Apple Store Down: Get Ready for the iPhone 5

The Apple Store is closed this morning as Apple prepares for the iPhone 5 event taking place at 10 AM Pacific.

Apple routinely closes the Apple Store ahead of product announcements, even hours before the event. This prevents shoppers from buying a soon to be outdated gadget, and builds buzz for the impending launch.

Closing the Apple store seals the deal for new iPhone hardware, and possibly for the introduction of new iPods, a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display and rumors also point to a new iMac.

The Apple Store going down does not indicate that Apple will offer iPhone 5 preorders later today, but that is one rumor.

The new iPhone is largely known thanks to the many leaks. Unless Apple pulls a surprise out at the last-minute, we expect a taller iPhone with a thinner body. The iPhone 5 is likely to include a 4-inch display and faster 4G LTE connectivity.

The new iPod Touch models will likely feature the same larger screen as the iPhone 5 and are rumored to include an A5 processor and a panoramic photo mode. The iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle should also see new models. It’s possible these new iPods will go on sale later today.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is rumored to include a high resolution display and slimmer design similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but a lower price. The added portability and the lower price could be enough to tempt more users to the Retina Display MacBook Pro.

The iMac is rumored for a refresh, though one analyst doesn’t think we will see the larger 27-inch iMac refreshed until later this year. Don’t expect a Retina Display iMac this time around according to the same analyst.

The iPhone 5 and the new iPods are expected to use a new smaller dock connector that can be inserted in either direction like a MagSafe adapter. This new dock connector may be known as lightning, when it arrives.