For those wondering just how loosely Apple uses the term “Genius,” it looks like we now have our answer. A new Tumblr blog titled simply Apple Store Planking showcases photos of Apple Store employees planking on the job. Planking, for those who were lucky enough to be unaware of the phenomenon until now, is a meme that involves people posting photographs of themselves lying face down with their arms at their sides. The practice has become increasingly popular among Darwin Award hopefuls, and now Apple Store employee planking is a meme of its own. Hit the break for a few more photos of Apple Store Planking.

[Via Gizmodo]

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Apple’s first foray into retail was a giant question mark on May 19th, 2001, when Apple opened the doors to its first two retail locations in Glendale, CA and McLean, VA. Ten years later, Apple’s retail stores are a crucial piece of the puzzle that has been assembled to create a customer experience unlike any other. “Apple today announced that its first two retail locations welcomed over 7700 people and sold a combined total of $599,000 of merchandise during their first two day weekend,” an Apple press release boasted on May 21st, 2001. Despite the solid weekend, several media outlets lambasted Apple for its decision to target high-rent areas with its first flock of retail shops while Gateway had just closed the doors on its retail endeavor. “I give them two years before they’re turning out the lights on a very painful and expensive mistake,” one analyst was quoted as saying following Apple’s retail debut.

But the company was still optimistic. “We are blown away with the numbers,” CEO Steve Jobs said following the stores’ opening weekend. “More importantly, customers have told us they love everything about the store—from the knowledgeable sales staff to the Genius Bar to the store’s design and unique approach to presenting digital lifestyle solutions.” In fiscal 2009, Apple Stores grossed $6.65 billion globally for $1.66 billion in profit. In fiscal 2010, Apple’s retail stores pulled in $2.36 billion in profit on $9.8 billion in revenue. So far over the first six months of fiscal 2011, Apple has made $1.84 billion in profit on revenues of $7.04 billion. Apple’s gravity defying retail performance can’t keep climbing forever, but from where we’re sitting, opening those first few Apple Stores 10 years ago seems like it worked out pretty well. And we’re fairly confident Apple still has a few tricks up its sleeve to ensure that the crowds keep coming. Hit the break for a video of Steve Jobs introducing the world to Apple’s first Apple Store.

On schedule and as we exclusively reported, Apple announced its Joint Venture service this weekend to Apple Store employees. The new offering aims to bring small business customers into retail stores, providing more business-centric and personalized services. Users can enroll in Joint Venture for an annual fee of $499. What does that steep fee get you? The fee covers up to five users (additional users can be added for $99 per person per year) and provides priority service at Apple’s Genius Bars (skip the line), phone support from business-focused Geniuses, loaner machines for repairs taking over 24-hours, and access to customized workshops. The new service is set to roll out beginning March 2nd.

Not long after it pledged to update the myTouch 3G to Android 2.1, today a leaked document from T-Mobile revealed that the carrier is planning to further kick it up a notch with the release of Android 2.2. In addition to that, myTouch 3G owners will also get an updated version of the Faves Gallery alongside the addition to the Genius button and support for Exchange. No word yet on when the update will actually drop, but we imagine this update will involve at least a little bit of an agonizing wait.

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If you’re and Android user on T-Mobile, then we probably don’t need to remind you of this, but for everyone else, the myTouch 3G Slide is available as of today. A decent handset by all accounts, there is but one major problem with it – it’s priced at $179.99 with an Even More plan with 2-year contract or $429.99 outright with Even More Plus. Yes, you certainly do contract-free financing provided you pledge to pay $21.50 per month over 20 months, but no matter how you slice it, you’re still going to be paying top dollar for something that really doesn’t command it.

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Sure it only has 192MB of RAM, but according to T-Mobile’s VP of Product Innovation, the myTouch 3G will indeed be making the leap from Android 1.5 all the way up to Android 2.1. Due out at an unspecific time, the update should bring with it all of the usual Eclair goodies — alongside the tweaked Sense UI overlay and “Genius” button — as seen on the myTouch 3G Slide. Exactly how the Genius button will work on the myTouch 3G is a bit of a mystery, considering it doesn’t have a physical button to spare, but we can imagine there would be some virtualization at play.

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Dream about a sliding Android device for T-Mobile? Well, your wish is HTC’s command as the T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide just got official. No stranger to leaks, the device slides in at 15mm thick and features a 3.4″ HVGA screen, Android 2.1, 5 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, 3G, and even a Genius button powered by Dragon Dictation that’s ready to take your voice input and convert it into calls, sending text messages, and more. If that roomy slide-out QWERTY keyboard and aforementioned specs tickle your fancy, then you won’t have to wait much longer as this handset is geared up to hit in June in either black, white, or red, exclusively from T-Mobile. Pricing information isn’t available at this time.

When Apple announced the availability of iPhone OS 3.1 and the new features that came along with it, we’re not going to lie — we were pretty excited. Regardless of your feelings about Apple and its products, nearly everyone can agree that the App Store was one of the biggest game-changers in recent history where the wireless industry is concerned. With all of the great things about Apple’s App Store however, come several faults of course — and one of the biggest problems was the lack of a recommendation system. In fact, we’d call it the second biggest fault behind lack of a facility for trial versions of apps.

Then came OS 3.1 and with it, Genius for apps. Woo hoo! Even off the bat we could see that Apple’s recommendation solution wasn’t going to be ideal but at least it was a good start, right? Unfortunately, not so much. As you may have read elsewhere by now, many people — us included — have found Apple’s Genius recommendations a bit lacking so far. In fact, the system is basically laughable at this point. Now, many of you probably already know this but recommendation systems are tricky business to say the least. The technology behind them is extremely complex and the amount of information considered can be staggering. That said, there are many companies out there that have done incredible things with the science of recommendations. Apple probably should have worked with one of them.

Looking at the screenshot above, we’ve highlighted one item in particular — though the subsequent recommendation is nearly as bad. “MobileNavigator Europe based on Camera Genius.” Really, Apple? Suffice it to say, the connection doesn’t immediately jump out at us. We want more control over our camera so that means we probably also want to fly to Europe and find our way around once we get there? Or perhaps with Camera Genius we’ll be taking better pictures so we may want to head across the pond and take pictures while touring Europe?

In browsing through the recommendations on one of our iPhones, there are definitely a bunch in the list where connections can be found. More often than not however, we’re at a loss. “iOutBank Pro (German mobile banking app) based on Camera Genius?” “Death Cab for Cutie (a portal for fans of the band) based on F-MyLife (community where people whine about bad things that happen to them, and then get laughed at)?” “EasyWriter Pro (landscape typing app rendered nearly useless by OS 3.0+) based on AT&T Navigator?” The worse news is that so far, we’re finding that removing bad recommendations and checking out good ones has lead to zero improvement. Long story short: the criteria Apple’s Genius system uses to make its recommendations needs refinement. A whole lot of refinement.

So, iPhone users, our question is this: Did Apple swing and miss with App Store Genius recommendations? Hit the comments section and let us know how Genius is working out for you.

We have to wonder if the culmination of Microsoft’s $300mm marketing endeavor will be a battle royale on Monday Night Raw or Pay Per View. Windows Gurus vs. Mac Geniuses in a cage match to the death. Not only would we totally be willing to buy that event on PPV, we guarantee that everyone on the BGR team will pick up a shiny new Vista PC if the Windows Gurus get out alive. Let’s get it on! In the meantime, the Gurus have a slightly different task at hand that likely requires a bit less training and a bit more sweating. According to Reuters, Microsoft will be setting up camp in hundreds of Best Buy and Circuit City locations around the country. Their mission: Educate the masses and show potential customers the many benefits of Vista. Brilliant! Think about how economical this plan is compared to Apple’s scheme. Apple has to plant dedicated Geniuses in each and every Apple store it runs. Microsoft on the other hand, can double its return by having each Guru team run back and forth across the highway to cover Best Buy and Circuit City in one fell swoop. Who’s the genius now, Stevo?

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