Glorious isn't it? Nokia's snapped pic of the 3G[S] at Chadstone store. I am eternal thankful that I have friends that look out for me, thank you Nokia and Tinkerbel for doing so. You guys are what good friends are, and as what Tink told me, good friends look out for each other.

Harmeet bro, I'm glad you're taken care of too. You are my responsibility, and I dont want you to be left dangling when I pull out of the "Italian Job". Thank God things just fall into place nicely.

Great job everyone, and I owe Nokia and Tink one. Just tell me when you need any favors, I'm there.

BTW, that pic looks like yours, Harmeet. 16GB. Congratulations again.

DO a last backup of your working iPhone that you're gonna sell. Then click Restore. Once the process is complete, choose "Restore as new iPhone" and leave it at that. The recepient will getting fresh factory-default iPhone.

Grab your spanking new iPhone, activate it, then restore it from the backup you just did before from the already sold iPhone.

Next group of countries to get the iPhone 4 on July 28th?



Too frickin' close to my arrival there. But gives a good chance of securing one, rather than earlier. Time to put the plan into motion.

Damn this! Why don't they accept online order? Looks like I have to physically line up at the Apple Store Sydney to secure 2 units. Bloody hell!

/end rant.

With that out of my system, what time should I even line up? Don't tell me I have to line up on the 29th to secure 2 units and have to wait 12+hrs for the Apple Store to open!!?

For iPad in Sydney, the queue starts the day before in the afternoon! Dont tell me I have to be there more than 24hrs before!!? Open up the online order la, Apple Australia. Menyusahkan orang jer.

Nokia, I may be switching gear to the Singaporean unit now, seeing how they are also doing online order for the unit. I may miss the date of shipping for the Australian unit if the online starts beginning July 30th.

Don't know if this is true, but if it is, depressing news indeed. The folks at the Whirlpool forum are reporting only 110 units of iPhone 4 made available to Brisbane CBD, and 2000 units in Sydney CBD. Mind you, these are Telstra units, not the stock allocated at the Apple Store, so this can either be good or bad. Good, in the sense that Apple may be hoarding the stock to their respective Apple stores in Chermside/Robina in Brisbane, and Bondi/Chatswood/George St. in Sydney. Bad, if this is a reflection of how many total units Apple have allocated to the Australian launch. So which one is it?

Sydney is drizzling, just arrived at my hotel here. That is either good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

Congratulations Nokia!

FaceTime later today at the Apple Store?

Lining up in place at Apple Store George St. Probably around 300+ people in front of me. Not to bad. Weather is slightly foggy but dead still wind, temperature around 13C. The line has snaked around behind 2 blocks from where George St. is though.

Fairly confident that I'll get 2 units. Let's hope the two are 32Gb units.

The line is moving! YAY!

Yup we do. Coffee, hot chocolate, muffins , pastries and croissants. Very merry.

Less than 10 meters to the counter. So close!

Done! Damage?

2 x iPhone 4 32GB Black, 2 x Magic Trackpad and 1 x iPad Camera Connection Kit.

Those who subscribes to my tweets can see live pics from the launch at Apple Store George St. Those who have my in their contact list can FaceTime me for live reporting via video call from here as well.

All in all, I am honored to be part of such a high profile event by Apple. Last I've been to is the Apple Store Chermside iPad launch, and that was very much subdued compared to this iPhone 4 launch.

My journey starts as soon as I arrived in Sydney. The moment I arrived, I turned on my MiFi and checked the status updates from Whirlpool firm with special attention to the Sydney iPhone 4 camping thread.

Feedback from that thread reveals that he line at Apple Store George St. isn't as long as I had expected. Telco stores like Telstra T-Life and Optus store has shorter lines but their stock is very limited as well.

Made up my mind to go here at 4am. Took a cab from Stamford Plaza hotel for AUD25. Upon arrival, the line has already snaked two blocks into York St, and the crowd is 300+ strong. Was foggy with temperature hovering around 13C. Since then the line has slowly being compressed so that it doesn't snake out too long, and exactly at 8am, a loud cheer rang out among those at the front omf the line as the black cloth covering the front of the store is taken off and every Apple staff cheered and clapped their hands and high-fived every single one of those in line, from the front till back. Equally as spectacular are e camera crews from Channel Nine and Ten, interviewing those who are willing to be interviewed while in line. I tried keeping my face clear from reporters and their camera snaps and video cameras recording the footage for the evening news but I won't be surprised if I catch a glimpse of myself on tonight's Australian evening news!

The line in front of me improved slowly but steadily, and eventually at 11am, my feet touches the inside of the Apple Store! At that moment in time, a jumbled up mixture of feelings of jubilation, joy, happiness, along with impatience and tiredness crept in, so at one time I was not sure what Im feeling at the time. The Apple Genius who handled me is named Peter, and as always, keeping to the high standards of Apple, cater to my needs with genuine enthusiasm and smiles.

End result of this? Im taking back(in my backpack, Im not carrying this in the open, kena ragut nanti!) 2 x iPhone 4 32GB priced at AUD999 each, 2 x Magic Trackpad at AUD 99 each, as well as one iPad Camera Connection Kit. Im heard pleas of folks wanting the iPad Cam Kit , so just bougt this extra if anybody wants one.

Thank you Apple for this momentous experience, I finally have attended an actual Apple iPhone launch. Authentic launch event experience like talking to those in line, one such person was standing behind me was from Spain, who is under study/work stint here, as well as boisterous groups of students studying here with multiple nationalities from Mexico, Bangladesh and Germany. I stood in line for 7 hours. I now know how my contact feels when he stood in line for my iPhone 4 in London.

I'll still be around the Apple Store while I wait for the shuttle from the hotel to pick me up in Chinatown at 3pm. I seriously need my sleep.

This has been a live report from Apple Store GeorgenSt., reporting live for the Australian Apple iPhone 4 launch event at their flagship store in Sydney. Stringfellow signing off!

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Added on July 30, 2010, 9:53 amYup, that was then estimate when I stepped into the Apple Store, a quick pick later probably puts the line estimated to be more than 1000+ people! They are still not limiting or announcing that they are running out of any model, both the 16GB & 32GB is still available.

Their bumper program is tied to that app you need to download from the AppStore. Download that app, sign in using the email you used during purchasing the iPhone 4, to claim the free bumper. If Nokia is okay with this, I think I'll do that and get the free bumpers/cases shipped to his place and collect it later once I get a MEL nightstop.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Jul 30 2010, 09:53 AM

I wish I could have taken more pictures when I was in line, but I'm risking being lynched by the mob for lining up while already having an iPhone 4 in possession. Im sure more clips will surface later with regards to the launches happening today..

However, picture of the "damage" done at the launch event today I will post later once I get some sleep.

My head is warm, a little headache also. Im going back to sleep.

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Added on July 30, 2010, 10:09 amAlso, one of the Apple blue shirt staff was holding and demoing the WHITE iPhone 4 for a short while before he left. I managed to get hold of it for a short while before he had to leave, and true enough, the proximity sensor slot is visible enough to make it look awkwardly out of place on the white front face. No thanks.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Jul 30 2010, 10:09 AM

Tink, you will be contacted by Nokia later. I just FaceTimed with him just now for e very first time, dua dua muka tired like hell.

Welcome to the FaceTime club, Nokia!

Okay okay, Im REALLY leaving the Apple Store now. Its just that the atmosphere here is so festive with people and free fast Wifi is always nice

OK OK I'm leaving!

Pictures of the loot will come later. Optus's line is very spotty where I am now. Once I'm in Brisbane tomorrow, I'll upload the shots.

I'll be going out at 11am SYD to downtown CBD again today. Gonna go grab something to eat and then survey the crowd at the Apple Store again, just for fun.

Slept through the entire day yesterday until now, because of sleep deprivation due to lining up. I cant risk any more fatigue for today since I'm flying the sector to Brisbane tonight.

Gonna go check other electronic stores like JB HiFi and D1ck Smith for their accessories options. iPhone 4 accessories at the Apple Store is only the iPhone dock, IIANM.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Jul 31 2010, 08:20 AM