Could 'electric computers' be the new iPhone?
An unusually-large shipment of 188 mysterious containers has arrived in North America from Apple's manufacturing partners in China. The contents? "Electric computers," a term that Apple has never before used on its customs declarations.
Additionally, 67 of the containers were destined for Canada, landing in Vancouver, BC.
These containers are not to be confused with Apple's regular flotilla of shipping destined for the west coast. Typically, those containers are labeled as having "desktop computers" inside on their customs forms.
ImportGenius.com speculates that each container could contain up to 40,000 units of new iPhones.
Either that, or the UNIVAC I ordered finally arrived.
Thanks, Ryan!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tk2k said 6:51PM on 5-23-2008
what the hell is going on in that photo?!??!?
Reply
Blaktornado said 6:53PM on 5-23-2008
Electric computers grow towards the sunlight
Robert Palmer said 6:53PM on 5-23-2008
Don't worry -- it's not the iPhone Boat.
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/ital-florida-container-casualties/
Ben K. said 7:59PM on 5-23-2008
That was my thought. What in the hell is going on in that photo?!
Kev Orng said 9:08PM on 5-24-2008
I've usually seen that photo with the caption "Your Shipment of FAIL has Arrived!"
CB said 6:59PM on 5-23-2008
That's potentially 7 million iPhones. 40,000x188. Wow. OK, I'm hungry.
Reply
Henry said 7:22PM on 5-23-2008
Electric computer? I guess that means no semiconductors or active electronics.
Reply
Dias said 8:18PM on 5-23-2008
And.... what are you waiting for exactly in order to open 'em up?
Reply
James said 8:28PM on 5-23-2008
Apple already has 7,520,000 of the new iPhone in the US. Yeah, that sounds plausible.
Reply
Funke, Tobias Dr. said 1:07PM on 5-25-2008
Besides, Canada has 35M people to the US 300M. 1/3 of the containers being bound for Canada just doesn't make sense.
Justin said 10:17PM on 5-23-2008
For an update, Vancouver BC is launchiing the first ever Canadian Apple Store TOMORROW
http://www.apple.com/ca/retail/pacificcentre/
The reason it probably went to that store is probably for eye attention towards the new store. The apple store will be in Pacific Center.
My guess is that the "electric computers" are indeed the new iphones.
Reply
Mike said 10:41PM on 5-23-2008
Ummm there are 4 other Apple Stores in Canada.
Ryan Trevisol said 10:24PM on 5-23-2008
Each one is reported to weigh 30lbs according to Macrumors. Sounds more like a Mac Mini Tower to me!!!! Okay, that's just what I want it to be.
Reply
Ryan Trevisol said 10:24PM on 5-23-2008
Each one is reported to weigh 30lbs according to Macrumors. Sounds more like a Mac Mini Tower to me!!!! Okay, that's just what I want it to be.
Reply
Jan said 10:32PM on 5-23-2008
I am more of a MULTIVAC old gal, myself!
Thanks for the tip! I am really thinking about buying the iPhone v2.
Reply
Perry said 11:49PM on 5-23-2008
Just announce them and take my money already Steve!!! WTF is the matter with you? This is like ultra tantric sex. I need release!
Reply
Tired_ said 11:49PM on 5-23-2008
Electric computers? Well, they can't be MacBooks, then...everybody knows they run on rainbows.
Reply
doesn't matter said 12:41AM on 5-24-2008
The article seems to indicate that the sum total of shipments between mid-march and now was 188 containers, not a "large shipment," unusual or otherwise.
Reply
meng xuan said 1:25PM on 5-24-2008
it is probably just a direct translation from mandarin Chinese "dian" "nao" which means electric computer by direct translation. But the characters really just mean "computer" to a fluent mandarin speaker
Reply