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iPhone lines crop up at AT&T stores as humanity slips ever further toward its inevitable destruction
We get it, the iPhone 4 is pretty cool, and of course the opportunity to obtain it on the very first day has a bit of an allure. But lining up for a camp-out in front of your strip mall-ensconced AT&T store five days later for the first day of walk-in sales is... well, we don't want to judge. At least you documented the soul sucking process with these blurry photos of your lines, some of which stretched as far as 100 people. Don't worry, the iPhone 4 will manage to snap much better shots of this process as it inevitably repeats itself next year, to the clear detriment of mankind. Oh, and if you onlookers were thinking of joining in on the fray, you might want to hold off: the word on the street is that most AT&T stores have run out of this fresh stock already. %Gallery-96552% [Thanks to everyone who sent these in]
iPhone 4 launch day line watch (update: Woz in action)
From the London store Welcome to the latest installment of our annual tradition: the iPhone launch day queue experience in pictorial form. London's getting the party started early (not as early as some, admittedly) with a sizable crowd turning the corner from the Apple Store at Regent Street, but we'll keep this post updated with imagery from all over the place. Wouldn't mind if you helped us out with a few of your own pics, either. You know where to send them in by now, and once you've done that, feel free to slide past the break to see how everyone else is doing it. Update: Now with reports from San Francisco! Update 2: NY joins the fray! Update 3: We added some of the more interesting reader-submitted stories. Update 4: Reports from Palo Alto and San Jose, California! Update 5: London's doors have swung open and we're now busy activating our brand new Apple phones. Update 6: Woz and his Segway make their regular appearance at the San Jose Valley Fair Apple Store. Update 7: We're adding a bunch of reader reports. Even as Apple opens its doors to pre-orderers in the US, the lines remain crazy. Update 8: Apple serving fries in Chicago! Update 9: We've added our London video that was intended for the latest Engadget Show. Enjoy!
HTC EVO 4G launch day line watch
You've had the day circled on your calendar for nearly a month, you've seen its insides, you've seen it rooted, and you've even witnessed Froyo running on its massive 4.3-inch screen. Now the time has finally come to actually own the EVO. As is our time-honored tradition with galactically significant product launches, we're starting up a little photo essay here showing the progression of lines outside Sprint stores through this most auspicious of days. Only the trick here is that you'll be doing our writing for us, a thousand words at a time. Join us after the break for the pictures and don't forget -- a lot of stores will be opening early to sate demand.
iPad line watch: the few, the proud? (updating, Woz on deck!)
We just landed at Apple's 5th avenue flagship, "The Cube," and it's... a little bare. We count less than 15 people in line at this point (still headed by the inimitable Greg Packer), and most of them actually have pre-orders. Despite the minimal line situation, Apple has a huge section of The Cube's plaza cordoned off to make room for more, and the NYPD is here with barriers galore, ready to lay down the law. We're told the lines will be split between pre-orderers and non-pre-orderers at 6:30PM, at which point the scene will look truly pitiful. Presumably the crowd will grow later tonight and swell early next morning, as those pre-orderers with nothing to worry about shuffle in, breakfast in their bellies. Or maybe everyone just went to the beach for the weekend. Have you spotted a line in your city? Send us a tip! Not planning on braving the beautiful spring weather for a shot at this revolutionary / magical device? Make sure to check out Josh's iPad-equipped Jimmy Fallon appearance later tonight. CLICK HERE TO READ ENGADGET'S FULL REVIEW OF THE IPAD! Update: News is filtering in from all over -- check it after the break, and make sure to send in what you're seeing, wherever you are! Update 2: The line at The Cube is moving! Check out the update after the break. Update 3: We're Ustreaming live from NYC's Cube store. Check it after the break! %Gallery-89648%
iPhone 3G S line begins in NY, weather be damned
It's pretty gross in NY right now -- sure, you've seen rain before, but you've never really experienced it until you've seen the grit and determination of these city folk wandering around in a light downpour with their $500 umbrellas. That's why it comes as zero surprise to see that despite the ongoing drizzle, a few brave souls have gathered in front of Apple's flagship store to be among the first in the States to get an iPhone 3G S tomorrow morning. Sure, they could've pre-ordered for delivery and stayed dry, but what's the fun in that? So far it's four friends from The iLife blog keeping each other company, with plans to upgrade one of the crew's original iPhones (for that attractive full subsidy price). These guys also braved the mayhem of the iPhone 3G launch, and who knows if they'll wise up before the next one. By 7AM tomorrow they'll have spent 24 hours in the elements -- quite a lot of commitment for a phone, but hey, that video recording bit is pretty neat, and male bonding is forever. Meet these guys and their cloud-sent adversary on video after the break, and check out the read link for their ongoing liveblog of the launch -- naturally courtesy of some iPhone 3.0 tethering.
iPhone 3GS line begins in NY, weather be damned
It's pretty gross in NY right now -- sure, you've seen rain before, but you've never really experienced it until you've seen the grit and determination of these city folk wandering around in a light downpour with their $500 umbrellas. That's why it comes as zero surprise to see that despite the ongoing drizzle, a few brave souls have gathered in front of Apple's flagship store to be among the first in the States to get an iPhone 3G S tomorrow morning. Sure, they could've pre-ordered for delivery and stayed dry, but what's the fun in that? So far it's four friends from The iLife blog keeping each other company, with plans to upgrade one of the crew's original iPhones (for that attractive full subsidy price). These guys also braved the mayhem of the iPhone 3G launch, and who knows if they'll wise up before the next one. By 7AM tomorrow they'll have spent 24 hours in the elements -- quite a lot of commitment for a phone, but hey, that video recording bit is pretty neat, and male bonding is forever. Meet these guys and their cloud-sent adversary on video after the break, and check out the read link for their ongoing liveblog of the launch -- naturally courtesy of some iPhone 3.0 tethering.
Are you getting in line for a Palm Pre?
It's getting close, people -- the Palm Pre officially goes on sale for Sprint Premiere customers tonight at invite-only launch parties around the country, while the rest of us can get in on the action bright and early tomorrow morning at 8AM. Of course, Palm and Sprint have been trying to spin the launch as a bit more low-key than the usual Apple hysteria, and so far it looks like things are pretty quiet -- actually, we haven't heard a peep about lines anywhere so far, which seems a little strange to us. So what's going on out there? Anyone camping out tonight? Setting multiple alarms? Drinking all night and getting to Best Buy with no pants on? Or is everyone waiting for Monday? Sound off!%Poll-30839%
Engadget Holiday Party / Reader meetup lineblog!
Okay, we had no idea we'd have to liveblog this, but we're setting up for the meetup tonight and there are already six people in line. Four hours early. In the rain and snow. In other words -- yeah, this sucker is still on, and we're going to rock it. We'll be updating as company reps get here and start setting up, check it out after the break, along with all the info you need to brave the elements and party with us tonight.Update: We're working on setting up the Ovi slideshow, peep the last set of line pics after the break and check back in a few for the live streaming action!
iPhone 3G: The Waiting Game: Part II: Redux
If you hadn't heard, hundreds of people were turned away from Apple Stores last night, iPhone 3G-less. However, being gluttons for punishment -- and having nothing to do over the weekend -- they've returned in droves to Apple Stores, with reports of lines longer than 200 people stretching out from The Cube, Apple Store Chicago (pictured) and even a store in Durham, NC. Apple offered up vouchers last night, at least at some stores, to anyone still waiting in line, so those folks can show up whenever and jump the line for a phone -- about 30 of them are lined up at The Cube currently. If you don't mind you can let us know in tips what the current status on the line / stock is at your local Apple or AT&T store is, and we'll try to keep track of this mayhem through the weekend. Good luck out there![Thanks to everyone who sent this stuff in]
iPhone lines cut off on East Coast and Midwest, west side still rockin'
This'll come as no surprise to those of you that've been following our worldwide line / stock watch, but with lines hitting six hours long, Apple's started capping them so that stores can close and prepare for tomorrow. Reports of line capping are coming mostly from larger stores in the East Coast and Midwest, but the Glendale Apple store in California is reportedly capped as well. Interestingly, while carrier stores worldwide have all sold out, we've heard that most Apple stores have had more than enough inventory -- one tipster reported that delivery trucks were being used to store overflow, since the main stock rooms were full at his local store -- so we're guessing the lines have more to do with the slowness of the activation process catching Apple off-guard. It certainly wasn't smooth sailing today, but eventually things started working, and it seems like anger's turned to love for a lot of folks. And isn't that the basis of every good relationship? Oh, right. So who's going to get up and do this all again with us tomorrow?
Line Blog: Live from the Line
Looks like we're having some technical issues of our own. We'll have the liveblog back up in a few moments!
iPhone 3G international launch lineblog
We know there are people lined up all over the world for the iPhone 3G -- so if you're among the intrepid souls out there waiting to get yours, send in your photos (and stories) for our international launch lineblog. Just hit us up at iphone@engadget.com.10:32AM ET: Indeed, depending on what employee you talk to, in-store activation via iTunes is either "slow" or "down" -- but either way, they're handing you the phone unactivated, which needs to be completed by connecting to iTunes from the comfort of your home. Beware: if you're upgrading, your old SIM will be immediately bricked, so you'll be phoneless until you complete the activation!10:21AM ET: We're hearing that Apple's activation servers are having intermittent problems, with lines coming to halt at both Apple and AT&T stores, and that some carrier stores worldwide are sending people home because they can't activate phones. Stranger still, some people are being told that they can "activate at home using iTunes." We're getting more info as fast as we can, we'll let you know.9:42AM CT: Things are wild in Chicago as well -- at least 500 strong at the Apple flagship on Michigan Avenue, 100 at the AT&T flagship on State, and at least 200 at the AT&T store on Chicago. Austin and Andy here started waiting at 3PM yesterday, through some major rain -- that's nerd dedication. Keep going past the break for updates from Chicago, NYC, the rest of the US, and all the other international mayhem. Also, be sure to hit us up with your own pictures and experiences at the email address above!
LineBlog: News from Moscone
I have a live feed to Mike Rose and Nik Fletcher this morning and they report that the weather is very cold out there this morning. They've been waiting on line with many other patient well-behaved Apple enthusiasts this morning. The Platinum Pass holders are already being let in, cheering as they're given the go-ahead. 10:12 - Nik reports that a few guys came by a while back with free coffee on a rolling cart--not Starbucks and on the sketchy side. Mike reports that he's spotted Ryan Fass from Computer World, Galen Wood from MacNN, and Sergio from Brazil. Nik has spotted Isaiah, one of the 3rd party RW plugin devs and an EVDO engineer (who is reassuring him that everyone will have enough bandwidth to liveblog. 10:20: So what are people looking forward to from the Keynote? Galen Wood (MacNN) says that the underdog vote has "everyone back home thinking new MacBook Pros at Macstation... MacBook Air would be cool to see." Other votes from people in line: "My personal wish is a Canadian iPhone", "Subnotebook, iPhone 1.1.3, apple tv merge with Mac mini", "Wimax maybe". 10:25: Positioning update. Nik is inside Moscone while Mike shivers with the general media queue outside. 10:30: Join us over at #tuaw on irc.freenode.net! The Lineblog continues after the break!
