Apple restricts employee time off in May as retail's 10th anniversary approaches
Apple retail employees were told this week that they may not request vacation days in late May, which could suggest Apple has something planned for the 10th anniversary of its retail stores.
Retail employees were told this week via e-mail that they may not request days off between May 20 and May 22, AppleInsider has learned. It was said that store managers are "very excited" about those dates, but no other details are available.
Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore.com said the most likely use for those days is a 10th anniversary event commemorating a decade of Apple's brick-and-mortar retail stores. He said it's likely that the company may do something anniversary-related to "attract a crowd" for a few days, but he hasn't heard any specifics.
New Apple products are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months, particularly a refresh to Apple's iMac line of all-in-one desktops. However, new iMacs with Intel's latest-generation Sandy Bridge processors would not be an event that would compel Apple to institute blackout dates for its employees.
A May launch would also be too early for a new iPhone to debut. Though new iPhones have been released in years past in June, numerous reports have pegged Apple's anticipated iPhone 5 for a later September release.
Apple had employee blackout dates earlier this year as it prepared for two major product launches at the start of 2011: the Verizon iPhone 4 and the iPad 2.
The first two Apple stores opened May 19, 2001 in McLean, Virginia, at the Tyson's Corner Mall, and at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, Calif. The retail side of Apple's business has become an important part of the growth of the Mac, as the company reports every quarter that about half of all Macs sold in retail stores are to customers who never owned a Mac before.
Retail employees were told this week via e-mail that they may not request days off between May 20 and May 22, AppleInsider has learned. It was said that store managers are "very excited" about those dates, but no other details are available.
Gary Allen of ifoAppleStore.com said the most likely use for those days is a 10th anniversary event commemorating a decade of Apple's brick-and-mortar retail stores. He said it's likely that the company may do something anniversary-related to "attract a crowd" for a few days, but he hasn't heard any specifics.
New Apple products are expected to be announced in the coming weeks and months, particularly a refresh to Apple's iMac line of all-in-one desktops. However, new iMacs with Intel's latest-generation Sandy Bridge processors would not be an event that would compel Apple to institute blackout dates for its employees.
A May launch would also be too early for a new iPhone to debut. Though new iPhones have been released in years past in June, numerous reports have pegged Apple's anticipated iPhone 5 for a later September release.
Apple had employee blackout dates earlier this year as it prepared for two major product launches at the start of 2011: the Verizon iPhone 4 and the iPad 2.
The first two Apple stores opened May 19, 2001 in McLean, Virginia, at the Tyson's Corner Mall, and at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, Calif. The retail side of Apple's business has become an important part of the growth of the Mac, as the company reports every quarter that about half of all Macs sold in retail stores are to customers who never owned a Mac before.
Comments
:: crosses fingers ::
Retail employees were told this week via e-mail that they may not request days off between May 20 and May 22, AppleInsider has learned.
...
The first two Apple stores opened April 19, 2001 in McLean, Virginia, at the Tyson's Corner Mall, and at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, Calif.
Strange that they would be commemorating a 10 year anniversary at exactly 10 years and 1 month and 1 day...
:: crosses fingers ::
Apple TV/Mac Mini hybrid?
Sure! Except... Well... that's not really consistent with any speculation as of late or ever. Nor is it consistent with Apple's perceived strategy and approach to the Apple TV, at all. But maybe! Keep your hopes up!
Apple TV/Mac Mini hybrid?
Sure! Except... Well... that's not really consistent with any speculation as of late or ever. Nor is it consistent with Apple's perceived strategy and approach to the Apple TV, at all. But maybe! Keep your hopes up!
DVD and Bluray are dead!
Apple TV/Mac Mini hybrid?
Sure! Except... Well... that's not really consistent with any speculation as of late or ever. Nor is it consistent with Apple's perceived strategy and approach to the Apple TV, at all. But maybe! Keep your hopes up!
Yeah, I deserve that. I went back and elaborated a bit.
I've really been wondering what the timetable is looking like for a mini refresh. Has any word of such a thing been spotted on the horizon? Here's wishing I missed the big news break on Mac minis. Ha! :: sigh ::
DVD and Bluray are dead!
If so then Netflix needs to seriously expand its instant play library.
A May launch would also be too early for a new iPhone to debut. Though new iPhones have been released in years past in June, numerous reports have pegged Apple's anticipated iPhone 5 for a later September release.
Numerous reports suggested the iPad 2 would be delayed until Sept just days before Apple launched it in March, so anything is possible.
Seriously, I've been on the fence between these two and would LOVE to see a new beefy mini with Thunderbolt or even just an ATV with a DVD drive.
:: crosses fingers ::
Ha sorry didn't mean to be so flame-y and sarcastic.
But, mini w/thunderbolt, sure. ATV with DVD drive.... maybe when Apple concurrently decides to re-introduce floppy drives into the mac.
If so then Netflix needs to seriously expand its instant play library.
It's the other way around. When Netflix decides to seriously expand its instant play library, the DVD will be dead.
Numerous reports suggested the iPad 2 would be delayed until Sept just days before Apple launched it in March, so anything is possible.
Which would be in line with AT&T bumping their early upgrade pricing for everyone still using a 3GS... but still it seems hard to believe that Apple would release the 5 while the 4 is doing so well...
Lion isn't going to be ready and the iMac isn't going to be that big a deal for many - even if I am planning on buying one.
My guess? Mobile Me related announcements. Or a MobileMe replacement of some type. I'm looking for it to tie iOS and OS X platforms/products even tighter.
Which would be in line with AT&T bumping their early upgrade pricing for everyone still using a 3GS... but still it seems hard to believe that Apple would release the 5 while the 4 is doing so well...
Might not be the 5 but a 4.5 instead. Updated spec to keep it fresh and ahead of the competition. A 5 would take attention away from the iPad 2 at the very time Apple is trying to grow and dominate the emerging tablet market.
My guess? Mobile Me related announcements. Or a MobileMe replacement of some type. I'm looking for it to tie iOS and OS X platforms/products even tighter.
I keep forgetting about the MobileMe revamp. Can't wait to see what they do with that. Are there any good articles on that yet? I've only found really vague stuff.
With Job's picture on the back.
Strange that they would be commemorating a 10 year anniversary at exactly 10 years and 1 month and 1 day...
Supply constraints of party balloons most likely.
I agree and think that MobieMe update is a very strong possibility, as are the iMac and Mac Mini updates.