phones

WASHINGTON--In a city where line-standing at Capitol Hill events is an occupation unto itself, I was halfway expecting to see hordes of seasoned lackeys holding spots for high-powered lobbyists during my Friday afternoon circuit of AT&T stores boasting the iPhone.

But alas, instead of the usual guys in bike messenger garb holding up cardboard signs bearing their clients' handwritten names, I found relatively short lines of mostly earnest Applephiles, many still donning their buttoned-up office attire and ID card lanyards (among those I spotted: U.S. Department of State, DC government). Many of those who actually agreed to … Read more

WOOHOOOOO! Rich DeMuro and Wilson Tang got iPhones and brought them back to the office and I got to play with...the box. I now present to you the ultra-exclusive, behind-the-scenes, iPhone Pre-Unboxing Video from CNET.

One of the things talked about most in the aftermath of the iPhone's New York debut was how streamlined the launch was. A gauntlet of Apple store employees kept everyone in a single file, and upon entering the Apple store customers were ushered directly to the checkout line where they received (and paid for) their iPhones. The press, however, was not so calm--seriously, I felt like I was taping something that would wind up on TMZ or Perez Hilton.

At last count, there was no shortage of iPhones, and many of the people who happened to walk into line … Read more

As planned, Apple shuttered its flagship San Francisco Apple store at 2 p.m. today to prep for tonight's first iPhone sales.

Apple employees gawked back at the gawkers outside the store on Stockton Street in downtown San Francisco. A constant stream of curious passersby snapped camera-phone shots, local news cameramen hovered, and independent video bloggers galore were on hand for the closing of the Apple store curtains before they'll be raised again this evening for the first iPhone sales in the Pacific time zone.

New Yorkers got their phones earlier this afternoon, and News.com reporter Caroline … Read more

The first New Yorkers have their iPhones, showing off the sleek black packages to a massive crowd of paparazzi-esque press (really, we're animals), Apple Store employees, and a large number of spectators. Yes, spectators. Stadium-style. Yes, David Pogue is still hanging around, taping the scene with a personal camcorder but largely avoiding the sweaty press mobs. No, there is no sign of Steve Jobs, Bono, John Mayer, or any other celebrities associated with Apple.

There is not yet any word on shortages or the lack thereof. It's 6:26 PM and they are still letting people in, so … Read more

Our long national nightmare of waiting for the iPhone is over.

Downtown San Francisco is going to be one interesting place this evening, as the iPhone line outside Apple's store bumps up against the monthly Critical Mass ride.

Presumably, you're familiar with the iPhone. The lines in San Francisco awaiting the 6 p.m. launch might not be as deep as those outside the Fifth Avenue Apple store in New York, but at last check people were lined up along two city blocks.

At 5:30 p.m., just down Market Street in Justin Herman Plaza, the monthly gathering of bicyclists known as Critical Mass will kick off. Critical Mass … Read more

You have to feel a little sorry for the Free Software Foundation, which launched the first overhaul of its General Public License (GPL) in 16 years on the same day that Apple's iPhone launch hogged the spotlight.

But the foundation, like everybody and his brother, couldn't resist looking for a piece of the iPhone action. It used the launch as an opportunity to preach the merits of its new license and raise the specter that Apple's iPhone will violate it.

"We know that Apple has built its operating system, OS X, and its Web browser, Safari, … Read more

Continuing my series of unedited, incoherent clips from the iPhone launch in NYC that were taped with a pocket-size Canon point-and-shoot, here is a little clip of the most popular person on the block (the Starbucks employee handing out free coffee) and the second most popular person on the block (New York Times tech columnist David Pogue, talking to fans).

Also being handed out: Evian water and Godiva chocolate. This liveblogger is happy!