]

I know with 99.99% certainty that they've thought of this, but have you seen the average American? I mean, I was recently in Hershey park (admittedly not the healthiest place on Earth), and the guy in the skychair ahead of me was literally taking up both seats by himself. And, sadly, he's no oddity nowadays. The thought of someone that heavy going down glass stairs just makes me cringe.

[e1618978]

Originally Posted by billin

I know with 99.99% certainty that they've thought of this, but have you seen the average American? I mean, I was recently in Hershey park (admittedly not the healthiest place on Earth), and the guy in the skychair ahead of me was literally taking up both seats by himself. And, sadly, he's no oddity nowadays. The thought of someone that heavy going down glass stairs just makes me cringe.

It isn't pure glass, but laminated sheets of glass and plastic:

http://www.dupont.com/safetyglass/lgn/stories/2401.html

Even if it was pure glass, 2" thick glass is pretty strong. I couldn't find weight limits by searching for "glass stair treads", but I doubt that even the fattest person could damage the treads.

[Banalltv]

I saw something on tv recently about toughened glass, apparently the process is similar to tempering steel with heating and cooling.

To illustrate the point they dropped a Mini car onto a sheet of this toughened unlaminated glass from several feet in a dead fall. The glass was wider than the car certainly by a good few inches at the sides and I think a bit more at the ends. Bits fell off the car but the glass was fine.

They didn't say anything about dropping an average American onto it though. There's one for Mythbusters.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by billin

I know with 99.99% certainty that they've thought of this, but have you seen the average American? I mean, I was recently in Hershey park (admittedly not the healthiest place on Earth), and the guy in the skychair ahead of me was literally taking up both seats by himself. And, sadly, he's no oddity nowadays. The thought of someone that heavy going down glass stairs just makes me cringe.

I can assure you that even if this WAS basic tempered glass, which as has just been pointed out, it's not, each step would support at least a couple of tons. The rest of the structure is weaker than that.

[techno]

A glass staircase is news?

I am a long time Apple fanatic but come on now. Lets not get carried away. It is a staircase.

As for Pocket Pool Paul the professional line waiter, no comment.

Excuse me, I see his name is Greg Packer. I guess he is busy packing his walnuts for the winter to come.

[zanshin]

Originally Posted by nagromme

Marketing--including store design--is always a waste of money.

I don't know, it seemed to work for whatever place that sold "advanced business insight" to you...

Seriously, somebody needs to call Steve Jobs right away and tell him how if he doesn't stop soon he'll never be as successful as you.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by zanshin

I don't know, it seemed to work for whatever place that sold "advanced business insight" to you...

Seriously, somebody needs to call Steve Jobs right away and tell him how if he doesn't stop soon he'll never be as successful as you.

That was a sarcastic response to the post above his. He didn't mean it.

[e1618978]

Originally Posted by techno

A glass staircase is news?

According to the DuPont page, it was the first staircase of its type in the world.

[smokeonit]

i think it's a german company that does install the laminates...

[MyMac8MyPC]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple's first spiral glass stairway erected in Osaka Japan.

I just hope that they factor in how much more people here weight

[amigasteve]

If I may comment on the other story here - the hard drive update - why is this update and the previous iMac updates only available manually? Why don't they show up in Software Update?

[Akanbe]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple has already played this card before to much success. The first instance came by way of the company's Osaka, Japan-based flagship shop back in 2004, where a 24-step, spiral glass stairway was suspended from the second floor, forming the centerpiece of outlet and greeting patrons as they pass through the location's glass entranceway.

I had no idea that was a new thing at the time. I remember in 2004 when I was passing the store on the street and saw it. I knew I had to go in it and check it out. It was amazing.