Apple is beginning to prepare for the upcoming holiday shopping season by putting the final touches on several retail locations and reinventing the way their visitors buy Apple gear.  Most notable is opening up a flagship store in New York¡¯s iconic Grand Central Station.  Why is Grand Central such a big deal, especially when there are already Apple Stores in New York in affluent neighborhoods?  Here are some quick facts on Grand Central:

1. 750,000 people pass through Grand Central daily and over 1,000,000 people during the holidays
2. Mean household income for Grand Central Terminal commuters is $95,800; 50% of household incomes are over $100,000, and 20% are over $200,000.
3. The captive shopping population of more than 326,000 neighborhood office workers earn a combined $11.3 billion a year.
4. An average 7,500 people an hour pass the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue, making it one of the busiest intersections in the city.
5. 21.6 million out-of-town tourists, with a mean income of $62,000, visit Grand Central each year.
6. Grand Central is served by Metro-North commuter trains, 31 commuter and 15 city bus routes, 7 subway lines, buses to and from the area¡¯s three airports, and two million taxis a year.
7. Grand Central Terminal subway station is the busiest stop in the New York City subway system.

The future Grand Central Station Apple Store is progressing towards an end of November opening.  Future employees for the store have been going through their ¡°Core¡± training for the past several weeks at a hotel in Times Square, Midtown Manhattan¡­Best iPhone 4 Cases|Best iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Covers

Core is a training program that every new Apple employee goes through which covers customer service theories, product knowledge, and retail operation policies. The training consists of presentations, role-playing, and even a workbook.  Upon completion, the employees will disperse to existing local Apple stores to shadow current employees and even help their first customers.  The last step before opening the store will be when the employees help bring in product inventory, and put up Apple visual merchandising including the beautiful window displays, large banners, and miscellaneous marketing collateral.Designer iPhone 4 Cases|Designer iPhone 4S Cases

While we believe the most likely opening date is the Saturday before Black Friday, it¡¯s important to note that this is a flagship store and will not open until it is absolutely perfect.

Putting together Apple¡¯s new commuter-friendly Apple Store app features with one of the biggest (if not the biggest) Apple Stores in the world and placing that where more than a million affluent holiday shoppers pass by every day is a recipe for success.Best iPhone 4S Covers

Below is a video walkthough of the space as the construction began and here are the most recent spyshots of the space.

Out of the AT&T idea factory comes a new app that allows users to make calls via Voice over IP.  While it doesn’t say so explicitly, Verizon and Sprint users can use this VoIP app to make cheaper(?) calls on their iPhones even though they don’t use AT&T’s wireless service.  Theoretically, International iPhone users could as well.  The app is also available for Android.

The costs are billed directly to a credit card and not necessarily to an AT&T card holder’s account.

Just think of it as a more expensive Skype or (insert your favorite VoIP service here) with more limitations.

Also, while traveling in some countries, AT&T will allow you to use Wifi to make international calls over VoIP.

Here’s a few situations where this makes sense:Best iPhone 4 Cases|Best iPhone 4S Cases|Best iPhone 4S Covers

1. If you don’t have an AT&T signal but have Wifi – like Midtown Manhatten or the greater San Francisco area for instance.  T-Mobile already does this and it is a great service.  However, T-Mobile lets you recieve calls over Wifi too – which is awesome anywhere (including overseas) where a T-Mobile signal isn’t available.  T-Mobile’s is also integrated into the phone and is free — see where I am going here?  AT&T has a ways to go.

2. If you are travelling internationally and don’t want to get hit with International roaming fees.  Using Wifi saves some money here.iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Covers

3. If for whatever reason, your Verizon or Sprint long distance calling service is too expensive.

4. International users may be able to get better rates f they can provide AT&T with an acceptable credit card.

Just think, a few years ago VoIP apps were being blocked and now the Telcos are doing it themselves.  Full App info below:Louis Vuitton iPhone 4 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPhone 4S Cases

The AT&T Call International™ App allows you to make inexpensive international long distance calls from the U.S. with your iPhone®, using your existing wireless service. There’s no monthly recurring charge, prepaid balance or commitment term required.

AT&T’s Lowest International Calling Rates
•Enjoy our lowest international calling rates to more than 220 countries.¹
•Rates are just 2¢ per minute to Canada and as low as 4¢ per minute to wirelines in countries like China, France, Germany and the U.K.
•See all our great rates at www.callinternational.att.com.

AT&T Call International App Features
•No monthly recurring charges, hidden call fees or packages of minutes to purchase.
•No special codes or PINs needed to place a call. Dial family and friends directly from your iPhone’s contact list.
•Convenient billing directly to your credit card.
•Online account management includes prior statements and near real-time call billing.
•When traveling internationally, calls can be placed over Wi-Fi in select countries.²Chanel iPhone 4 Cases|Chanel iPhone 4S Cases|Gucci iPhone 4 cases|Gucci iPhone 4S cases|

Using the AT&T Call International App
•Download the app and follow the simple instructions to set up your AT&T Call International account.
•You’re now ready to start making calls! Simply open the app and dial the international number using the AT&T Call International dial pad. Press “Call”.
•Or, open the app and select “Contacts” to choose a number from your address book.
•The app will route your call over the wireless network to the AT&T Call International gateway, using a routing number that will appear on your screen. The gateway will complete the call to your dialed number.
•International long distance charges will be billed to the credit card associated with your AT&T Call International account.
•For additional information and details, including the AT&T Call International App End User License Agreement, visit www.callinternational.att.com.

Download the AT&T Call International App now and start saving TODAY!

¹Regular airtime rates apply when calling from the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I. A small amount of domestic data usage also applies when connecting a call. Calls to wireless numbers and numbers for special services such as Premium Rated Services may cost more than calls to wireline numbers. For a complete list of rates, view the Calling Rate Information under the “My Account” section of the App or visit www.callinternational.att.com.
²If you are placing a call from abroad, you must be connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot in an available country. For a list of available countries, see www.callinternational.att.com.

Table courtesy of AnandTech

AnandTech is first out of the gate with a review of Lacie¡¯s SSD-enabled Little Big Disk drive. The new Lacie drives arrived in Apple Stores last month in both HDD and SSD flavors, featuring two Thunderbolt ports for daisy-chaining. With Thunderbolt deployed across this year¡¯s Mac lineup (with the notable exception of  the Mac Pro that lingers in a state of limbo), Lacie¡¯s external SSD storage is a compelling external storage solution, especially for 2011 Mac notebooks updated with Thunderbolt I/O.Best iPhone 4S Cases|Best iPhone 4S Covers|iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Covers

Sadly, it comes at a steep prince point so even the most die-hard fans could have an issue paying $899 for just 240GB of external SSD storage. For comparison, OWC¡¯s 240GB internal SSD costs $580 and Promise¡¯s external Pegasus R4 4TB RAID-5 HDD drive is just a hundred more than Lacie¡¯s 240GB SSD. Furthermore, the Little Big Disk lacks native RAID-0 and TRIMM support and instead relies on OS X¡¯s Disk Utility to manage RAID-0 configuration.Burberry iPhone 4 Cases|Burberry iPhone 4S Cases|Hermes iPhone 4 Cases|Hermes iPhone 4S Cases

More importantly, it uses Intel¡¯s SATA 2 3GBps SSD 320 chip, which is slower compared to internal 6GBps upgrades such as OWC¡¯s Mercury Auro Pro Express or Samsung¡¯s updated SSDs (all of which utilize the faster SATA 3 interface). Promise is faster, but way more expensive so the purchasing decision comes down to this:

If you want to spend over $1000 you go with Promise. Spending under $1000? Go with LaCie.

As for the speediness, the drive performed pretty much as expected¡­Coach iPhone 4 Cases Covers|Coach iPhone 4S Cases Covers

There has been some concern over the exterior of iPhone 4S, which shares the same glass and stainless steel enclosure with its predecessor. Because of that, pundits questioned whether iPhone 4S was a repeat of the iPhone 4¡äs ¡°flawed¡± antenna design. In addition to being a world-phone (allowing GSM and CDMA customers to roam worldwide on GSM networks) ¡°it¡¯s the world¡¯s first phone to intelligently switch between two antennas to transmit and receive calls¡±, hardware head Bob Mansfield says in a product video.

Can you say Antennagate?Best iPhone 4S Cases|Best iPhone 4S Covers|Best iPhone 4 Cases|iPhone 4S Cases

Not so fast.

Consumer Reports, a U.S. monthly influencing purchasing decisions with its reviews and comparisons of consumer products, now recommends the new iPhone 4S as ¡°it doesn¡¯t suffer the reception problem we found in its predecessor in special tests in our labs¡±.Hello Kitty iPhone 4 Cases|Hello Kitty iPhone 4S Cases

In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone¡¯s lower left side while you¡¯re in an area with a weak signal. (The iPhone 4, which is still available, continues to exhibit that problem, we confirmed in tests of new samples of the phone. Because of the flaw, we continue to omit the iPhone 4 from our list of recommended models, despite its otherwise fine performance).

iPhone 4S also scored Very Good in batter life tests (it displayed ¡°no notable battery problems¡±) despite criticism aimed at its battery-sucking performance, a software flaw Apple saysiOS 5.0.1 will fix. They also praise Siri, the A5 chip and the new camera system. Nevertheless, in Consumer Reports¡¯ updated smartphone ratings Apple¡¯s device did not fare better compared to high-end Android phones like the G2 and Bionic. Go past the break for another quote:Designer iPad 2 Cases|Louis Vuitton iPad 2 Cases

These pluses were not enough, however, to allow the iPhone 4S to outscore the best new Android-based phones in our Ratings. Those top scorers included the Samsung Galaxy S II phones, the Motorola Droid Bionic, and several other phones that boast larger displays than the iPhone 4S and run on faster 4G networks. (Technically, only the AT&T version of the iPhone 4S supports 4G, running on the carrier¡¯s HSPA+ network at download speeds of about 14 megabits per second, the bottom rung of what is considered to be 4G network speed.)

State-owned China Unicom, the world¡¯s third-largest carrier and Apple¡¯s sole iPhone partner in the country, has dropped both the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4 model and will be introducing the 8GB iPhone 4 later this month. The move comes in anticipation of the iPhone 4S launch on the China Unicom network, due by the year¡¯s end. iPhone 4S is currently pending regulatory approval in the country. The move would indicate that China Unicom will focus on the new iPhone 4S and carry the 8GB iPhone 4 as an inexpensive entry-level handset.Best iPhone 4S Cases|Best iPhone 4S Covers|iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Covers

Apple, as always, will benefit the most (the older the iPhone, the better the margin). According to aSoHu report (via The Next Web) referencing the carrier¡¯s general manager Lu Yimin, China Unicom executives visited Apple in the Cupertino, California headquarters in order to negotiate terms. A final agreement has been reportedly reached, but everything is now in the hands of the Chinese government¡¯s regulators tasked with issuing 3G certificates and network licenses for devices operating in the Chinese market.

China Unicom¡¯s deputy director of research recently showed a slide at a conference depicting a next-gen iPhone with HSPA+ capabilities (21Mbps), but it turned out to be just a guessing game. Meanwhile, gray market of unlocked iPhones continues to thrive in China. China Mobile, the world¡¯s leading carrier by revenue, doesn¡¯t offer Apple¡¯s handset as they allegedly want some of App Store revenue. Nevertheless, China Mobile is signing up users outside of Apple¡¯s blessed carrier model. Of course, because the iPhone doesn¡¯t yet support China Mobile¡¯s flavor of 3G called TD-SCDMA, iPhone users on their network use data via WiFi hotspots or through the older 2G frequency.Chanel iPad 2 Cases|Gucci iPad 2 Cases|Burberry iPad 2 Cases

Nearly one in six dollars of Apple¡¯s September revenue came from China, the 1.34 billion people market, and revenues grew sixfold in the June quarter. The country is an ¡°enormous opportunity¡±for Apple, CEO Tim Cook told analysts on a conference call. Apple operates massive outlets in Hong Kong and Shanghai and pledged to build at least 25 additional stores in China within the next few years. In all, Apple in fiscal 2012 will open 40 new outlets worldwide, 75 percent outside the United States.

Apple is holding a training session with new managers to address unionizing tomorrow, reportsCNet. The session will be held to address unions in the workplace and take any legal questions they might have. The internal document obtained by CNet said the following:Best iPhone 4S Cases|Best iPhone 4S Covers|iPhone 4S Cases|iPhone 4S Covers

¡°This course is intended to provide managers with a practical understanding of how unions affect the workplace, how and why employees organize, and the legal do¡¯s and don¡¯ts of dealing with unions. This is a mandatory class for all new managers, and is required biannually for all managers.¡±

The course will then become a biannual occasion for all of Apple¡¯s retail managers. The push for this course by Apple¡¯s executive team most likely comes after early this year when Apple employees began pushing for the ¡°Apple Retail Workers Union¡± that would address issues of part-time employees being underpaid. Other issues also included training opportunities and break schedules.Swarovski Crystal Cases|Swarovski Crystal iPhone 4 Cases|Swarovski Crystal iPhone 4S Cases

Panorama photograph taken with an iPhone running iOS 5

We previously reported that Apple was working on bringing a panorama camera mode to the iPhone, and now some jailbreakers have figured out how to enable it. The interface for the feature is not too fancy, but is certainly usable. The user simply turns on panorama mode by clicking the panorama button on the camera options popover, then moves their phone in their air as shown in the on-screen diagram. The final product will be what you see above, a sample taken with the iOS 5 panorama feature. Screenshots of the panorama interface are after the break! (Thanks Conrad,Chpwn)iPhone 5 Screen Protector|Louis Vuitton iPhone 5 Cases|Gucci iPhone 5 Cases|Chanel iPhone 5 Cases