Apple's new online tool lets you check iPhone 3GS availability from the comfort of your own home

If you're one of the hapless folks out there still having trouble tracking down a new iPhone 3GS, Apple is making things a little bit easier on you with an online tool to check up on stock at Apple retail stores. There's a full breakdown of color and capacity, which might seem like overkill to some, but given the fact that stores with stock in all four current models are a bit of an exception (outside of NYC, anyways), we'd have to say that this is just the sort of overkill we need.

[Via iLounge]

[Zack @ Jun 29th 2009 11:05AM]

Tough luck for those in Utah

[Terry @ Jun 29th 2009 11:34AM]

"The new iphone is so much hotter than even *we* anticipated that we're *so* worried for the hordes of iphone seekers out there who can't get their hands one (of the brand NEW super-hot iphones) that we *had* to dedicate a site solely to the availability of the thing! "The thing," of course, being our totally super-exclusive, super-DUPER-fast, hard-to-get-your-hands-on-so-you-better-buy-one-NOW-as-in-RIGHT-NOW iphone 3GS. Did we forget to mention how exclusive it is?"

Whoa... for some reason this new iphone just seems too exclusive and hot. Lemme go check that site and see if it's available anywhere here in NYC. *fingers crossed*

[j_g_puff @ Jun 29th 2009 11:41AM]

It's hot.

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/06/29/3gs_burn_claims/

[j_g_puff @ Jun 29th 2009 11:04AM]

I hope they make this tool available in the app store.

[likeafox24 @ Jun 29th 2009 11:12AM]

Tru-dat!

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 29th 2009 11:13AM]

Yeah, I really like this setup.

I always found Apple's web site to be more intuitive than say, Dell's web site. I configured a computer on Dell's web site once and was so annoyed that I didn't even finish. The configurations for the computers on Dell's web site were on about eight to nine different pages, while Apple had all the configurations on one page. Dell's web page was crowded with an overload of information, while Apple's page was stark and minimalist by comparison.

It's funny how a company's overarching philosophy can be reflected even by their web page design.

[j_g_puff @ Jun 29th 2009 11:17AM]

Yes. Their overarching philosophy is 'the cock'.

[OneLove @ Jun 29th 2009 11:27AM]

@Paul a. Chapel: WTF? do you get a tweet everytime there's an apple post? :)

[Eddy Munn @ Jun 29th 2009 11:28AM]

Why though, it doesn't make sense?

[Willis @ Jun 29th 2009 11:29AM]

I know what you mean about the dell store. There is a "list view" on the page that makes it much faster (more apple like) to configure a machine... I say more apple like, but its actually the screen Dell invented back in their hey-day before the made it more complicated by clicking through 16 screens.

[Maeztro @ Jun 29th 2009 11:32AM]

Errr...Apple, meet Orange...Orange, say Hi to Apple...

Paul, you are comparing a site for configuring a laptop to a site for checking availability? Wow.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 29th 2009 11:37AM]

Why does every comment I make have to be a freaking attack on the PC lovers' collective manhood? Good grief, they have a better web site, sue me.

[Freedom Town @ Jun 29th 2009 11:53AM]

@Paul

Good Game on turning an 'i-phone availability website' update into a bash on Dell.

Maybe that is why you are attacked by people when you post, because you are a giant f'ing toolbag.

Go back to your corner

[Excelsium @ Jun 29th 2009 12:01PM]

engadget feed filter 'apple' send push SMS/email = another way :P.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 29th 2009 12:02PM]

@Freedom Town, who said: "Good Game on turning an 'i-phone availability website' update into a bash on Dell."

Yeah, I like your logic. I guess I could of compared Apple's web site to CNN.com or something, but then it wouldn't have made too much sense, now would it?

Just to keep this straight. You guys complain when I post in articles that aren't about Apple, even if it's a company that's a direct competitor to Apple and now you complain when I make a comment in an article about Apple. I guess the only way I can make a comment without being flamed, is one in which I tell the Microsoft Slobbering Commentator Horde exactly what they want to hear. Of course, that should be your job, not mine.

[lilo @ Jun 29th 2009 12:36PM]

Comparisons between Apple and Dell web sites are pointless because Dell computers have much more options. It is really easy to have intuitive (read "trivial") interface when all you need is to configure 3 options :-)

[robpetrin @ Jun 29th 2009 1:03PM]

@Paul:

Or you could stop commenting. That would be an elegant solution.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 29th 2009 2:20PM]

Or you could stop responding to my comments. That would be even more elegant.

[robpetrin @ Jun 29th 2009 6:56PM]

You got me good. Back to the cave.

[Patrick @ Jun 29th 2009 11:07AM]

Perhaps they should use infrared to find the iPhones:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/167495/apple_iphone_3gs_overheating_reports.html

[logicbomb.de @ Jun 29th 2009 5:25PM]

You wouldn't find jack with "infrared"

Thermal-vision is the way to go.

[Christian Martin @ Jun 29th 2009 11:09AM]

What, no snark about 'available' meaning anything from 1 to 100 units?

For real, though, I can see that being handy come payday.

[wako @ Jun 29th 2009 11:08AM]

New? They had this last year for the 3G one as well. However keep in mind this tracker is NOT LIVE tracking. It only updates in the morning to tell about the stock the morning of when the store opens. So when it sells out, the tracker may still say it has some in stock when it really does not.

[Maeztro @ Jun 29th 2009 11:33AM]

Ummm...that was the old tracker for the 3g which has since been removed. If you click on the link it says it is update hourly.

[Eric B. @ Jun 29th 2009 11:13AM]

People are actually selling the 3GS out? What a sad world

[Kelmon @ Jun 29th 2009 11:45AM]

Unless you are Apple, in which case you are doing the sort of dance that Snoopy used to do (assuming you remember your Peanuts cartoon strips).

[David Z. @ Jun 29th 2009 4:40PM]

Yes, it's a sad world because other people have different taste in cell phones than you. Please.

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 11:16AM]

That's pretty nifty. I wish the Pre had this when I was searching the greater Chicagoland area for it.

[Ethan Rom @ Jun 29th 2009 11:41AM]

I know!! I want to get a Palm Pre and I've called every best buy and radioshack every day for 2 weeks now. None of them have a waiting list and they don't know when more are coming. They all tell me the only way to know is to call everyday. What a pain in the ass!!

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 11:48AM]

Since they've been slow (slow/behind whatever you want to call it) on the production side you're best bet is probably a Sprint store. That's where I found mine.

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 11:49AM]

sorry your best bet

[mbentley @ Jun 29th 2009 12:15PM]

i am sure that they would make something like that but it would be a waste of time since every location would show none in stock

[Ethan Rom @ Jun 29th 2009 12:23PM]

I would go to a Sprint store, but then I have to wait for the $100 rebate. Best Buy and Radioshack have an instant rebate. I just don't want to wait for months to get that $100 back.

[Dayne @ Jun 29th 2009 12:32PM]

Ah, now there I don't blame you. However, for me, two months of waiting < time + effort spent scouring the metro area for one.

[az. @ Jun 29th 2009 11:20AM]

What about.. a status on the widespread battery drain issue on 3.0 OS? that a ton of people are having.. ?

[Puggs @ Jun 29th 2009 11:30AM]

a ton to me = 100... lets put that as a percent against the amount of phones out there running 3.0?

I have 3.0 update and have had no issues. Guess I am that 1 case exception!

[az. @ Jun 29th 2009 11:36AM]

Well Considering on apple's own forum theres a few threads about this.. and one about wifi intermittent problems determined to be most likely due to overheating.. ie/ also draining battery. and that has over.. 16000 views.. I dont believe this is an isolated case.

[Think Green @ Jun 29th 2009 11:19AM]

Its not new .. they had this already last year for the 3G release..

[John Doe @ Jun 29th 2009 11:23AM]

Breaking News, Paul Miller?

[Brian! @ Jun 29th 2009 11:27AM]

Ok. I think there has been enough iPhonne articles for a while. Ones like this are getting a little droll.

Time to report on the plethora of other electronic gadgets out there.

[Graham @ Jun 29th 2009 11:28AM]

How is this new ? i was checking availablility online before i purchased the last Iphone...

[Willis @ Jun 29th 2009 11:30AM]

It updates hourly now. Last time it only updated once a day.

[kal326 @ Jun 29th 2009 3:41PM]

Its new in the fact that they are actually in stock. Apple/Engadget would have you believe that these are sold out for weeks to come with the articles that they ran after the fix weekend of sales. Seems around my area you would have better luck finding any flavor of iPhone 3GS you could possibly want than a Pre.

[joe23521 @ Jun 29th 2009 11:34AM]

Palm needs one of these.

[Adam Zey @ Jun 29th 2009 11:40AM]

I didn't have any problems securing a phone (a white 32GB). I simply walked into the local Apple store (the only one in Montreal, or Quebec for that matter), waited an hour for a free sales person, and made my purchase. They didn't seem to be out of stock of anything, despite the fact that Fido (one of the "two" (both the same company) carriers in Canada carrying the iPhone) has been sold out nationally since launch.

[kuprienko @ Jun 29th 2009 11:40AM]

Ugh.. what happened to Alaska being a state?

[Willis @ Jun 29th 2009 11:44AM]

I don't think they have any stores in alaska.

[shaunisadirty @ Jun 29th 2009 11:41AM]

Yeah cuz this is real innovative of them...cuz you know...online availability hasn't been available through all retailers for the past decade.

[Kelmon @ Jun 29th 2009 11:47AM]

BLOODY US-ONLY SERVICE!

Sorry, I'm trying to find a 32GB White version in Belgium and something like this would be useful but it only works for Apple Stores in the US, which is no use to me. Bugger.

[Joanna D @ Jun 29th 2009 12:01PM]

There are no Apple Stores in Belgium...