On the 15th anniversary of opening its first Apple Store, the Cupertino based tech giant went for a reboot, led by its own design guru Jony Ive and Angela Ahrendts, who worked at Burberry prior to joining Apple. The company unveiled what it calls its largest product ever -- a brand-new retail store at Union Square in San Francisco. The features introduced in Apple’s Union Square store will be slowly incorporated in its other stores across the world, in the coming months. Times of India’s Technology Editor - Sulabh Puri, was in attendance at Apple’s recently concluded WWDC 2016 conference, having received an invitation for the same from Apple. While there, Sulabh had a chance to visit Apple’s two-storied Union Square store. We’ll now let the pictures do the talking:
The new store is adorned with 42-feet-tall doors opening into the square and is comprised of five departments -- The Avenue, Genius Grove, The Forum, The Plaza and The Boardroom.
Apple's SF store is powered by 100% renewable energy, including power produced by photovoltaic panels integrated into the building’s roof.
Apple’s Union Square store has its stairs crafted from laminated glass, and look really good
The Genius Bar is gone, having been replaced by the new Genius Grove. Here, customers can get support working side-by-side with the store’s 'Geniuses' under a comfortable canopy of trees in the heart of the store.
The Boardroom is a space where the store's business team offers hands-on advice and training to entrepreneurs, developers and other small and medium business customers.
The Avenue has been inspired by window displays along a boulevard, and these dynamically change with the season.
The Avenue is where customers can get their iPhones, iPads, Macbooks and Apple Watches. Its walls are interactive themed 'windows' where Apple’s products and services come to life, including everything from music to creativity to apps.
New 'Creative Pros,' Apple experts in creative arts, offer advice and expertise at each of the displays. Customers can also find 'Only at Apple' products, essentially a curated collection of third-party accessories, at the Avenue.
Apple fans gathered around the table displaying all of the company's products.
This park-like space, known as The Plaza, is open to public 24 hours a day, with public Wi-Fi and seating. There will also be live concerts here every few weekends.
Visitors can also enjoy the show sitting on wooden and leather stools, reportedly designed by 'Ive's elite unit'. Plazas will be found only in Apple’s key stores across the world, including the Union Square one.
Apple store’s 34-foot display, having an eye-popping 6K display resolution, looks fantastic
The Forum is a vibrant gathering place, designed around a 6K video wall. It is home to 'Today at Apple,' which Apple claims brings together the world’s most talented artists, photographers, musicians, gamers, developers and entrepreneurs, inspiring customers to pursue the things they are passionate about.
Want to try out the Apple Watch for yourself? There are all variations on display in Apple’s SF store
There is a whole variety of Apple products on display in the company’s Union Square store.
Here’s a quick look at the Apple iPhones, on display in the Union Square store.
Apple’s SF store also has quite a collection of iPhone cases and covers
For those wanting the best headphones to go with their iPhones and iPads, the Union Square Apple store has everything covered.
The SF store will be using new, walkable solar glass technology to generate electricity.