Gizmodo: iphone sf campout

Videos of the iPhone's Guts, Both Academic and Destructive

Brian Lam — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:01:49 EDT

The first video includes an iPhone and a Hammer, and speaks for itself.
The Second video shows the iPhone for more academic reasons.Not too surprisingly, the phone has components you've seen in other handsets.

Namely: It has the same processor on the HTC Titan, Same sound quality and storage RAM as the iPod Nano. Balda Touchscreen, known for durability and quality. Bluetooth Bluecore 4 ROM chip by Marvel, same as a Blackberry Pearl. There's nothing surprising, which brings us back to the argument that design and software are the keys here.

iPhone: Entering Kool-aid Central

Jason Chen — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 22:06:29 EDT

Picture this. We're heading in to buy our iPhones, and what do we see? A massive wall of Apple employees, clapping and cheering and offering high fives to all. It was a very surreal, and frankly scary experience. Remind us never, never to do that again, even if the Jesus Phone rises a second time.

SF iPhone Store Closes to Much Moaning, Bitching, and Gnashing of Teeth

Jason Chen — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:13:48 EDT

What are these people angry at? No, it isn't not being able to get an iPhone, it's not being able to get into the Apple store when they closed it down at 2PM to prepare for the 6PM launch. Apparently either some people's watches were a little off, or Apple closed the store down a little early, but they're pissed at not being able to get into the store. That's why we love SF—everyone always has things in perspective.

iPhone SF Campout Live (2:30PM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:30:02 EDT

As you might have caught on our live camera, the store is closed to set up for the demo. Here are some shots of the scene, as it stands.

This is What an iPhone Extortionist Looks Like

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:16:49 EDT

Second in line in SF's Apple Store, Mark wants $1500, no less, for his spot in line. This is not an Apple Fan. choice quote: "Game recognize Game, Blood!"

SF Apple Stores shutting down in a few minutes...

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:05:39 EDT

SF Apple Stores shutting down in a few minutes to setup for Easter Phone. Catch it live. [iPhone SF Campout Live Video]

The First Person in the AT&T iPhone Line Doesn't Know What the Hell She's Waiting For

Jason Chen — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:25:30 EDT

We're at the AT&T store in SF and quizzing line campers on the iPhone. People who got the questions right get a free limited edition Gizmodo iPhone shirt. Those who don't, get the whole internet laughing at him/her. It's like camping out for a Star Wars movie and not knowing what a Lightsaber is.

Video by Sarah Meyers and Richard Blakeley

iPhone SF Campout Live (12:30PM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:18:33 EDT

There are 150 people on line; most of the true iPhone fans are in the back. And the sun is terrible for LCD screens. I'm frying out here.
[iPhone SF Campout Live Video by Justin.TV and Giz]

iPhone SF Campout Live (11:30AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 14:52:28 EDT

Hey. I'm back from my nap, and on the line again. And it feels like Summer. People are putting on sunscreen, which is not a typically necessary San Franciscan action. Things are going so well. Except those guys have started up the boomboxes again. I'm wearing one of our Limited Edition iPhone Launch T-Shirts, that we were originally going to give out. But one thing is clear in the daylight, from talking to people. Over half of the front of the line are here as mercenaries, and not iPhone fans. So we're going to quiz people before they get a shirt. Today should be for believers, not businessmen. Click through to http://Justin.tv/gizmodo to chat with other Gizmodo readers, too.

iPhone SF Campout Live (9AM PDT)

Adrian Covert — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 12:00:09 EDT

The line is coming back to life right now. Stanley Michael Jackson is still in full effect, the Financial Times stopped by with a few questions, and the line is wrapping around the corner of Stockton Street. Today should be even more entertaining. Thankfully, our neighbors from 8 mile who aspire to be rhyming legends have kept the boombox quiet this morning. Though we wouldn't mind some early morning Wu-Tang to get us fired up for the day. Also, many thanks to the Justin.tv viewers for keeping me entertained. We still have a long way to go before we can call it a day and get some real sleep. Mmmmmmm...sleeeeeeeeeeeep.

iPhone SF Campout Live (8AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:08:19 EDT

I need a nap. Adrian the intern is manning our live Justin.TV camera, which has been chronicling the entirety of the SF iPhone campout since 6pm last night. I even had that thing on while I was sleeping. I'll resume the Brian Lam Dog and Pony show sometime later. For now, I ZZZ. Video: [iPhone SF Campout Live Video]

iPhone SF Campout Live (6AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:16:00 EDT

I love the smell of iPhone in the morning. I got about 3 hours of sleep. Shook like a leaf when I woke, cold, despite the metallic emergency blanket's insulation. The Justin.tv lifecam is still running and so is my Macbook, thanks to the Wifi (instead of the usual and hungrier EVDO.) But i've got about 20 minutes left on each, and my brain can't quite get the words together.

This lady from NBC started at 4AM — the hardest working local news person I've seen in awhile. But lady. You do realize you can't beat me. I've been here all night. And when you interview me, I'm broadcasting everything you say in real time. I'm really interviewing you. I'm going to get the ocean so I can resume IM duties. And I'm going to swap out batteries before the lappies poop out.

[iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]

SF Headcount is 63. If you want to get an...

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:15:36 EDT

SF Headcount is 63. If you want to get an iPhone today in SF, I don't think it'll be a problem. Yet.

iPhone SF Campout Live (4AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 07:00:10 EDT

All is well, although my meager facilities responsible for writing well are almost entirely gone. I slept an hour tucked in between a phone booth and a light post. Street cleaning came rumbling by and almost clipped a camper's leg off as it rumbled down Stockton street.

Then, just now, someone just drove up the street the wrong way and a cop caught them. (Luckily, no ticket.) There's a great display on the side of the store, and the security guard is, I think, using a dell near the door. I sent Adrian the intern up to the hotel to get some rest. When Chen comes to relieve me in the morning, I'll get mine. A news van just rolled by, counting heads. My video feed is still going strong, courtesy of Justin.TV's LifeCam. [iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]

iPhone SF Campout Live (2:00AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:56:01 EDT

Just spoke with some Apple engineers. Good guys. Thanked them for giving us an alternative to Windows Mobile (The Phone OS that makes me want to vomit.) A lot of people here are definitely here to sell iPhones. Whoa, intersting — down in Palo Alto, Justin.tv's intern almost got jumped defending his spot in line. Good God! The guys in line shut off their boombox! [iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30].

Camera pointed at some Vanilla Ice wanna...

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:08:35 EDT

Camera pointed at some Vanilla Ice wanna bees freestyling.[iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]

iPhone SF Campout Live (12:30AM PDT)

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 03:29:35 EDT

I went to get some Mel's Diner, on Mission and 4th. Shit took forever for basically some Bacon and Eggs.

Going to eat, we saw a new model WRX being shot for a commercial. (Ray Wert, we got video.) Now I'm back. The Justin.tv lifecam is working flawlessly, but I just swapped out a battery. The crazy people in the front of the line are pitching tents. I've got some of those space blankets, the emergency kind. The wind is picking up. My contacts are dry. Some NPR dudes are here. Slumming it with us bloggers. The stoners behind me are faded hard, and freestyling over some tracks now. I'm into it. But that could be the second hand smoke.

Here's my FAQ for people who keep IMing me old questions:

How is waiting in line?
It's ok. 17 hours til iPhone.

How Many people are in line?
About 50. If you're thinking of queuing up, you can arrive in the AM and be ok.
Is it cold?
It's getting Not Warm.
[iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]

A Video Tour Down the SF iPhone Line

Jason Chen — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:40:35 EDT

We went down the San Francisco Apple iPhone line (the circus of downtown) and asked people what they were going to do with their new iPhones. A couple good answers from the freaks and geeks, but you gotta watch for yourself.

And Lam's answer? Put it down his pants? Get your own ideas, Lam.

Much more coverage and video to come tomorrow.

Video by Richard Blakeley and Sarah Meyers

Linecount == 40. A bunch of Wired Magazine...

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:25:44 EDT

Linecount == 40. A bunch of Wired Magazine people just showed up. [iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]

Breaking news, crackhead next to me with...

Brian Lam — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:18:59 EDT

Breaking news, crackhead next to me with boombox blasting is cruising for some maximum damage. Someone deliver me some nunchucks. Homeless guy just told me to tell you all, "TONIGHT WE'RE ALL HOMELESS! [iPhone SF Campout Live Video, AIM me at lnelyiphoneboy30]