New iPhone Draws Huge Crowd to Mall

Hundreds of dedicated fans of the new iPhone 4G stood for hours in a line that snaked around the Manhattan Village Mall on Thursday for a chance to acquire the latest in smartphone technology—though there were no guarantees their perseverance would pay off.

People from all over Los Angeles arrived throughout the day, some as early as 1 a.m., and were mostly patient while staff at the Apple Store admitted customers in measured intervals. Those with reservations were given higher priority, though some walk-ins managed to slip in. Some shoppers with reservations reported having waited several hours with no end in sight.

Apple employees served the queued masses breakfast and lunch—bacon and eggs with toast, followed by a selection of sandwiches—placating some who grew more tired and irritable by the hour. Others saw it as an opportunity to make new friends or get an early start on their summer reading.

Calls to Apple for comment were unsuccessful as of Friday morning.