The Gadget Link

IRVINE, Calif., June 29 /PRNewswire/ — iLounge.com, the world’s largest and most popular web site devoted to Apple’s iPod, iTunes, and iPhone products, today debuted the latest innovation in its coverage of the iPhone: a series of five iPhone accessory videos, titled “The First iPhone Accessories,” designed to help inform new and prospective iPhone buyers about the wide variety of add-ons coming for Apple’s first mobile phone. 

Based upon iLounge’s popular First Looks section, which offers exclusive photos and details on just-released iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV hardware, software, and accessories,

“The First iPhone Accessories” videos place the spotlight solely on the add-ons, rather than iLounge’s seasoned editorial team. Each of the videos offers 3-D looks at new cases, with new speakers, cables, earphones, and car chargers appearing, as well.

“iPhone buyers may be surprised to discover that some of their favorite iPod earphones, speakers, and car accessories don’t work properly,” explained Jeremy Horwitz, iLounge’s Editor-in-Chief. “Our new videos and First Looks help viewers learn about the headphone adapter cables, charger compatibility issues, and other insider tips iPhone users need to know before they accessorize.”

The First iPhone Accessories videos also show off the wide variety of case designs available and soon to be available for iPhone. Ranging from fur-coated pouches to elaborately contoured clear plastic shells and discreet black neoprene holders, iPhone cases offer your choice of protection, flashiness, or anonymity — whatever’s best-suited to your personal needs.

Since 2001, iLounge.com has hosted the world’s most popular discussion forums for iPod, iTunes, and iPhone users. With over 114,000 members and nearly 1.1 million posts, the iLounge forums have been covering iTunes-compatible phones since before the 2005 launch of the ill-fated Motorola ROKR phone, and now cover iPhones and their accessories. Unlike many other forums online, iLounge’s forums are aggressively moderated by a
team of superb administrators, moderators, and assistants dedicated to filtering out surreptitious advertising and objectionable posts.

As with all of iLounge.com’s content, including its multi-million-downloaded Free iPod Book 3.0 and iPod Buyers’ Guide publications, the First iPhone Accessories videos and First Looks are available free of charge from the iLounge.com home page. “iLounge readers depend upon us for honest, objective, and timely coverage of All Things iPod, iPhone, and iTunes,” said Dennis Lloyd, Publisher of iLounge. “Between our videos, First Looks, forums, and daily news updates, we’ve delivered everything iPhone users have asked for, and then some. Just wait until they see what’s next!”

About iLounge

Headquartered in Irvine, California, The Media LLC’s iLounge.com is the world’s leading resource for iPod, iTunes, and iPhone information, not affiliated with or owned by Apple Computer or any other vendor of iPod accessories or services. Founded only days after Apple announced the first iPod in 2001, iLounge has exploded in popularity, today boasting millions of visitors and tens of millions of page views each month. Its editorial content is in no way influenced by advertising, paid placements, or other unsavory practices. iLounge has been hailed by publications such as Forbes, Time Magazine, cNet, and The Wall Street Journal as the leader in iPod-related information online, the former deeming iLounge “The ultimate in product reviews and tutorials on all things iPod.” The site, its publisher and editors have been spotlighted by the Associated Press, CNBC, The Guardian (UK), Italian Vogue, The Los Angeles Times, National Post (Canada), The New York Times, PC Magazine, Reuters, Stuff (UK), TechTV, The Age (Australia), The Sun (UK), and USA Today, amongst many other leading newspapers and magazines worldwide. –>

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Thanks to an exclusively obtained leaked document, we’re prepared to take you on a journey to iLand. Wondering how the lines will be handled for the Apple iPhone launch tomorrow? What accessories will we be able to buy? Perhaps the most important information is how these usually unorganized (?) and downright obnoxious AT&T employees will handle all the traffic in a four hour time frame.

When you arrive at your local iSpot, you will be formally organized by a member of AT&T management. Once you pass the first obstacle and actually get to the cash drawer, the sales rep will then attempt to perform a credit check on you before they sell you the phone and send you packin’.

Want to know about the accessories, deposit, prepaid options and more?

According to the document, all AT&T reps have to at least offer to do a credit check to try and get you pre-approved for service, before they sell you the device. This is actually a kind-hearted gesture to make sure that when you get home to try and activate your iPhone, you won’t have to pony up $250 as a security deposit. And it helps AT&T track the devices to receive sales compensation. Sneaky sneaky! The problem is you can’t make that security deposit through iTunes, so you’ll have to come back to the store to give them that $250. Worse is the 10% restocking fee if the box is opened and you decide you don’t want it. If you do a credit check to get pre-approved and pass, or fail and give AT&T the security deposit, you will receive a authorization code you can enter into iTunes to speed up the activation process. AT&T employees are not allowed to so much as stare at that shiny seal on your iPhone box — you don’t have to worry about some freak unboxing your baby! In fact, they literally put the iPhone into an Apple bag (classy right?), scan it, seal the Apple bag with the phone inside, and then give it to you.

Assuming you actually make it into the store, be prepared to get offered every iPhone accessory in stock. But what accessories will be available? We gotcha’ covered. Apple’s Bluetooth headset will be in stock tomorrow (14 day return policy as opposed to the normal 30 days for accessories) as well as extra docks, travel chargers, headphones, USB cables, and a host of 3rd party solutions which you can find below in the document. So let’s say you make it home, unbox your brand new iPhone, but wait…it’s defective and DOA. Oh no! You cannot bring defective iPhones back to the AT&T store. You will have to send it to Apple directly. Regular returns can be returned to the point of purchase.

What happens if your credit isn’t up to snuff? Well, after and only after you fail the iTunes credit check (or the one in the store for that matter), an option will show up on screen to activate the iPhone as a Go Phone. Huh, Go Phone? Prepaid?

No contract is required whatsoever. Mind you this is not a big deal, rather it’s the Pick-Your-Plan option. But still, you don’t have a contract! Lastly, AT&T stores will start selling $25 and $50 iTunes gift cards. We got a lot more info out of this 60-some page document below for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy everyone!

The entire 65-page Apple iPhone Launch Guide is now posted below!

Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Key Points [PDF link]

Apple/AT&T iPhone Participant Training Guide Full 65-page docment [PDF link]

Sourced by The Boy Genius –>

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In a couple days, the Apple iPhone will finally be available to the public. Have you been sitting at home alone, trying to figure out what the heck is going to happen on June 29th? Should you camp out in the store or hijack the FedEx delivery guy? Probably not. But we do have some exciting bits of information surrounding the day the iPhone will be released. All AT&T stores will be closing at around 4:30PM on the 29th. Everybody will be kicked out of the store, which will then reopen at 6PM for the sale of the Apple iPhone. Various AT&T stores will be open late due to increased demand. If you plan to get an iPhone right away, you better be prepared. iPhone shipments will hit the stores around 4-6PM that day.

Make no mistake about it, this was Apple’s genius shipping plan to make sure devices were not sold early before the release date. Remember the Apple iPhone display from a little while back? That will also be setup in the 4:30PM-6:00PM time frame. Besides the iPhone, expect a number of accessories to be available at launch. Some of these should include a car charger, extra wall charger, carrying case, and possibly an Apple’s Bluetooth headset. Rembeber to be patient while waiting in line.

The iPhone accessories continue to roll in for first time moves. Many accessories can be found at from Ebcases. Their NOVO flip case utilizes a magnetic latch to keep the fold in place. Crafted out of genuine Napa leather, the eNOVO offers easy access to the built in dock connector, as well as a detachable belt holster that lets you keep your new investment close to the hip. Another cool looking case is the eCopilot, a pouch style Napa leather holster that fits a variety of handsets, iPhone included. Both are available now for $40 and $27 respectively. In addition, don’t neglect to apply an LCD Screen and Lens Protector Film Shield to your iPhone because the 2.5″ LCD touch screen will scratch easily. They can be at your front door in two weeks, which should give you more than enough time to get acquainted with the ins and outs of your new case before the iPhone is finally released on June 29th.

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