Appletell recently reported on the rumor that Apple is going to open stores-within-a-store in 25 Target locations with the possibility of expanding across the country if they do well. Target has confirmed this will happen, but they may take a different form.

Not everyone is fortunate to live in areas that have a large enough population to warrant an Apple store being built. You can always buy online, but what if you want to see the product before you make your purchasing decision? If there’s a Target nearby, you may be in luck; Apple is rumored to be opening a store-within-a-store inside Target at certain locations later this year.

Apple has just pushed an update for its very own Apple Store app, adding three new features that will make it easier to purchase Apple products: Personal Pickup, EasyPay and Tracking. Additionally, the app also now supports the Canadian and Chinese Apple Online stores. The app’s minimum OS requirements was modified as well, allowing iOS 4.2 users to use the app.

Customers in the United States and Canada will have to reserve an iPhone 4S on Apple’s web site after 9:00 p.m. in order to pick it up from a local Apple Store the following day. According to an Apple retail store representative, some Apple stores are continuing to sell the iPhone 4S to walk-in customers as long as there are sufficient amounts that aren’t reserved, although those supplies are quickly diminishing as Apple is selling record amounts of the iDevice.

Apple Stores are stepping into a new frontier with their newest program, Joint Venture. How does the program work? For an extra $499 when you buy a new Mac, you’ll get support for up to five systems for your small business. Apple can train employees in your business through workshops and will give you dedicated support. However, they’ll even clean your screen and keyboards, loan your a computer, or do just about anything to help you get to run your business.

A while back, we wrote about how Apple is transitioning from Windows based EasyPad checkout systems to iPod Touch based mobile checkout systems. While it’s still unclear as to what manufacturer has helped Apple create the product, we do know this is what Apple will be using for their new point of sale solution. These systems will allow Apple to get rid of the regular cash register stations and open up more room for both employees and customers to move about the store.

One of the strangest things about the Apple Stores, in my opinion, is how they always used Windows based PDAs for customer checkouts not at the register. Sure, Apple didn’t want or really need to make their own system, but it was just a little strange to me. Now that Apple has the iPod Touch—a very mobile device capable of many features—it only seems fitting the company would transfer to this type of platform for checkouts.

In an agreement with the Chicago Transit Authority, Apple will be supplying $4 million to help fix up a run down triangle of land near their future Halsted Street store. While Apple has given money to areas where they had stores before, this will be the largest to date, as most of the previous ones were simply for fixing sidewalks and other minor tasks. This one will involve constructing a subway entrance building and bus turnaround driveway in order to help make the store more accessible and prominent.

People have started receiving shipping notices from Apple stating that their Magic Mouse orders have been shipped. When the Magic Mouse was introduced, Apple stated it would be bundled with the new iMac models and would not be available for standalone purchase until the end of October. These new shipping notices show that Apple is likely meeting this goal even though the Magic Mouse has yet to make its appearance in Apple retail stores.

After a few years of hard work, Apple will this weekend open the doors of their first Apple Store located in Germany. In the city of Munich, this multi-level flagship store will use the first two floors for sales, with the other three to forever be a secret to the public. The store will officially more »