Mark your calendars. The second Apple store in Singapore opens Jul 13 (Sat) at 10am. 8Days.sg got a preview of the sprawling two-storey premises at Jewel Changi Airport, which is perched at a prime spot in the mall (it’s at the second floor main entrance, a stone’s throw away from Shake Shack).

The 8m-high curved glass façade is a sight to behold.

Here’s what you can expect at the second Apple retail store in Singapore.

If you thought Uniqlo store staff were over-exuberant (“Welcome to Uniqloooo!”), you haven’t met the Apple folks yet. As the doors flung open for the media preview to begin, a bunch of Apple store employees — affectionately known as Geniuses in Apple lingo — were at the ready to welcome journalists with cheers, applause and even a few high fives.

The look and feel of the interior is in line with the décor theme of Apple stores worldwide: cool, stark, bright and with products are adequately spaced out (because, you know, personal space). In fact, we’re told that the timber, metal and stone used in this store are the same as what’s used in the Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Art gallery or Apple store? Customers will have a field day poring over and tinkering with more than 200 products such as the iPhone, iPad, watches and accessories.

We won’t blame you if you get distracted and want a photo, or five, as you make your way up the staircase, which boasts cool, white finishings all round and sexy curved handles.
Photo: Apple Singapore

Here on the second floor of the store is the Genius technical team who are on standby to provide customer and technical support. If you’re a tech idiot, you’ve probably struggled to set up your device each time you get a new one. We’ve got good news for you. Folks who purchase their new devices here can approach Geniuses who’ll help you get started with your new doodads, including setting up your e-mail and even introduce apps to download.

So your Apple geek of a friend is taking forever to decide on which device they’re getting. No, you don’t have twiddle your thumbs in boredom. Slink over to the game station on level two where you can try your hand at games such as this one — it requires to shake a ball so vigorously, it’s like a workout in itself.

Today at Apple is a series of free daily hands-on sessions that’s open to all. This includes crash courses in Garageband (above), video, coding, apps, health and fitness, and then some.

Every week, there are over 18,000 Today at Apple sessions held in over 500 Apple stores globally, but here’s one you won’t find anywhere else, not even at the Apple mothership in Cupertino: The Magic of Jewel photo walk. This photography workshop takes you out of the store and into the behemoth that is Jewel. Sick of seeing the same shot of the Jewel water fountain? You probably should sign up for the free photo walk (two sessions daily; book in advance online) because the friendly folks at Apple will impart invaluable tips and tricks to up your Instagram game, so you can take pictures like this one:

Not your typical Jewel fountain shot.

Your friendly instructors for the day will even be your personal photographers. Just ask nicely.

The photo walk will take you to four photo stops and covers a distance of about 500m. After that, you head back to the store to do a wrap-up, where you can get a kick from seeing your own photo masterpieces flashed on the big screen. And trust us, even those who have been using iPhones for a long time will discover new tricks from these sessions.

Apple Jewel Changi Airport is at Level 2, 78 Airport Blvd, S819666. Opens Jul 13 at 10am. More info about Today at Apple sessions at https://www.apple.com/sg/today/.

PHOTOS: Lionel Lai