Shanghai's Apple Store Opens to Large Crowds

[mw2009]

I'm especially fond of this picture of the first guy in line:

Looks like Jobs has replaced Mao. Which, by the way, I'm perfectly fine with. It's just a little strange to see that serious, future-gazing profile typically given to images of Asian leaders to Steve Jobs.

I'm wondering if an Apple Store in India (is there one in India? Will there be?) will soon have a Steve Jobs Ganesha...that'd be cool! One Apple product in each hand.

The picture is actually made by this guy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsevis/2311088410

 

[guet]

People die fighting for democracy. People are forced at gunpoint to defend communism. There is a slight difference.

I find it hard to believe anyone would be so naive, or so manichaean, in their outlook; the ghost of McCarthyism apparently still haunts America.

The communist movement was a reaction to the appalling working conditions in capitalist democracies of the 19C. It was founded on universal rights, the end of the class system, universal education, the right to peaceful assembly etc etc. Things we now take for granted in the West, but which were won after hard struggles here. Rights which, I might add, are now being fought for in so-called communist China - present day China is no more communist than Stalin's Russia. It's interesting that although Marx's predictions of world revolution were way off the mark, his analysis of the contradictions inherent in capitalism are just as applicable as ever.

Just because it was also taken up by many dictators the world over as a convenient excuse for imposing dictatorship or fascism, from Lenin to Mao, does not mean it is the polar opposite of Western democracy - quite the reverse in fact - many of the things we now view as central to our democracies started as radical ideas in movements like early communism.

 

[s1nt4x]

Wen i saw the t-shirt tag say`n : Made in Downtown LA , i started to laugh for like 3 min, that`s like importing banana`s to ecuador . At lest i hope they have the decency to make prices at lest 20% lower considering they build the damn things.

 

[southparksteve]

Love it...will def visit if I go to China anytime soon!

 

[Don Kosak]

I would be afraid to walk on those glass stairways... imagine walking on a frozen lake... Yes, I know the glass is strong enough to withstand people walking on them... but it's still scary to imagine the glass shattering as you walk on them...

On a second note, it's a good thing those are translucent glass and not transparent... imagine all the perverts who just hand around the lower level or the store just to get a "view."

I think those glass stairs are a common feature in Tier 1 Apple stores.

The Apple Store in Osaka (Japan) had a set of nearly identical stairs connecting the first and second floor of the store.

They're very sturdy, thick glass, I didn't really think about them breaking at all. They're fairly opaque as well, so a perv would probably have trouble seeing anything. (I'm sure there will be folks that try though...)

I was in Pudong a couple of years ago near that very park. Shanghai is a pretty amazing city, huge, spectacular architecture, and tons of thriving businesses. Apple picked a great location for that store.

 

[skinnylegs]

My dad builds those stores, and they are not EXACTLY the same, although they are similar. There are things apple could use from their store as well that they have managed to make better and improve upon. They're not as bad as you think, they have added some pretty cool stuff.

I visited the MS Store in Fashion Valley. It looks a lot like the Apple Store; alot! Nothing inside the store interested me except the Kinetic setup, which was pretty cool.

 

[Laird Knox]

Yes, we all know Microsoft has failed, clearly. Trust me I'm an apple fan, my house is apple as is my dad's computer. No, the stores are not going to close, they are actually heading out to China soon for some stores. They are working as hard as they can to push out stores, but they're all human, cut them some slack. They will open more stores, and the number of stores per year is only going to increase. They have much more to come, and more to finish in this year. I like apple but not everything Microsoft does is a complete failure either, they saw apple's success and learned. Yes, they took ideas but ever hear - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But hey, I'm just saying ...

I'm sure the MS stores are excellent. The issue is what do they have that is really compelling to show in a mall setting?

 

[jmor]

I visited the MS Store in Fashion Valley. It looks a lot like the Apple Store; alot! Nothing inside the store interested me except the Kinetic setup, which was pretty cool.

Yep, my dad built the one in Fashion Valley, and it's true unless you're into Microsoft there isn't a whole lot (like you said the Kinetic was awesomeee) but I also thought the huge wall tv panels were cool plus the touch screen tables, especially looking at Google Earth. And that's what it really comes down to, they don't have a lot to sell, they're saying besides windows, they want to promote XBox (plus games and accessories), PC games, Zune, and the "Pink" phone. But they really don't have to make money and they know that they most likely won't, they just want to compete and show some sort of competition to apple really.

 

[peapody]

Apple is ridiculous. The more and more bs that comes out with job's superiority complex and crazy glass towers etc...the more I am ashamed to have apple products. Sigh.

 

[LagunaSol]

But they really don't have to make money and they know that they most likely won't, they just want to compete and show some sort of competition to apple really.

Um, don't you have to, you know, make money in order to compete with another store that, uh, makes money???

Microsoft's quest to be just like Apple even in areas where it loses them money is baffling.

Steve Ballmer: "What, Apple has a retail store??? We need a retail store!"

#2 Man: "But sir, such a store would be a big money-loser for us."

Steve Ballmer: "BUILD IT!!!"

Watch for the first Microsoft Store in China, early 2011.

 

[alphaod]

I was in Shanghai only a week before. Too bad…

I'll visit sometime probably.

Is this a real Apple Store or a replica?

It's a replica.

 

[Thex1138]

Assimilated

Steve's lookin a bit like he's been assimilated by the Borg...

 

[jmor]

Um, don't you have to, you know, make money in order to compete with another store that, uh, makes money???

Microsoft's quest to be just like Apple even in areas where it loses them money is baffling.

Steve Ballmer: "What, Apple has a retail store??? We need a retail store!"

#2 Man: "But sir, such a store would be a big money-loser for us."

Steve Ballmer: "BUILD IT!!!"

Watch for the first Microsoft Store in China, early 2011.

They know they may or may not be very profitable but they want people to have a place besides apple, to look at their products in an environment they feel represents them. They have money to burn and they most likely won't lose money and if they do, it most likely won't be much. Either way they want a place for their fans and they are trying their best to bring a good store into that environment. And they do have multiple stores already planned, my dad traveled to China two weeks ago for a week to do something with the location and whatnot.

 

[chatin]

Shanghai World Expo

More Apple inspired architecture at the 2010 Shanghai World's Fair.

 

[LagunaSol]

They have money to burn and they most likely won't lose money and if they do, it most likely won't be much.

I'm sure MS shareholders are thrilled with this strategy.

 

[w00tini]

I find it hard to believe anyone would be so naive, or so manichaean, in their outlook; the ghost of McCarthyism apparently still haunts America.

The communist movement was a reaction to the appalling working conditions in capitalist democracies of the 19C. It was founded on universal rights, the end of the class system, universal education, the right to peaceful assembly etc etc. Things we now take for granted in the West, but which were won after hard struggles here. Rights which, I might add, are now being fought for in so-called communist China - present day China is no more communist than Stalin's Russia. It's interesting that although Marx's predictions of world revolution were way off the mark, his analysis of the contradictions inherent in capitalism are just as applicable as ever.

Just because it was also taken up by many dictators the world over as a convenient excuse for imposing dictatorship or fascism, from Lenin to Mao, does not mean it is the polar opposite of Western democracy - quite the reverse in fact - many of the things we now view as central to our democracies started as radical ideas in movements like early communism.

Great post. Now, point me in the direction of this highly civilized, freedom-rich, and socially tolerant Communist nation you speak of. I'll buy plane tickets tomorrow.

 

[thirteen1031]

Seriously?!? At least in america its becoming the norm both people to work. I would never marry a girl whos not independent.

Seriously, and if you were in China where, for the last couple of generations boys have been revered, girls haven't been and thus female fetuses were aborted and girl babies abandoned (one child policy, remember?)...well, you'd be faced with the same fact that most adult men in China are faced with today....

Not enough women to go around. Boys way outnumber girls. And that means the girls get to call the shots. So, yes, you would marry a girl who wasn't independent. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't be marrying at all. Not even dating.

 

[younker]

What I want is iPhone 4 or iPad, unfortunately, they are not sold in China now officially.

 

[zxcvb]

yeah, it's great news for Apple, and fans. but unfortunately, most Chinese people can't afford to buy mac in there. you don't know how much people earn over there. so unlikely most countries, Apple is not for everybody. it's shame to tell you that communist (socialism) screws everything up. I assume that there will be additional policy government will attach on Apple store. who knows? someday, they will push it like Google so that all good companies will have to move out of this country. by the way, unlikely other countries, sale on Apple products will not be pretty as much as we expect. I think that it is just a symbol that Apple launched their flagship store in another country in Asia. yeah, we know China is big. but consumer system is hard.

Day is made , it's funny to see that some american just seating there day dreaming they are richest people in the world. haha, do you know the highest personal income ethnic group in the US is asian, do you know the average asset that a middle class native shanghai family has is USD 750,000.

 

[thirteen1031]

People die fighting for democracy. People are forced at gunpoint to defend communism. There is a slight difference.

You don't know your history very well. People have been forced at gunpoint to defend the democracy that we wanted them to have. Not the one they, themselves, voted in. Examples of this can be pulled from Korea, Vietnam, the middle East, South America...

Generalities like the one you made there bite you in the ass--in this case twice as you're wrong on both count. Communism didn't force anyone to do anything--a dictator did. And, as said, people are as likely to be forced to die for democracy as they are for anything else, so democracy can't take the moral high ground.

And, just to add to the mistakes you've made in that statement, you'r confusing Communism, an economic system, with a system of governing (everyone gets a vote). A communist country can also be democracy. Just as capitalism--which we have forced people to defend at gunpoint--can be fascist. The economic system of a country doesn't decide whether it will be a democracy. Nor does the system by which the country chooses leaders decide its economic system.

Would you care to play another round of ill-researched political generalities or would you like to take your foot out of your mouth first?

 

[Mctalking]

Great post. Now, point me in the direction of this highly civilized, freedom-rich, and socially tolerant Communist nation you speak of. I'll buy plane tickets tomorrow.

funny that I am also lost in finding highly civilized, freedom-rich, and socially tolerant Capitalist nation. Would you please help?

 

[macintoshtoffy]

I find it hard to believe anyone would be so naive, or so manichaean, in their outlook; the ghost of McCarthyism apparently still haunts America.

The communist movement was a reaction to the appalling working conditions in capitalist democracies of the 19C. It was founded on universal rights, the end of the class system, universal education, the right to peaceful assembly etc etc. Things we now take for granted in the West, but which were won after hard struggles here. Rights which, I might add, are now being fought for in so-called communist China - present day China is no more communist than Stalin's Russia. It's interesting that although Marx's predictions of world revolution were way off the mark, his analysis of the contradictions inherent in capitalism are just as applicable as ever.

Just because it was also taken up by many dictators the world over as a convenient excuse for imposing dictatorship or fascism, from Lenin to Mao, does not mean it is the polar opposite of Western democracy - quite the reverse in fact - many of the things we now view as central to our democracies started as radical ideas in movements like early communism.

I would argue that Mao and Stalin were no more communist than I am - Mao is well known to have read virtually nothing in the way of communist writings (same goes for Stalin). Mao's main interest was reading writings from the Chinese imperial on how to rule a large nation.

Stalin interesting enough had a mother who said, "what a ugly boy he is, I guess it is the priesthood for him" and funny enough spent time in a monastery. What you see in Stalinism is a secular religion that makes the 'cult of George W Bush' appear like a amateurish attempt (and the Obama veneration even more vomit inducing).

I find it funny how adverse American's are to the government running stuff, screaming how the federal government can't do anything right, then they vote it f-cking morons like Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann who simply re-enforce that problem. It is as though American's can't see the link between their crappy government and the voting choices they make.

Seriously, and if you were in China where, for the last couple of generations boys have been revered, girls haven't been and thus female fetuses were aborted and girl babies abandoned (one child policy, remember?)...well, you'd be faced with the same fact that most adult men in China are faced with today....

Not enough women to go around. Boys way outnumber girls. And that means the girls get to call the shots. So, yes, you would marry a girl who wasn't independent. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't be marrying at all. Not even dating.

Too bad one can't click ones fingers and turn all those guys gay - it would at least improve my odds of finding a boyfriend substantially

 

[AidenShaw]

Too bad one can't click ones fingers and turn all those guys gay - it would at least improve my odds of finding a boyfriend substantially

I've read several articles that have suggested that the Chinese government's recent moves to "be more tolerant" of gay pride and other public LGBT events might be partly due to a need to defuse the "too many males" problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Pride

 

[macintoshtoffy]

I've read several articles that have suggested that the Chinese government's recent moves to "be more tolerant" of gay pride and other public LGBT events might be partly due to a need to defuse the "too many males" problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Pride

I have my own theories on sexuality, that the bulk of people are bisexual and socialised in one direction or another with a minority at either end of the spectrum being exclusively gay or exclusively straight

Maybe a bit of competition in the relationship market will improve the over all quality of potential applicants lol.

 

[arcite]

You don't know your history very well. People have been forced at gunpoint to defend the democracy that we wanted them to have. Not the one they, themselves, voted in. Examples of this can be pulled from Korea, Vietnam, the middle East, South America...

Generalities like the one you made there bite you in the ass--in this case twice as you're wrong on both count. Communism didn't force anyone to do anything--a dictator did. And, as said, people are as likely to be forced to die for democracy as they are for anything else, so democracy can't take the moral high ground.

And, just to add to the mistakes you've made in that statement, you'r confusing Communism, an economic system, with a system of governing (everyone gets a vote). A communist country can also be democracy. Just as capitalism--which we have forced people to defend at gunpoint--can be fascist. The economic system of a country doesn't decide whether it will be a democracy. Nor does the system by which the country chooses leaders decide its economic system.

Would you care to play another round of ill-researched political generalities or would you like to take your foot out of your mouth first?

My broader point is that communism is based on a lie. There has never been a truly communist country, all countries that have claimed to be communist were in fact run by oppressive regimes. So I am quite correct in saying that no free person fights for communism, as they are in reality coerced into the act through poverty, ignorance, and threat of violence. The fact that communist countries have one party rule makes your assertion that they have democracy a farce.


Moving forward, China will either allow more personal/economic rights, or spend ever greater resources in cracking down on social unrest and suppressing dissent. I have a feeling their great leaders will choose the latter option. All communist countries are ultimately a 'house of cards'.

Still, Apple (and other western firms) may as well cash in on the China gold rush, the profits only serve to strengthen their long term position.