US Apple Store Down [Updated]

Checks with the online Apple store today have revealed that Apple has pulled the venue down temporarily for maintenance. Although Apple is now busy shipping iPads worldwide, the company had seemingly finished updating the US store with its latest offerings. What could be ‘in store’ for America?

While the Australian Apple store has just been reopened for customers eager to pre-order an iPad, the US store is likely down for different reasons, since both versions of the Apple iPad have been available for purchase to US residents for a while now. In short, no updates need to be made on this front for the US market.

However, rumor has it that Apple is on the verge of introducing new Mac Pro computers. The beefed up systems are said to be equipped with hexacore (6-core) Xeon CPUs, and the appropriate upgrades for memory, storage etc. We informed our readers last week that Apple could be on track to revamp its range of Mac Pro workstations, citing a report by HardMac (the English version of French tech-site Macbidouille). The site said the announcement could come as soon as June 7 (at WWDC 2010). Going by the look of Apple’s US online store, we’d be inclined to say the new computers are already being introduced.

HardMac named Intel itself as the source of the rumor, citing the company’s warning that distribution networks would only get limited quantities of 6-core Xeon CPUs for the time being. The report specifically claimed that “Intel informed its distribution networks that the 6 core Xeon will only be available in limited quantity until at the end of the second quarter,” and deducted that Apple could announce new Mac Pro machines at its Worldwide Developers Conference next month. It signaled that limited CPU shipments could be what prevented Apple from upgrading its Mac Pros until now.

Once the store is back up, be sure to let us know if you spot anything new (if Apple doesn’t slap it on the front page of its web site).

Update: the US Apple store is back online. Apple seems to have been tampering with the shipping dates on iPad orders. The company is said to be very tight on supplies. An Apple spokeswoman reportedly told Business Week that “Demand continues to exceed supply”, and that Apple is “working hard” to provide iPads to additional customers.