As the iPhone 5 begins its international rollout, lines have begun forming at Apple retail stores in preparation of tomorrow’s launch.

The iPhone 5, announced at a media event on September 12, will go on sale tomorrow at 8 am in nine countries: US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The iPhone 5 is a major upgrade from the iPhone 4S: it features a taller, 4-inch screen, a faster processor, an improved camera, better audio, and a thinner, lighter design with an aluminum back and glass inlays. Apple launched online pre-orders for the device last Friday, and in the first 24 hours the iPhone 5 topped two million pre-orders.

As we’ve done for every recent Apple product launch, we’re collecting some of the best photos and videos of customers waiting in line at their Apple stores. We’ll be updating this post throughout the next 24 hours; come back later for the latest updates and photos from around the globe.

If you want to send us photos or videos from your local Apple store, send us an email at: tips at macstories.net

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As the new iPad begins its international rollout at 8 A.M. (local time) on Friday, March 16th, it’s no surprise Apple fans have started waiting in line at retail stores to get their hands on the device, which, this year, was also made available through online pre-orders.

On March 16th, the new iPad (our overview) goes on sale in 10 countries.

• US
• Canada
• UK
• France
• Germany
• Switzerland
• Japan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Australia

In this post, we’ll collect photos and videos about the experience of our readers and other folks around the web while waiting in line for the new iPad. Come back later for updates and new images. (more…)

As the iPhone 4S begins its international rollout, lines have begun forming at Apple retail stores in preparation of tomorrow’s product launch. The iPhone 4S, announced at a media event last week, will go on sale tomorrow at 8 am in seven countries: US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Australia. The device will be available in two colors (black, white) and three storage sizes (16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB); in the United States, it will be available on carriers AT&T, Verizon and, for the first time, Sprint. Soon after the pre-orders for the device started online, Apple announced they had already topped 1 million; those who haven’t been able to pre-order an iPhone 4S, or have decided to avoid the online process altogether, are now camping out hoping to get one tomorrow morning.

As we did with our iPad 2 coverage earlier this year, we’re collecting some of the best photos and videos people waiting in line at Apple stores are posting online. We’ll be updating this post throughout the next 24 hours, so make sure to come back later for the latest updates and photos from around the globe.

If you want to send us photos or videos from your local Apple store line, send us an email at: tips at macstories.net

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The iPad 2 today launched in Thailand and China, following last weeks launch in twelve other countries and yet again queues could be seen outside Apple stores and other resellers. Unsurprisingly, the Apple online store also sold out within hours in both Thailand and China as well, with an expected shipping time of 1-2 weeks.

Jump the break for some more photos of the launch in Thailand and China.

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Attention, potential iPad 2 buyers: following the international rollout of the device across 25 countries last Friday, it appears that the device can’t be found anywhere. Every store has run out of iPads. The Apple online store reports a 3-4 weeks delay in many countries. Authorized resellers have run out of tablets, too. Apple fans worldwide are going crazy whilst Steve Jobs is enjoying an iPad 3 and an iPad 4 prototype in his home office.

Apple-related jokes aside, a number of reports in the past days have surfaced indicating several international Apple retail stores and resellers are completely out of stock. The Daily Mail says UK stores were sold out of iPads on Friday night / Saturday morning; rumor has it the same is happening in Italy, Canada and Australia. Of course Apple didn’t provide any detailed sales numbers and they haven’t issued a press release (yet), but basing on these initial reports it looks like the iPad 2 was off to a great launch.

Or, as some people speculate, the long lines around the globe and the multiple sell-outs were nothing but a clever marketing strategy to cover the fact that Apple is having production issues with the iPad 2 and large scale shipments. Stores are out of stock and Apple.com returns a 4-week long wait, but according to several bloggers this is due to the fact that Apple is having problems with the iPad 2 manufacturing chain — a rumor that was semi-debunked by Apple itself by launching the new tablet in March (rather than June) but that might still partially hold true if reports of these rapid sell-outs are real.

Reportedly sold out or not, if you’re really willing to get your hands on an iPad 2 now the best method is, yet again, the simplest one: drive to an Apple Store and ask. Then, leave a comment below and let us know.

(iPad 2 line in Sydney via BeauGiles)

The iPad 2 is coming out tomorrow in 25 countries. As announced by Apple earlier this week, the device will be available in the following countries at 5 PM local time: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The launch was delayed in Japan as Apple is focusing on recovering from the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country two weeks ago, and helping out employees and their families.

In the 25 countries scheduled for launch tomorrow, the iPad 2 will be available in Apple retail stores and authorized resellers. With the Apple Stores opening at 5 PM (same as the US launch on March 11), it’s no surprise that some people have decided to spend the whole day in line waiting for the doors to open — but some Apple fans have really broken any record this time. Take the Sydney Apple as an example: as reported by Fortune, Alex Lee and Marius Eilertsen started waiting in front of the store on Wednesday, 53 hours before the iPad 2 launch. Crazy. They are, of course, no. 1 and 2 in line, but they had to bring chairs and blankets (and water, I guess) for their adventure. The line has grown bigger, and it’s not extending down George Street with dozens of customers waiting. (more…)