Look up at the sky -- is it falling? It sure seems as if that kind of doom is imminent, at least if this whole iPhone 4
pre-order situation is any indication of future tragedy. We've received hundreds of tips this morning from friends near and far that
iPhone 4 pre-orders aren't going through, though a few of us here on staff were able to get a confirmation during the wee hours of the morning. From AT&T in the US to O2 over in the UK, it seems that just about everyone ambling to get their name on a future iPhone 4 is experiencing a great deal of frustration. AT&T's servers seem to be completely hosed here in America, and since Apple's own online order process has to ping those to check on your contract status, neither option is... um,
working. Those who decided to line up at a local store are facing similar issues; employees aren't even able to fully process pre-orders in store due to systems being overwhelmed, and no one seems to exactly know when things will be back to normal. And you thought the most enraging part of this was the
inability to select a white model. Let us know how your experience has been in the poll and comments below, won't you?
Update: So, it sounds like Best Buy is taking pre-orders (even for white units), but chances are remarkably high that you're not actually getting in any line. Still, it's a working option for the moment. In other news, the Apple Store app is seeming to allow iPhone 4 orders, but it looks as if they're reserving off-contract phones (read: full price ones), so we'd only recommend this avenue if you enjoy things like "arguing about contract dates" and "yelling at brick walls." We're guessing you'll be doing both on the 24th.
Have you been able to pre-order an iPhone 4?| Yep! Got in right after they went online! Lucky me! | 5750 (10.8%) |
|---|
| Yes, but it took more patience than I knew I had. | 7077 (13.3%) |
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| No way, but I'm still trying. And crying. | 18429 (34.7%) |
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| No, and I don't even care any more. EVO 4G here I come! | 13814 (26.0%) |
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| Oh, snap -- pre-orders went live today?! | 8078 (15.2%) |
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posted June 15th 2010 11:56AM
Wow, way to exaggerate. I can't help but picture most of the Engadget staff touching themselves as they type iPhone related news today.
How soon until the pictures of the lines? Yes, they exist right now. Giz beat you to it.
@whySoSerious
Must you go on with this now cliche beating up of engadget staff members? Doesn't it just get old to you? Or do you pray for enough people to uprank you so you can sleep a little better tonight?
@whySoSerious Damn man, unlike that guy I was defending the other day, this doesn't seem much like a joke.
You're gonna start a flamewar now. =\
@whySoSerious Nah give engadget credit! They are way better than other sites (CNET cough cough) that posted 1 article about E3 yesterday!
@who said what
Right, because that comment was just clearly trying for an uprank. News for you - some people post how they feel. I used none of the usual sarcasm or wit... just calling it like I see it. I don't need comment rank approval to police what I say, much less feel better about myself.
Seriously, reporting this news with "the sky is falling" kind of excitement is ridiculous.
@pple is poo
I am still trying....Maybe AT&T needs to upgrade their computers if they want to keep or earn customers.
@whySoSerious
You should look into changing your screen name to 'whySoBitter'. It would be more appropriate.
@whySoSerious
This isn't a news site. It's a tech blog. If you don't like it there are plenty of other blogs to soak up your time.
@whySoSerious
Sorry to abuse the reply system but this should help. From your iPhone download the new apple store app. You can then reserve your iPhone from the app and it bypasses at&t's servers so it actually works. I just got my conformation email. My email does say that the phone will cost $699, but im sure that'll get ironed out and I'll get my upgrade price.
@whySoSerious so basically.....whySoSerious?
@whySoSerious
I dont know why you were downranked. I mean seriously, why do you guys foam at the mouth over the iphone? Just curious.
@whySoSerious Use the apple store app! It was breeze. Took me like 3 minutes to get it all done complete with confirmation e-mail. Stop messing around online and use the app.
@Mike Vick
When you get curious, you should look into your comment history. It mind refresh your memory of who you actually are:
How to: pre-order the iPhone 4 (update: third-party retailers best avoided)
Jun 14th 2010 5:36PM on Engadget
Will the iPhone 4 be able to record me gettin twisted and watchin a coupla dog fights in HD? It best be able to cos imma buy 2. One for me and one for my lil homie -_-
@Mike Vick
Lol - I don't know. Seems people really take offense if you do anything to detract them from their elation. I guess I can understand that. Or not, because I'm clearly not as excited about this as everyone else.
@whySoSerious
SteveJobs called engadget, the checks coming this Friday.
@whySoSerious I don't know, dude. You said you can picture Engadget editors touching themselves as they type away about the iPhone. Sounds less like elation detraction, and more like a condescended insult.
And if you're not as excited as everyone else, why "call it as you see it" here, in an article about something you're not excited about? I think you should send a letter to the editors, rather than be snarky. But then again, I don't suppose they would reply to you, seeing as though you essentially said they jack-off to iPhone news.
Double-edged sword, I guess. Cheers!
@BMills I had problems with getting one ordered.. I would make it all the way to the end and it would error. Try this. Go back to the store home and click on view cart. I was surprised to see it was in my cart. I was able to complete the order.
@whySoSerious
It's not people taking offense. It's just that you're a boring person. A really boring person.
@HateiPhoneFanboys
Btw, now we know how many engadget readers actually use the /exclude/apple tag... at least approximately! It is 12.6 %.
Oh, snap -- pre-orders went live today?! 1900 (12.6%)
@N900
Point taken. Still, it's one thing to report the madness and another to be tripping over yourself like you just got off. I understand it's a tech blog but that's something the commenters do, not the authors.
@suicidebob
Riiiight. That the best you could come up with?
@who said what
I find it humorous that an Engadget poll is behind the Apple tag.
And I don't get the angst. If you wait a little while the store will be back up. And if you wait just a little bit longer, there will be a newer model with slight upgrades available for purchase...just not on launch day, of course.
@offeredremains Yeah but if everyone did this Engadget wouldn't be able tom pretend there is an ordering issue
@BMills
Here is an idea. I tried via the apple store app and it went through and reserved one. Even though it asked for my ATT info for upgrade it appears to have not gotten it(no surprise). Got an email that one is held at full price. I figure if I get it to go through later then I will cancel that one, it not I will get the upgrade done when I pick it up. Weird think is it does not work on my mac via the apple store.
@martinm1a
Thanks for the tip.
This day has been frustrating. Need to order two phones.
I have been constantly checking since I got up for work at 4:45 am.
At least I got my new Mac Mini ordered this morning.
@JamesR I can only dream to have even the chance to 'pre-order' an iPhone 4. Meanwhile, unlike the rest of the developed world, we canadians have to wait for prehistoric Rogers(nee telus,bell) to get with the times.....
@BMills
I reserved one at the apple store just for a backup. If I end up getting one pre-ordered then I can just cancel. It's good to have a backup plan.
@whySoSerious
Why so bitter?
@whySoSerious
You would make an awful Joker!!!
@whySoSerious
Nice marketing gimmick this "overwhelmed servers" thingy.
@who said what
Why does engadget think everyone either wants an iPhone or the Evo?
@Mike Vick Impersonator; We're not foaming at the mouth as bad as you made your dogs foam at the mouth, twat. Go collect your award for co-idiot of the day with your compadre Mr.WhySoSerious.
Good day.
@ryan1
... and why, pray tell, am I an idiot? Good lord - you point out how ridiculous an article attempts to portray the popularity of an event/device and get nothing but knee-jerk responses from fanboys as if you've punched their mothers. I actually feel like an idiot for even addressing most of you in response.
It's fascinating, actually. Look above at the comments that got downranked - even the ones not from me. None of them did anything but question the mob mentality reaction of those of you who were content on self-pleasuring yourselves with this orgasmic news that reinforced the fact that your beloved device was popular. (Yes, I admit the iPhone is freakin' popular - I never said it wasn't). Wow.
Good day? Good day to you all - maybe I'll see you in another comment section when you all calm down. Now, commence down-ranking... this post is, after all, reasonable. I'll let you continue the circle-jerking now.
@whySoSerious I COMPLETELY AGREE
@whySoSerious - "Seriously, reporting this news with 'the sky is falling' kind of excitement is ridiculous."
Dude, I am embarrassed for you.
You've made an enormous mistake, all due to your preconceived idea that Engadget writers are biased towards Apple. Here is what you ought to do: re-read the article, this time without the assumption that the writer is an Apple stooge.
Does something strike you this time? How about, the mentions of the world ending and the sky falling, are IRONIC. As in, an attempt at humour and *not* how the author actually, genuinely feels.
Because you went into this already convinced that the author loves Apple, you thought that they really and sincerely equated an inability to pre-order a smartphone with the end of the world. Which is, as the kids say, incredibly dumb, like.
It is so sad that your prejudice has reached a "blinding" level such that you cannot even recognise the most obvious uses of irony. There was no genuine breathless excitement in the article, just ironic breathless excitement.
I got mine literally the moment the Apple Store came back at 4AM....
Can't wait!
@angelusp
Times are tough...hope you do have the money soon.
Which type are you planning on getting? Or do you want to get? Me personally I got the 32 GB Black....
@BrookLynnsFinest
ME TOO!!
@BrookLynnsFinest ugg...went to sleep at 3:45, expecting a 5:30 Pacific start...and have been trying like a madman for hours. fml.
@BrookLynnsFinest If I had the money, I would get the black one. White seems elegant, but I like subtlety more. =]
@BrookLynnsFinest did it feel that much better getting it at 4AM than just waiting for like 7AM?
@tu eres estupido
I got it exactly at 4AM though....
I waited till Midnight (Eastern time) then when I saw that it was going down at 4 I went to sleep and set my alarm for 3:50AM.
Was done by 4:10AM. Scarily enough by 4:30 everyone was saying that it crawled to a slowdown...
@BrookLynnsFinest
I honestly can't believe people still lineup to sign contracts on this network for this device. How long can Apple continue to align itself w/ AT&T's horrible incompetence?
@steel
So wait are you an Apple Hater or the AT&T Hater?
@BrookLynnsFinest so it was worth it? I'm impressed
@BrookLynnsFinest
Me too I got mine black 16gb at 3AM this morning but i was unable to get it from apple.com as it would not check my account with ATT so i logged in on ATT and order one... I hope I get it on the 24 like everyone else
@rodtx1976
Did you choose to pick it up in store or have it delivered?
I chose in store since I triple verified that as long as you get there before business hours are over you'll be able to pick up the one you reserved.
@BrookLynnsFinest
No love for AT&T, that's for sure. As far as Apple, I respect them, but always feel like they stop about 20% short, you know? They'll put together something great then leave out something obvious. I honestly feel like they've created their own competitors simply by the gaping holes they leave open. i.e., Android doesn't live if Apple doesn't insist on sticking only w/ At&t for that fat subsidy.
@BrookLynnsFinest I went to the AT&T store around 08:40. There was a small line, but no biggie. Sadly their servers were down though. Still waiting on a confirmation that my order for the 32GB Black model went through. Pretty ghey.
@BrookLynnsFinest Finally was able to log into the AT&T "Premier" store, which I have to use since it's a business account. The iPhone is not even available for pre-order in the premier store (premier my ass). I've had it with these incompetent jackasses. We aren't spending several thousand dollars a month for crappy service. As the contracts expire I'll be moving accounts to AT&T competitors. No more iPhones, but other carriers have great android devices that more than make up for AT&T's shitty service and crappy phone selection (other than the iPhone). This is literally the last straw. To cut out their businesses accounts that are supposed to have better access in order to make up for their lack of planning is beyond annoying.
@BrookLynnsFinest Where's the, "I'm British, you inconsiderate jerks!" option?