First Canadian Microsoft Store to open in Yorkdale Mall

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

(Updated) Canadians will be able to buy their Surface Tablets  this Fall in the first Microsoft Retail Store outside of the US.

Microsoft COO Kevin Turner confirmed today from the Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto that the Microsoft Store will be coming soon to the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario. This is exciting news indeed since there are only 20 Microsoft Retail Stores and all of them are in the US.

Concept for the Microsoft Store by Lipincott brand strategy and design consultants

This is the first international store for Microsoft and  it will be a 6,845-square-foot store that will employ at least 50 new employees. It will be the perfect venue for consumers to get direct info on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, XBox as well as purchase "hero' PCs that offer the pure Microsoft experience (i.e. no bloatware).  

Update on Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 12:53PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Just got off the phone with Tedd Ladd from Microsoft who was able to give some more information about the Microsoft Store coming this fall.

-While there are currently 20 Microsoft Stores right now, the Yorkdale Store will be the 31st when it opens 'in the Fall.' (I think in time for Windows 8's launch). The first Microsoft Store opened in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2009.

-Ladd said the stores are incredibly visual with a large video wall. Families will be able to play Kinect on one side of the store and there will be a dedicated Windows Phone section as well where you can pit your smartphone against a Windows Phone in the "Smoked by Windows Phone challenge."

- Canada will see its first Microsoft Siganture PCs, which are highly tuned and specialized PC's that don't have any bloatware and are designed to take full advantage of Windows.

- Ladd says there will be a huge selection of products for every price point. Everything from high-end gaming desktops to budget notebooks as well as the requisite Microsoft Mice, Keyboards and other devices.

- They picked Toronto and Yorkdale in particular because of the high concentration of techies as well a families. Families and the community are a big thing for Microsoft as they see the stores becoming a community hub.  Microsoft will run some charity and donations to the community via the store.

- What I gathered is that this store will be one of many,  although it is special because it is the first International Microsoft Store so it will be a model for all International stores that follow

 

Apple to open retail store in Metrotown, Burnaby

 

A new Apple Retail Store is coming to Metrotown, Burnaby BC and  will open to the public on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. PST. Located at Apple Store Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia. 

Vistors will get to see the newest Mac products as well as the iPad and iPhone and various solutions, accessories as well as avail of the training, education and support programs one can only find in an Apple Store. 

Apple Store to open in Burlington

Burlingotn is getting its very own Apple Retail Store. The Apple new Store Mapleview Centre will open to the public on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. EDT. The new store is located in Apple Store Mapleview Centre, 900 Maple Avenue,Burlington, Ontario L7S 2J8.

iPhone 4 in Canada day 1 starts early

Apple announced that it will be opening its retail stores early tomorrow for the launch of the much anticipated iPhone 4. Opening as early as 7:00 a.m., Apple is hoping to be able serve Canadians who want their latest smartphone. iPhone 4 will be available without a contract for $659 (CAN) for the 16GB iPhone 4 and $779 (CAN) for the 32GB iPhone 4 through Apple’s online store (www.apple.ca/store) and Apple's retail stores.

Bell, Telus. Rogers and Virgin Mobile are also selling carrier-locked versions of the iPhone 4 tomorrow although they won't be open quite as early. Best Buy and Future Shop as well as Wireless Wave shops are expected to have the iPhone in stock although possibly in limited quantities.

This is a far cry from earlier iPhone launches which focused on Rogers, the only carrier to offer the iPhone at the time. These launches were marred by shortages and countrywide system failures that left thousands of users with iPhones that weren't activated until succeeding days.

Buyers should note that the iPhone 4 uses the new MicroSIM card format which requires you switch over your SIM card to the smaller version that fits on the iPhone.  

Below are our links to our ongoing iPhone 4 coverage.

iPhone 4 Canadian pricing released, $659 (16GB) and $799 (32GB)

Best Buy Canada will sell iPhone 4 for all carriers

Apple: White iPhone 4 delayed until "later this year."

iPhone 4 comes to Canada on July 30th, bumper bundled

iPhone 4 Day one, what Canadians need to know

The iPhone 4 Dilemma