iPhone line forms at Apple's flagship for absolutely no reason

So word on the street (literally) is that a large number of people are queuing in line outside of Apple's flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York City (see above) -- keep in mind the Cube is open 24 hours a day. Our intrepid girl-on-the-scene reports that the group is more than 60-deep, though most people seem confused about what they're waiting for, while some believe they're actually camping out for a 3G iPhone. Meanwhile, Apple reps tell us they're crowd-controlling iPhone buyers because otherwise they would be "screaming" at employees and clogging up the store. See what happens when you get short on stock? More pics after the break.

Update: For those of you convinced this is an Improv Everywhere stunt, here's a post from Charlie Todd -- the group's founder -- denying involvement.

[Thanks, Laura and Abiade]

[retro77 @ May 22nd 2008 2:48PM]

Ok, observation time: the iPhone fanboys are getting lowly ranked for standing up for what they believe in so much. I can only deduce that this low ranking is because there are more non-iPhone lovers than iPhone fanboys on Engadget.

[clak @ May 22nd 2008 3:43PM]

Nah, this story got to the front page on Digg and there are a helluva lot more Apple haters on Digg than Engadget. Of course, the primary demographic on Digg are boys between 9 and 15, so most of them don't have jobs and can't afford Apple products. Hence, the hate they feel.

I for one feel sorry for them.


Kiss my ass! I'm the biggest hater!—Pit Bull, Player Haters Ball, Chappelle's Show, 2003

[Ian @ May 22nd 2008 2:54PM]

ZOMG! ZERG RUSH!

[wyerock @ May 22nd 2008 2:54PM]

Wow! Normally I read the comments to see if anyone has an intelligent comment on the story. Took 3 pages to get past the anti-apple-fanboys. If you don't like Apple or the iPhone, etc, why do you spend the time reading the articles and comments?

Anyways, if someone was there taking pictures of the line, why didn't they ask the people IN line why they are there? I'm going to go with the store-at-capacity explanation.

[ace @ May 22nd 2008 3:04PM]

Dude - IF it is raining in mid-town off and on then the story it fake.

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 22nd 2008 3:07PM]

If it's fake, then it's pretty lame fiction, since this happens very often.

[FearlessFreep @ May 22nd 2008 3:05PM]

This has gotta be some Columbia Psych student's experiment in mob mentality or the like. No self-respecting person lines up for a product that hasn't even been announced yet.

[yoyoyo @ May 22nd 2008 3:11PM]

Can anyone find the mystery item in the picture?

[Adam @ May 22nd 2008 4:04PM]

Something in the photos?

[eVader @ May 22nd 2008 3:16PM]

Lemmings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jim Salabim @ May 22nd 2008 3:18PM]

woaaaahh OMG line at the Apple store!!!!!!!!!!! I gotta gooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ill trooper @ May 22nd 2008 3:20PM]

Same thing is happening at the SoHo store... But it really looks like it might be professional line-waiters at that store - the majority of the people are Chinese men and women in dowdy winter clothing (looking nothing like the line shown in the above photos), with chairs, milkcrates to sit on, and food. Something is up, I'm guessing it's people waiting to purchase refurbed or restocked iPhones for phone exporters in the many mobile phone shops here in NYC.

[SpoonMan @ May 22nd 2008 3:29PM]

Will someone please go and ask one of them already?!!! geez-luiz!!

[jason @ May 22nd 2008 3:31PM]

Tools.

[dreamscape86 @ May 22nd 2008 3:35PM]

I always thought iSheep was a JOKE... now they're lining up at the shepherd's call without any reason whatsoever!

[Galley @ May 22nd 2008 3:35PM]

I think I'm gonna go stand in front of the vending machine for a couple of hours. I heard they may be getting a new flavor of potato chips next month. Who's with me?

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 22nd 2008 4:20PM]

Nice avatar, but who'd believe anyone who speaks with a forked tongue.

[Stewart @ May 22nd 2008 3:36PM]

I love the thumb.

[kastonie @ May 22nd 2008 3:36PM]

Maybe they are waiting in line for the Wii...
Didn't you hear?
Apple is selling the wii now

please dont low rank me

["Friend" @ May 22nd 2008 3:41PM]

I smell Improv Everywhere.

[rodd @ May 22nd 2008 3:49PM]

MY friend is attending a Final Cut Pro seminar up there today(NY).. It was free, so apple prolly gave out a coupon or something and now everyone is shopping after they got out the session? i wish this was 3g news i wish i wish i wish... just please dont rob me when im standing in line to get the new jaun.

[freediverdude @ May 22nd 2008 3:53PM]

I can't believe WE'VE lined up all these comments on why THEY'RE lined up, and all for probably no reason at all.

[JS @ May 22nd 2008 4:00PM]

Comment line forms at Engadget blog for absolutely no reason.

[fourthletter @ May 22nd 2008 3:58PM]

Maybe Steve called round and started shitting on the the genius bar, said genius then started selling those hot cakes and a queue began to form.

[MBS @ May 22nd 2008 3:58PM]

Forget the iPhone, I'm waiting for the WiiPhone!

[Qugeist @ May 22nd 2008 4:05PM]

woooo... okay... but how are you suppose to get in -- let's say you want to buy a laptop for example?

but is it worth to buy the current iPhone when the 2nd gen is just around the corner?

[spmartin82 @ May 22nd 2008 4:08PM]

I see people with shopping bags, but also people with duffel bags, thus concluding that most of these people have absolutely no clue why they're waiting in line.
Either that, or Engadget thinks they're slick and is trying to be Onion-esque, in which case methinks I'll peace out.

[545h4 @ May 22nd 2008 4:10PM]

What about the Boston store, anyone lining up there? World's largest, just opened... Eh?

[Paul @ May 22nd 2008 4:19PM]

I was there 2 weeks ago and there was a big line because the stairs were under repair and everyone had to take the slow elevator in and out. There's no other entrance or exit so there was this huge line for no reason, really.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 22nd 2008 4:49PM]

Now that's just BS. Those are Apple stairs. They just work.

[Brian @ May 22nd 2008 4:22PM]

For some reason "Lemmings" just came to mind...

[rdrr @ May 22nd 2008 4:31PM]

everyone that is calling mac heads "sheep" or "lemmings", let me remind you that you are a member of 90% of the people who use a windows product.

[Brian @ May 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

How do you know that?

[macserv @ May 22nd 2008 6:30PM]

There's a pretty damned good chance. If you use linux, I'm sure he'd apologize profusely.

[retro77 @ May 22nd 2008 4:32PM]

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMSYAf6_HT4

These are the people that are using Apple's products. I'll let the video speak for itself.

[Kevin @ May 22nd 2008 4:47PM]

That guy prides himself on being first in line for just about everything. Google://Greg Packer

He does not speak for the Mac community, although I'd like to think he speaks for the Yankee Fan community (yes he stood in line for yankee tickets too).

[Dubya @ May 22nd 2008 4:33PM]

We need to bring back We Are the World for the poor people who can't afford iphone/pods. We really feel your pain, in an elitist tax write off sort of way ;)

[Jubei @ May 22nd 2008 4:37PM]

Perhaps a rumor may have been going around that the Zune will be sold here. Now that Gamespot has stopped selling Zune in all of its 4,400 stores. A very smart move by Gamespot.

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 22nd 2008 5:05PM]

I thought MS stopped manufacturing the Zune some time ago. I've yet to see any celebrity or dignitary using one.

[MBS @ May 22nd 2008 5:38PM]

You know, I thought I did spot "Zune-guy" in the second picture.

[Jubei @ May 22nd 2008 6:10PM]

I have seen many Zune users during my business trips. They are usually the bargain bin buyers of the electronic world. The type that buys cameras and other type of devices from the street vendor in NYC. Bartering for a price and always requesting for freebies. Perhaps why most Zune users are quite happy that ads will be implemented within their ecosystem.

It's perhaps the reason why none of them can comprehend that perhaps so many people are simply buying Apple products. The store can only accommodate so much traffic.

[nephersir7 @ May 22nd 2008 4:58PM]

in fact, most people buy Apple products for absolutely no reason...

[pete @ May 22nd 2008 5:01PM]

gatta love the iLine. Apple invented it you know.

[MBS @ May 22nd 2008 5:40PM]

I know, I was in line at the bakery go get some breakfast this morning. It was nothing but a cheep iLine clone. Why can't anybody but Apple innovate?!

[Jon Doe. @ May 22nd 2008 5:02PM]

Losers^100. Seriously 300lbs Star Wars Fanbois sitting in their filth and reeking of fanboi funk are higher up on the got a life foodchain then these iDiots

[Dubya @ May 22nd 2008 5:22PM]

Ladies and gentleman, we have our first We Are the World recipient. Let's all give her a hug and whatever change you can spare to buy her an iphone, maybe some warm socks and food so he doesn't go hungry. Welcome Mrs. Doe.

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 22nd 2008 8:01PM]

How much do you wanna bet that the majority of Star Wars fans use either Linux or Windows?

[Elitist Snob @ May 22nd 2008 5:06PM]

@"Friend"

No, that smell is coming from a nearby rendering plant, though I'll grant you the aroma is quite similar.

[JoeMarioZ @ May 22nd 2008 5:07PM]

I just hope it will be sold unlocked or with a worldwidecarrier such as claro vodafone or orange

[Magallanes @ May 22nd 2008 5:52PM]

claro = pinche.

:-P