i-Day: iPhone iNsanity

It's the day for the Apple iPhone to be released to the public, and the public is doing its job to feed into the media frenzy. If you're not on line waiting for the iPhone, you've either seen people waiting on line or mocked people waiting on line (while secretly coveting one, of course). WCBS has some photographs of people on line this morning - someone even brought his dog, which is named Beta! David Clayman, second in line, has been blogging about his waiting at iPhone Adventure. And earlier this week, on the luck of seven interviewed the person at the head of the line, Greg Packer, and Clayman - here's the video.

We'll be updating this post with updates, so let us know what you're seeing and hearing. So far, we hear that the line is only 10 deep at AT&T stores. Which makes sense, because who wants to be the dope waiting outside the AT&T store?

And we'll be at the release tonight, possibly wearing body armor.

Update: This comes in from Fox News. They were doing a live report with a Newsweek columnist Steven Levy, and someone just walked up during the interview and tried to grab his iPhone, but gets the mic instead. Looks like our prediction is very real.

fox news
Uploaded by hotternews

Gizmodo is using Justin.TV technology to live video broadcast from the SF line. Interesting if you want to experience the line, but from the comfort of your own home.

CollegeHumor comes at us with their first in a series of iPhone spoofs, just in time for launch. This one is focused on the visual voice mail feature.

WCBS 880 got some video of people at the head of the line at Fifth Avenue (video below). Apparently the people have been sponsored by companies to take advantage of the media attention - the people are either paid or wearing free-t-shirts. If a personal hygiene product isn't offering deodorants, we think a great opportunity is lost.

Top photographs of people outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store by Matthew Stanton/CBS; lower photograph of the Soho Apple Store by your pal Matt on Flickr

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 29, 2007 12:40 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

the olde english iphone sketch with john gemberling

is the best I have seen! yeah NYC comedy!

emilydickinson

Chaos is erupting at the SoHo Apple store as we speak. Spike Lee is their, and some guy just tried to cut the line and seems like he will be drawn and quartered. The cops are also arriving en masse.

ed_Extinct

it's not a lot money for what you get...

phone

email/internet

music

video

photos

sleak-ass design

etc

etc

etc

what does suck, is the AT&T is the service provider.

guest

Considering that carrying around a cellphone, MP3 player, and any other gadgets is a pain. This is definitely going in the right direction. Bump up the hard drive space and make it 3G ready and I'll snap one up in a second. Oh thats right I'll need to wait a couple of years since they will be upgrading each of those one at a time with each new generation...

Alex

"$499 is too much money?? I don't think so. Most people spend that on one pair of Jeans or going out one night. " #27

I'm not sure what planet you live on, but MOST people certainly can't afford 500 dollars for a phone, much less a pair of jeans or a night out.

emilydickinson

Update: The line in SoHo is still pretty tiny. It does appear that the lemon ice will be able to put his children through college though.

mocanlagunas

Not "fat-friendly"?!? and the blackberry and any other cell out there is, right?

Anyway, if Steve doesn't sell millions today... he'll earn millions anyway with Ratatouille also opening today! Smart man my Stevie!!!

guest

$499 is too much money?? I don't think so. Most people spend that on one pair of Jeans or going out one night.

This is NYC & $499 or $599 is really a bargain considering other things people spend money on. Don't forget you also need very good credit to pass the credit check to even get approved for service.

Obviously it is based on supply & demand. I am sure that they will fetch $2,000 or more on ebay.

brooklynbee

If money was no object, I'd buy the I-phone. But right now, it's not in my budget - plus I'd be afraid of losing or dropping it!

guest

That video was hilarious.

They were all worried about someone grabbing the iPhone, and some douchebag walked by and grabbed the mic?

lol new york

guest

I think that guy just wanted to screw with the Fox News broadcast.

guest

I love Olde English's Iphone spoof, check it out!

guest

Typical ghetto types as well as the Guido White trash wiggers playing into this hype.

Isn't this the same overhyped BS we heard after the Wii & PS3 came out.

They all look like ugly losers who likely live in their mothers basement.

guest

Do these people have no jobs? It's not as if they're selling cure for cancer or some sh!t.

maevro

I use touch technology on my HTC Trinity and you can use fat fingers. I am a windows mobile lover and would never buy an iPhone but it is definitely a cool product. I would never wait in line for it, especially for days and it will only get better.

Not having UMTS or HSDPA is a deal breaker for me. EDGE is slow and ugly and you can't upgrade to 3G by a software update.

I love having 3G, 3rd Party Applications and I have Google Maps and GPS on my phone.

guest

Take away the phone features, drop the price and I would be very interested in the - what i like to call - WiPod. Otherwise...it is just another phone and there is no way in hell I'm going to switch carriers for a phone (and a ridiculously expensive one at that).

p.s. anyone else think this guy may just hate fox news and wasn't trying to snatch the phone?

ed_Extinct

iAm not iNterested.

guest

What happens if your fingers are too fat to use the keyboard? Then some certain functions of this device become useless. It's not fat friendly. I'm outraged!

emilydickinson

I work about 50 feet from the SoHo Apple Store, and there really isn't that huge of a line at all. It's maybe 30 people or so. There is one amazing guy who has been there for the last two days, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and getting a horrific sunburn. He's been making laugh everytime I walk bye. There are also several homeless people making a few extra bucks by holding peoples spaces in line.