X

Photos: iPhone 3G S launch day

CNET News team covers the launch of the iPhone 3G S at Apple and AT&T stores in Manhattan and in the San Francisco Bay Area.

CNET Reviews staff
_MG_3272.jpg
1 of 20 James Martin/CNET

iPhone 3G S

Friday morning, the iPhone 3G S went on sale across the United States, and CNET News' team was on the scene at Apple and AT&T stores in Manhattan and the San Francisco Bay Area.

_MG_3290.jpg
2 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Employees prepare

Inside the Apple store in San Francisco, Apple employees dressed in blue and orange prepare for the 7 a.m. store opening.
_MG_3311.jpg
3 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Unlocking

At 7:02 a.m., an employee unlocks the door to the downtown San Francisco Apple store to sell the new iPhone 3G S.
_MG_3323.jpg
4 of 20 James Martin/CNET

First in line

Adam Jackson, who was the first in line at the downtown San Francisco Apple store, walks inside to claim his new iPhone 3G S Friday.
IMG_0144_375x499.jpg
5 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

5th Avenue Apple store

By 5:33 a.m. EDT, the line at the 5th Avenue Apple store in Manhattan had stretched to somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 or 90 people--an hour and a half before the store opened its doors. Here, people waiting in line have been moved off the street and into a formation set with metal barricades. The store, normally open 24/7, was closed at midnight in preparation.
IMG_3720.JPG
6 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

Apple store in NYC at 4:30 a.m.

Peering into the Apple store in NYC at 4:30 a.m.
IMG_3722.JPG
7 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

14th Street Apple store

Down in the Meatpacking District, the shopping-and-nightlife hub that houses Manhattan's newest Apple store on the corner of 14th Street and 9th Avenue, there were about 15 people in line for the iPhone at 4:47 a.m. EDT, and most say they've been in line for less than an hour.
soholine_270x359.jpg
8 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

SoHo Apple store

The line at the SoHo Apple store around 5 a.m. EDT.
Apple_line.jpg
9 of 20 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Apple store in Emeryville

The scene outside the Apple store in Emeryville, Calif., Friday.
P6191231_610x457.JPG
10 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

The crowd with 10 minutes left

The crowd with 10 minutes left to go.
_MG_3342.jpg
11 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Adam Moore

Adam Moore activates his new iPhone 3G S at the Apple store in San Francisco, minutes after the phone's release on Friday.
Preopening_ready.jpg
12 of 20 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

Apple store in Emeryville

Apple employees make final preparations for the release of the iPhone 3G S in Emeryville, Calif.
_MG_3347.jpg
13 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Dexter Duarte

Dexter Duarte activates his new iPhone 3G S at the Apple store in San Francisco Friday.
_MG_3332.jpg
14 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Doors open

Moments after the San Francisco store's opening, customers are inside checking out the Apple iPhone 3G S.
_MG_3335.jpg
15 of 20 James Martin/CNET

Apple store SF

Inside the Apple store on Stockton Street in San Francisco.
P6191225.JPG
16 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

Marketers have started to show up

At around 6:15 a.m. EDT, marketers started to show up at a New York Apple store, including this representative from an electronics recycling site called YouRenew.com who is wearing a very impressive iPhone costume.
P6191228_610x457.JPG
17 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

Gazelle.com tosses snacks

Representatives from electronics reseller Gazelle.com toss snacks into the crowd.
News_Copter.jpg
18 of 20 Josh Lowensohn/CNET

News chopper

A news copter hovers over Emeryville, Calif., where there is both an Apple store and an AT&T store.
P6191234_610x457.JPG
19 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

iPhone 3G S buyers

The first pack of iPhone 3G S buyers in New York enters the 5th Avenue store.
P6191244_610x457.JPG
20 of 20 Caroline McCarthy/CNET

exiting the Fifth Avenue Apple Store

The first people to get iPhone 3G S handsets are now exiting the Fifth Avenue Apple Store.

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