Stuttgart Retail Store Grand Opening Hinting at September 21 iPhone Launch?

[MacRumors]

As part of Apple's plans to expand its retail store presence in Germany, the company has been working on a store at a mall in Sindelfingen, just outside of Stuttgart. Last month, iFun.de reported [Google translation] reported that Apple was targeting Saturday, September 22 for the store's grand opening.

Apple's Sindelfingen retail store near Stuttgart under construction (Source: Macerkopf.de)​

We've now heard from a source claiming that Apple has brought forward the opening date for the store to Thursday, September 20, potentially signaling that the next-generation iPhone will indeed launch the following day as has been rumored. Moving the grand opening forward by just a few days would enable Apple to have another retail store open to support the launch without requiring a significant change to store construction and preparation plans.

A similar change earlier this year signaled Apple's plans for the third-generation iPad launch, when the grand opening of the Highland Village retail store in Houston was brought forward by a day, suggesting that it would coincide with the March 16 iPad launch as did turn out to be the case. Apple's official announcement of the 8:00 AM grand opening for the store on that date also revealed the company's plans for the timing of the iPad launch.

Germany is typically included in Apple's first-round launches, although on some occasions such as with the iPad 2 the company has launched first in the United States before rolling out to other countries in the following weeks. iMore reported last month that Apple is planning for pre-orders to begin on September 12 ahead of the September 21 launch in the U.S. and perhaps other countries, with a second wave of international launches coming in the first week of October. If today's speculation bears out it would mean that Apple be including several other high-profile countries besides the U.S. in its first round of launches, with the second wave moving to quickly broaden distribution to other countries around the world.

Article Link: Stuttgart Retail Store Grand Opening Hinting at September 21 iPhone Launch?

 

[Raftysworld]

This seems to hint that the iPhone may launch on September 21st.

 

[Lukkee24]

Definitely makes the rumoured date seem more accurate!

Btw, this needs correcting:

Germany is typically included Apple's first-round launches

 

[AppleGuesser]

I'm calling it now, iPhone 5 released in US in 2012! haha But yeah, September 21st is looking good

 

[sulpfiction]

Another piece of the puzzle..That fits perfectly.

 

[pmau]

Just saying that ...

The german article states that "the store will most likely open on 22nd of September".

Honestly, I don't think Apple needs to align a store opening event with a worldwide iPhone introduction ...

(I'm allowed to say, I live in germany)

Tuesday also is the day that most of the announcements happened in the past.

 

[Macjack]

Another Reseller replaced by Apple

This shopping mall had an Apple reseller store, which is now closed as I saw last Saturday.
Though, I didn't like that store. They had a strict no returns policy unless you purchased something else for the same amount at the day of the return. No money back. That's not quite usual in Germany.

 

[Galatian]

This shopping mall had an Apple reseller store, which is now closed as I saw last Saturday.
Though, I didn't like that store. They had a strict no returns policy unless you purchased something else for the same amount at the day of the return. No money back. That's not quite usual in Germany.

I believe it was called the re:store and I got my iPad 1st Gen there back in 2010.

That being said it makes perfect sense for Apple to locate the store there in Sindelfingen, which is actually not a very big city compared to Stuttgart:

There are 3 or 4 American military bases in close range AND because of that a Burger King, McDonalds and a KFC. This is as American as you can get in the south of Germany

 

[Schmitty11]

I sure hope. I was originally hoping that they'd be open for the second run of ethernet adapters

 

[DestroVega]

I don't understand all these stories still coming out about something that "hints at iPhone release" or "hints at iPhone announcement"

We have basically known for over a month the iPhone is being announced next Tuesday and will be released the 21st. What more hints do we need?

 

[BigBeast]

I find the opening date at the Stuttgart retail store... curious. Very curious.

G. Ollivander

 

[bushman4]

Does Apple have a 30 million supply of Iphone5 ready to go for all these countries????

 

[Jacquear]

Store Opening

Perth's (Aus) second Apple store is opening this week as well.
"Perth Garden City is opening 08/09/2012 10:00am WST first 1000 customer will get an Apple T-Shirt!"

 

[needfx]

Why is black their favorite color to cover up new stores?

Why not a white matte thick enough so that shadows cast are not visible from the outside?

 

[Mad-B-One]

Why is black their favorite color to cover up new stores?

Why not a white matte thick enough so that shadows cast are not visible from the outside?

Matte = too expensive. White alone = prone to get dirty (it's just a construction after all)

Thing is, this is a front in front of the glass front - so, they might still work on the glass, change door designs, etc.

 

[needfx]

Matte = too expensive. White alone = prone to get dirty (it's just a construction after all)

Thing is, this is a front in front of the glass front - so, they might still work on the glass, change door designs, etc.

Actually, you are 100% right of the white getting dirty, but probably by taggers, graffiti artists and drunk babies.

Haven't thought of it even though evident...

 

[Mad-B-One]

Actually, you are 100% right of the white getting dirty, but probably by taggers, graffiti artists and drunk babies.

Haven't thought of it even though evident...

Well, it's rather people's shoes and cleaning machines causing that in such a public place rather than drunk and sprayers, but I think part of it is marketing. Everybody uses white (thus risks to get "dirty") and back is the new brown (which was the new black, I believe... - an attempt to make a joke on in-colors), so it's just classy. And if it ever gets scuffed up, use a black Sharpie (or Edding) and you are good. If you try this on a white wall, you might end up with 50 Shades of Gray (pun intended).

PS: Sorry folks, I ate a clown for breakfast, in retrospect, I think it tasted funny and it's coming up all the time.

 

[needfx]

Well, it's rather people's shoes and cleaning machines causing that in such a public place rather than drunk and sprayers, but I think part of it is marketing. Everybody uses white (thus risks to get "dirty") and back is the new brown (which was the new black, I believe... - an attempt to make a joke on in-colors), so it's just classy. And if it ever gets scuffed up, use a black Sharpie (or Edding) and you are good. If you try this on a white wall, you might end up with 50 Shades of Gray (pun intended).

PS: Sorry folks, I ate a clown for breakfast, in retrospect, I think it tasted funny and it's coming up all the time.

My original query was exactly that. Why their marketing dpt chose black, new brown ( : ) ), new black over white. I agree 100% on the practicality front, but again, I think your response on "everyone uses white", is valid enough for apple standards to go the other way.

 

[wkadamsjr]

I don't understand all these stories still coming out about something that "hints at iPhone release" or "hints at iPhone announcement"

We have basically known for over a month the iPhone is being announced next Tuesday and will be released the 21st. What more hints do we need?

Well, prepare to read about it again tomorrow, when Apple actually announces the next iPhone WILL be announced next Tuesday.

 

[tthere5]

I don't understand all these stories still coming out about something that "hints at iPhone release" or "hints at iPhone announcement"

We have basically known for over a month the iPhone is being announced next Tuesday and will be released the 21st. What more hints do we need?

Well, everything has been rumors (ie no official word from apple of even an event) so every little bit helps.

 

[weckart]

21 posts already and not one yet complaining "when is Apple going to open one in Copenhagen/Dublin/Dar es Salaam?" etc.

Macrumors is slipping.