The iPad 2 launch day is upon us, and as predicted, there are lines at Apple Store locations across the country. We’ve got staff at a few different locations who’ll be keeping us updated with pics and video, which we’ll post here for you to see. Check back regularly for new content and comments from the scene.
The first customer at the Leawood, KS store gets his iPads! From Dave Greenbaum:
The Apple Store opens in Leawood, KS, and Dave Greenbaum is there to catch the action:
3:20 — More new pictures in the gallery. A few new videos still to come.
2:44 — New photos in the gallery, including shots of Geoffrey Goetz getting his hands on an actual iPad 2!
Charles Jade shot this video of an Apple Store employee in NC telling people how to buy their iPads, and of the long line wrapping around the building:
2:18 — Updated with a bunch more photos, including some from San Francisco and one of the store opening in Durham, NC. Videos of store opening coming soon!
1:45 — Added a few new photos from Leawood, KS and Durham, NC to the image gallery below.
Another Mall of America customer looking forward to getting his hands on the iPad 2:
1:07 – Just added a bunch of new photos, including one of Apple setting up the new iPad 2 window display. Scroll down to the gallery to check them out.
The first two guys in line at the Leawood, KS store talk to Dave Greenbaum about the experience:
An interview sent in by Andy Flochinni with an early line-goer at the Mall of America:
Ryan Kim provides a longer look at the situation outside the NYC 5th Avenue Store:
Here’s a new video from Ryan Kim filmed at the NYC 5th Avenue Apple Store:
Writer Dave Greenbaum stopped by AT&T before heading to check out the line at the Leawood, KS Apple Store:
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1 / 48Apple employees using the iPad 2 in Kansas. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
2 / 48Vendors selling frozen custard to the people in line at the Apple Store in Leawood, KS. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
3 / 48The box of golden tickets at the Apple Store in Leawood, KS. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
4 / 48Apple employee at the Easton Town Center Apple Store in Columbus, OH preparing for the store opening. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
5 / 48The doors are open for Geoffrey! Go get that iPad 2! Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
6 / 48Geoffrey's golden ticket. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
7 / 48Yes, that's the iPad 2 that Geoffrey now own. Who's jealous? Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
8 / 48Checkout at the Apple Store in Columbus, OH. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
9 / 48This is the TaskRabbit crew. These guys are working for other buyers, standing in line in proxy. Joshua Leavitt (front, center) was at the downtown SF location at 4:30 AM and is buying two, one for a customer in Singapore and one for a guy in Hayes Valley. Photo by Nicole Solis. -
10 / 48The line at the downtown San Francisco store. Stretches down the block and out of view. Photo by Nicole Solis. -
11 / 48This kid wanted an iPad 2, but the Apple Store employee explained that that's what the massive lines were for. Maybe next year. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
12 / 48The end of the Leawood, KS line. It wraps around the building corner and off into the distance. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
13 / 48Durham, NC Store opening its doors at 5 PM local time. First iPads are now on sale! Photo by Charles Jade. -
14 / 48Mother and son waiting for iPad 2 outside the Leawood, KS Apple Store. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
15 / 48A "Golden Ticket," ensuring that the holder will in fact get an iPad 2 today after ample time waiting in line in Durham, NC. Photo by Charles Jade. -
16 / 48The tail end of the line at the Durham, NC store. Photo by Charles Jade. -
17 / 48Durham, NC Apple Store. About 300 people in line at 4:00 PM local time. Weather is cool and clear, and the first person in line arrived at around 8 AM. Line is still growing. Photo by Charles Jade. -
18 / 48Apple Store employees taking photos outside the Leawood, KS Apple Store. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
19 / 48The black curtains are going up at the Leawood store. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
20 / 48Inside the store at Leawood. There's that familiar MacBook Air display. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
21 / 48An older gentleman was curious about the new iPad since he loves his iPhone. Not sure if he wants to buy just yet, though. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
22 / 48A nice overhead shot of the lineup at the Mall of America later in the afternoon. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
23 / 48Moer perspective on how long the line is at the Mall of America. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
24 / 48It's a wide line at the Mall of America, apparently. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
25 / 48Where does the line at Mall of America truly end? Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
26 / 48One more overhead shot at Mall of America. At least they get to wait indoors. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
27 / 48Outside the Apple Store in Leawood, KS. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
28 / 48Some abandoned line-waiting gear in Leawood. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
29 / 48Apple getting ready to redecorate the storefront in Leawood, KS. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
30 / 48Another view outside the Apple Store in Leawood, KS. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
31 / 48This guy brought a Motorola Xoom to the event. No wonder he wants an iPad 2. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
32 / 48Apple employee getting ready for the rush. Photo by Dave Greenbaum. -
33 / 48The 5th Avenue Apple Store as seen from across the street shot by Ryan Kim. -
34 / 48Correction, this is the Upper West Side Apple Store, not the 5th Ave. location. Another view of the 5th Avenue Apple Store in NYC, this time showing the line going around the corner of the building. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
35 / 48A view inside the 5th Avenue Apple Store. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
36 / 48Apple staff talks with line-standers who are clearly eager to keep warm in NYC at the 5th Avenue location. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
37 / 48Another view of the 5th Avenue Apple Store in NYC. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
38 / 48Andrew Christian, a a 26-year-old pharmacy technician from New York. He started waiting at 6 pm. and endured a night of non-stop raining. He said it's his first time ever camping out for anything. But he said it's all worth it, both for the iPad 2 and the experience. "Just the experience is worth it, making new friends and being part of the hoopla. I'm really excited about the iPad 2. It's got a faster processor and graphics and iMovie and Garage Band. It's hard to explain but Apple delivers a perfect user experience." Photo by Ryan Kim. -
39 / 48A view of the 5th Avenue Apple Store in NYC. This is one of the busier Apple Retail locations. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
40 / 48Hazem Sayed is the first person in line at the 5th Avenue NYC Apple Store. He bought the first place in line this morning for $900 from a college student. He said he wanted to get the iPad 2 before he went on a trip to Abu Dhabi and also because he wanted to use the opportunity to promote his app, AskLocal. Photo by Ryan Kim. -
41 / 48Photo taken at the Mall of America Bloomington, MN. This was taken at about 10:30 PST today, and staff reports that the first person was in line at 6:45 AM local time. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
42 / 48An overhead view of the Mall of America Apple Store. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
43 / 48Another overhead shot at Mall of America. You can see most people are sitting down, and passers-by are obviously curious. Photo by Andy Flocchini. -
44 / 48The lineup at the Columbus, OH Easton Town Center Apple Store. Our own Geoffrey Goetz is there, and he says it's quite cold. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
45 / 48Another angle of the line at the Columbus, OH Easton Center Apple Store. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
46 / 48Easton Center again. Geoffrey reports that Apple staff are handing out blankets and warm water for line-standers. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
47 / 48More from the Easton Center line. Geoffrey arrived at around 1 PM local time, and managed to have only around 30 people in front of him. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz. -
48 / 48A final shot of the Easton Center queue. Photo by Geoffrey Goetz.

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