As was reported on Appletell, Apple Computer was planning to use iPads as an interactive display instead of paper signs in what was called Apple Store 2.0. News has now come in from Australia and Japan that these rumors were true, along with details of other changes that are designed to make shopping at Apple Stores a better experience.

If you’ve ever shopped at a brick and mortar Apple store (which I’d say is a pretty safe assumption if you’re reading this site), then you’ve probably also seen their fancy iPod touch checkout system: EasyPay. These mobile checkouts have allowed Apple to take up less room for checkout counters by being able to handle everything on the iPhone, from card swiping to signing. The point of sale system is not only great for Apple, it could be great for retailers in general.

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.

There is no doubt that Apple may be a more innovative company that Microsoft. While I’m not implying that Microsoft simply copies all of the tops products that come out of Cupertino, Apple does certainly make more barrier breaking products, in my opinion. Their latest Get a Mac ad, PC Innovation Lab, focuses on these innovations…or lack thereof. It has the same two actors you’ve grown used to, as well as a special guest PC or two with the same witty type of dialog.

According to a new patent application from Apple, the company we all know and love wants to create a new type of packing for their iPhones and iPods. As we have seen through the years, normal packaging is designed to put some sort of advertisement on the outside while also keeping the product inside safe and sound. With this new “active packaging,” Apple would be able to both power the device and send data to it in order to have it display some sort of media, such as a video, while sitting on shelves waiting to be purchased.

Apple is currently building their fourth Apple Store in the New York City, and new construction photos have emerged. It is to be located on 67th and Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper West Side but still has quite a bit of construction to go. That said, I’m sure this store will be another goldmine for Apple, much like the Fifth Avenue store with the large glass cube. The construction photos of Apple’s brick and mortar stores are always interesting, as they show what the store looks like before the beauty that it is when Apple is done with it.

It’s official: Microsoft has answered Apple’s challenge in retail store sales. Locations and opening dates have not been specified yet, but it appears the number of stores will be small, with a focus on building brand awareness and excitement for Windows products. The effort is being spearheaded by a former Walmart executive, David Porter, who was most recently head of worldwide distribution for Dreamworks SKG. It would appear that the Apple Store’s runaway success in luring consumers has finally made enough of an impact on Microsoft that they feel the need to respond—eight years late, but better late than never, right?

Just a week ago, RSS feeds were full of articles writing about a rumor that Apple was going to be selling a 4GB version of their iPhone at Walmart for the low price of $99. This information was brought about a month after Boy Genius Report first reported that Walmart would have the iPhone. However, more »