Apple previewed its Upper West Side store in New York yesterday. Besides welcoming the media into the company’s latest example of retail minimalism taken to its logical extreme, Apple Senior VP Ron Johnson talked retail.

Glass and stone enclose 8,500 square feet of retail space on street level, topped with a glass ceiling 45 feet above, and with a glass spiral staircase leading to the floor below. According to Gothamist, which has some really nice photos, the street level enclosure could fit 11 of the glass cubes like the one in front of the 5th Avenue store.

“We opened our first store in Manhattan seven years ago, and the response has been incredible,” said Johnson, and not just at New York stores. A look at the numbers shows just how successful the Apple Stores have been.

Apple opened its first store in May 2001. At the time, it was a controversial decision, and not just because the store design looked like something out “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Rival PC retailer Gateway was cutting back on its stores, but Steve Jobs envisioned Apple Stores as a boon to both sales and marketing. One goal was to eventually put an Apple Store within driving distance of 85 percent of consumers in the U.S., a goal which must be nearing achievement. For 2009, Apple opened more international stores than domestic. The company now intends to open at least one Apple Store in one new country a year.

Further, according to Gizmodo, the company plans on opening “more like 50″ stores in the current fiscal year, including more “significant” stores. The outlets, formerly known as “flagship stores,” will be built in multiple countries in Europe as well as Canada, and at least one in Shanghai, China. Also, in the future, stores will be larger in general, making room for more product tables, as well as a bigger Genius Bar. Anyone who has sought technical support at an Apple Store can see the need for that improvement. As for the number of stores being opened, 50 in 2010 would equal that of 2007, which is especially impressive considered the current difficult economic times.

However, Apple and the Apple Stores appear immune to those economic troubles. More than 170 million people visited Apple Stores this year, and for the quarter just ending that meant $1.87 billion in revenue. Average sales per store is now $26 million, coming in behind competitor’s like Best Buy, but besting Best Buy by a factor of five in terms of sales per square footage, $4,300 to $872. Apple beats even Tiffany’s on a retail space-based comparison.

Finally, there is the marketing factor. According to Apple, there are more than 100,000 applications on file for positions at Apple Stores. For the Upper West Side store alone, 10,000 applications were submitted, 2,500 applicants were interviewed and 200 were hired. While it’s something of a jibe to describe Apple as a cult, if you think of Apple Stores as metaphorical churches, or in the case of the Upper West Side, a cathedral, one role of Apple Store employees becomes clear:  making converts. Consider this: Half of those purchasing Macs at Apple Stores are new to the platform. That statistic that hasn’t changed since the first Apple Store opened more than eight years ago.

While the Upper West Store stands out architecturally, it is Apple Retail that has arguably done as much for the company as OS X, the iPod and the iPhone.

Seeking to better manage the holiday deluge of visitors to Apple retail outlets, the company is now offering customers the option of ordering online and picking up purchases at their local store.

According to the new webpage, you can reserve an item “online today and it will be waiting for you to pick up and purchase at an Apple Retail Store from December 15 to 24.”

Customers using the program are first asked to choose a retail store. The service is currently available in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia. Choosing from iPods, iPhones, Mac laptops and desktops, but curiously not the Apple TV, customers then sign in with their Apple ID to reserve their purchase.

Unfortunately, customers must still pay at the brick-and-mortar store, so you won’t be able to completely escape the wait this holiday season. However, that’s still arguably better than having to spend all day at home waiting for a delivery. That benefit, plus the guarantee of an item being reserved, are the big advantages of the program. Plus, for an extra $5, those buying iPods and laptops can have their purchases wrapped in a “signature gift box.” Nothing says Merry Christmas like an Apple logo.

Image Credit: AppleInsider.com

Finally, Apple is beginning the roll-out of its iPod touch-based payment and checkout system for retail stores. According to an exclusive report over at AppleInsider, the Mac maker will begin retiring its current Windows CE-based devices and implementing the new system within a couple of weeks.

The device is an entirely new iPod touch, custom designed for point-of-sale (POS) usage. It features a magnetic stripe reader, an advanced barcode scanner, and Apple’s own proprietary software for processing payments. The new system allows for payment by credit, debit and cash, and includes features that allow for making returns, too.

The EasyPay touch, as the device is being called, was made possible thanks to the introduction of hardware device support via the dock connector. The extended case that surrounds the basic iPod touch contains sleep and volume control buttons, a mini-USB connector for charging, and a rechargeable battery to power the card reader and barcode scanner.

Things that the EasyPay touch can’t do (yes, even it isn’t a miracle worker) include divvying up payment between two or more debit or credit cards, or paying by checks and processing cash returns. These transactions will continue to be handled by more traditional computer-based POS systems.

The roll-out of the new EasyPay touch system will include more than just a change in the hardware used for processing transactions. According to AppleInsider, Apple is aware that many customers find its non-traditional check out systems to be somewhat confusing, so attempts will be made to make it more clear when and where store guests can pay for their purchases.

While there are no plans currently to extend the payment system beyond the confines of Apple’s retail store, it’s impossible not to think about how such an elegant and simple system might appeal to other retailers as well. Should Apple ever decide to license the tech, I’m sure there will be at least a few major companies out there interested in pursuing such an agreement.

AppleInsider is reporting on a supply advisory from Apple to its retail stores stating certain Macs have “entered a period of constraint,” suggesting that hardware updates may be imminent.

The specific models include all configurations of the iMac, as well as the low-end Mac mini, whose SKU has reportedly been discontinued. While the low-end Mac mini is still listed as shipping within 24 hours at the Apple Store online, Amazon.com is currently listing the model with a “1 to 2 month” wait.

At $599 for a Mac with a measly 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive, perhaps Steve Jobs has realized that what he once praised as the “most affordable way to enjoy Mac OS X” has become something of an embarrassment. This could mean the company is about to make the high-end Mac mini, at $799 with 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive, into the low-end, offering a single model at $599. Those specs would still be anemic by PC standards, but would nonetheless be an improvement. Such a move would also make sense in light of rumors about the iMac.

Current speculation suggests the next iMac will sport “slimmer aluminum enclosures, and that they will indeed be cheaper than their predecessors, ” as well as the possibility of Blu-ray. Certainly, reducing the price on the low-end iMac to $1099, or even $999, would put downward pressure on the price of the Mac mini.

As for a Mac mini with Blu-ray…

I bought my iPhone 3GS from the Apple Store in London’s Regent Street. It’s one of Apple’s flagship stores, so on any given day of the week it’s usually busy. And when I use the word “busy,” what I really mean is “insanely, painfully, dizzyingly frantic.” Imagine, then, how the just-launched iPhone 3GS added to the Busy. The word “pandemonium” springs cheekily to mind.

Well, now it seems Apple might be taking steps toward improving the in-store iPhone purchasing and activation experience. According to MacRumors, Apple is planning to introduce new, specially-trained dedicated staff and permanent in-store areas where customers can pick up their shiny new phones and have them activated.

The plans require changes to the store layout to make space for a dedicated space, a la Genius Bar, but titled “iPhone Activation Zone.” This new zone will be manned by a new category of Apple Store staff, named “iPhone Experts,” sporting unique name badges and t-shirts.

MacRumours says that the service requires customers to have already completed the pre-authorization process online, presumably before coming to the store. Mind you, I suppose customers who haven’t done this already might use one of the ubiquitous display-model Macs they can find elsewhere in-store to do it. (That’s assuming they can fight their way through the throngs of students and curious shoppers who stopped-by to check their email.)

A Wise Move

Increasing the end-to-end speed of the purchase-to-authorization process is crucial to improving the overall experience of acquiring a new iPhone. For many people, the iPhone is the most sophisticated piece of Apple hardware they own. I suspect in a great many cases the iPhone is something of a “gateway drug” to the Macintosh. It certainly was for me. For other potential switchers (even those who don’t yet know they’re going to become switchers!) enhancing and smoothing-over the iPhone purchase process is a wise move.

The iPhone 3GS is my third iPhone but it’s the first I bought in an Apple store. I was so excited — not only was I getting the latest, greatest iPhone, I was getting it from one of Apple’s most impressive and famous stores. I expected a typically Apple-tastic experience, but instead, had a pretty lousy one. I stood in a queue with other bored, angry customers who had been waiting a long, long time for the pleasure of parting with a significant amount of their money. (Call me old fashioned, but I believe that a flagship store should provide a flagship experience, particularly to customers who are there specifically to empty their wallets of a lot of green.)

Once I (finally) got to see a member of staff (who shepherded me to an area in the corner where a few old tables had been jumbled together surrounded by rope) I still had to wait and wait and wait. Apparently, there were only two portable credit card machines amongst a dozen staff. Bafflingly, there was only one SIM card removal tool (aka, straightened paperclip) between them, too. After the pain of waiting, waiting and waiting some more, I felt much less giddy about parting with many hundreds of hard-earned pounds sterling.

But I’m already a Mac fanatic. There’s just enough fan-boy-ism in my blood to forgive Apple’s Regent Street store for its obvious difficulty managing the extraordinary demand the 3GS generated. But in the time I had to sit and stare vacantly into space, I couldn’t help but notice the Genius Bar dedicated to Macs and the iPod Bar on the opposite side providing for users of Apple’s music players. Clearly Apple catered to its other big sellers, why not the iPhone? Why did we poor saps have to be crammed into a poorly lit, grubby and crowded corner of the store where the experience was…well…lacking.

I’m delighted with the prospect of Apple fixing this and showing its iPhone customers a little more love (at least in-store, where we happily part with our money, if not online, where we grumble and complain and ask for it back.) The name “iPhone Activation Zone” suggests this is only for the purchase and activation of iPhones, not trouble-shooting faulty units. Presumably the Genius Bar will continue to provide that service for iPhones, but I can already picture the many puzzled customers, battered iPhones in-hand, wandering up to the Activation Zone staff and asking,

“Can you fix my iPhone?”
“No, this is just for activating, you need to go to the Genius bar”.
“Oh,” the customer blinks, double checking the sign on the wall, “I just thought, since the sign says iPhone…”

After my poor experience at the Apple Store earlier this year, I was planning to get next year’s (inevitable) new iPhone via one of O2’s brick and mortar stores. But now I look forward to what might just be a far better experience. At the very least, I’ll give it a try.

MacRumors reports Apple’s iPhone Activation Zones and iPhone Experts may appear as soon as… right now. So there’s a chance your local Apple Store staff might already be moving the furniture about. Have you spotted an iPhone Expert? Have you spoken with one? Most importantly — and this is the question we all want to see answered — what color t-shirts do they wear?

Hours before the “Only Rock and Roll” event takes place in San Francisco, the Apple Store has slashed prices on some the current iPod models.

The new numbers are still in the process of being posted, with parts of the Apple Store referencing old prices, but the savings are real and substantial.

The 8GB iPod touch now costs $189, a $40 discount, while the 16GB model is now $249, a $50 reduction. However, big savings are to be had for the 32GB model, now $279, a whopping $120 price cut. Other iPods saw cuts, too. The 8GB iPod nano has dropped to $129, down from $149, and the 16GB model is now $149, previously $199. The iPod Classic, rumored to be phased out today, is now $229, down from $249. The price of the iPod shuffle remains unchanged.

While it’s debatable whether the new pricing will extend to the iPods expected to be unveiled today, the new prices on old models of the iPod touch may impact consumers considering Microsoft’s Zune HD. The 16GB Zune HD, to be released on Sept. 15, will retail for $219.99, while the 32GB model will cost $289.99. This means Apple has effectively undercut the Zune HD, at least on the high-end. It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft will lower prices again, or give up the pricing talking point, which wouldn’t really leave much to talk about regarding the Zune HD.

However, there will be a lot to talk about today, starting at 10 a.m. PDT, and TheAppleBlog will be covering it live.

I’ve always been tempted to try out an Eye-Fi SD flash memory card, which allows you to wirelessly upload photos directly from your camera to a nearby Mac or PC on the same network. Perhaps a bit anachronistically, since they seem to be far and away the leading digital memory format, but I don’t actually have a camera that uses SD. What with the price of point-and-shoots these days, I may soon rectify that situation, and Apple’s just given me another incentive.

As of today, Apple Stores (online and retail) will be the exclusive distributor of the brand new Eye-Fi Geo 2GB SD card. As its name implies, it will allow you to geotag your photos in addition to transferring them wirelessly to your computer. The new geotagging feature will allow you to use the Places feature in iPhoto ‘09 by including metadata with every picture taken on the card about where it was shot.

Out of the box, the iPhone supports geotagging, but it isn’t yet a feature often included in most consumer digital cameras. The limited availability of the Eye-Fi Geo suggests that the reason why is that Apple is the only consumer photo library application to foreground geotagging capabilities. If you’d rather not pay a premium for the fancy new card, which costs $60 and only offers 2GB of storage, you can always manually enter location information into iPhoto after you’ve uploaded your photos.

In addition to geotagging, the Eye-Fi Geo offers the option to upload directly to MobileMe galleries or to various other social-networking sites, but for an additional $10 fee, which presumably activates a built-in software feature. I’ve yet to really use the geotagging features of iPhoto, but this card, and the added convenience of wireless uploading, has me mighty tempted to give it a try. Anyone picking one up and eager to share their impressions?

For many of us, the iPhone has become a staple item in our daily assortment of tech gear. Like any product that gets heavy use on a daily basis, sometimes it can fail. For the iPhone, that means a trip to the often-crowded Genius Bar for help. Now, as more consumers are adopting the digital device, Apple is facing an increasing number of iPhones in need of repair. The good news for consumers is, the majority of those repairs can now be done by your local Genius.

When the iPhone first launched, Apple offered a “loaner” program (with a fee) for consumers who had iPhones that needed to be repaired. This program, which received little attention in the press, finally disappeared from Apple as it began offering instant iPhone swaps, instead of asking a consumer to wait a few days for an offsite repair. (Come to find out, the “waiting” technique may work well for iPods, but doesn’t fly for iPhones). In an even more efficient move, Apple now offers a new service allowing Geniuses to perform actual repairs of the screen assembly to your iPhone at the store.

What? No more free swaps?

For the business-minded, the talk of your Genius Bar appointment being even longer while a Genius dissects and operates on your iPhone may make you scream, “No fair! Usually you just give me a new one and I’m on my way.” We all knew, though, that it would not be cost-effective for Apple to simply swap out an iPhone on a whim when things went bad. With the ability to perform certain repairs in-house, this means you keep your original iPhone and won’t need take the time to sync up a replacement iPhone before you are back in the game.

Cracked screen? No worry!

The biggest component likely to either fail or be damaged is the screen. Similar in construction to the screen on the iMac (minus the touch-sensitive components and newer oleophobic coating on the iPhone 3GS), the screen can be removed from your iPhone via a large suction cup. (Though I’m sure Apple has a very “specialized” device that does this — much like the infamous unbent paper clip that doubles as the SIM card ejection tool). Geniuses can now replace a defective screen for free if your iPhone is under warranty or, if not warranty-related, for a nice hefty $199. (Standard disclaimer: Defective doesn’t mean cracked beyond belief because your estranged ex drove over it in her Hummer. That does void your warranty, as does liquid damage and jailbroken phones.)

Before Apple began offering this service, consumers faced choices like iFixIt or iResQ, which offer similar repair services (or just components) at rates cheaper than Apple. However, such solutions do void your Apple warranty. These solutions also require you (in repair instances) to send off your iPhone, so you will be without it for a few days. Going the Apple route, provided you can actually find a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store, they should be capable of (provided the parts are in stock) replacing your screen assembly within five to 10 minutes. When a Genius graces your iPhone, your warranty remains intact.

Apple’s talented Genius team can also perform other repairs to the iPhone, as the screen assembly contains other parts that can fail, including the receiver or touch sensors. In order to continue to reduce costs and provide quicker turnaround to consumers, Apple will likely follow its trend of performing more repairs in store. As crowded as the Genius Bars usually are, Apple will have to keep repair times under consideration. Most stores allocate 10 minutes per iPhone or iPod appointment. When times are busy and the Geniuses get behind, taking the time to swap the screen may only extend wait times for others. At the time of this writing, the Apple Store is unable to do screen replacements on the iPod touch or the classic iPhone due to slight construction differences. (Hint: These models do not feature the same two screws found on the bottom of the 3G and 3GS.)

Most importantly, please remember to back up your iPhone before going to the Genius Bar. You never know when your iPhone may need more than just a simple screen replacement.

Apple is once again making an inventory tool available for prospective iPhone 3GS buyers. U.S. residents can check Apple Store stock by state, with availability updated hourly.

Unlike last year, when the iPhone 3G was in chronic short supply for weeks, by the end of business on Sunday most stores had at least some models of the iPhone 3GS. However, all stores in Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky and Utah were out of stock. Only Hawaii and South Carolina had all models in stock. As to which models were sold out most often, the list for California appears indicative of a nationwide trend.

iPhone 3GS inventory for California on Sunday evening

Whether due to popularity or minimal production, the 16GB white iPhone 3GS appears to be out of stock most often, while the 16GB black model is most readily available. The 8GB iPhone 3G is available in all stores. Inventory checks are also available abroad, at least in the UK, although inventories are not updated until after closing.

Like the first weekend of sales, in which one million iPhones were sold, it appears sales of the iPhone 3GS are continuing to exceed expectations.

Available today, the iPhone 3G can be purchased on the cheap for just $99. The new iPhone 3G S is available for pre-order via the online Apple Store in four varieties: 16GB in black or white for $199 and 32GB in black or white for $299. Apple has promised that if you pre-order today, it will be shipped directly to you and you will receive it on June 19.

This is the first iPhone model to be available via the online Apple Store web site for pre-order. If you choose to pre-order your iPhone, you can select your rate plan options via Apple’s web site, or log in and see your existing rate plan if you are a current iPhone user. Existing iPhone customers should expect an $18 activation fee and $18 upgrade fee. Then, users can choose to have their iPhone available for pickup at a local Apple Store or shipped directly to their door.

Though I purchased my iPhone 3G on launch day last year, according to AT&T’s records, I will have to wait until early December before I can qualify to upgrade to this iPhone at the advertised rate of $299 for the 32GB. This is different from last year, when Apple and AT&T allowed original iPhone owners to upgrade immediately without requiring owners to pay the higher price. Even though AT&T calls this an “early upgrade,” if you fall within this category, expect the 16GB iPhone to cost $399 and the 32GB iPhone to cost $499.

Apple seems to be trying everything they can think of to clear existing iPhone stock. As of today, you can finally order the iPhone 3G directly from Apple’s web site and have it delivered to your door.

If you’re fond of the old ways, you can still reserve your device at the Apple retail store and then go pick it up. Personally, since shipping’s free, I’d just as soon let laziness prevail. While the same option has been available from AT&T for a while now, it’s always nice to have a choice, especially one that makes use of Apple’s much-touted customer service.

When Apple announced their fall lineup of laptops, one thing really caught my eye. The new MacBooks can now drive a 30″ display. I don’t know how they did it, but that new integrated graphics chip can now really push out the pixels like no other MacBook has.

I had my 30″ display plugged into my Mac Pro, but I knew when Apple’s new laptops came out, I was going to make the switch back to a MacBook Pro. Knowing that I could even choose a MacBook just made the options more exciting.

That is until I noticed one little wrinkle. Well, two wrinkles actually. Number one is that the adapter that you need to connect a 30″ display to a mini DisplayPort is $99. Ouch! Number two: Apple is backordered by 4-5 weeks. I waited a week to make my purchase, hoping that it was a fluke, or that Apple would magically get more in stock. Nope, they are still backordered.

I’m not entirely sure what the deal is. Perhaps with the new MacBooks offering the 30″ display capability, there ended up being quite a bit more demand for these precious little adapters than Apple anticipated.

I ordered my laptop anyway. I chose the MacBook Pro because I have a Firewire 800 device I use alot. It’s awesome, but bittersweet, as my 30″ display is just sitting on the floor awaiting Apple’s getting back up to speed.

Nonetheless, I’m optimistic. Apple has gone with an open standard by choosing DisplayPort. This means that anybody can make a cable for it without paying royalties. Here’s hoping that someone will be quick to market with some new adapters.

Recently, Apple has started offering would-be iPhone 3G buyers an opportunity to save time in the store and purchase an iPhone 3G online for in-store pickup (and AT&T activation).

You first tell them whether this is a new single- or dual-iPhone purchase for either a new account or an existing AT&T account. You then either enter new billing information or provide your current AT&T account data and select your rate plan and store location. When you arrive at the store, your old number will be automatically switched (if you migrated it to AT&T) or your new number will be activated and you should be in-and-out in the blink of an eye.

When I was switching my plan from my old iPhone to new 3G this weekend at my local AT&T store, availability was almost zero on the popular 8GB model due to the power adapter recall (no replacement stock yet), so this may be a great option to ensure that what you want will be in stock.

You can still shop old-school retail by finding your nearest AT&T or Apple Retail store and taking your chances (“roll the dice, ba-by” as it were).

Have an iPhone 3G Apple Retail or AT&T store story to share (good, bad or ugly)? Drop a note in the comments!

While you are waiting for the iPhone to be released this July, why not head out to an Apple Store and learn something? The stores in New York provide for plenty of opportunities to become familiar with a number of applications. Myself, I want to know as much as possible about Final Cut Pro becausemy production company FiniteComedy.com hooked up with ChannelFlip.com to produce an ongoing show for them. Making the jump from iMovie ‘06 to Final Cut is quite a leap. For those who try to make the switch from iMovie ‘08 to Final Cut, good luck. Apple stores can help you make the transition to pro applications.

Apple’s Pro Lab Description

“During these free, four-part, eight-hour courses, you’ll meet fellow aspiring creative pros and learn solution-based workflows from our team of expert trainers. Learn how Aperture can revolutionize your photography workflow, how Final Cut Pro can help you edit your first independent feature or Logic can make it easier to write, record or edit your own music. At the end of the series, you’ll be able to share what you’ve learned with friends and family.”

Experience: The Beginning

I took the Final Cut Pro Pro Lab. This was my first experience with the West 14th Street Store. Upon asking where the Pro Labs were held, I was directed to the third floor. I did not know what to expect. The SoHo store houses an auditorium to teach its classes. The West 14th Street facility is completely different. There was a silver and white cardboard sign with the words “Pro Labs” held up by a thin metal pole on top of a table with six 17 inch MacBook Pros. This was the facility for the Pro Labs.

I introduced myself to the instructor, Johnathan. He is a tall, bald, bearded fellow in his twenties. I asked about the contents of the Pro Lab course and he told me everything I wanted to know. It appeared as if I would not learn anything new about Final Cut until several weeks into the course. At first, I was disappointed that we would be working on MacBook Pros instead of Mac Pros and the content of the course would not cover advanced topics for two weeks. This disappointment dissipated over the course of the labs.

The labs are limited to six people per month. Sign up is available at an Apple site. There is also a wait list available. At the lab, I was told that the wait list was pretty much worthless unless a person notifies the Apple Store in advance that they will not be attending. If someone no-shows, then that spot goes unfilled. I was placed on the wait list for several months before getting into the Pro Lab. I even resorted to making the sign up page my home page so I could get into the class.ﾠ

The People

My class was started off with five relatively young people. The class went through attendance fluctuations from as much as five to as little as two. Someone even suggested that the store incentive the completion of a Pro Lab with a discount on Final Cut Studio software. The instructor thought it was a good idea. However, I still think there is something odd about incentivizing a free course — though, I would not turn down a discount for some expensive software.

The class was made up of people with varying backgrounds. One individual worked for a local news station and had experience with many other types of video production software, but was interested in learning about Final Cut. Effectively, the course was a bit of remapping of keyboard shortcuts and differently named features standard in many video editing packages. Another was a director who had created several music videos that aired on MTV using iMovie ‘06 and wanted to move to the next step. Only one person had no experience with video editing and appeared to be there because she had nothing better to do.

I did not get to know the other student very well, but she appeared to have experience in editing and explained the uses of the tools. When we went over the Trim Edit Window, I asked “When would you use this tool?” she had the answer in real life terms. “You would use this when you were doing quick editing of dialogue between two people.” “Oh.” Myself, I had attended several Final Cut workshops at the SoHo Apple Store and sought to solve problems I had run into in the past. Everyone got along quite well and no one student dominated the lab.

Hardware

Each student was provided with a 17-inch MacBook Pro attached to a Firewire 800 external drive for each class of the course. At the end of class, the instructor would collect the hardware and place it into a lockable rolling cart. We nicknamed it the “$20,000 Cart” because it contained more than just the laptops. I was told that the computers we used were the latest models. I did not get the specs for the notebooks. I am the owner of a 15-inch Intel Core Duo MacBook Pro, so this was a new experience. Not having to lug around my MacBook Pro was pleasant since it does not handle Final Cut Pro as well as the new machines.

The Classes

How do these pro labs operate? Take your seat at your MacBook Pro. At one end of the table is the instructor, at the other end is an Apple Cinema Display showing a Keynote presentation. We ran through numerous topics over the span of the course: Day 1 – Basics of Video, Project Set-up and Importing; Day 2 – Basic Editing; Day 3 – Filters, Effects and Titling; and Day 4 – Keyframing, Audio & Output.

When I started out at this lab, I thought I would not get any new information for awhile. I was incorrect. Obviously, there was some overlap as to the material covered between the Final Cut Pro Pro Lab and the Final Cut Workshops. Since Final Cut is so dense, I learned some new things starting on Day 1.

Each class started off in a friendly manner. Since the class was so small, our instructor got to know each of us quite well. After an exchange of pleasantries, we would start by turning to view the Keynote presentation. Keynote was used to illustrate abstract concepts easily such as resolutions, aspect ratios, and keyframing. These Keynotes are not given to the students, but you are free to take as many notes as you want.

While the instructor was going over material, you could either follow along by trying to keep up on your MacBook Pro or just take notes. After we were introduced to some material, we would be given an “Activity.” An “Activity” is an assignment to apply the material to footage. We were given access to 1080P HD material from a documentary. We would learn how to put together clips in the Timeline, put in transitions, or effects. Experimenting was encouraged. At one point, I found a feature in Final Cut and asked the instructor about it. The instructor, a guy with considerable experience with Final Cut, did not know about the feature. This just goes to show you that Final Cut is very feature dense.

Comparing a Workshop with the Pro Lab

The SoHo store offers weekly workshops in Final Cut Pro. The workshops are a great way to get a basic handle on Final Cut Pro’s interface and some advanced features. The Pro Labs go well beyond the material covered at the workshops. Additionally, due to the nature of the lab, it was much easier to ask questions and learn hands-on. Workshops last about an hour, but the Pro Labs give you twice that amount of time. There was plenty of time to learn by doing during the Pro Labs.

The workshops are much more rushed and are more like a lecture class. There are few questions by the audience. Real life error messages are dealt with very quickly in the Pro Lab. Should you run into a problem, all you have to do is ask your instructor and he will come over and help you out. However, the workshops cover more of Final Cut Studio’s programs. The Pro Lab was focused on Final Cut Pro and we did not leave that particular application for the eight hours. The workshops also sometimes push the product — “This is why you should buy Final Cut Pro! 6 applications for only $1300. You couldn’t get this kind of suite years ago!” Sometimes it feels like an advertisement. Not so with the Pro Lab.ﾠ

Conclusion

Was it worth it? The Pro Labs are definitely worth the time. Final Cut Pro has so many features that it is hard to master without some instruction. Every class, I learned something new. Final Cut training can costs hundreds of dollars. The Pro Lab is free and is a great money saver. The labs are limited in their capacity and subject matter. If you cannot make a workshop or lab, Apple also offers “One to One,” a service of training that costs $99 for a year where you can get trained for one hour per week in whatever application you would like. If you want to learn Final Cut for a bargain and there is an Apple Store offering Pro Labs, definitely check out the course. You’ll learn some very valuable information.

Hiawatha Bray, a writer for The Boston Globe had an opportunity to tour the new Boston Apple Store set to open this Thursday, at 6:00 pm. Bray got to see a new innovation at this Apple store: a green roof. Not the “green” that means eco-friendly, but rather the green that means they have put grass on top of the roof. This may be Apple’s new ploy to stay on the good side of environmentalists. I have been on a roof that has plants, trees, and flowers, and it is quite a neat experience. Though people won’t be able to go up there, it is only visible from the windows of neighboring hotels, it is a nice touch.

Time and again, Apple serves up features like touch-screen controls that seem unnecessary, irrelevant — until you try them. Apple vice president Ron Johnson says the new store’s “green roof” is that kind of innovation. A rectangle of lush grass surrounds the skylight.

Bray was able to go up there, and Johnson says that even if that grass doesn’t make up “for the megawatts of electricity consumed by over a hundred Mac computers…if other new buildings adopt the same policy, it just might add up.” Regardless of its impact on the environment, it is a nice touch and will probably make those neighbors who see the roof enjoy the sight a little better.

[Via The Boston Globe Reuters Photo, Brian Snyder]

If you go job hunting on Apple.com/jobs, and you live in Colorado, you’ll be greeted by a bit of a surprise – There’s a new store on the horizon!

Colorado Springs, CO is on the board for an Apple Retail Store. This should be a welcome addition to the retail outlets, as I recall while waiting in line for the Park Meadows store opening, that several people drove the 50 miles from Colorado Springs to be there. So congrats guys, there are shiny things headed your way.

The guys at Pingdom have a released a fun new widget that you can put on your website that automatically gets updated whenever the Apple Store goes down (presumably to add new products).

Now you can easily feed your obsession of knowing if the Apple Store is down or not!

Check out the full details on this as well as snag the code for the widget over on the Pingdom blog.

The options for the iPod touch and iPhone got a little more diverse today, as Apple added a 32GB touch and a 16GB iPhone. Both retail for $499. The touch will ship in 1-2 business days and comes with free engraving, while either iPhone will ship in 1-3 business days.

So if you’ve been holding out on pulling the trigger on a new toy, now might be the time to pull out the old credit card and pony up the dough.

The “sticky note of good things to come” is now up at the Apple store.

Generally Apple puts this image up in the hours preceding major product additions. Doing so gives them time to make product page additions and adjustments. It also generally marks the beginning of unrelenting Apple fanboyism and speculation on what exactly they could be adding to their store.

Patience young grasshoppers.

I recently attended a workshop about Final Cut Pro at the Apple Store SoHo.  To my surprise, immediately following the workshop was a meeting of a a local Apple User Group called the Metropolitan New York Macintosh Alliance or “MetroMac” for short.  I stuck around for the meeting since I had never been to one of these meetings before and there was going to be a discussion of the upcoming Macworld. The user group was made up of a wide range of people with varying ages.

There were two moderators.  I didn’t get their names, so I will call them “Leader Guy” and “Second-in-Command.”  I bet you can tell who did what with my clever titles for these gentlemen.  The user group began with Macintosh problems.  Members of the audience would ask questions and Leader Guy would try to answer the questions before opening up the question to other audience members.  Leader Guy turned out to be one of the snarkiest human beings I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing in real life.

An audience member said, “I know you’ve never recommended Internet security software…” before getting cut off by Leader Guy who exclaimed, “I’ve never said that! You would be wrong.”  The audience member replied, “I get things wrong all the time.”  Leader Guy would not let this point go, “Then you would be wrong this time, too.”  This did not seem like a friendly user-group.  Considering the two’s dialog, it appeared they had a bit of a history.  Maybe this was just sarcasm between friends.  The same audience member asked about her G5 tower and how its CD-tray would open whenever she started the computer.  Leader Guy’s response?  “Congratulations.”  Another audience member helped out by suggesting she unplug a peripheral and then see if the G5 had the problem.  Again, I tried to write this exchange off as some kind of sarcasm between friends.

On the topic of Internet security, Leader Guy suggested turning off file sharing.  A different audience member chimed in, “But I need to have file sharing on.”  Leader Guy’s response? “No.  You want to have file sharing on.  You do not need it.”  Terrific.  Leader Guy seemed far from helpful.  Second-in-Command was a rather nice fellow occasionally making good-natured security password jokes.  When using a router was mentioned, Second-in-Command asked the audience if they knew what a router was — just in case.  The audience seemed to reply with positive head nods.  Leader Guy proceeded to tell the group how routers work.

After Leader Guy accidentally hit my MacBook Pro’s screen without apologizing, I had enough.  I stuck around for forty-five minutes but Leader Guy was unbearable.  Even the promise of a Macworld discussion was not enough to make me stick around.  I have only been a Mac user for about two or three years.  I had heard about snarky, know-it-all, Mac users but I had never actually experienced or dealt with anyone that fit that description.  I have had several discussions with other Mac users over the past couple of months since I have been regularly attending my local Apple Store’s free workshops on Final Cut Pro.  No one was similar to Leader Guy.

Looking beyond Leader Guy, the user group actually had some good information.  Having a knowledgeable group of Mac users in one room has it advantages.  Group members were able to solve problems of other group members.  There was even a wireless microphone so questions could be heard by everyone in the group.  Perhaps your past user group experiences were different;  I’d love to hear about them in the comments section.