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Filed under: Cult of Mac, Apple, iPhone

Why weren't you in line this morning?

We don't want to imply that the iPhone 3G S launch was a dud. There's reports out that the 3G S may have sold more units than the 3G on opening day, but even more reports are coming in that the lines and general mayhem at Apple and AT&T stores were much more subdued this year than in previous years. There's a lot of speculation as to why, but we at TUAW figured we'd go straight to the source and ask our dear readers. Why weren't you in line this morning?


Why weren't you waiting in line this morning?

Filed under: Cult of Mac, Apple, iPhone

Buying a new iPhone, Tucson style

Of course, like many people, I just had to have a 3G S, so my old 3G phone is off to NextWorth. I got to my local Apple Store (La Encantata Mall) about 6:30 AM, and there were about 30-35 people in line. There were 2 lines actually, one for people who reserved an iPhone, and one for those that had just come to buy. The lines were certainly shorter than with the 3G roll out. This mall is not enclosed, but the iPhone gods smiled upon us and gave us a cool morning in the 70's. Not our usual Arizona broil.

Line dynamics are interesting. iPhone owners were telling the newbies how much they'll love their new purchase. Experienced iPhone owners were trading tips with less experienced users, and I even saw one guy checking TUAW for the latest news. Nice.

One thing I noticed was that a lot of the people in line had BlackBerry or other brands of cell phones. My recollection of the last upgrade was that most people getting the 3G were replacing generation 1 phones. That's anecdotal, but that's what I saw.

One guy in line told me he worked at a hospital and that he wasn't allowed to get an iPhone until it had remote wipe. Now, his IT guys have blessed the purchase.

Read on...

Continue readingBuying a new iPhone, Tucson style

Filed under: Cult of Mac, iPhone

People already lining up for 3G iPhone?

In what must come as somewhat, yet not completely, surprising news, it seems people are already starting to line up at Apple's flagship 5th Avenue store in New York for the next version of the iPhone -- supposedly being announced on June 9th. According to our friends at Engadget Mobile, the line is already about 60 people deep but some waiting seemed confused as to what they were actually waiting for -- although others did think they were in line for the new iPhone 2.0.

Could this line actually be for the latest and greatest version of the iPhone? Or, is this just some tragic case of mis-communication? Maybe they think they can get their hands on one of those iPhone refurbs? Or, perhaps the employees at that particular store are bored and just in the mood to mess with customers?

Whatever the answer, if this is actually an indication of the fervor iPhone 2.0 is going to generate, maybe I should start thinking about when and where to line up so I can get mine?

How about you guys, you going to camp out to be the first on your block to get an iPhone 2.0?

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Retail, Video, Other Events, Apple, iPhone

Line walk, AT&T State Street and Apple Michigan Ave.


Maybe it's just me, but I thought the State Street AT&T store line had much more verve and character than the Michigan Ave. Apple Store line. The Apple Store had Starbucks coffee being given out for free, but the State Street line turned back into a brickwalled alley. There were balloons, and guys impatiently waiting "until 6:00," and dudes sitting with their laptops, and generally just a more both concerned and cordial atmosphere.

But I'll let you decide-- the State Street linewalk is above, and Michigan Avenue (which did curve all the way around the building-- I had to shoot it in 3 seperate cuts) is below the jump. Enjoy-- now you too can pretend like you waited hours for a phone you could have waited 5 minutes for.

Continue readingLine walk, AT&T State Street and Apple Michigan Ave.

Filed under: Hardware, Retail, Odds and ends, Apple, The Woz, iPhone

Line report: iPhone mania!

Oh, buddy. It's 4:30 in the middle of the country, lots of people are just starting to get out of work, and things are really starting to pick up now.
  • Benjamin Gilbert sends pictures from his campout at Legacy Village in Ohio.
  • Andrew Abate is lineblogging from the West Farms Mall Apple Store in Farmington, CT, where California Pizza Kitchen is apparently handing out free food.
  • Nick Bodkins sends a note from Orlando, FL, where he's sitting in line at the Millenia Mall. Apple is handing out free water there, too, and apparently security says no shopping throughout the rest of the mall.
  • Danny Perez is at the 5th Ave. Store in New York (where I believe our own Mike Rose is headed very soon), and says the feeling there is good: "There are about 300 people in line that I can tell from my location, I'm almost at the end of the line, they are giving away some free stuff. Items include, FREE Baked Caramel Popcorn (FreeEvil), Water (Water is directly from Apple - Branded by smartwater), Virgin Atlantic Airlines just gave away a gift bag with toothbrush/paste, Eye covers, Ear plugs, socks, and Lemonade. I also got some free music CD's and the best part, A FAN TO COOL OURSELVES OFF!!!"
  • And finally, the best thing I've heard today comes from Rick and Simon at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Jose, CA: The Woz is live and in person there (or was, this afternoon), and apparently the Hummer and the Segway made the trip as well.
Just under a half hour until 6pm on the East Coast, and then iPhone mania sweeps the nation. Thanks everyone for sending in all the tips, and I hope all you intrepid linesitters get your phones. I'm off to the Michigan Ave store for a report later tonight-- good luck out there.

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