Just as expected, the online Apple Store has gone down in preparation for today's Let's Talk iPhone event. Within the hour we should find out what new gadgets will be featured on Apple's most likely revamped online store page. Whether it's an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, we'll finally know.

Until then, we'll keep watching the Apple store for any changes. Let us know if you spot any! We'll be posting everything we know on our TiPb meta live-stream throughout the keynote.

So hop on and chat with us throughout the event!

It's March 25 in Australia and that means international iPad 2 online orders have begun going live... but with a 2-3 week estimate on shipping. Other online stores are also up now, like Canada and UK, but simply list iPad 2 as currently unavailable at the moment (that should change as 1am rolls around in those time zones -- though we still don't know if Canada will be PDT or EDT.)

Other countries going live today include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

We'll keep an eye on the shipping estimates in case anything changes. What's your local availability? Has anyone ordered yet?

(If you're having trouble deciding if you want an iPad 2, check out our iPad 2 buyers guide and full on iPad 2 review.)

Are you buying yourself or a loved one, a new iPod, iPad or Apple TV this Christmas? Maybe you want an iPhoto Card or Album? Make sure you get your orders in before its too late. Here's a list of this year's holiday deadlines, after the break!

United States

• Free Shipping

  • iPods - 20th Dec
  • iPads - 20th Dec
  • AppleTV - 20th Dec
  • iPhoto Cards/Albums - 18th Dec

• Next day delivery

  • iPods - 23rd Dec
  • iPads - 23rd Dec
  • AppleTV - N/A
  • iPhoto Cards/Albums - 19th Dec

• Engraved models cannot be delivered "next day" and need to be ordered by:

  • Engraved iPods - 20th Dec
    
  • Engraved iPads - 19th Dec
    

United Kingdom

(shipping times in the UK are being severely effected by the weather)

• Free Shipping
  • iPods - 21st Dec
  • iPads - 21st Dec
  • iPhoto Cards/Albums - 18th Dec
  • Engraved iPods - 21st Dec
  • Engraved iPad (with other items in order) - 11th Dec [X]
  • Engraved iPad (no other items in order) - 13th Dec [X]

Canada

• Free Shipping
  • iPods - 20th Dec
  • iPads - 20th Dec
  • iPhoto Cards/Albums - 13th Dec [X]
  • Engraved iPods - 18th Dec
  • Engraved iPads - 17th Dec

If you want to know your estimated "last shipping" date for your country, visit your local Apple Online Store, and look for the "Store Services" section , and you should find the list. Obviously, the sooner you order, the better.

After some strange hiccups last night that saw distorted images, among other things, the white iPhone 4 has been removed entirely from the Apple Online Store. (Curiously, the white iPhone 4 is still shown on Apple's iPhone product gallery)

Seems a fitting way to cap off a week of drama that saw hints of the white iPhone 4 in the updated Apple Store app, Apple announce they were delaying it until spring 2011, and BGR rumoring that it might just be cancelled completely.

As to why the delays keep happening, we've heard everything from proximity sensor issues, light leaks, problems bonding the color to the glass, to the inability to match the home button to the faceplate.

My best guess at this point? It's the fifth Cylon and it just knew we were on to it.

[store.apple.com, iPhone 4 gallery]

Apple has launched their online store for China, a streamlined store that includes the iPhone, iPod, iPad and Mac product lines. The store also includes free shipping, an option for custom engravings on your iPod or iPad, and it is also the only place online where you can currently grab the iPod Nano in the (PRODUCT RED) variant. From Apple COO Tim Cook:

We are thrilled to open our newest online store in China. With personalized engraving, configure-to-order options and free shipping on everything, the Apple Store is a great destination for our customers in China.

To top it off, Apple has made their App Store available in Simplified Chinese, making it easier for citizens of China to access the 300,000+ apps available for the iPhone and iPod touch (or at least as many of them as are offered in China).

Slowly but surely, Apple is extending their offerings throughout Asia, one of the biggest consumer electronic markets on the planet, and should have 25 more retail stores in China by the end of 2011.

But in the land of cheap-as-in-unlicensed Windows PC and Android variants we've never heard of, will it be enough? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

[Apple]

by Andrew Wray

Apple is now offering free iPad engravings, just in time for the holidays. Apple have always offered free ‘personalised’ iPod engravings, however, this marks the first time Apple have unveiled the same laser-engraving program for the iPad.

Like iPod engraving, the iPad engraving is available at no additional cost and you can add up to 2 lines of text. However, it will increase the shipping time by 1-3 days.

Will you be buying an iPad with personal engravings, this holiday season?

[store.apple.com]

by George Lim

The Apple Online Store is down and while normally Wednesday night would trigger "it's just maintenance" mode in me, there are announced products still awaiting "go live" status like the white iPhone 4! Seriously, though, that's delayed until the end of the year but there's still the 27" LED display, and all sorts of rumors about new Apple TV/iTV and 7" iPads that it's worth taking the gamble on a post.

Of course new iOS-related hardware is usually preceded by Steve Jobs showing it off on stage, so the odds of anything really surprising are low, low, low, but give us your best guess anyway.

Will there be anything new when the Apple Store comes back up, and what?

Updated: Nothing, it turns out.

TiPb nation, rev up your ZOMGS and get ready for SQUEEE -- the Apple Online Store is down world wide.

Now before you get too excited, this is not for the White iPhone 4. That's been delayed until later this year. Unfortunately, this time it's probably not for any iOS devices. If the rumors are true, what we'll see today are 12-proc Mac Pro, updated iMac, 27" LED displays, and maybe -- just maybe -- the MagicPad multitouch trackpad for the Mac.

Give us your best guesses in the comments and we'll find out just as soon as the store comes back up.

As the clock hits 12:00am local time, Apple is bringing international Apple Online Stores in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK back up with their iPad pre-orders ready to rock.

If yours hasn't updated yet and you just can't wait, keep hitting refresh on the hour every hour and its bound to show up eventually.

And when you do get your order on, drop a comment and tell us which country and what model you get, and whether its for delivery or if you're reserving to go pick it up at an Apple Retail Store near you (provided that's an option in your area).

Then sit back, relax, and if you're anything like me tear your hair out waiting for it show up on May 28.

UPDATE: Macworld is saying the reason may be the difficulty in applying the screen protectors and associated increase in return rates. (They should just send people to Georgia's video, embedded again below for satiric effect).

iLounge is reporting that Apple Retail and Apple Online will no longer carry screen protectors for iPhone, iPod, or anything else, either sold separately or packaged with cases. That includes plain protectors, anti-glare, privacy, mirror, or any other kind of film meant to be placed over an iPhone or iPod screen. iLounge further speculates this is a move by Apple meant to emphasize the durability of their screens -- you don't need no stinkin' protector, so to speak.

We have trouble believing any of this; it sounds unbelievable. If true, manufacturers will simply stop bundling screen protectors with their cases and customers will have to purchase them separately from a different, non-Apple channel [like the iMore Store -- cheap plug!]

Hopefully there's some misunderstanding here but we'll keep an eye on the story and update as it develops. Meanwhile let us know your thoughts in the comments.

[iLounge via Gear Diary]

YouTube link

Attention US shoppers, the iPad in both Wi-Fi and 3G flavors are now available for pre-order. Just head on over to the Apple Online Store and you can arrange to have your very own iPad Wi-Fi in 16GB, 32GB, and/or 64GB shipped to you or made ready for pickup at your local Apple Retail Store on April 3. iPad 3G 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB are also available for pre-order but won't ship until late April.

Did you pre-order? If so, which one did you get?

Black Friday Sales are now live for both the US Apple Online Store and it's slightly anemic cousin to the north, the Canadian Apple Online Store. So, if you've been waiting to save up to $5 on a Magic Mouse, $11 on an iPod nano, $21 on an Apple TV, $41 on an iPod touch, or $101 on a MacBook Pro or iMac, get ye a shopping! (And let us know what you grab!)

(You can also hit up Amazon Online in the US, or brave the crowds at Best Buy or other resellers and save some additional dollars -- don't tell Steve we told you!)

Those waiting for the US (and UK, Canadian, etc. honorific) Apple Online Store's Black Friday Sale -- the only sale Apple ever does -- can get a sneak preview as it's already Black Friday in Australia and Apple's deals are live. Call us down-underwhelmed (groan, we know) but really, who expected anything more than 8%-10% of iPod touch, iPods in general, Apple TV, and Macs?

If you're in Oz and have been waiting to pull the trigger, pull away. If you're in the UK or North America, check it out and see if there's anything pull-worthy for ya.

[via TUAW]

Apple Online Store has exactly one sale a year -- "Black Friday" on the day after US Thanksgiving, and this year that falls November 27. While there's no way of knowing exactly what will be on sale, and how much the savings will be (though they're never much), Apple is getting their tease on already:

Come back to the Apple Online Store the day after Thanksgiving for a special one-day-only holiday shopping event. You’ll find dozens of great iPod, iPhone, and Mac gift ideas — all with free shipping.

Mark your calendar now. And until then, start your research by browsing the Apple Online Store to find iPod, iPhone, and Mac gifts for everyone on your list.

For our international readers, Apple Canada, Apple UK, Apple France, and we're guessing many other Apple Online Stores around the world will be following suit. Best Buy and other Apple resellers will also have sales, so you may want to shop around as well.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Just bought that ~$100 TomTom iPhone app and have $120 ($119.95 to be exact) bucks more burning a whole in your wallet? What luck! The matching TomTom car kit has just become available via the Apple Online Store! (Shipping in 2-3 weeks!)

Yes, that's $220 total cost of ownership for TomTom lovers, but it's so hard to set a price on convergence, isn't it? (Especially when that convergence now comes in two parts!)

Anyone buying it? If so, tell us why. If not, tell us why as well!

[via AppAdvice]