Pen-Olson reported that there is a New Years Day shopping tradition in Japan that offers up a mystery bag of items usually at a discounted price. This year the bag cost 33000 yen (about $430), and most customers are hoping that there will be a big ticket item inside like an iPad 2 or a Macbook Air. In the picture above the lucky bag included an iPad 2, Smart Cover, Camera Connection Kit, headphones, and more. » Lucky Bags: Popular Apple Store Discount Tradition In Japan

Just a quick note to let you know that Apple posted a picture gallery, and MTA posted a tour video about the new Grand Central Apple Store. The video can be seen after the break and the picture gallery can be found here. » Grand Central Apple Store Picture Gallery & Tour Video

The Apple Grand Central Terminal store in New York City opened up today and a massive crowd came to check it out. In the picture above you can see hundreds of fans stretching all the way down one track and part-way back. Another part of the reason it was so crowded is that Apple will treat avid fans to cool perks, such as 4,000 black shirts with “Apple Store, Grand Central” spelled out in lettering, resembling a train arrival board. Check out after the break for videos and pictures of the crowd and inside of the new Apple Store you can also find the opening hours schedule after the break. » Grand Central Terminal NYC Apple Store Opening Attracts Big Crowds

The picture above is proof that Apples massive store in New York City Grand Central Terminal is opening doors for business at 10am next Friday, December 9. We can not really see how the new Apple Store will look like because Apple uses a black curtain to tease a forthcoming grand opening. According to the Fortunes Philip Elmer-DeWitt, the store could measure at 23,000 square feet, nearly matching Londons Regent Street (25,000 square feet) and Covent Garden (24,600 square feet) outlets. It should rake in a hundred million dollars in revenue per year: » Grand Central Apple Store: Grand Opening Friday December 9

The online Apple store in the US started accepting orders for the unlocked iPhone 4S, priced at $649/$749/$849 for the 16/32/64GB. “The unlocked iPhone works only on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.” » Apple Online Store Is Now Accepting Orders For Unlocked iPhone 4S & Sprint Is SIM-locking All iPhone 4S Devices

The online Apple Store is ready with the new Holiday Gift Guide section. “Holiday gift ideas include Apples most popular mobile devices and computers as well as a hand-picked selection of third-party products, add-ons, device accessories and even fashion cases to carry your products around in style.” “All kinds of gifts for all kinds of lists. Shop the seasons finest accessories for iPad, iPod, iPhone, and Mac”. » Apple Is Getting Ready For The Holidays

Apple has updated their Apple Store app to version 2.0. This new update includes a new function called EasyPay. Easypay “allows customers to purchase cheaper accessories in the Apple Store through the app, rather than having to deal with an Apple sales rep”. Two other features are Personal Pickup “allows you to request an item to be purchased at a Retail Store through the app” and Track your Stuff. » Apple Releases Apple Store v2.0 App Featuring EasyPay & Personal Pickup