APPLE RENOVATING NY FIFTH AVE STORE; COST $6.7 MILLION

The iconic glass cube Apple Store located on Fifth Avenue in New York City is getting a makeover. The cube will be temporarily removed, which will be an interesting feat in itself. Taking the cube down and then putting it back up comes at no small cost and Apple will spend about $6.7 million on the renovations.

According to documents discovered at New York City’s Department of Buildings, Apple will remove the glass and “its sophisticated hardware.” It will also make improvements to the surrounding plaza and then “reinstall” the cube. There are currently plywood panels surrounding the cube and scaffolding will be added soon.

What we don’t know at the moment is why this is being done. Is there a fault with the existing cube that needs fixing? Or is Apple going to add something new or improved to it?

The 32-foot cube was completed in 2006 for a reported cost of $7 million. Steve Jobs is said to have designed the cube himself. Just to make sure no other stores copied Apple’s glass cube, Apple trademarked the design last year. In fact, the store’s lease says that if Apple decided to move, it would take the cube with it.

Perhaps the Fifth Ave. store is gearing up for some competition from an Apple store rumored to be opening in New York City’s Grand Central Station. The store is said to be the world’s largest Apple store, though we’re not sure that will be possible since the monstrous Covent Garden store in London covers 40,000 square feet in its two floors.

The Fifth Ave. store holds a special place in many people’s hearts. It’s one of the most photographed spots for tourists, according to Flickr’s geotagging data. Furthermore, the store is more than just a tourist attraction; a happy couple even got married in the Fifth Avenue street cube by a black-turtleneck-wearing wedding officiant who read off of an iPhone.

Though the store is the most popular of New York City’s four Apple Stores, it’s actually the smallest. However, that doesn’t stop it from selling more than the three other Apple Stores combined.

The construction is supposed to be completed by November of this year – just in time for the holiday shopping rush.

RUMOR: APPLE TO BID ON 15,000 SQUARE FEET IN GRAND CENTRAL STATION FOR STORE

According to The Wall Street Journal Apple is interested in two balconies that are located on the north and east sides of Grand Central Terminal — a total of 15,230 square feet. BGR has also independently confirmed that Apple has indeed been scoping out the space during the past few weeks. A restaurant currently occupies one of the areas up for rent, but it’s expected to close its doors on July 1st, which would presumably allow Apple to start construction later this summer. According to some experts speaking to The Wall Street Journal, the store could have the potential to be Apple’s most popular retail location to date. The MTA is expected to issue a request for proposals on Monday.

SPRINT BRINGS ITS 4G GOODNESS TO NEW YORK

Sprint announced today that its WiMAX, 4G network is officially open for business in six additional locales: New York; New York, Hartford; CT, New Haven; CT, New Brunswick; NJ, Trenton; NJ, and Tampa; FL.

“Sprint has provided customers with 4G service since 2008 and we’re proud to extend our leadership to six more cities today, including New York City,” said Sprint’s president of 4G, Matt Carter. “Sprint is the first national wireless carrier to make 4G a reality for our customers and with the addition of these six new markets we are now in 61 cities, including Chicago, Baltimore and Houston, and are growing. By the end of the year Sprint 4G plans to light up several major new markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Denver and Washington DC to name a few.”

If you’re in the Big Apple, or any of the other aforementioned markets, fire up your 4G device(s) and let us know what kind of speeds you’re seeing. [BGR]

WIRELESS IN NY SUBWAY FOR AT&T AND T-MOBILE SUBS

AT&T and T-Mobile have each inked 10-year deals with Transit Wireless (TW) to use TW's new wireless deployment in 277 subway terminals.  This is great news for all subway commuters since they can't get signals inside most terminals and if they do, it is generally fleeting.  TW recently secured an additional round of financing which is allowing the company to build the network, restarting a project that was begun three years ago.  There is no official word on when service will become available. [BBR]

CLEARWIRE LIGHTS UP NYC AND LA

Clearwire has announced they are making 4G resources available in NYC and LA.  Clearwire is giving select "early adopters" dual mode 3G/4G modems.  They are warning however that 4G is not fully built out in either city yet.

The early adopters will pay $35 for the first 2 months, then $55 per month after.  Clearwire has also stated "During this construction phase, owners of CLEAR 4G devices may also experience 4G coverage while traveling to other cities that Clearwire plans to launch commercially later this year, including: San Francisco; Tampa, Miami, and Orlando, Fla.; Nashville, Denver, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburg.” [Boy Genius Report]