iPhone: ITN weren't the only ones

Not only did the ITN news crew get thrown out of Friday's UK launch for the iPhone, but so did these girls:

That's the burly security bod there on the left. Granted, it's a little more understandable than the ejection of a serious news crew, as this lot were leafletting the queue on behalf of an iPhone unlocking service. Admirable, but certainly cheeky.

Otherwise, my personal opinion is that the whole event was rather pathetic. I can understand the thrill of early adoption, but standing in the cold just to be the first in the UK to get a legit iPhone? I mean, if you want to be that bleeding edge, just get a dodgy import from the States (did I say that? Of course not). Even if you take the official route, any Carphone Warehouse or O2 store (or even other Apple stores) would have sufficed - did it really have to be the flagship store? I mean, people actually willingly travelled to central London - in the Christmas season - to be there. To impress whom exactly?

As for the Apple employees who had to repeatedly run around the queue slapping people on the back and whooping loudly (I kid you not), I have only sympathy. At least, I did once I'd gotten over the urge to commit physical violence.

PS - The above photo and others can be viewed in our photo-story here. And to all those in the queue who kindly agreed to be interviewed, I say: Congratulations on your purchase. You are indeed the cream of the cutting edge vanguard of all that is good about technological innovation etc etc.