CapMac iPhone SIG

Apple today announced sales of over 1.7 million iPhone 4’s in just the first three days of sales. That would make the phone’s June 24th launch Apple’s largest ever, and possibly the largest product launch in US retailing history.

“This is the most successful product launch in Apple’s history,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Even so, we apologize to those customers who were turned away because we did not have enough supply.”

The new iPhone 4 offers many new features, including FaceTime, which makes video calling as easy as one tap, and Apple’s new Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone, resulting in stunning text, images and video.

Saturday marked the end of Apple’s third fiscal quarter, so those record sales numbers, released today – will be included in Apple’s current quarterly results. Sales from Sunday on will be included in Apple’s next fiscal quarter, due to end in late September.

Both the Apple 3G and 3GS models achieved sales of over one million for their respective launch weekends. The original iPhone took 74 days to move one million units.

Despite constrained supplies at launch – Apple continues to note that iPhone 4 will expand its initial launch countries of the United States, UK, France, Germany, and Japan –  into 18 additional countries by the end of July: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Within the dark depths of AT&T’s network blackhole known as ‘South Austin’ – my iPhone 4 is working perfectly. Okay, it dropped one call – the same place it always does. Other than that, voice quality and reliability is much improved. Granted this is not a scientific study – but I suspect that my experience isn’t as isolated as the media and blogosphere would have you believe.

Besides being a elegant hand-held workhorse – the iPhone is also a radio. And all radios fall prey to certain constraints of electronics and wave propagation.

In the iPhone 4, the antenna is exposed in the bottom portion of the stainless steel band – no longer internal as was the case in previous models. The left segment serves Wi-Fi and Bluetooth frequencies, while the right segment is for the data and voice communication. Each segment is tuned to provide optimal coupling to the respective radios. Coupling is a fancy way of saying the most efficient way of transferring energy to and from the transmitter and receiver.

The AT&T cell towers have larger equivalent antennas coupled to much bigger radios.  The mobile phone and each cell tower a phone touches, do a continual dance, adjusting transmitter power and receiver sensitivity to compensate for many things… including terrain, weather, and hands covering or touching a part of the mobile antenna.

When your hand touches the antenna, the ‘coupling’ efficiency of the antenna changes, which could in some cases affect reception or call quality. There are also carrier-side adjustments that can mitigate those effects.

I’d suspect that an update will be released soon so that the iPhone 4  can tolerate greater amounts of user attenuation and capacitance. Remember, when your hand touches that stainless steel band – you become part of the antenna.  And FCC requirements require Apple and other mobile handset manufacturers to limit SAR, specific absorbed radiation – which why perhaps, Apple chose to be conservative in setting tolerances.

Apple holds several core patents for antenna design, including adaptive coupling. So you can be sure that help is on the way.

Please post a comment and let us know how your iPhone 4 is doing!

By all measures – yesterday’s iPhone 4 launch was historic: in sheer sales volume, customer loyalty and satisfaction, and brand awareness. But there’s always ‘one more thing’. Yesterday, it was the Apple retail teams who pulled off the largest and most complex launch in the history of retailing.

Steve Jobs and Jony Ive are icons – but for all their genius – the real follow-thru happens up close and personal at retail.

What was unseen – and unspoken – to those who waited in blocks-long lines was that many Apple retail folks had been up just as long preparing for a smooth launch. In fact, they’d been training for weeks to be able to provide efficient, high-touch service that is Apple’s trademark.

At Apple Barton Creek and The Domain, these youthful teams delivered a level of service and enthusiasm that Jobs should be proud of. They worked the lines keeping customers enthused and informed.  They kept water and refreshments flowing, and they quietly exuded a tranquil confidence that ‘when your time comes, we’ll take care of you right’.

In retailing today – that matters.

Apple made a smart call yesterday, knowing that selling an iPhone also requires reviewing contracts, terms, rateplans and activation – they elected to keep their Austin retail locations open until the last phone or customer left.  Did employees grumble?  Nope – they were as happy as the customers.

Never underestimate those fresh faces at Barton Creek or The Domain. They are the advance legions of Apple’s New Retail experience: trained, loyal, responsive, and devoted to a customer’s total experience before, during, and after the sale. And they’re backed by a huge unseen team that support their work.

The real story of the iPhone 4 launch wasn’t the hardware or the crowds. It was the gentle efficiency of the retail teams who magically transformed long and often frustrating waits into smiles and amazing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Those young men and women of Apple retail – and their Austin team leaders, Fernando Cruz at Barton Creek and Johny Gwin at The Domain deserve our appreciation.

They represent the highest ideal of why people love Apple.

In what may be the largest consumer electronics launch of all time – Apple today introduced the iPhone 4.  Jubilant crowds stretched for blocks in many US and foreign locations: some sleeping, while others snacked, chatted with friends on the phone, or surfed the web on their iPads.

At Apple’s Barton Creek Store, scores of iPhone fans had arrived by 10pm for the long overnight wait. Unable to wait on mall property, they quickly retreated to a nearby city street where an iPhone tailgate party ensued. Those waiting set up an ad hoc numbering system, to ensure integrity of the line’s order. No one complained.

Barton Mall security was extraordinary in their handing of crowd as over a thousand eager customers were led to the mall for the final wait.

Finally, amid clapping, cheers, chants and wild hoots of joy – the opening doors at 7:00am seemed to draw even larger crowds. Lines encircled the entire Nordstrom wing, before circling back to Macy’s and Sears.

The wait for a reserved phone was running 2-3 hours at 11am.

If you haven’t yet reserved a phone – chill at home. There isn’t enough stock today to satisfy walk-in demand. If you do have a confirmed reservation – your phone will be held until the store closes tonight at 9pm.  You can always check your order status online at the Apple website. Most expect a lull during the hours of 2-4pm.

For those needing special assistance in dealing with AT&T upgrade and account issues, two specially-trained folks from AT&T are available at Barton Creek, ready to assist customers with one-stop solutions.

Apple is providing water, coffee, and Chick-Fil-A meals for those waiting in line all day, as a way of extending Apple hospitality to their family of customers.

In 60’s parlance, the iPhone 4 launch is a genuine Love-In – good feelings, humor, smiles, joy, neighborly helpfulness, and Apple’s low-key ambience all join to make this launch the kind that any other company would die for.

Hats off to Fernando and his amazing Apple Barton Creek team making this launch not only successful – but memorable.

Apple today announced that it has sold three million iPads in the 80 days since U.S. launch of the Wi-Fi-only models on April 3rd.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock – iPad is Apple’s revolutionary and magical product that allows users to connect with their apps, content and the Internet in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.

“People are loving iPad as it becomes a part of their daily lives,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more people around the world, including those in nine more countries next month.”

Accoring to the release from Apple – there are now over 11,000 iPad-specific applications now available in the App Store.

The next round of international iPad launches is set for next month, with the device to go on sale in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore. Pricing and pre-order information is yet to be announced.

The three millionth iPad was sold yesterday. It was just three weeks ago that Apple crossed the two-million mark for iPad sales.

Your phone just got smarter – and it only takes 30 minutes. At noon Central time, Apple servers began to push out the iOS 4 update for iPhones and iPod Touch. The update is free. An update for the iPad will come this fall to allow developers time to incorporate many of the new features into their apps.

A few quick pointers to help you have a trouble-free update to iOS 4:

• Don’t rush – the update takes time to download and install properly
• Be sure you are on a fast wireless connection – 3G won’t cut it
• Run all iTunes and app updates first – then check for the update
• If the update doesn’t appear – select ‘check for updates’ manually
• Step away from the computer – and let the magic happen.

iOS 4 adds over 100 new features, including multitasking, folders, Mail improvements, iBook support and more. The operating system is compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4, as well as second- and third-generation iPod touch models. Not all features are compatible with all devices – multitasking, custom wallpaper, and Bluetooth keyboard support require an iPhone 3GS or third-generation iPod touch, at minimum.

A full step-by-step guide is available on the Mac Observer website. Please follow it carefully.

The Apple servers have been busy as you might expect, but remain very responsive. The AT&T authorization servers have also been behaving for a change.

Please leave your comments on how the install goes, and what yu think of iOS 4.

Although the iPhone 4 won’t arrive for a few more days, many existing iPhone users will be able to enjoy many of the new features starting tomorrow – with the release of Apple’s new iOS 4 for iPhones and iPod Touch.  Now is a good time to get ready with a few simple housekeeping chores. A little time and effort now – can save a lot of time and frustration later.

Jeff Gamet of The Mac Observer [TMO] has put together an excellent guide to help you prepare for the iOS 4 upgrade. Please check out his step-by-step guide as you prepare for this important upgrade. As usual, Jeff’s suggestions are spot-on.

The new iOS 4 upgrade will be available for free download starting early tomorrow for the iPhone and iPad – and later this fall for the Apple iPad. The delay in availability for the iPad is to allow developers time to integrate the new features into their apps and code.

We’ll have more iOS 4 details and a hands-on review posted tomorrow.

Albert Einstein’s observation that ‘in simplicity there is great beauty’ nails the concept behind the X-Band – Austin developer Tom Nelson’s brilliant new invention.

While Apple’s iPad invites interaction with others: sharing content, photos, movies, charts and presentations – lets face it – the iPad can be clumsy to hold, especially when changing orientation of the screen:

The Apple iPad™ is an amazing device, but for all its beauty and functionality, it’s difficult to hold with one hand for more than a few minutes. Why is that a problem, don’t you use your iPad on your lap or a table? Normally, but what about those times when you’re presenting information to coworkers, giving a presentation with your iPad, showing lab results to a patient, or giving the financial analysis to your boss. In fact, if you use your iPad for work, this accessory is going to make your life easier.

The Onhand X-Band glove for the iPad couldn’t be simpler to use.  Just put it on the iPad, do a quick adjustment to make sure it’s fastened securely, and slip your hand in. Now you’re ready to use your iPad with confidence and without fatigue. The “Hand Free” technology lets you operate the iPad with your other hand while you hold it worry free.

Tom Nelson’s new X-Band is a first for his fledgling new company and website TKO-Solutions – but if his demo at our iPhone Meetup last week is any indication – it won’t be the last. He received three rousing ovations.

Tom’s website   www.tko-solutions.com , is offering special pricing for a limited time only. And for the next few months we will feature them in our drawing for door prizes. A

Check out Nancy Gravley’s excellent review of the X-Band on the MacObserver website.

Let everyone else argue about killer apps – Tom and his X-Band have TKO’d them all with the killer iPad accessory.

When ‘loyalty’ to a brand is valued – think of Dallas’ Justin Wagoner. Yesterday, a full week before launch, Justin become the first person in line for an iPhone 4 in Dallas, and possibly the entire U.S. Justin is no stranger to firsts, he’s been the line-leader at Apple launches since 2008. How can you value that level of devotion:

Justin’s story was first reported by DallasNews.com – and then in forums at industry-leader www.macrumors.com, where Justin posted his own greeting to MacRumors readers:

Some would say I am crazy, but I say I’m a very determined fan. In fact I just might be one the biggest Apple fans you will actually meet. I have been the first costumer for this store since 2008 when the iPhone 3G was released.

Normally I only camp out over night, but since I do not work due to the fact I am disabled with a seizure disorder and I am not in school at the point, I figure I just make it a fun experience and do it for a week.

Yes I did reserve a phone, but again, I’m doing it for a fun experience. I haven’t had a trip or vacation in past 10 years so I figured I make it a full week camping trip.

My setup and location has everything I could need to live for a week, even in the Texas heat. Tent is packed with a sleeping gear, a chair, full ice chest of drinks and food, and the Apple staff have been very nice to me treating me like a king. LOL I also brought a extension power cord for phone charging and things that need power. There is even a portable toilet around the back of the store if needed.

That been said, I’m actually doing really well out here. If anyone gets a chance, come join the fun!

CapMac’s Hospitality Team will be at both Apple Barton Creek and Apple Domain for the iPhone 4 launch this coming Thursday. Come join us and enjoy the fun of launch day – we’ll arrive early, but sorry – we’re not camping out.

Apple has just issued a press release announcing 600,000 pre-orders for iPhone 4 yesterday, ‘far higher’ than the company had anticipated. The release also apologizes for the frustration and difficulties experienced by those attempting to pre-order phones:

Yesterday Apple and its carrier partners took pre-orders for more than 600,000 of Apple’s new iPhone 4. It was the largest number of pre-orders Apple has ever taken in a single day and was far higher than we anticipated, resulting in many order and approval system malfunctions. Many customers were turned away or abandoned the process in frustration. We apologize to everyone who encountered difficulties, and hope that they will try again or visit an Apple or carrier store once the iPhone 4 is in stock.

Earlier today, several carrier retail partners indicated that iPhone 4 traffic and pre-order volume was ten times that of last year’s iPhone 3GS launch. AT&T reported today that it had accepted 10-times the number of pre-order sales on the first day compared to last year’s iPhone 3GS launch.

Seemingly even the AT&T server meltdown couldn’t dampen customer enthusiasm and demand. Apple’s website is now indicating that those unable to receive their iPhone 4 at the June 24th launch are being given the option of receiving a phone when the next batch arrives around July 14th.

Apple’s stock [AAPL] was up $ 7.56 on the day, closing at $ 267.25.