Customers, press amass for launch of Apple's new iPad

Posted:
in iPad edited January 2014


The launch of Apple's new iPad has once again drawn massive crowds and a blitz of media attention as customers — including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak — queued up to buy the third-generation device.



Sales of the new iPad are to occur at 8 a.m. local time in 10 countries. They first began in Australia, and the launches have continued across the globe as the clock has rolled over to March 16.



At Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York City, the massive line waiting on Friday morning for the 8 a.m. sale of the new iPad was so long, it wrapped all the way up W 58th Street.



The line has grown significantly since Wednesday, when the first customer began to wait outside Apple's iconic glass cube in New York.



AppleInsider reader Ryan was on location Friday morning, and sent the photos included below. He has been at numerous product launches at Apple's Fifth Avenue store, and remarked that he has "never seen so much press" when compared to Friday's iPad launch.





Customers line up outside Apple's Fifth Ave store in New York City. Photos credited to Ryan.

















In addition to customers, Friday's launch drew a huge media presence.















And in Boston on Boylston Street, a line of about 100 people wrapped around the corner Friday morning. Apple employees handed out coffee to people in line and local TV crews were present, according to AppleInsider reader Roy.



"They are managing the line to keep entrances to nearby businesses clear, so they've actually broken down the queue into 3 segments so far with a line security guard between each segment," he explained.





About 100 customers wait outside the Apple Store on Boston's Boylston Street. Photo credited to Roy.







At Westfield Mall in Century City, Calif., Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was spotted waiting in line to get his hands on a new iPad. Wozniak explained he is in L.A., rather than San Francisco, because he is to give a keynote speech at the Apple Investor Summit.



"It's just sort of like it's become a ritual, almost," Wozniak explained of waiting in line for the new iPad. "Because I've done it so many times, I'm doing it again. It's not something that you have to do. I mean, no nobody has to wait in line. You can pre-order."







When asked if he could get a pre-release iPad direct from Apple, Wozniak said he wouldn't want to do that. Instead, he said, he'd rather be "genuine, like the real people."



[ View article on AppleInsider ]

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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 70
    sunilramansunilraman Posts: 8,133member
    It will be insane. Definitely there will be complaints about the weight. It feels heavier than the iPad2 (and it is). Surprisingly if you have iPad2 and new iPad in each hand, you don't really feel the difference.



    Anyway, proceed with the insanity. Carry on.
  • Reply 2 of 70
    quadra 610quadra 610 Posts: 6,757member
    Samsung would kill for lineups like these.
  • Reply 3 of 70
    nceencee Posts: 857member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post


    Samsung would kill for lineups like these.



    Hell, Ford, GM, MicroSoft, ME (DBS Designs by Skip, LLC), would kill to have lineups like these



    Skip
  • Reply 4 of 70
    haarhaar Posts: 563member
    any lineups at the Grand Central Station?, or to they allow them?... that place is massive!!! (Grand Central Station)
  • Reply 5 of 70
    pembrokepembroke Posts: 230member
    Steve Wozniak - Apple co-founder - lines up for hours with 'the people' to get his iPad?



    Oh man, that is fantastic!!!



    What an inspiration and an exemplary attitude for eschewing favouritism and nepotism.
  • Reply 6 of 70
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,712member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quadra 610 View Post


    Samsung would kill for lineups like these.



    Yet they make ads mocking this. I'd liked to see someone make a parody of a Samsung ad showing no line ...
  • Reply 7 of 70
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pembroke View Post


    Steve Wozniak - Apple co-founder - lines up for hours with 'the people' to get his iPad?



    Oh man, that is fantastic!!!



    What an inspiration and an exemplary attitude for eschewing favouritism and nepotism.



    Or, more likely, the opportunity cost of his time is very low.
  • Reply 8 of 70
    iscaroiscaro Posts: 3member
    Any info on the Italian Pre-Order date? \

    I want to buy my own from Italy!!!
  • Reply 9 of 70
    mac voyermac voyer Posts: 1,294member
    Surly those Samsung ads frightened people away from standing in line for yet another Apple product? Right? I would love to see a statement from Samsung today.
  • Reply 10 of 70
    tylerdtylerd Posts: 33member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    Yet they make ads mocking this. I'd liked to see someone make a parody of a Samsung ad showing no line ...



    Now THAT is a GREAT idea. Someone get on that one!
  • Reply 11 of 70
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    I can't wrap my head around Woz waiting in line all night for an Apple product. I assume he could probably have been giving some early access if he wanted so this seems to be focused around publicity. Maybe he enjoys the waiting but my distaste for waiting can't let me see past how one could find it enjoyable even when they don't have to.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post


    Yet they make ads mocking this. I'd liked to see someone make a parody of a Samsung ad showing no line ...



    Samsung offers the very best in sour grape marketing techniques.
  • Reply 12 of 70
    conrailconrail Posts: 489member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post


    Or, more likely, the opportunity cost of his time is very low.



    Steve Wozniak would laugh at the very concept of "opportunity cost of time".



    Your time is worth precisely nothing.





    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    I can't wrap my head around Woz waiting in line all night for an Apple product. I assume he could probably have been giving some early access if he wanted so this seems to be focused around publicity. Maybe he enjoys the waiting but my distaste for waiting can't let me see past how one could find it enjoyable even when they don't have to.



    I think he just enjoys the social aspect of it. Has to provide him with a great deal of satisfaction that, when you get right down to it, all of this is happening because of him.
  • Reply 13 of 70
    drax7drax7 Posts: 38member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by pembroke View Post


    Steve Wozniak - Apple co-founder - lines up for hours with 'the people' to get his iPad?



    Oh man, that is fantastic!!!



    What an inspiration and an exemplary attitude for eschewing favouritism and nepotism.



    Love it
  • Reply 14 of 70
    drax7drax7 Posts: 38member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    I can't wrap my head around Woz waiting in line all night for an Apple product. I assume he could probably have been giving some early access if he wanted so this seems to be focused around publicity. Maybe he enjoys the waiting but my distaste for waiting can't let me see past how one could find it enjoyable even when they don't have to.









    Samsung offers the very best in sour grape marketing techniques.



    Showing respect to the genius of the product and to Steve.
  • Reply 15 of 70
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Conrail View Post


    I think he just enjoys the social aspect of it. Has to provide him with a great deal of satisfaction that, when you get right down to it, all of this is happening because of him.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Drax7 View Post


    Showing respect to the genius of the product and to Steve.



    Then I really am an anti-queuite because that it not how I'd want to spend my time or show respect to a company I founded.
  • Reply 16 of 70
    That just doesnt happen with any product from any other company. It's world-wide too! I saw the line outside the sydney store in some YouTube video and it was insanity!



    I'm waiting for fed-ex. Mine departed Newark last night and I'm only half hour west! Is there an "impatient" smiley?
  • Reply 17 of 70
    Woz is Woz. Woz is what Woz does.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Then I really am an antiqueuite because that it not how I'd want to spend my time or show respect to a company I founded.



  • Reply 17 of 70
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post


    Samsung offers the very best in sour grape marketing techniques.



    They're not ALL bad, they do also offer the best in displays.
  • Reply 19 of 70
    solipsismxsolipsismx Posts: 19,566member
    Off topic: Here is a more accurate and detailed FedEx tracking page:
  • Reply 19 of 70
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member
    Hello, I am the press. I have to write down everything that happens. What a retarded job.

    Oops, I injected my politics in to my writing again, funny how I always do that.

    Oops, I loved the sound of my own voice again, sorry.



    Signed.

    the amassed press
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