14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, the online Apple Store was unavailable, visitors being presented with a message that for most is the herald of new product announcements.
"We'll be back soon. We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour," is the message the Apple site presented visitors with. In the past, this message was seen while the Apple Store was down due to the adding of new products, and as such people got pretty excited.
One hour later, when the store came back online there were no major changes, no new products, and everything seemed to be exactly as it was. It took a couple of hours for users to identify what the update was about.
Apple was not adding something new to the online store, but removing certain items, specifically those that were not in compliance with the stricter environmental laws in the European Union. Products that are no longer available for purchase in the EU include iSights, eMacs or Airport base stations.
Currently it is unclear whether Apple will be updating these products with new models that will be in compliance with EU laws, or not. Fortunately, the new Mac models have already been built in iSight and Airport and as such they will not be affected. Whether or not the replacement of the PowerMac line will also have these built it remains to be seen.