World+Dog lines up for iPhones
But rain puts Brits off
Global sales of camping tents must be skyrocketing, because reports are coming in from many corners of the globe of iPhone fanatics queuing up days in advance of the phone’s launch, just to ensure they’re first in line.
In New Zealand, for example, 22-year-old student Jonny Gladwell pitched his tent outside an Apple store earlier this week. His ‘friends’ have said that if he can survive on New Zealand’s…ahem… notoriously rough streets until launch day, then they’ll buy him the phone.
Gladwell’s also hoping for world fame though and, according to a Reuters report, he said that he’s really just queuing so he can say, “I'm the first one in the world with one of these phones".
And he might just get his wish, because Vodafone – the chosen iPhone network operator in New Zealand – will release the 3G model at 12.01am on Friday, which is several hours ahead of the launch time for GMT customers.
Japan has also already seen its fair share of people queuing for 3G iPhones. Akihabara News recently took a stroll down to one Softbank store in the Harajuku region and found 26 people already queuing up.
One Apple addict said he wants a white 3G iPhone to expand his already booming Apple hardware collection, which includes an iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, iPod Touch and, of course, an Apple T-shirt.
Only Blighty seems immune. We sent one of Register Hardware’s roving reporters down to Apple’s flagship store in Regent Street today to speak with London’s iPhone-atics. But, given the terrible wet weather - or perhaps because O2's sold 'em all - there wasn’t a single person sat outside.
COMMENTS
@ Those new to Webster
I have to agree with Svantevid, Webster is a treasure.
I don't think he's British, he is most likely located at the Lane County Psychiatric Hospital (151 West 5th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97401)... right between Redmond and Cupertino.
A week gone by without a comment from Webster or amanfromMars, is a bad week!!!
@ Ivan Headache
Damn, that's what happens when you learn English by watching "Star Wars"... Yoda I'll listen to no more.
Let me reformulate my statement, to be clear on what I wanted to say:
"Especially typically British sarcastic humour (ElReg staff, various readers) and Webster's fascinating rants."
There. :-)
@Svantevid
"Especially Webster's fascinating rants and typically British sarcastic humour"
Rants they are, but typically British sarcastic humour? Phreaky doesn't know the meaning of sarcasm, he just produces bile.
Anyway, I can't believe he's British. His grammar's rubbish and he makes too many references to something called kool Aid. Kool Aid is something unknown in the UK. If he was British he would refer to Tizer.
Amanfrommars is definitely British though. His grammar is nigh on perfect and he uses words in a subtle and very intelligent manner, often producing long sentences that Bernard Levin would have been proud of.
Re: anti-glob
"didn't el reg do a story of some anti-gloablisation protestors who smashed an iphone and ipod on stage at some festival?"
That was the Gates and Ballmer show, wasn't it?
Anyway, for all you anti-Apple folks out there (especially the hilarious Mr Freaky) - look, the second-gen iPhone is actually a half-decent product. It's pretty much the first smartphone not crippled by a rubbish OS, with lots of features on there that actually make it useful. Sure, I don't think it's going to take over the Blackberry market (not having a proper keyboard for a start will always hinder it), but it's hit that sweet spot of being innovative and useful at the same time. Much like the second-gen iPods did. Once the fuss calms down I might even get one.
And yes, Apple are money-grabbing evil Capitalist scum, as are Microsoft, IBM, Sun etc; that's capitalism for you. Get used to it. It's better than the alternatives.
Re: Webster Phreaky
Gentlemen, Webster is a national treasure. While BOFH attracted me to ElReg, readers' comments (Orlowski, *please* allow comments on your articles) are what makes me a regular reader. Especially Webster's fascinating rants and typically British sarcastic humour.
If I was less sane/more on hallucinogens, I'd say the same for amanfrommars. As it is, I'm using him for sanity calibration... if his posts start making sense, I'm in obvious need of vacation/large quantities of alcohol.
