X

iPhone 5 hits SF, Silicon Valley (pictures)

Apple's headline-grabbing smartphone brings out the gadget groupies as it goes on sale in San Francisco and in Palo Alto, Calif.

CNET News staff
iphone-palo-alto-1742_bear_610x407.jpg
1 of 11 James Martin/CNET

iBear

Apple's iPhone 5 went on sale today worldwide, and fans everywhere came out to pay their respects -- and get their hands on the brand-new gadget.

Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple's own backyard area of San Francisco and Palo Alto, Calif., certainly didn't skip the party.

Here we see folks in Palo Alto. The line may not have been as long as the one further north in SF, but it easily won the prize for most playful.
iphone-palo-alto-1708_610x407.jpg
2 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Turn right to enter

The line outside the Palo Alto store at around 7:20 a.m. PT.
iphone-palo-alto-1722_bubbles_610x407.jpg
3 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Something in the air

A bubble machine showers the Palo Alto crowd, as part of an advertising stunt for Moshi's iVisor screen protectors. Aren't bubbles supposed to make everyone smile? Maybe not so early in the morning.
iphone-palo-alto-1811_lawrence_610x407.jpg
4 of 11 James Martin/CNET

Lawrence of iPhonia

Well, at least one person was smiling. It's the thrill of shopping victory for the first person in the Palo Alto line (who was also the first person out the door with goods in hand). He offered up only "Lawrence" when asked for his name. Way to go, Larry.
photo_2_sf_att_610x458.jpg
5 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Moving north...

The line outside an AT&T store in downtown SF was barely a line. But that may well have been because...
DSC_0107_1.jpg
6 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

iLeft my heart...

...the real goings-on were outside the flagship Apple Store at Market and Stockton Streets (not far from the cable car line).

Here's the line at about 7:20 a.m. PT.
DSC_0258_taskrabbit_guy_610x453.jpg
7 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Money talks

First to exit the SF flagship store, this smiling man paid someone $1,500 to stand in line for him till the last minute. He wouldn't give his name or talk to the press afterward.
DSC_0329_SF_cool_stairs_1.jpg
8 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Step right up

Inside the SF flagship store. Finally, we're not just on the outside anymore.
DSC_0305_SF_iphones_ipads_610x405.jpg
9 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

iPad plays second banana

Customers hover around a table of iPhones and iPads at the SF flagship store.
DSC_0324_dog_1.jpg
10 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Perhaps not the walk he had in mind

Not a typical customer, but you never know. It's San Francisco. He looks a little shell-shocked by the whole experience.
Apple_UPS_610x821.jpg
11 of 11 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Stock photo

An SF Apple Store employee hustles boxes of iPhone 5s onto a dolly as the UPS guy looks on.

If one thing was clear, it was that the SF store was very well stocked. That was the case last year as well, though it's a stark contrast to the shortage faced by new buyers purchasing an iPhone 5 from Apple's online store or from a carrier partner.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos