London's iPhone queues just aren't what they used to be

LONDON — Apple iPhone launch days have become almost a yearly spectacle, and while some die-hards dug out their camping gear this time, the queues at London Apple Stores were quite sedate.

Some people said that the difference between the iPhone 6 and 6S wasn't enough of a jump to merit camping out for days, or that Samsung phones were edging in. Online preorders and pre-booking times to pick up phones at stores took away from the usual circus of Apple devotees, media and promoters.

At the Covent Garden Apple Store — one of the world's largest — a few people started camping on Monday, but most everyone else had joined the queue late Thursday night for the Friday morning launch. There was plenty of empty space. Read more...