"I'm now part of the cool cell phone club," the San Francisco accountant said.
Best was part of a mighty throng of people camped outside the Apple store in downtown San Francisco, waiting to buy the iPhone 4 starting at 7 a.m. The line of more than a thousand people, split between pre-order and walk-up customers, stretched around the block.
Unlike many of the people in line, Best had never owned an iPhone. Now, with the fourth-generation smart phone going on sale, Best said he's glad he waited to join the iPhone fraternity.
"I'm glad I waited because this is so refined; it's faster and better," he said, after waiting since 4 a.m. in the pre-order line. "My friends have iPhones and I've been jealous."
Even after three generations of the iPhone, Apple has managed to stoke even more interest in its smart phone. The iPhone 4 recorded 600,000 pre-orders on the first day, 10 times the number for the previous device, the iPhone 3GS. Some analysts are estimating that 1 million units were sold on the first day.
The premiere, however, was not perfect. Some users reported activation problems while others have been concerned that they lose the signal when the phone is held around its metal border. Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
The latest device comes equipped with a faster processor, improved screen, slimmer design, bigger battery, multitasking and a front-facing camera for video chatting.
Chris Bank, a startup consultant from San Francisco, said he was excited to put all the various features to use.
"I love multitasking and video chatting, so I'm gonna blast Pandora (radio) while I'm talking with my mom on Skype," Bank said.
Bank secured his spot at the front of the walkup line after midnight Monday, a move he said he could have delayed by at least a day. But it worked out for him because he was able to sell a second spot in line for $400, enough to buy an iPhone 4 and some accessories.
For Dale Larson, the wait in line capped a crazy honeymoon. Larson, who got married this month, returned from his Belize honeymoon to take up a spot at the front of the pre-order line, which friends had reserved for him as a wedding gift.
The co-founder of SF AppShow, a showcase for iPhone developers, said he expects that the upgrades, such as the improved screen and faster processor, will be a big hit with developers, allowing them to create many applications.
"The iPhone 4 will continue to raise the bar for the industry and create an ecosystem that will drive innovation," he said. "Every new innovation is a new opportunity."
LOS ANGELES - A mini-tent city has bloomed outside the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles to see an "Eclipse."
Hundreds of fans are awaiting Thursday night's red-carpet premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," the third installment of the vampire movie series. The movie opens in theaters June 30.
Scripts are in the works for more "Twilight" movies.
About 9,000 wristbands are being handed out to fans, who began erecting tents Monday on concrete steps outside the theater. Nokia officials, who have issued a list of camping rules, say the wristbands must be worn until the premiere is over.
Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner play Bella, Edward and Jacob in "Eclipse," which features Bella preparing for high school graduation and choosing a prom date — vampire Edward or werewolf Jacob.
