The train now standing at Platform 10 is, er, an Apple store
If you're any doubt about the hold that Apple has on the high-tech market, consider this: More people now visit Apple's stores in a single quarter than the 60 million who visited Walt Disneys four biggest theme parks last year.
Apple logo rules in Grand Central!
This nugget popped out at the weekend as Apple opened its most impressive store yet - in New York's Grand Central station. The store, 23,000 square feet, is one of the biggest Apple outlets yet and the fifth store in the city.
Queues 2500 strong had been building for more than 24 hours before the 9 am opening on Friday. Apple retail VP Bob Bridger told AllThingsD that Apple had had more than 12 million visitors in its New York stores this year, and more than 300 million in its 300+ stores worldwide.
The new Grand Central store has one thing different from all the others : 15-minute express classes on Apple products for commuters killing time while waiting for trains (or just killing time).
Apple's stores have been growing when other retailers have struggled, said the Wall Street Journal. In 2010, Apple's retail sales - excluding online - leapt 70% to $11.7 billion.
Jen-Hsun Huang, boss of chip maker Nvidia, told the WSJ that one of the biggest challenges facing tablet makers was how best to sell devices when you don't control the stores.
Sony chief Howard Stringer agreed. Trying out products was key in getting customers to buy them, he said - and it's difficult relying on retailers such as Best Buy to provide that experience.
"That's why we have started our own stores," said Stringer .