Cold And Rainy In Dallas Area But Long Line At Local Apple Store: iPhone 5c And 5S -- September 20, 2013

Updates

Later, 7:22 pm: Bloomberg is reporting potential blow-out numbers for opening day launch of new Apple iPhones 5C and 5S.

Apple Inc attracted long lines of shoppers today for the global debut of its latest iPhones, the company’s biggest product introduction this year.

In New York, customers lined up around the block to get into Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store, while in Munich about 2,000 gathered to buy the new iPhone 5s and 5c, and in London the waiting crowd stretched about a mile. Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and other executives visited customers at stores in Palo Alto, California, near the company’s campus.

A spokeswoman for Apple said demand for the new iPhones was “incredible” and that they were sold out or in limited supply at some stores.

Is it just me or can anyone name another company that consistently launches high-end products for which consumers stand in line several hours to buy on launch day? And products are generally sold out by the end of the day? The only thing that comes close is when one's NBA basketball team wins the championship and Sports Authority opens late to sell winning team merchandise, like baseball caps for $25 -- which hardly compares to $600 smart phones. Just saying. I think it's an incredible phenomenon.

Original Post

Photo taken at South Lake, Texas, Apple Store, northwest of Dallas.

Phones went on sale today.

Yahoo! is reporting that the new Apple iPhone sales are "golden."

Score one for Apple fans! In a burst of enthusiasm that seemed unthinkable just weeks ago, customers are lining up at Apple stores worldwide in hopes of being among the first to buy the latest iterations of the iPhone. Despite initial skepticism to the new 5C and 5S iPhones, the hands-on reviews have been glowing and the consumer frenzy is on.

No one doubted Apple's ability to build a great high-end product. The question was whether the iPhone 5S's faster processing speed, improved camera and thumb-print security would be enough to create another buying frenzy.

The answer is a qualified yes. I stopped to speak with the folks camped out in front of the Apple store in New York's Grand Central Terminal this morning. The overwhelming consensus is that the most exciting feature of the 5S isn't the internal technical specifications, but the color of the case.

And no one is even talking about iTunes Radio and iBeacon. The latter will be a game changer.

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A Note To The Granddaughters

Phil Jackson's seventh book, c. 2013, is out.

The list of his previous books:

• Journey to the Ring
• The Last Season 
• More Than a Game
• Sacred Hoops 
• Maverick
• Take It All!

And now: Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success 

It's cool to see Williston High School mentioned and a photograph of Phil Jackson in a Coyote uniform. I believe he was a senior in high school, winning the state basketball tournament, when I was wrestling at 95 pounds as a freshman.

The book is a re-cap of his eleven championships, with a fair amount of his philosophy. It is a good read, but I enjoyed Sacred Hoops so much more. I like to think that is also his favorite.

His co-author, or his publisher, writes on the jacket:

"Phil Jackson is arguably the greatest coah in the history of the NBA. His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998; during his tenure, Chicago won six NBA titles. His next team, the Los Angeles Lakers, won five NBA titles form 2000 to 2010. He holds the record for the most championships in NBA history as a player and a head coach. He also has the highest winning percentage of any NBA coach (.704). Jackson was a player on the 1970 and 1973 NBA champion New York Knicks. In 2007 Jackson was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame."