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Friday, July 11, 2008 , Updated

D-FW iPhone freaks fans spend their mornings standing in line

by Chad Jones

Today marks the release of Apple's new 3G iPhone, a follow up to their very successful, line-causing, oh-that's-purdy touch-screen cell phone.

Dallasites began forming lines outside Apple stores—some days in advance, others at 7 a.m. this morning—itching to rub their greasy fingers across the cheaper, sleeker metalic slab.

The PegNews team was out at each Apple Store location (Southlake, Knox, Northpark and Plano), handing out coffee and encouragement and preaching the good word of our new iPhone mobile edition.

Here's the scene at NorthPark Mall:

Did you know there are many iPhone waiting styles? First, there's <b>Crossed-Armers</b>, who express their impatience at queueing by folding their arms across their chest, taking effort to lock the right arm under the left so their watches are in plain view. Next, there are <b>Look-Downers</b> who mostly avoid eye contact and pretend to find their shoes particularly enthralling, followed by <b>Facers</b> who pick and rub non existent itches on their faces to pass the time. Lastly, there are <b>The Backwarders</b> who, using either a CA, LD or F stance, derive their pleasure from facing the opposite direction in line, wantonly shrugging off the confines of linear lingering.

Photo by Catherine Cuellar - taken with her iPhone, can you believe it?

Did you know there are many iPhone waiting styles? First, there's Crossed-Armers, who express their impatience at queueing by folding their arms across their chest, taking effort to lock the right arm under the left so their watches are in plain view. Next, there are Look-Downers who mostly avoid eye contact and pretend to find their shoes particularly enthralling, followed by Facers who pick and rub non existent itches on their faces to pass the time. Lastly, there are The Backwarders who, using either a CA, LD or F stance, derive their pleasure from facing the opposite direction in line, wantonly shrugging off the confines of linear lingering.

And here's Knox:

Photo by Mike Orren - taken with ... an iPhone

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Anonymous

Chad Jones, says:

Also at Knox, someone apparently shed their skibbies, likely due to incontinence. We saw it as a marketing opp.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Learned from users/staff: If you have any sort of discount plan, don't go to an Apple Store. We've heard from folks with corporate and student discounts who went through the whole line at an Apple store to learn that they could only purchase at an AT&T store.

And there's other problems causing slowdowns everywhere: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news...

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Miko, I got hosed too (something like 27th in line, so angry).

Northpark Apple, you failed me. I'm not an Apple fanboy (in fact, opted out of first gen b/c of price), but for undisclosed reasons I don't have a phone period in the interim. Pretty pissed that Apple peeps walking around didn't mention this to us, as there's an AT&T store just across the mall we could have scampered to and still been reasonably far up the line.

So I basically got up at 5 this morning for no good reason other than to see a bunch of geeks get amped over a 2nd gen product being released. Not a morning person at all; surprised the manager didn't get a swift kick in the nuts from me and about 5 other peeps who were there before dawn and walked away empty-handed.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Brett Hoerner, says:

Now I really wish I had a picture of Scott Doyle waiting in line for an iPhone at 5 AM.

FANBOI, FANBOI, FANBOI!

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1 year, 4 months ago
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jtmbls, says:

So, I'm not the only person here who drops their phone in their beverage...

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Recognize the two dudes in white hats walking to the end of the line in CC's pic, btw. I was just entering the store when they asked security if Apple would have enough phones for the whole line.

Tired and bitter ITT.

There was some other press dude taking photos there, too - pretty sure you could find a pic of me somewhere. Apple peeps were also taking pics, not sure where they're posting 'em.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

jtm, I'll disclose as soon as I get my phone. =)

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Laura Seewoester, says:

jtm - you most definitely are not. My boyfriend dropped my phone in a glass of beer once, and he's also dropped his phone in the toilet. He certainly <b>will not</b> be buying an iphone.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Alex Bentley, says:

Top this, Laura -- my wife forgot her cell phone was in her pocket and <em>washed</em> the cell phone. Miraculously, after drying out the battery, the damn thing still worked and works to this day (Note: Not an endorsement of washing cell phones -- just saying).

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

April has also successfully washed a cell phone.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

It's officially a flustercluck:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/11/it...

I know I'm an Apple fanboy, but I blame AT&T for this what with all the activation machinations.

I'm happily waiting for the smoke to clear before upgrading the phone. But I'm still frustrated that our app has yet to appear in the ITunes store.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Chad Jones, says:

I went swimming with my cell phone in my pocket. It gurgled and drowned.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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xdavidwattsx, says:

Notwithstanding the total CF of this situation, I just have a hard time bellying up to the $80+ monthly cost of the plans and a 2 year commitment just for a cell phone - not including the cost of the phone.

Anonymous

1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Not to run this into the ground, but a safety tip: If you have an original iPhone and haven't updated to 2.0 yet, don't try until things settle down. You may temporarily brick your phone:

http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/07/11...

Maybe not so terrible that our app isn't up yet...

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Pavel Lishin, says:

Question: why was everyone so gung-ho to get their phone today? Are they going to run out next week?

Granted, even if you didn't foresee the activation issue, couldn't you wait a week to not get up at 5am?

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

Good question, Pavel. I was glad of the marketing opportunity, but I'm certainly waiting.

Funny thing was how many people in line today seemed to have little idea of what they were buying. Trying to explain how the GPS played in with our site seemed to bemuse and amaze many folks.

It's all hype from where I sit, even as an iPhone lover. And Steve Jobs is The Master.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

I stand by my reasons.

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

My last post on this today: Those still trying can follow stock situations at http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/11/ip...

Upshot nationally is that most AT&T stores are out and Apple stores are running low. But the activation servers are back up.

In more important news, our app is still not in the store :-(

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Mike Orren, says:

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Phone got in this afternoon. jtm, no I didn't harm my old one in any manner.

AT&T decided it'd be fun not to offer existing customers the subsidized $199/$299 price unless they're already iPhone users or are eligible for an equipment upgrade (even though they make you sign another 2-year deal at old pricing). So, I decided I'd test out <a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/tips-and-tricks/current-atampt-customers-become-instantly-eligible-iphone-3g-upgrade">this idea</a>.

Unfortunately, on July 10th (day before release) AT&T was apparently doing some house cleaning. When I checked back in to see what my upgrade status was, it had reverted to ineligible. I was concerned they detected my SIM card in a non-iPhone and took away the subsidy, but methinks it was simply a result of the system hiccup prior to launch.

I'm not a girl, so I could handle going a few days without my phone to save a couple hundred bucks (honestly wouldn't have gotten one at the old prices). Was definitely worth my while. =)

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1 year, 4 months ago
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jtmbls, says:

Ahhh, the evil genius strikes again! Sorry your devilish plan was thwarted, either by other evil geniuses or sheer bad luck.

I will have to give you that one. Instant panic ensues the moment I am disconnected from those I hold dear, yet potentially not saved to my SIM card. Your comment would explain the many puzzled looks I have received from your kind at these moments. Survival = The ability to “reach out and touch someone” at any moment. What is it that testosterone doesn’t understand?

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Well, it wasn't really thwarted since I was successful - temporarily hindered, but successful. I merely popped my SIM back into a friend's iPhone, let AT&T detect it, and didn't use mine again until my iPhone was shipped/charged at subsidized pricing.

I'm not retarded, woman. Kept phone in my pocket and SIM in my wallet so I could make calls if an emergency came up. But not gabbing or texting for a few days was quite refreshing. Some of us don't mind the disconnect at all. =p

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1 year, 4 months ago
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Chris Olson, says:

Ah, lame. I was ready to have great fun at your expense Doyle when your plan fell through. Of course if it did backfire, I probably could have heard you screaming about it from work here.