Yep, the Apple store is down

Yep, we know the Apple store is down, so no need to continue emailing us frantically. Remember, just because Apple takes down the store when it's launching new products doesn't mean that just because store goes down new products are to be expected, ok?

Update: Looks like we're back up as of about 11:14PM EDT -- anyone see anything new? We haven't.

[Sneakz @ Aug 15th 2007 10:34PM]

Just site maintenance. Don't worry....

[Ireland @ Aug 15th 2007 11:19PM]

Site's back up, they are now selling phones ;)
Never mind that though, in 2008 they'll be selling TV's O-O!!

[roxes @ Aug 15th 2007 11:49PM]

Apple website is back...
Macbook and Macbook Pro come along with iLife 08 and iWork 08 30days....

awesome...

[samnesral @ Aug 15th 2007 10:35PM]

if they come out with a new macbook pro I am going to be so pissed off, I just ordered mine on Saturday.

[Garst @ Aug 16th 2007 5:21AM]

Doesn't Apple have some sort of guarantee to replace a "new" one with the brand new one?

[Nick Hammaker @ Aug 16th 2007 12:07PM]

I ordered mine 2 weeks ago Saturday and they finally just tried to pull from my Credit/Debit card yesterday. It only did a pre-auth though and nothing has been taken out and it hasn't been shipped yet. They are starting to drive me nuts. But I must have patience. It will be worth it. I would sat this is a bug fix to the store though, nothing big.

[Tom @ Aug 15th 2007 10:35PM]

There's always hope for a surprise new iPod...
:sigh:

[Chris @ Aug 15th 2007 10:39PM]

No. Not like this.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Aug 15th 2007 10:41PM]

Hahaha, man I keep wondering the same thing. Growing a bit annoyed and tired of waiting myself.

I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but I actually love it when companies release new products every year. Perhaps I'm just spoiled having the internet and up-to-date tech news on a daily basis? ;)

[Tom @ Aug 15th 2007 10:41PM]

Why you gotta bring a man's hopes all down like that, Chris?

[Josh @ Aug 15th 2007 11:51PM]

No, he doesn't. A new iPod would get its own Keynote without a doubt. That's why he said that

[jose @ Aug 15th 2007 11:08PM]

hah i was just wondering why this could be when i saw this on here. i waas hoping maybe a surprise release. hey i can dream cant i?

[sammy mazola jr @ Aug 15th 2007 10:37PM]

Maybe they just had to go to the bathroom.

[Revrant2394 @ Aug 16th 2007 12:16AM]

If they did I'm sure Engadget would be there to report on it.

[Staticoranges @ Aug 15th 2007 10:38PM]

Oh my goodness. This has to mean that there is a new ipod coming!!! /sarcasm

[Michael @ Apr 9th 2008 4:41PM]

i bet they are just gonna say that bluetooth headset will aririve within 1-2 days

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Aug 15th 2007 10:47PM]

Isn't it funny how a simple "maintenance" note has got everyone excited and stirring across the internet?

Brilliant marketing.. or whatever, as I'm sure Steve Jobs is silently enjoying this somewhere.

[Ellianth @ Aug 15th 2007 11:56PM]

Everyone was excited? I guess something's wrong with me

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Aug 16th 2007 12:28AM]

"Everyone was excited? I guess something's wrong with me"

Weren't you slightly "stirred" then? After all, you DID make a comment.

*whistles*

[lloyd @ Aug 15th 2007 10:42PM]

the newest apple realease...iGlasses
ya thats it

[ocelot67 @ Aug 16th 2007 12:32AM]

You mean this?:
http://www.ecamm.com/mac/iglasses/

[ibn @ Aug 15th 2007 10:41PM]

i hoping for 12 inch macbook pro.... well, at least til october. if it's not out by then i'll get a powerbook 12 inch and leopard. *sigh*

[William @ Aug 15th 2007 10:49PM]

I'm pretty sure this is just the GarageBand JamPack, which is Apple's microphone for GarageBand recording.

[Krolls @ Aug 15th 2007 10:52PM]

It always made me wonder why they had to take down the entire store for an update... cant they just "flick a switch" and make the new site go live?

Or... do it at 5am?

[Clayj @ Aug 15th 2007 10:56PM]

Krolls, it's likely that many of the changes entail making changes to database entries, not actual HTML pages, since the site's pages are programmatically-generated using information pulled from the databases. Since these changes can't be made instantly (even with a fast SQL database, it can take many minutes to update thousands of complicated records), it's pretty necessary to take the site down (so no one is accessing the database), make the necessary DB updates, and then bring the site back up.

They don't want to do it at 5 AM because then all the DB administrators and developers and testers have to stay at work all night.

[keepevets @ Aug 15th 2007 11:07PM]

yes claj, but unless they were removing and re-adding their entire database, including all user accounts, it would not take more than a minute to add a new item or change some info in a database, if it seriously took this long to update a database, people wouldnt use them because there are faster ways, this is just apple's way of teasing all the fanboys and build hipe when their really is a new product slated, or apple just has a really shitty web department, but i dont want to go bashing apple since i just bought a macbook and im not partisan

[invincible @ Aug 15th 2007 11:47PM]

Um, if you need to update every record in your database to update an online store, your DB administrator deserves to get sacked. In a real store (where you do not have fanatically loyal customers) or any application of a database, downtime means lost customers and therefore lost money.

Database management systems are extremely optimised and there is no technical reason why a website needs to be brought down unless you are making very major changes. Like the changes you make every two or three years when the software you're using has reached the end of its life.

This is a hype-making exercise and nothing more.

[RadicalxEdward @ Aug 16th 2007 12:13AM]

Most of the time, atleast when it comes to adding new products/features. It seems obvious why they would take the store down. Most companies announce new products ahead of time so consumers have the opportunity to wait and get the new version. So that company could "flip a switch" and simply add the new product.

Apple on the other hand doesn't generally announce new products. So they don't want someone placing an order for a product before it's announced and get the new version, or worse buy the old version 30 seconds before the new one comes out. Thus during keynotes and such, they take the site down so you don't go buying old stuff, or buy new stuff before jobs actually announces it.

At least this is my theory.

[Fruition @ Aug 16th 2007 2:56AM]

We've been over this before. We have this debate every time Engadget posts an article about the Apple Store going down.

Some people criticize Apple for taking the store down, when other stores don't need to do it. People say it causes loss of sales, angry people and all that jazz.

In the end, someone always suggests that Apple does it because it's exciting, and that comment is usually quickly voted Highest Ranked, probably because it reflects the sentiments of most Engadget readers.

And then someone else will comment about Engadget being Apple-biased.

[patsy @ Aug 16th 2007 9:29AM]

@Fruition:

And then someone will describe how this happens every time, and someone else will comment on how someone always describes how this happens every time.

[Fruition @ Aug 19th 2007 5:30AM]

@patsy

lol, a winner is you.

I probably should have seen that coming.

[Tim @ Aug 15th 2007 10:53PM]

So.. once again... if they are doing "simple maintenance" they why do they have to take the whole store down. I mean.... don't those drama queens know you can update code with out putting up a splash page? Once again... .htaccess anyone?

[Patrick Roberts @ Aug 16th 2007 11:41AM]

Because apple is apple, they have to be drama queens and take the entire site down for no reason at all.

[Boyo @ Aug 15th 2007 10:56PM]

The new iBill

[Jman @ Aug 15th 2007 10:58PM]

Hopefully an early Leopard Pre-order and release date.

[Kyle @ Aug 15th 2007 11:01PM]

I know it's scheduled maintenance... There's no doubt in my mind. However, the apple fanboy in me gives me the unstoppable urge to reload the apple store relentlessly until something (ANYTHING) appears.

[nih @ Aug 15th 2007 11:03PM]

Hey




The apple store is down.

[jo3 @ Aug 15th 2007 11:06PM]

mike jones is down.

[Jonhimslf @ Aug 15th 2007 11:07PM]

Maybe it's an update on the wireless keyboard shipping? Perhaps it got passed through FCC or something

[Krolls @ Aug 15th 2007 11:08PM]

All I wanted to do was order a mighty mouse tonight... guess not

[Chase @ Aug 15th 2007 11:08PM]

Its definitely site maintenance, if you check the other Apple stores (http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/francestore/) they're still up.

[David Roque @ Aug 15th 2007 11:12PM]

The release date for leopard!!!

[Natedog @ Aug 15th 2007 11:14PM]

Actually, this is an experiment. A highly successful experiment, I might add. Ring the bell, give the dog some food. Then one day, you don't give the dog any food. All we ask is that you clean up your own drool.

[Kyle @ Aug 15th 2007 11:15PM]

Its up!

[coolwubla @ Aug 15th 2007 11:24PM]

It's up, I can't see anything new

[auzziedevil @ Aug 15th 2007 11:21PM]

updated mac minis?

[Chicksta @ Aug 15th 2007 11:32PM]

Again? They just updated them last week...

[Sam @ Aug 15th 2007 11:28PM]

Dear god i swear the apple store is the engadget home page.

If you work at engadget your forced by company policy to keep it as your homepage. That or refresh it every 14 minutes or more.

[Chicksta @ Aug 15th 2007 11:30PM]

That's odd. I've been on it a couple of times earlier tonight, and it is up right now AFAICT. They are due for updates to the Airport Express (the Extreme's been updated twice since the Express came out, jeez) and the displays before anything else. iPods shouldn't come out til September at the earliest (don't want to cannibalize back-to-school sales). An announce date for Leopard should be made really soon (if I were to bet, I'd say Oct. 23). They'll have some minor system bumps then, primarily to the Mac Pro and MacBook. A revamp on the MBP and iMac will come soon after in November, the mini won't be updated, and so on. And an iPhone upgrade will be announced w/Leopard (like it'll have iwork 08 integration or something). End of the year will see a next-gen AppleTV right before the holidays. There's my wager....

[Staticoranges @ Aug 15th 2007 11:33PM]

Imagine with me, if you will, if the Apple Store never re-opened. We would be kept in a permanent state of refresh-every-half-second-until-something-happens forever.