Another rumor has hit the world of Apple just earlier, bringing some whispers that the company has a refresh of its iMac line all geared up and ready to be released. As usual, AppleInsider has the sources behind the headline, and they believe that the new model of the computer was finalized some time in September.
The machines are said to have been in production for the last two weeks, bringing some aesthetic changes as well as packing some new features. It’s expected the new iMac will look more Apple’s LED Cinema Display, keeping in line with previous rumors that have said the machine will come with a thinner design. Aside from this, and the usual pricing decrease, Blu-Ray could very well be included with the machines; Apple CEO Steve Jobs infamously described the technology as a “bag of hurt” at a MacBook event a little while back. However, as eagle-eyed iTunes users have pointed out before, the software started giving copyright credit to ‘Blu-ray Disc’ a little while ago.
Adding fuel to the rumor fire, Apple’s corporate and educational sales teams have apparently been offering volume amounts of current-model iMacs at a discounted rate, to help clear out inventory. To aid in getting things sold quicker, the discount offer was said to be only available for a week.
The new iMacs could be available next week, or even as late as mid-October; AppleInsider believes that it’s just a matter of Apple’s marketing team giving them the green light.
Apple stores are known for their clean, modern, and user friendly layouts. What is also now known is that these stores can be picked clean by robbers in under 31 seconds. At the Sagemore, New Jersey Apple Store, a brick, 5 people and 31 seconds later 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones, and 9 iPods were stolen while the security guard was away.
The video, attached below, shows how the thieves managed to ransack the store; it’s amazing that Apple does not even use standard laptop locks to hold down their laptops. Apple does use a type of Ethernet cable that when unhooked produces a loud audible alarm.
The store is staffed by a security guard but clever timing and knowing Apple’s security procedures allowed the thieves to get in and out before the guard had a chance at stopping them.
The thieves made the entire operation look very easy and may start a string of Apple store robberies. Don’t be surprised though if Apple does change its policy in the near future to require laptop locks and other enhanced security measures.
We could possibly see a response “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” ad in the coming weeks to combat the Hunters ads, only if Apple is ready for an advertisement commercial war with Microsoft.
Microsoft’s first Hunters advertisements with Laura shopping for a laptop for under $1,000:
Many of the Microsoft stores will open up right near Apple stores to compete with the popular Apple retail chains. Microsoft is slow to get into the market of having its own retail chain, which will sell all of their own products, much like Sony and Apple currently do.
The stores will be headed by a former DreamWorks Animation and Wal-Mart executive, David Porter. There isn’t any set dates on when the stores will launch this fall season, but it would be a safe bet to say that they will be open in time for the release of Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows 7.
