And some people thought Steve Jobs ‘ death was going to cost Apple money… Throngs of Apple fans lined up in the wee hours Friday outside the company’s flagship store in Manhattan to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 4S. Two hours before Apple’s new smartphone was slated to go on sale, hundreds of aspiring buyers filled the plaza outside the Fifth Avenue glass cube, echoing scenes that had already played out earlier in the day in Australia, Japan, Germany, France and other Apple stores around the world. Some fans started their iPhone vigil literally weeks in advance: Keenen Thompson and Jessica Mellow arrived 18 days ago to claim the No. 1 spot in line. They chronicled their “urban iCamping adventure” on a blog called iPhoneWhatever. One aspiring buyer waited in line on crutches. “I got hit by a car and had surgery a few weeks ago. There’s tons of metal plates in my foot — it shattered,” said David Betz, a 26-year-old bartender who began his wait at 11 p.m. last night. “Is it worth it? We’ll find out.” Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid… Marketers worked through the crowd, hawking iPhone accessories, trade-in sites for used phones, and even tents. As a light drizzle fell, representatives from iPhone casemaker OtterBox roamed around passing out rain ponchos and “survival kits” filled with tools like snacks and chapstick. The turnout was more muted than last year, with around 250 people waiting 90 minutes before the iPhone went on sale. Jose Pena, a 23-year-old college student, speculated that the rainy weather was to blame. “Plus, this iPhone isn’t the biggest upgrade,” he said. Queuing up for the new iPhone has become an annual tradition, drawing Apple zealots, celebrities and passers-by into the mix. At Apple’s Los Gatos, Calif., a famous figure claimed the head-of-the-line spot: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who camped out with an iPad, a folding armchair and a stash of Diet Dr Pepper. “I want to get mine along with the millions of other fans,” Wozniak told CNN. The New York line drew a mix of first-time buyers and veterans. Jessica Mery, 36, said she has joined every iPhone line since the device first launched in 2007. “Every time its been 10-plus hours,” she said. But this wait is especially poignant: “It’s more meaningful to me because of Steve Jobs’ passing,” she said. “It’s a must-get.” For a phone. In a recession. Apple users are a bigger cult than Oprah fans. Source
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iStans: Thousands Camped Out Last Night Waiting For The Not-So-New iPhone 4S
