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Friday, May 12, 2006, 01:00 pm
News Flash: Apple to hold press briefing next Thursday
Apple Computer next week will hold a special briefing in New York City for analysts and members of the media ahead of the launch of its latest flagship retail store, AppleInsider has learned.The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 18th at 10am ET, the day before the Mac maker will open a new 20,000-square-foot retail store at 767 Fifth Avenue at 59th Street in Midtown, Manhattan.
In the invites to the event, Apple welcomed analysts and members of the media to preview the new flagship retail location ahead of its grand opening the following evening, but did not hint at any product introductions.
The event appears to be extremely limited in terms of attendance.
Previous reports had indicated that several high-level Apple executives, possibly including chief executive Steve Jobs, are planning to make the trip the Big City in order to usher in the new retail store.
Reliable sources have also pegged next week as a time when Apple is most likely to unveil new products, which may include the much anticipated Intel-based MacBook consumer notebooks and changes to the company's iPod line of digital music players.
However, these sources have recently indicated that the new MacBook could see an announcement without much fanfare sometime earlier in the week. It's unclear precisely when the notebooks would actually begin shipping to customers.
Apple began manufacturing the computers at its manufacturing facilities in the Far East about two weeks ago.
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Previous Comments View All
at the 5th av. store?????
Wow!
Steve wanted Macworld to go to NYC perhaps 20,000 sq ft gives him a large platform for a big media event.
What size is the apple campus auditorium?
I think Steve J is more than ready to release the MacBook -as well as a new iPod and maybe even something we haven't thought of.
Just makes sense in order to get sales moving again, as well as addressing the education market.
I daren't say it.
MacBook?
Oh, dare.... Dare away.... I think though that the MacBook will finally happen. And that is the day that it will happen.
YEA!!! MacBook!!
Dare I say... iPhone.
I think it's just for the store. BUT I still predict new MacBooks will come on Tuesday 
I had heard a rumor that Steve was planning a trip to the Far East. From a Californian's point of view, New York IS the Far East, so the rumor is true.
If you hear he's going to the Middle East, look for him in Chicago. Near East -> Vegas.
The article says the invitation is "very limited" -- that doesn't sound right for a big huge MacBook announcement.
I think that Apple feel burned by the negative reaction from the iPod HiFi media event. They probably think that people might react like "Apple lured us all here for a thinner iBook with a camera, Intel, integrated graphics and $100 increase in price???" Let's face it, that is HOW you people are going to react.
Therefore, I would wager they will do a quiet Tuesday release with the requisite press release.
By the way, the knee-jerk "NO INTEGRATED GRAPHICS" thing is quickly becoming this generation's "NO MORE ONE BUTTON MOUSE." 99.9% of you would NEVER know the difference, and the 0.1% that would can bloody get the higher level notebook (you may have heard of the MacBook Pro?).
End rant A $1099 Core Duo MacBook with magsafe, isight, front row... sounds BLOODY BRILLIANT. Now, if it's Core Solo, THEN you may commence your bitching.
By the way, the knee-jerk "NO INTEGRATED GRAPHICS" thing is quickly becoming this generation's "NO MORE ONE BUTTON MOUSE." 99.9% of you would NEVER know the difference, and the 0.1% that would can bloody get the higher level notebook (you may have heard of the MacBook Pro?).
Actually, I'd vastly prefer a Mac laptop with integrated Intel graphics and 2 buttons (actually, 1 MightyMouse-like button pad) than a laptop with dedicated graphics and 1 button. But really, as long as I'm asking, I'd like both.
And a G5 PowerBook with integrated iPhone dock and FireWire 1600 ports.
The article says the invitation is "very limited" -- that doesn't sound right for a big huge MacBook announcement.
I think that Apple feel burned by the negative reaction from the iPod HiFi media event. They probably think that people might react like "Apple lured us all here for a thinner iBook with a camera, Intel, integrated graphics and $100 increase in price???" Let's face it, that is HOW you people are going to react.
I don't think Apple was burned. It was the press that was burned.
Apple has to limit their announcements to actual events, not to minor announcements. They should do what most other companies do: release products when they are ready. Not hold them back for events. Apple's stock is on a roller coaster now because of that.
They also lose sales days because they are holding back a product that would sell if they just put it out, and sent out a press release.
If the MacBooks are ready now, then they should be released. I daresay that Apple won't sell even one more, if they wait for some event to announce them, and they lose those sales for the quarter.
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I daren't say it.
MacBook?