So word on the street (literally) is that a large number of people are queuing in line outside of Apple's flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York City (see above) -- keep in mind the Cube is open
24 hours a day. Our intrepid girl-on-the-scene reports that the group is more than 60-deep, though most people seem confused about what they're waiting for, while some believe they're actually camping out for a 3G iPhone. Meanwhile, Apple reps tell us they're crowd-controlling iPhone buyers because otherwise they would be "screaming" at employees and clogging up the store. See what happens when you get short on stock? More pics after the break.
Update: For those of you convinced this is an Improv Everywhere stunt,
here's a post from Charlie Todd -- the group's founder --
denying involvement.
[Thanks, Laura and Abiade]
posted May 22nd 2008 12:35PM
I wonder if "Improv Everywhere" is responsible? This smells like something they would do just because. People standing in lines for absolutely no reason. I love it...
They totally look in character. Wardrobe and all.
A couple people at digg are claiming it is ImprovEverywhere. Makes a lot of sense but still very funny.
Even better, if they're convincing non-actors to stand in line, just in case something new is being released!
Will someone please send this to Steve "It's got no friggin' keyboard" Ballmer?
How exactly do you express interest in starting a random line?
"Our intrepid girl-on-the-scene reports that the group is more than 60-deep, though most people seem confused about what they're waiting for, but some believe they're actually camping out for a 3G iPhone."
"though most people seem confused about what they're waiting for"
This has got to be one of the funniest things I have heard from reading on this site I usually don't post but this made me laugh.
It'll be even funnier if the MSM picks up on this.
Awwww look at all the pretty sheep!
Everywhere I see sheep... I love how easily herded and confused they are.
...
Ya.
No, they are people. What they are doing might not make sense but neither does your effort to label them as something else in order to feed some sense of superiority you have.
Baah Baaaah!
It would be more funny if a random line suddenly mobbed a Radio Shack or something :P
I stopped in there yesterday and they had a bunch of iPhones on display. I didn't ask if they actually had any in stock, though. But it would be just like them to have 20 out on the floor even if they haven't been selling them for weeks.
It was the first time I've played with one in a while, and now I'm even more impatient for the 3G.
How can a photo be live? Photos are always snapshots of a moment from the past.
I guess even live video feed isn't live, since the frame you're looking at at a given moment is at least 1/24th - 1/30th of a second old.
I've SEEN it happen with my own 2 eyes... although in Orlando it tends to be w/ tourists. Tourists see a line, they jump in it. For no reason.
I don't get it. So these hundreds of people received a "tip" which Engadget, BGR, Phonemag, Intomobile all missed?????
It would seem plausible if even there was a mild rumor that the iPhone 3G release was imminent. Hell Jobs didn't even make his announcement yet.
I don't get it.
They said 60ish people, not hundreds...
Maybe they are standing in line to be blessed by the ominous blurry finger.
Look...sheep!
This could be some sort of test.
What if Apple has been secretly uploading execution codes into the brains of iphone users since these iphone users started using their iphones.
When activated, they are instructed to form a line in front of their nearest Apple store.
Either Apple is running tests right now on a select group of users or, what was uploaded is buggy.
A similar functionailty was demonstrated during the Star Wars Episode III movie where clones were instructed to kill Jedi.
This is likely what is going on here. Some kind of test or bug.
i know you didn't seriously just post that...
As long as they aren't all craving Honeyed Nougat
This could be some sort of test.
What if Apple has been secretly uploading execution codes into the brains of iphone users since these iphone users started using their iphones.
When activated, they are instructed to form a line in front of their nearest Apple store.
Either Apple is running tests right now on a select group of users or, what was uploaded is buggy.
A similar functionailty was demonstrated during the Star Wars Episode III movie where clones were instructed to kill Jedi.
This is likely what is going on here. Some kind of test or bug.
I was in the Apple store on 5th ave yesterday afternoon. The store has been receiving the standard iphones in but in very limited quantities when I inquired with an apple associate.
I would guess that what the line is for. def not the 3g iphone it doesn't land for more then 2.5 weeks
TPF in NYC
Line sitting is a hobby for the lonely. They started a forum so they can chat online without actually talking directly to each other. It's safer that way. What's not safe is a toddler dangling over a railing in Seattle under attack by seagulls. Two ridiculous ideas with photos to prove it.
http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/05/iphone-hero-sna.html
lemmings, such lemmings...
Apparently you use a word, you do not understand, even a little.
Wow... that's so sad.
It's one thing to queue up for a product that's about to ship (although even that's kind of iffy) - but to queue up for a product that won't even ship for at least three weeks - that takes lame to a whole new level.
Its not lame to wait for a product that won't even ship for at least three weeks.
Its lame to wait when don't even know what you're waiting for.
man im about to go down to the apple store in the houston galleria and start another line...
not.....
You have to admit its kinda ironic. Engadget has in essence created a "virtual line" by posting this article. 27 people have posted so far about it. Lets all watch the page of posts grow as the line at the apple store grows.
Is that Russia? Queuing up for cabbage is one thing, people need to eat, but up for electronics? I own Apple stuff, but get a grip folks and stop drinking the kool-aid.
LOL. No, this is America, where people easily believe in simplistic propaganda stores, be it about some mythical lines for cabbage in Russia, or mythical 3G iPhones becoming available in the nearest Apple store.
I recently heard of groups like Improv Everywhere getting people to line up at shopping centres simply by starting a pointless queue. Apparently people tend to join in, simply because there is a queue there. Probably something like this happened here.
Plenny of room here in the Zune line - Who's Next? ....Anyone?
As a networking technician (or wannabe, by your name "packetsniffer" and avatar of the Cisco Systems logo), you should know that redundancy is important!
I'm on my way there to start another line for any new accessories.
If it's all white people, I smell Improv Everywhere...
They're a notoriously pale-faced outfit.
when is the iphone G3 coming out and when is the 32 gig coming out and when is it all coming to Canada???
iPhone 2 immediately available after the WWDC announcement on June 9th. No official word on 32GB. Canada will be announced with 30 days.
http://www.iphonesavior.com/2008/05/gizmodo-scoops.html
The Masses are Asses.God I Hate Apple.
@Memo : "Masses are Asses", so you hate Apple?
Where do you think all these new sheep-like Mac users have switched from? Yes, that's right - they're the same old sheeple who used Windozzze for all those years.
If you think "queueing in line" is redundant, there are a number of mainland Europe countries you must have never visited...
Is this line for the old 2.5g Iphones? If the new 3g model has just been announced along with a cut in supply, maybe these people are waiting for the last stocks of the old models?
This has to be a stunt? Do these people really have this much free time?
Has anyone found out what was (is?) going on?
Sooo...
why hasnt someone just went to the line and ASKED them why they are standing in line?
so, do you include the even larger masses that use windows? yeah, didn't think so.
This is my question: Is the lane-corridor creating stretchy stuff always out there to handle lines or is that something new for the mysterious line?
If it is always there, then nevermind. If not, then.....somethings going on.