8800 GT for 1st Mac Pros; iTunes/Starbucks giveaway; Wall St. store?

[AppleInsider]

Apple has released a GeForce 8800 GT card compatible with first-generation Mac Pro workstations. Also, Apple and Starbucks are giving away free songs, voice-over-Internet calling has come to iPhone through a third-party app, and Apple is reportedly setting up shop on Wall Street.

GeForce 8800 GT available for early Mac Pro

Apple on Tuesday gave users an anticipated upgrade through a new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT upgrade card for first-generation Mac Pro systems.

The $279 add-in fulfills a promise made in January after some owners of pre-2008 Mac Pro systems complained that the originally released upgrade card is only compatible with systems from its own generation, owing to chipsets programmed only to support the 64-bit EFI firmware on the newer towers.

While Apple has never publicly commented on the delay, one report earlier this month has suggested company chief Steve Jobs' personal awareness of the issue and the company taking on its own production of a backwards-compatible version.

Apple, Starbucks team up for iTunes giveaway

Continuing their close business ties, Apple and Starbucks have begun a promo campaign dubbed Pick of the Week.

The approach stocks roughly 7,000 of Starbucks' coffee houses with iTunes cards good for a free song or music video selected by the two West coast companies. Visitors to the stores will have 60 days to redeem the code.

Having begun today, the promo has no set end date and is marketed as the "next phase" in the partnership between the two companies, which started with the launch of the iTunes Wi-Fi Music store and an accompanying 50 million song giveaway to promote the wireless service.

Fring delivers unsanctioned VoIP app for iPhone

A voice-over-Internet software developer known as Fring said on Tuesday that it doesn't want to wait for users to try a new version of its online calling app for the iPhone -- and so has developed a version for jailbroken iPhones.

The beta requires that users the third-party Installer app and load the software through the unofficial utility. This is to collect feedback from a small group of users ahead of an official (and presumed App Store) release later this year, according to the company.

Regardless of its delivery method, the software represents the first professionally developed VoIP app for the iPhone and honors Apple's third-party app limits, which allow Internet telephony on Wi-Fi but not on cellular networks.

Apple seizing chance at NYC financial district store?

Hesitation by grocer Whole Foods is giving Apple a chance at a coveted retail space in New York City's financial district, a tip handed to Racked says.

The shopping blog's alleged source claims that Whole Foods and Barney's have both been jockeying for spaces at 23 Wall Street and 15 Broad Street respectively, but that the former has withdrawn after considering the resources involved, leaving Apple an opportunity to buy a property for a future store.

The tipster reportedly adds that either location could be occupied by the Mac maker, but that 15 Broad Street has been purchased for more than $18.6 million by a buyer which, unusually, prefers to remain anonymous.

A store at 15 Broad would position Apple's shop next to the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street, and would make for the electronics giant's fifth Manhattan store. The fourth is believed to be in development for West 34th Street, opposite the Empire State Building.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[rbonner]

Just purchased this card, 3-5 day shipping delay, pretty good!

[Ireland]

Excellent! Next stop the whole of Europe and Australia!

[JeffDM]

So the 1st gen Mac Pro won't take a 64 bit EFI? It would seem that updating the system EFI would be better than making a new card specific for the older system.

I really don't need it. If my Mac Pro weren't under warranty, I probably would have ordered it, but it was repaired under AppleCare a few days ago. The ATI card started acting flaky. "Expose - All Windows" would crash the system, and I got irritating artifacts playing videos and corrupted lines. So far, the repaired machine hasn't done it yet.

[iPeon]

VoIP app for iPhone

Mmmm, now that is interesting. That pretty much means that you could use the iPhone on any carrier providing you have internet access via cellular on that account. Right? The only setback being that you would not have voice mail. But then, voice mail could be integrated into the VoIP app. Very interesting indeed.

[cabo]

Originally Posted by rbonner

Just purchased this card, 3-5 day shipping delay, pretty good!

Apple dropped the 8800GT for the 2008 Mac Pro as well - Yesterday $349, today $279 ! Click click done shipped, yea !

[freeny]

it boggles my mind why apple keeps ploping down stores in relatively odd places and completely ignores the union square area, a college/youth Mecca in NYC ...?

[netdog]

When on earth are Starbucks and iTS going to get it together in the UK? Strange.

[ronn]

Remember, Apple wanted a spot on Fifth Avenue near 20th Street -- just west of the Union Square area. The radical design for the store was turned down because it was felt it would not fit in with the neighborhood. Besides, the 14th Street location is a nice walk or short bus ride away.

Originally Posted by freeny

it boggles my mind why apple keeps ploping down stores in relatively odd places and completely ignores the union square area, a college/youth Mecca in NYC ...?

[digitalclips]

Apple's real estate holdings will be worth a pretty penny one day! Do they generally buy or usually lease? I haven't thought about that aspect before.

[nmcphers]

Originally Posted by iPeon

Mmmm, now that is interesting. That pretty much means that you could use the iPhone on any carrier providing you have internet access via cellular on that account. Right? The only setback being that you would not have voice mail. But then, voice mail could be integrated into the VoIP app. Very interesting indeed.

allow Internet telephony on Wi-Fi but not on cellular networks.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

Apple's real estate holdings will be worth a pretty penny one day! Do they generally buy or usually lease? I haven't thought about that aspect before.

Lease.

[melgross]

What I would really like to see for the Mac Pro is the 9800GTX, and not at the end of the year, when it will, no doubt, be superseded, but soon, while it's still hot.

Yeah, right!

Also, this is a very good location, not far from where my friend had his Pink Pussycat bar.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by freeny

it boggles my mind why apple keeps ploping down stores in relatively odd places and completely ignores the union square area, a college/youth Mecca in NYC ...?

I agree- absolutely. Apple blew it with the meatpacking district store which is always empty during the week. That location is a nightlife location and not a retail one. It is dreadfule to reach in the winter and 2 blocks from a subway line. It's great if you live in Chelsea or the West Village but that's about it.
Union square is a hub for numerous subway lines, easily accessible to both west and east side, Brooklyn, etc. Not to mention all the schools like you said.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by melgross

Lease.

With the exception of the actual glass box that sits on Fifth Avenue that Steve Jobs owns.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by ronn

Remember, Apple wanted a spot on Fifth Avenue near 20th Street -- just west of the Union Square area. The radical design for the store was turned down because it was felt it would not fit in with the neighborhood. Besides, the 14th Street location is a nice walk or short bus ride away.

That is north of Union Square actually and is in the Flatiron district not Union Square.

[Isomorphic]

Bought the 8800 for the old Mac Pro. Thank you, Apple!

Now, just give me some updated Cinema Displays to hook up to it!

[city]

Originally Posted by teckstud

That is north of Union Square actually and is in the Flatiron district not Union Square.

You New Yorkers need to get some wheels!

[resnyc]

Originally Posted by teckstud

I agree- absolutely. Apple blew it with the meatpacking district store which is always empty during the week. That location is a nightlife location and not a retail one. It is dreadfule to reach in the winter and 2 blocks from a subway line. It's great if you live in Chelsea or the West Village but that's about it.
Union square is a hub for numerous subway lines, easily accessible to both west and east side, Brooklyn, etc. Not to mention all the schools like you said.

Meatpacking location is _one_ block from the 8th Avenue line's 14th St. station (A, C & E trains), also known as the terminus for the L train, which traverses 14th St. on its way to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's not as busy as Union Square station, but it's pretty busy. On street level, that intersection is _mobbed_ on weekdays, and it's just a block away from the Apple store. Apple could put up a couple small billboards over the subway entrances and the one-block walk wouldn't seem like much. We NYers love to walk a couple blocks - as our wheels are underground and much faster than driving.

And Meatpacking at 14th St. is rapidly becoming more and more of a retail destination - for high-end fashion, especially, which Apple probably likes to be associated with.

That said, the Meatpacking location seemed like a choice of trendy/image over money-making. Union Square would be the ideal location, of course - but it's questionable whether they would open another store on the 14th St. axis. The now-vacated Zen Palate location/building would probably be absolutely ideal, although it's small.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by resnyc

Meatpacking location is _one_ block from the 8th Avenue line's 14th St. station (A, C & E trains), also known as the terminus for the L train, which traverses 14th St. on its way to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's not as busy as Union Square station, but it's pretty busy. On street level, that intersection is _mobbed_ on weekdays, and it's just a block away from the Apple store. Apple could put up a couple small billboards over the subway entrances and the one-block walk wouldn't seem like much. We NYers love to walk a couple blocks - as our wheels are underground and much faster than driving.

And Meatpacking at 14th St. is rapidly becoming more and more of a retail destination - for high-end fashion, especially, which Apple probably likes to be associated with.

That said, the Meatpacking location seemed like a choice of trendy/image over money-making. Union Square would be the ideal location, of course - but it's questionable whether they would open another store on the 14th St. axis. The now-vacated Zen Palate location/building would probably be absolutely ideal, although it's small.

The A,C & E lines are far from the best subway lines in NYC. And all subway lines in NYC that intersect with other lines are mobbed during the week. The meatpacking district caters to Sex and the City wannabees with overpriced, trendy restaurants and second rate, haute couture designers like Stella McCartney. It is also a block from the Hudson River and is a bone-chilling freezing zone in the winter due to the wind off the Hudson. There are few other options over there for shopping. In the real estate industry that neighborhood is not considered a desired location for retail. For residential and nightlife businesses however, it is a prime location, due to its trendy, out of reach location. In other words, a great place to bar hop.
In that particular Apple store, during the week, it resembles a funeral parlor with far more employees than customers. Having said that, the customer service is therefor always amazing! It looks like Apple really did not analyze this location well enough as you have said and went for the trendiness factor over practicability.
The Apple SOHO store on the other hand is always packed - a mob scene. And the reason is because it is surrounded by numerous other retail stores in addition to the fashion, art , etc surrounding it. In other words - it's a shoppers paradise like union square and surrounded with many hotels. SOHO is also centrally located to many subway liones like union square. The 59th St store is also in a prime retail/hotel location.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by teckstud

The A,C & E lines are far from the best subway lines in NYC. And all subway lines in NYC that intersect with other lines are mobbed during the week. The meatpacking district caters to Sex and the City wannabees with overpriced, trendy restaurants and second rate, haute couture designers like Stella McCartney. It is also a block from the Hudson River and is a bone-chilling freezing zone in the winter due to the wind off the Hudson. There are few other options over there for shopping. In the real estate industry that neighborhood is not considered a desired location for retail. For residential and nightlife businesses however, it is a prime location, due to its trendy, out of reach location. In other words, a great place to bar hop.
In that particular Apple store, during the week, it resembles a funeral parlor with far more employees than customers. Having said that, the customer service is therefor always amazing! It looks like Apple really did not analyze this location well enough as you have said and went for the trendiness factor over practicability.
The Apple SOHO store on the other hand is always packed - a mob scene. And the reason is because it is surrounded by numerous other retail stores in addition to the fashion, art , etc surrounding it. In other words - it's a shoppers paradise like union square and surrounded with many hotels. SOHO is also centrally located to many subway liones like union square. The 59th St store is also in a prime retail/hotel location.

While I don't use the A or C much, there is nothing wrong with the E.

I do detect a bit of envy in your remarks though.

[ikir]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

GeForce 8800 GT available for early Mac Pro

Great! Thanks Apple!!! Already ordered one!

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by ikir

Great! Thanks Apple!!! Already ordered one!

I didn't find a place where it could be ordered. All I found was the upgrade that's compatible with the 2008 revision of the Mac Pro, not the older ones. The note in the description was very clear about that.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by melgross

While I don't use the A or C much, there is nothing wrong with the E.

I do detect a bit of envy in your remarks though.

Of course ! Who wouldn't want an Apple store in their neighborhood! I take it you live near it. I personally use Soho because I can walk to it and do other things besides the Apple store. I rarely go to meatpacking district- too out of the way. And they have no classes there.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Of course ! Who wouldn't want an Apple store in their neighborhood! I take it you live near it. I personally use Soho because I can walk to it and do other things besides the Apple store. I rarely go to meatpacking district- too out of the way. And they have no classes there.

Actually, I live in forest Hills.

My company was at 928 Broadway for 28 years. I went to HS in the old Stuvesant building, and owned another company at 17 W 19th street before the commercial film lab, from 1973 to Nov. 1982.

So I'm pretty familiar with the area, both historically, and now.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by melgross

Actually, I live in forest Hills.

My company was at 928 Broadway for 28 years. I went to HS in the old Stuvesant building, and owned another company at 17 W 19th street before the commercial film lab, from 1973 to Nov. 1982.

So I'm pretty familiar with the area, both historically, and now.

Now that's where they should put one, in Forest Hills- Austin Street- another shopper's paradise!
If Williamsburg Brooklyn gets one - why not Queens?

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I didn't find a place where it could be ordered. All I found was the upgrade that's compatible with the 2008 revision of the Mac Pro, not the older ones. The note in the description was very clear about that.

I found the link in the story, I didn't notice that. The search engine on Apple's store couldn't find it.