July 18 - 9:10am EDT   Apple has opened its first retail store in China, according to reports. While the store will only technically open on July 19th, Apple has taken the unusual step of providing a sneak preview a day in advance, instead of an hour in advance as at most of its retail openings. The store is located on Sanlitun street in Beijing, and is surrounded by a number of other Western retailers, most notably Adidas. [full story]

July 3 - 3:30pm EDT   Some of the first photos of the Beijing Apple Store have made their way online, according to a French site. MacPlus says it has obtained a number of photos of the location, which is on Sanlitun street within the Chaoyang district; the site specifically notes that the store is inside a commercial complex called The Village, also home to companies like Nike and Zara. The district as a whole is being revamped to present an appealing image to foreigners visiting during the Olympics. [full story]