Apple Store Down in Advance of (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and New 9.7-inch iPad Launch at 8:01 a.m. Pacific Time

[MacRumors]

Apple took down its online store early this morning as the company prepares to launch its special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in more than 40 countries and regions around the world.

Internet users attempting to access the store section of the U.S. site are being met with the familiar "We've got something special in store for you" placeholder, accompanied by a relaunch time of 8:01 a.m. Pacific Time, which is when Apple previously said it would officially be launching the new red colorway iPhone.

Today Apple is also launching a new lower priced 9.7-inch iPad to replace the iPad Air 2, as well as new storage tier options for the iPhone SE and the iPad mini 4.

The PRODUCT(RED) iPhone 7 will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage capacities for the same $749/$849 and $869/$969 prices as the equivalent iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models in standard colors. The anodized aluminum's vibrant red finish has a white Apple logo and white front bezels.

Apple's new tablet, which it is simply calling "iPad", is Apple's new entry-level model at the 9.7-inch size, starting at $329 for 32GB and $429 for 128GB. The device will be available in more than 20 countries and regions.

The new 32GB and 128GB storage capacities for the iPhone SE will cost $399 and $499 respectively, replacing the original 16GB ($399) and 64GB ($449) storage capacities. All other specs for the smaller profile handset remain the same.

The new 128GB model iPad mini 4 with Wi-Fi will start at $399, which was previously the price for the 32GB model with Wi-Fi, which has been discontinued. A cellular model with 128GB of storage will also be available for $529.

During Tuesday's announcement of the new products, Apple also launched new Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases in new colors.

Despite the unusually early shuttering of the store, it's very unlikely that it relates to anything other than updates to the online ordering process to reflect the new products, but we'll keep readers updated as soon as we learn more.

(Thanks, Andrea!)

Article Link: Apple Store Down in Advance of (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and New 9.7-inch iPad Launch at 8:01 a.m. Pacific Time

 

[8692574]

No credit for sending you the tip ?

It was me Andrea!!!

EDIT:
Well thank you!! i saw the mention... it might not be a lot but you made my day!

 

[MacBone]

And the new iPad right?

Apple took down its online store early this morning as the company prepares to launch its special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in more than 40 countries around the world.

Internet users attempting to access the store section of the site are being met with the familiar "We've got something special in store for you" placeholder, accompanied by a relaunch time of 8:01 a.m. PDT, which is when Apple previously said it would officially be launching the new red colorway iPhone.


It's unlikely that the message relates to anything other than last minute changes to the iPhone 7 online ordering process, but we'll keep readers updated as soon as we learn more.

(Thanks, Andrea!)

Article Link: Apple Store Down in Advance of (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 Launch at 08:01 PDT

 

[bobjonesco]

Taking the store down for 6 hours just to add two products we already knew about?

 

[44267547]

Taking the store down for 6 hours just to add two products we already new about?

It has nothing to do with knowing about the products, they close the site to make alterations to the website reflecting the newest product updates. This isn't anything new.

 

[snow755]

may be new ipad pros are comeing

 

[bobjonesco]

It has nothing to do with knowing about the products, they close the site to make alterations to the website reflecting the newest product updates. This isn't anything new.

6 hours. I'm sure Apple has an army of people who manage the website. 2 products. The changes are probably already on a staging or dev server and all they'd need to do is push the new pages out.

 

[fogandflower]

Apple took down its online store early this morning as the company prepares to launch its special edition (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in more than 40 countries around the world.

Internet users attempting to access the store section of the site are being met with the familiar "We've got something special in store for you" placeholder, accompanied by a relaunch time of 8:01 a.m. PDT, which is when Apple previously said it would officially be launching the new red colorway iPhone.

PRODUCT(RED) models will be available in 128GB and 256GB storage capacities for the same $749/$849 and $869/$969 prices as the equivalent iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models in standard colors. The anodized aluminum's vibrant red finish has a white Apple logo and white front bezels.

It's unlikely that the message relates to anything other than last minute changes to the iPhone 7 online ordering process, but we'll keep readers updated as soon as we learn more.

(Thanks, Andrea!)

Article Link: Apple Store Down in Advance of (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 Launch at 08:01 PDT

[doublepost=1490348421][/doublepost]I don't get it. Why one of the largest technology company needs to shut down its online store to update something?

 

[snow755]

[doublepost=1490348421][/doublepost]I don't get it. Why one of the largest technology company needs to shut down its online store to update something?

get too the point please?

 

[Brenster]

Looks like the 8.01am PDT launch time isn't being adjusted for local time internationally. Taking the entire store down for the entire working day until 4.01pm UK time doesn't seem to be the best way to sell everything that's not a new product pre-order.

 

[dan9700]

Wow red iPhone so amazing lol

 

[44267547]

6 hours. I'm sure Apple has an army of people who manage the website. 2 products. The changes are probably already on a staging or dev server and all they'd need to do is push the new pages out.

It's actually more than two products aside from the new 9.7 iPad and the Product Red iPhone. It also includes added Watch bands, iPhone SE, and additional iPhone cases.

Not to mention any other unforeseen edits/changes that you're not aware of.

 

[Bacillus]

6 hours. I'm sure Apple has an army of people who manage the website. 2 products. The changes are probably already on a staging or dev server and all they'd need to do is push the new pages out.

Any freakin $100 webshop does this live.
Upgrading to FileMaker Pro (and the new emojis...)

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

[doublepost=1490348421][/doublepost]I don't get it. Why one of the largest technology company needs to shut down its online store to update something?

It is early morning in the US.
However, Store is down during the whole business day in Europe.

This may work for private customers, but really shows that Apple simply does not cater for business or PRO customers...

 

[OllyW]

It's actually more than two products aside from the new 9.7 iPad and the Product Red iPhone. It also includes added Watch bands, iPhone SE, and additional iPhone cases.

Not to mention any other unforeseen edits/changes that you're not aware of.

Amazon adds tons of new stuff every single day and their site manages to stay up and running.

 

[VelociraptorBot]

Well, this isnt annoying at all, I wasnt literally about to buy a new Mac only to be told I have to wait, not at all. I have to trudge into the city now and hope the Apple store has my configuration in stock.

Its well beyond the time when people waited with baited breath every time the web store went off line, its just a stupid inconvenience these days.

 

[wbrat]

I don't get it. They already made changes to the store few days ago...

​

 

[Brenster]

It is early morning in the US.
However, Store is down during the whole business day in Europe.

This may work for private customers, but really shows that Apple simply does not cater for business or PRO customers...

I find this odd as the yearly iPhone pre-order frenzy goes live at 8.00 local time for each territory's store. Shutting the store for a day for the entirety of Europe (and possibly Eastwards too, I've not reckoned the math) seems silly. I'm guessing the retail stores wouldn't be permitted to do this so why the web store?

 

[bobjonesco]

Go buy a $100 webshop that can do that live.
Or upgrade to FileMaker Pro

What are you talking about? The "new" site content isn't being created in the next 6 hours. All that stuff is sitting on a staging ser

It's actually more than two products aside from the new 9.7 iPad and the Product Red iPhone. It also includes added Watch bands, iPhone SE, and additional iPhone cases.

Not to mention any other unforeseen edits/changes that you're not aware of.

all that stuff is 99% likely done and sitting on a dev server waiting to get pushed live.

 

[44267547]

Amazon adds tons of new stuff every single day and their site manages to stay up and running.

Do have an an understanding of how Amazon conducts online operations?

As different as Apple is, it's likely their way of doing things versus what's convenient for the rest of us. Also, I can't attest to Amazons functions when site coordinating. Perhaps Amazon has a completely different set of servers that handle site alterations differently, being their vastly larger than most other sites with inventory.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Rhetorical? As different as Apple is, it's likely their way of doing things versus what's convenient for the rest of us. Also, I can't attest to Amazons functions when site coordinating. Perhaps Amazon has a completely different set of servers that handle site alterations differently, being their vastly larger than most other sites with inventory.

I doubt that is has anything to do with technical reasons. It is more their mindset that thrives on keynotes and fantastical product updates that people are scrambling to gobble up.

Apple likes to create suspension and 'building up demand'.

This works well for intimate customer products like phones and watches. Not so much for bread and butter products that people need to get some work done (like silly old computers)...

 

[Bacillus]

However, Store is down during the whole business day in Europe.
This may work for private customers, but really shows that Apple simply does not cater for business or PRO customers...

What are you talking about? The "new" site content isn't being created in the next 6 hours. All that stuff is sitting on a staging ser
all that stuff is 99% likely done and sitting on a dev server waiting to get pushed live.

Hopefully they get their dial-in modems up and running again.

 

[profets]

It's actually more than two products aside from the new 9.7 iPad and the Product Red iPhone. It also includes added Watch bands, iPhone SE, and additional iPhone cases.

Not to mention any other unforeseen edits/changes that you're not aware of.

Actually the new watch bands and cases were already available to buy when the store was updated on Tuesday.

So just iPad, iPhone SE and Red iPhone.

I get that the store has to go down, but 6 hours is strange.

 

[The Mercurian]

Didn't this happen already on Tuesday ?

 

[fogandflower]

get too the point please?

1. shut down the store causes nuisance to people go online shopping who do not care about the new products
2. technically, can the product launch/price update be done without shutting down the whole store? Go figure