iPhone 3G Launch

Even though I can usually wait for a gadget's hype to die down, I had to stand in line for the iPhone 3G — I have a reputation to uphold!

Standing in line for a gadget teaches you something about yourself. Mainly that I hate everyone. Just kidding! I'm not some misanthrope, it just inevitably happens that the people I stand near in lines end up being people I can't wait to never see again. But most likely, pretty much anyone you stand within close proximity for seven hours is going to start wearing on your nerves.

If you stood in a line on Friday, then you'll surely see where I'm coming from. Check it out here, via my and my cohorts' experience: The Top 10 Profiles of Gadget Liners!

1. The Space Invader (also known as the Encroacher): The people who can't quite accept that they're in line behind you and spend the multiple line hours stealthily trying to stand next to you, and eventually in front of you, stepping on your feet, until a withering look sends them back to their place.

To see the rest, just read more

Some of you thought I was crazy for waiting in line six hours for a cell phone, but when you get that rush, that feeling of pure satisfaction and joy when a shiny and new gadget is in your hands, it's well worth the wait and then some. The long-awaited iPhone 3G launch in SF has come and gone and here are a few of my memorable moments from that lonnng day which will go down in history with last year's exhilarating iPhone launch day.

Well it was worth the wait, because I finally have the iPhone 3G in my hands — and yes, it is much smoother and sleeker thanks to the new durable plastic encasing! This second generation "Jesus phone" is back in action, and holy moly am I excited to load it up with some amazing apps. Aside from the new apps that will keep me entertained, I cannot wait to test out the phone's built-in GPS. So far so good on browser speed (Apple claims it's three to five times faster than the first gen iPhone) and the audio quality has greatly improved. Stay tuned for a full rundown of its specs after I test out its goodies! Christmas in July rocks!

After waiting in SF's iPhone 3G line for over an hour and barely moving at all, I couldn't help but ask one of the guys (who was near the front of the line), what the hold up was when he came out of the store with his chic white bag and new iPhone 3G (sadly, it wasn't Dale).

He said it was a painful process and took over half an hour for Apple staffers to complete the paperwork and activate his phone — although he said his phone still wasn't up and running yet when he left the store.

Word on the street is that Apple stores are having difficulty accessing accounts on the iTunes system, most likely because of the overload of customers on the iTunes store. Some customers are even being sent home to unbrick their phones themselves using iTunes. Looks like it's gonna be a lonnngg day!

"I'm not a fan of Apple in particular. I'm a fan of anyone who understands the power of good design (understood in the broad sense) and delivers a fantastic end-to-end experience," says Dale Larson, who landed himself the prime real estate spot in front San Francisco's Apple store. Yes, Dale was first in line when Apple employees opened their doors this morning for the iPhone 3G launch, unlike last year when Dale had two other eager shoppers ahead of him. At least he was dressed to impress for the second year in a row!