Is This Apple’s 9-11 Respect?

Apple’s decision to start iPhone 6s and 6s Plus preorders on Saturday September 12 surprises me. Friday is typical, which lets the company tabulate an extra day into the weekend when reporting the number of preorders the following week. So you have to wonder why the change. I asked Apple PR, but there is yet no response yet.

In 2014, Apple announced iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also on September 9th, a Tuesday. Preorders began on Friday the 12th and sales one week later. In 2013, there was no preorder option for iPhone 5s, just straight sales starting Friday September 20th; announced the 10th. In 2012: Fridays September 14th for preorders; the 21st for sales. In 2011: again Fridays, October 7th preorders and October 14th sales. 

Apple breaks a clear pattern here, and I have to wonder if the date is the reason. Friday September 11th is the fourteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks here in the United States. Delaying a day would be a way of showing respect and also avoids inviting bad press. Surely some blogger somewhere would write about Apple showing no respect for the dead, by putting sales first.

The PR advantages would be better next week, if Apple could tout the three-day weekend of sales instead of two. But if commemoration and respect are the reasons for choosing Saturday, Apple execs deserve a friendly slap on the back for making the hard choice.

Photo Credit: A version of this story appears on BetaNews.