photo credit: Ray Basile @iPhoneSavior.com
SEATTLE, WA - Apple stores across the United States closed from 9:00 to Noon on Wednesday, hanging long white sheets inside their signature glass storefront windows as employees gathered to commemorate the passing of co-founder Steve Jobs. Just days earlier lines flooded the entrance of retail stores as Apple faithful lined up for the launch of iPhone 4S on October 14th.
Store staff used the time together to view a live broadcast celebrating the life of Steve Jobs from an event being held at an outdoor amphitheater at Apple's 1 Infinite Loop headquarters in Cupertino, California. Giant banners displaying both young and older Steve Jobs could be seen at the Cupertino campus from helicopters filming overhead.
In addition to the store closing, Apple has published written tributes "Remembering Steve Jobs" on their website, compiling over 1 million email comments from well-wishers across the globe. The link to contribute to the online memorial was posted on October 5th when Steve Jobs died at age 56. Apple has encouraged everyone to continue to share personal thoughts at [email protected].
This official day of remembrance for Apple store employees follows a private memorial held at Stanford University on Sunday evening where U2 front man Bono performed while reading lyrics from an iPad. An untold number of Silicon Valley luminaries, politicians and celebrities attended the invitation only event.
Shortly after I finished shooting photos at the Apple store in Bellevue, WA, mall security showed up and shut me down once they confirmed that I was not an Apple employee. Seeing my local Apple store closed inside a typically busy side of the mall was definitely an odd sight to witness.
[Photo credit Ray Basile]
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