"This looks like the start of a new era of technology, like the turn of the century," said Tanith Nichols as he sat in a canvas camping chair in the early morning darkness outside Apple's store in downtown San Francisco.
At the Apple store on New York's 5th Avenue, some 160 people were in line at 8:30 this morning as television crews filmed the crowd.
"I hardly slept since I came Thursday morning," said Jessica Rodriguez, 24, as she waited.
The fever is over what could be the most-hyped personal electronic device in history, a slim, pocket-sized machine from the innovative Apple computer company that, enthusiasts say, "does it all."
The iPhone merges mobile telephone, Internet browsing,