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Nanoleaf Lines are customizable smart light bars
Lines will let you draw stick images over your wall and light them as you wish.
The psychology of Apple fans who sit in line
Many people make a conscious decision to wait in line for an iPad or iPhone instead of pre-ordering their iOS device. A recent Marketwatch article examines some of the reasons why people brave the elements just to buy the latest and greatest gadgets. According to retail marketing experts, people enjoy the experience of collective shopping. Customers are not waiting in line alone, they are conversing and enjoying each other's company. Retailers add to this party mood by providing food, drinks and other goodies to the line-waiters. Experts also claim people's purchasing decisions are validated by crowds. Some customers may be hesitant about their purchase, but they feel better when they realize dozens of other people made the same decision. iPhone and iPad lines are also driven by a sense of scarcity. People get excited when they know an item is in short supply and are willing to stretch the bounds of their comfort to acquire it. I used to be a line-waiter and did it because I wanted to ensure that I got the iPhone/iPad at launch and because I enjoyed the camaraderie. Now that I live more than an hour away from an Apple Store, it's easier just to pre-order. Do you wait in line to get your iPhone/iPad fix?
Dress up like XCOM's Thin Man, skip the lines at 2K's PAX booth
The lines at PAX Prime can be the show's biggest pain. It's all open to the public, so playing a much-anticipated game like XCOM: Enemy Unknown can have you standing around for ages. Fortunately, the folks at 2K have cooked up a cheat to help you out: Just dress up as the game's Thin Man character and you'll get a VIP badge when you show off your costume at the show.That badge will grant you access to play XCOM and Borderlands 2 without waiting, plus you'll be able to duck into the XCOM panel on Saturday. You can see what the Thin Man looks like above, and study some concept art on the official blog post, if you need it.If you don't want to wear a costume but still want some quality hands-on time with Borderlands 2 (and some Joystiq staffers), be sure to stop by the PAX party tomorrow night. The bar is open there no matter who you're dressed as.
Stolen iPhone photos unwittingly posted by Disney cruise ship employee
"This is Nelson," says iPhone owner Katy McCaffrey of the picture above, posted on her Facebook. "Nelson has my stolen iPhone." McCaffrey took her iPhone on a Disney Cruise back in April, where the phone was either misplaced or stolen. But it's been found, now. Photo Stream was still running, and pictures from the iPhone have started appearing on it of Nelson and his friends and coworkers on the boat. Disney has investigated the situation and says the phone has been recovered and will be returned to its owner when the boat that it's on is back in port. The employee in question is on "administrative leave," and his fate will presumably be determined when the current cruise is finished. Disney is doing its best to make things right, but yeah, shame on Nelson for not making sure the phone (which you have to imagine had McCaffrey's info on it, right?) was returned to its owner right away. [Via NPR]
Rumor: MacBook Pro line getting revamped with MacBook Air style designs
There's rumors of a shakeup going around in Apple's laptop lines. AppleInsider claims, according to "people familiar with Apple's roadmap" (cute -- it's Friday, so we'll let that through), that Apple is aiming to completely revamp its notebook lines sometime this year, basically making the MacBook Air's style the standard. MacBook Pros would essentially be discontinued as we know them, and instead, the MacBook Pro would take on the Air format: Super thin, no optical drives, centered almost completely around digital distribution and portability. This is a story we've heard before. There has been word from overseas of a MacBook Air style notebook with a 15 inch screen coming out of the manufacturers in China, and this murmuring would seem to support those rumors. It's not much of a stretch, either -- the MacBook Air has been extremely popular (I've seen them almost replace any other Mac notebook models already at the two electronics conventions I've been to this year), and clearly customers have shown that they're ready to go with a slimmer model designed around downloading software rather than installing it from a disc. Of course, there will always be holdouts: It's hard to believe that Apple will release a 17" MacBook Air-style model, and certainly there are plenty of users who would rather have a huge laptop that's almost used more as a desktop computer than something more portable. But this is Apple we're talking about -- have they ever waited for users to be comfortable with the new before moving forward? At any rate, don't get too excited yet, as these are just rumors for now. But it does seem likely that by the end of this year, we'll see thinner, lighter laptops in Apple's portable computer lines.
Foxconn doubles factory size to meet iPhone demand
Chinese manufacturer Foxconn is growing again, with recent reports stating that the company is doubling the size of one of its production lines in order to keep up with production for current and future Apple products. The Foxconn Science Park in Zhengzhou is undergoing a $1.1 billion expansion, which will double the current output of about 200,000, with more than 130,000 workers kicking out tons of products for sale all over the world. The facilities are apparently going through constant updates, so Foxconn is pushing for more and more production all the time, rather than waiting for a big plan to finish and then updating everything. But by this time next year, the work is all scheduled to be finished, which should make for getting plenty of iPhone 5s out the door. Foxconn looks to be the most direct and open beneficiary of all of Apple's success, and it's wasting no time at all in expanding its operations to make even more money off of the sustained demand for Apple's products. You have to wonder what the endgame of this looks like, if Apple ever decides to go with another production line. I don't know if there will ever be another company that would need this kind of setup in the same way. We'll have to see.
Hong Kong line for iPhone 4S numbers in the thousands
We mentioned in passing that the iPhone 4S had sold out in ten minutes at the Hong Kong Apple Store, but given these pictures that have been posted online since, a statement like that doesn't really do the launch justice. That place looks like a madhouse -- thousands of people lined up to buy Apple's new iPhone, and the police were out in force with barricades and dogs to make sure everything went smoothly. Black market salesmen were buying and selling iPhones outside the store, apparently, and leaving the queue got your picture taken and your number checked. There were even "professional queuers," low income workers that were paid to simply stand in line and buy the phone when it became available. The whole thing is a little shocking, actually -- here in the States, waiting in line for a new game or a new iPhone is kind of a silly thing to do to show your appreciation for a new product, but in Hong Kong it is serious business apparently. I hope nobody got hurt at the launch out there, and though it seems unlikely, I also hope everyone who wanted an iPhone day got one. [photo by M.I.C gadget]
Apple may freeze new Mac releases until Lion ships
Apple is rumored to be halting any new Mac releases until Lion ships in July, according to a report heard by AppleInsider. Sources for that site say that Apple management is so excited about the improvements and user experience Lion offers, they don't want to ship any new Macs until Lion is finalized, so that "buyers are afforded the latest and greatest Apple experience." Apple apparently has new MacBook Airs ready to ship, but is waiting until it can load a gold-master version of Lion on them to do so. Also, while there are no hard rumors surrounding the next Mac mini and LED Cinema Display, apparently those rollouts are also waiting for the final release of Lion, which is supposed to come out sometime next month. And the Mac isn't the only platform waiting for new software -- apparently new iOS devices are also waiting to ship until iOS 5 is finalized. Apple wants to make sure all iCloud services are up and running so that new iPhone owners can take advantage of the full services iOS 5 and iCloud will offer.
iPad 2 international launch causes people to line up in line all over again (updated)
You may or may not know this, but the iPad 2 became available in 22 countries today, and from the looks of it above (snapped at London's Regent Street store), waiting in line was part of the deal. Now, we have this theory that people love to line up for anything, so we're not going to draw any conclusions about how dreamy the product is, but please, if you shot any line photos today, feel free to send them our way and we'll throw them in our post after the break.
Two Australian Apple fans wait 50 hours in line for an iPad 2
Alex Lee can cross another item off his bucket list: waiting in line for 50 hours to be one of the first people in Australia to own a shiny new iPad 2. Actually, the 28-year-old IT consultant from Canada is already one of the first people in Australia to own an iPad 2; Lee bought one while visiting Boston, Massachusetts, two weeks ago. Now, for a bit of fun, he's first in line at the Apple Store in Sydney, Australia, to pick up a second iPad 2 for someone special. "I was backpacking in Asia, and I already have my iPad 2, but my sister needed one so I said, OK, I'll come down," Lee told news.com.au. "And if I can, I'm getting one for a charity auction for Japan tsunami relief." When current.com.au asked Lee why he was choosing to endure a two-day wait for a product he already owns, he replied, "I want to break my own record." His record? Lee once spent 32 hours in front of London's Regent Street Apple Store to buy an iPhone 4. He's also lined up in Dubai for the original iPad and endured the crowds for both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS launches in Canada. "I'll probably break the 50 hour mark," said Lee, whose wait started shortly after noon on Wednesday. Like any well-traveled expert at camping in line for Apple products, Lee knows the experience is more fulfilling when enjoyed with a buddy. Second in line is Marius Eilertsen, a friend Lee made while attending university in Australia. Eilertsen, a 29-year-old from Sydney, isn't quite as experienced at waiting two days in line for a product to launch, but he doesn't seem worried about his comparative lack of preparation. "I brought a chair and a blanket, and that's about it. I'll get more supplies when I need them," Eilertsen told news.com.au. "Hopefully my wife will bring me stuff." Lee is also joined by Louis Franklin, who is first in line for the iPad 2...at a store half a world away in London. Lee and Franklin use Apple's FaceTime video conferencing technology to commiserate over hecklers and celebrate the iPad 2's global launch while waiting patiently outside their respective Apple stores. "One of the best things about lining up is you get to meet a lot of different people from all walks of life -- we all share a common interest and there is camaraderie," said Lee to The Sydney Morning Herald. The iPad 2 was greeted by sell-out crowds when it launched in the United States on March 11. Apple's device goes on sale in 25 additional countries at 5:00 PM local time this Friday. Continue to the full article to see a video interview with Alex Lee. Sadly, Lee never mentions how to apply to become his adoptive sibling.
International iPad 2 launch still on track
Apple has confirmed that the iPad 2 launch in the UK is still planned for this Friday, March 25, according to TechRadar. There was concern that the launch would be delayed due to supply issues, but an Apple spokesperson apparently says that the company is still following the date listed on the website, which means the UK will get iPad 2 on Friday afternoon. The launch has definitely been delayed in Japan due to the Sendai earthquake and its consequences, but supposedly (according to an Apple Store employee), it's on everywhere else, including Canada. If you are trying to get an iPad 2 somewhere in the world this weekend, be warned that the international launch will probably suffer from the same issues that the US launch did, with long lines, long waits and not a lot of solid information to go around. Update: We've heard from sources connected to Apple's sales operations that there is no way iPad 2 inventories can be effectively shifted from one country to another; each country's product is unique in terms of regulatory certification and the back cover part, so once it's built for a place, that's the only place it's going to be sold. If manufacturing was going to be adjusted to shift the balance of iPad 2 production in favor of US models, that call would have needed to happen several weeks ago -- before the US rollout and corresponding availability crunch. But aside from all of that trouble, here's hoping you get the iPad 2 you're looking for. Good luck! [via TheAppleBlog]
iPad 2 line watch: the few, the proud, the soaking wet (updating)
Last night you couldn't walk down the street in New York City without becoming seriously soaked and breaking your umbrella, but you didn't really think that would stop those crazy Apple fans, did you? Oh yes, the iPad 2 lines are in full effect in NYC and around the country -- we're hearing there are already close to 150 at The Cube in Midtown Manhattan and scores of others in line in Austin, Fort Lauderdale, Palo Alto and more. And with reports of online orders not shipping for 2 to 3 weeks now, we're assuming those queues are only going to grow in the next few hours. It is, of course, our time-honored tradition to bring you photos of those incredibly brave line-sitters, and we'll be doing just that this afternoon and evening. We'll be heading out to grab some shots of our own soon and bring you the smiles and tears, but until then hit the break for a few we've been sent so far. Oh, and good luck everyone!
Verizon iPhone hits the streets, fails to gather crowds (video)
Verizon may have had its best sales day ever with the launch of the CDMA iPhone 4, but you wouldn't be able to tell if you parked outside a retail store this morning. Reuters reports that the usual hordes didn't show up for the Verizon iPhone launch -- San Francisco and New York flagship Apple Store locations boasted as few as forty individuals in line -- and that by afternoon today, the initial shipment of devices were still in stock. Of course, the device had already been on sale for several days -- and face it, it's just a CDMA iPhone 4 -- but it's not often we get to see spectacles like the one on video above, shot at the Mall of America store.
Verizon iPhone customers line up across the US
Verizon customers began lining up to snag an iPhone 4 from the nation's most reliable carrier today. People were lining up across the country, but most lines were reportedly light. Long lines with wait times of several hours were not expected given the ample pre-order opportunities and the cold temperatures, which would drive folks inside. Nonetheless, there are a few brave souls who stood out in the cold to buy an iPhone 4 on its first day of availability. Check out our gallery below of a sampling of lines from coast to coast. %Gallery-116221%
TUAW's Daily App: Soundrop
Soundrop isn't really a game -- it's more of a musical instrument, although you can play with it for quite a while. The app presents a small hole that constantly drops balls out at a certain rate, while you draw lines on the screen with your finger. Where the balls hit the lines, a tone is sounded, and by positioning the lines in the right places, you can make an interesting sort of music. The app itself calls it "musical geometry," and it is surprisingly fun, even if you aren't a musician. With headphones, you can actually hear the whole thing in stereo, which makes for another fun factor of the experience. The app is a free download, although you only get a demo for free, with the ability to just draw white lines anywhere. Paying US $1.99 opens up the full functionality, and you can change physics, add more spouts, or change the colors of the lines that are drawn, creating different musical noises with each color. It's a good time -- play with the free version to see if it hits you right, and then if you're interested, you can buy in for the two bucks and have the whole app.
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]
Apple may have sold 1.5 million iPhone 4s already
This will come as no surprise to anyone who saw all of those lines yesterday: Analysts are saying that Apple probably sold over 1.5 million iPhones yesterday, with 600,000 preorders, 100,000 in-store sales, and 50,000 sales from other places like Best Buy, with the rest coming from overseas. If that number is true (it's still just an estimate at this point), then Apple soundly broke early sales of the iPhone 3GS, which took a whole weekend to break one million sales. Still, as I said, record numbers wouldn't be surprising at all, given the turnouts at Apple Stores. Oppenheimer analyst Yar Reiner also says that about 76 percent of the buyers yesterday were actually upgrading their iPhones, with only about 21 percent switching to AT&T. Of the customers getting an iPhone for the first time, 41 percent were originally T-Mobile, with only 28 percent coming from Verizon (who is rumored to be getting its own iPhone soon). No matter what the final numbers turn out to be, yesterday was a heck of a day for Apple -- anecdotally, it was the biggest launch many of us have ever seen. It's only a day after release, and already the iPhone 4 is a huge success.
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.
How to make $150 million in a day
Seth Godin has a great post up that serves as a good capper on what may have been Apple's best product launch ever. He puts the money made by Apple last Saturday morning at around $150 million, and even if that's not exactly right, I have to say that having been through a few Apple launches now, I think the iPad's launch was the smoothest and easiest opening I've seen -- for all of the complaints and problems people who haven't bought an iPad seem to have, those who did buy one on Saturday seemed happy to me. So how did Apple pull it all off? As Godin says, they started years ago. Apple is one of the only companies in the world with not only the power to set up limits on access on a device this big, but also keep a rabid fanbase hyped and waiting. Apple has created an image designed exactly for releasing products like this, with the secrecy and speculation and announcement events, and so on. And the company has backed up that image with pristine engineering and design -- as Godin says, rather than be everything to everyone, it promised a few things to a certain group of people (the iPad can't do Flash or multitask or take pictures), and then delivered (but it can do the things it does really, really well). And perhaps most importantly, when launch time came around, Apple's management didn't focus on "launching," they focused on simply getting the product into customers' hands. The iPhone had all kinds of issues with setup and purchasing and activating and so on, but Apple went out of its way during the iPad launch to make sure customers had the iPad when they were supposed to --waived shipping fees, plenty of inventory in stores, and a push for delivery at exactly the right time. That's how you make $150 million in a day: Promise what you'll deliver, and deliver what you'll promise.
Breakfast Topic: Your favorite lines of spoken dialogue
While video game voice acting never really seems to draw the amazing big names, it's definitely steadily improving from the old day when it was spare members of the coding team and a couple people pulled off from the street or something. WoW seems to combine the best of both worlds here, in that Warcraft's Voice acting seems to run the gamut from awesome to pretty decent to painfully over-hammy. Still, to its credit, it's produced a whole lot of iconic lines, from the first "zug zug" to "You are not prepared" and beyond. With so many iconic phrases, both breath taking and amusing, I'm interested to know what lines of dialogue stick with you and why. Is it the turn of phrase? The delivery? The context in which the line is spoken that adds to the drama or humor?For me, it's all about Eadric the Pure. Pretty much every line of dialogue he gets in the Trial of the Crusader 5-man is amazing. Well acted, well scripted, with just the right balance between pomposity, noble righteousness and a sort of bemused sense of humor and enjoyment about the whole concept of the Argent Tournament. If I had to pick one line, it would be his final one: "I yield! I submit! Excellent work! May I run away now?"Yes, you may Eadric. But please, come back again soon. You're awesome.
