Mysterious overnight activity at Apple stores presages Thursday's Mac event

At least some Apple stores across the U.S. — including its Union Square outlet in San Francisco — reportedly set up line barriers on Wednesday night, and/or saw unusual activity behind their glass facades.

At the Union Square store, the barriers were accompanied by contractors making laser measurements and pointing to the building's glass doors, one Reddit commentor noted. When asked, one of the contractors allegedly said "sorry, can't say anything" with a grin. Some bags in the building are said to have "SFO" airline tags on them, implying that people had just flown in.

Similar activity was spotted at other Apple stores in Hawaii and Indianapolis, according to follow-up posts.

It's not clear what the activity might mean. Line barriers could imply Apple is expecting to launch an important new product following Thursday's Mac event, but Mac launches aren't typically blockbusters, and the company tends not to have a new product in stores the same day as a press event.

Perhaps more likely is that the company is preparing to install new product displays, though if so, that may not explain the barriers.

The focus of today's event — starting at 10 a.m. Pacific time — is expected to be redesigned MacBook Pros, including OLED touchbars and Touch ID sensors. The company may also show off a 13-inch MacBook or MacBook Air, however, and new Apple TV software, including a guide/recommendation app and delayed single sign-on support.

AppleInsider will be live at the event to provide play-by-play coverage.

31 Comments

ericthehalfbee 4489 comments · 13 Years

About 8 years ago

On a related Note, walked by the Samsung Store the other day and they STILL have a huge Note 7 ad in their store.

Seriously?

revenant 610 comments · 15 Years

do you mean presages? does it have to be negative? I would have thought it was a good sign what with the event coming.

mike1 3431 comments · 10 Years

Maybe they were installing temporary projection systems to simulcast the event at the front of the stores.

thewhitefalcon 4444 comments · 10 Years

FREE MACS FOR EVERYONE! /s

adonissmu 1758 comments · 14 Years

sog35 said:

How many of you have 0% hype for today's event?

I've been disappointed so many times the last 3 years at Apple events. So many disappointments the last few events:

1. releasing the iPhone 6ss
2. Apple Watch crappy interface, nothing really innovative
3. AppleTV. Nothing new. Just a roku
4. No home hub
5. No touch screen Mac's
6. No Apple brand TV display

Its going to be the same old crap.
Tim Cook, Eddy Cue, and some other random Apple executive spouting about how 'amazing' something is.

Apple is getting stale, boring, no excitement.

Don't get me wrong. They still make the best quality product and very reliable. Just like a Toyota.

But Apple use to be Ferrari. They use to be sexy, cutting edge, and make your blood boil. Now its the same crap with a tiny bit of improvement.

IMO, its a reflection of how lazy and self satisified the executives have become.
Cook, Cue, Shiller, and Ive are all established. All are worth more than $100 million and are fat and happy. They are not willing or motivated to take risks because they got it made.

Apple needs a serious shake up. The old guard is just..........old. We need new blood that is excited, innovated, and willing to fail miserably. We need younger execs who are hungry, have vision, and want to make a mark in the world.

I can't be alone in this. Can I?

You want proof of how far Apple has fallen?

Do you think 5 years ago Microsoft or Google would even dare release a product to compete with Apple's premier products? Hell no.

But Google bringing out the Pixel at the same price as the iPhone is a sign. Google sees how weak Apple is now. In the past Google always had to compete on price. Same with Microsoft and the Surface book and Surface Studio. That's how weak and feable Apple looks to its competition now. 5 years ago that was UNTHINKABLE.

You are not alone.