That was Daniel Bowman Simon of Waiting for Apples.

why are these people clapping?

The AppleStore Ban Hammer appears on video for the first time.

At :24, did the iGuard put a bucket on the guys head?

I think someone wanted to do their take of the classic Macintosh "1984" commercial.

How do they know he was an activist bum and not an activist with a home and a job?

@sir_pantsalot: no no no...

Activist (pause) bum rushes iPhone Line With Flag Pony

Bum Rush is a verb in this case, not an adjective describing the activist.

@MercuryPDX: Thank you, exactly.

This is like the 5th iPhone article in a row today. Is it all iPhone all the time here on the consumerist? Is it just a slow news day? I could care less about someone's overpriced tech gizmo.

Camping out for a week to make a "statement" that no one understands (tin foil pony?) and no one can really see except for a few employees and that lasts for all of 3 seconds before being deflected off to the side like a bug hitting a windshield...was it worth it? Cause if it was I would like to hire that guy - he works cheap. I've got a lot of stuff he can do for very little return.

@kscottz: This is a great day in observing consumer behavior. If it is such a non-news story, why did you post?

@kscottz: If you're a regular reader, you know that not to be true. It's a launch day, so cut them some slack. If it's Five iPhone stories a day for the next week, THEN you can start with the whining (and I will probably join you). ;)

@Canino: Yeah, I watched the video and I don't get it either. Much like the people praying for lower gas prices, he didn't hurt anybody but was it really a good use of his time for his cause?

@Canino: No one can really see except a few employees? Dude, you just watched in on the Internet after reading about it on the Internet. I'm sure millions of others will see it on the Internet as well since "iPhone" is a keyword. The political statement being that we have to curb out vapid consumer culture a little and consider humanity for a second.

@Televiper: Maybe he should have put that on a sandwich board or a T-shirt. I don't really get that message from a metal horse statue.

stupid hippies...
no one cares about your "sustainability, affordable housing, energy security, locally-grown food", especially when you go about it like this.

Any one else annoyed when stores have their employees get excited and clap and cheer for you when you enter their store. It annoys me to death and is a bit creepy. Best buy did the same thing when they opened their store near me. I am just looking for dvd, I don't need a heroes welcome.

@Televiper: Dude, you just watched in on the Internet after reading about it on the Internet.

I don't necessarily disagree but I must say I got nothing from watching it other than seeing some fuzzy guy carrying something get deflected off while orange shirted cheerleaders ignored him. That video in itself gave me absolutely no information about his supposed statement.

@Tmoney02: It's sad and pathetic. There is a shoe store nearby and the staff walk up to customers and introduce themselves by name: "Hi there! I'm Shelley. Please let me know if you need help!". Each and every staff member does this to each and every customer, and there must be at least 5 staff in the store. Painful.

When I did my time in retail I hated the customer service drivel forced down our throats by head office. I've been called in my "retail career" everything from "Customer Service Rep" to "Guide", "Executive Customer (as in, we are all customers and want to help our fellow customers. Where's my razor blade?)", to "Smiler!".

I don't want to be greeted with applause, I just want the thing to be in stock when I get to the store.

@Tmoney02: They're just happy to see the few people they haven't alienated yet.

@Skunky: lol, well I probably wouldn't have been at the opening if they weren't giving out 20 dollar gift cards.

And, unfortunately, no one was able to use their sweet new iPhones to MMS a video of this to friends...

i stood in line myself this morning. As I watch the customers file in, I can't help but think of a Simpsons skit. I don't think I would have bat an eye if someone walked in on their hands.

@AtomicPlayboy: They sent free emails instead.

You might say his attempt was.... foiled?

Hmhmahaha!

@AtomicPlayboy: I doesn't matter, all of my friends' phones have crappy displays anyway. Not worth watching a video. Unlike my iPhone...

That video is so scary in many ways. The applauding applebots, all dressed in the same uniform. The company that once encouraged thinking differently is now throwing out a different thinker.

Ya, he may be a nut, but so is Steve Jobs. I see a pot and kettle convention here.

@kscottz: iPhone posts are okay, but I'm really excited about next Monday, when Consumerist begins Jesse Helms week.

Geez, acting like a jackass isn't going to make anyone care about your cause.

So. I still don't really get what the aluminum foil pony with an American flag is supposed to symbolize..

@humphrmi: "That video is so scary in many ways. The applauding applebots, all dressed in the same uniform." Seconded.

I think it was the olympic torch

hehe look at the fat white people.

@DigitalVersicolor: Hooray for acceptable bigotry!

It's the token minorities that I find amusing!

It's disappointing that Apple is insecure enough to feel threatened by some activist, who's goal is more practical and noble then most, to the point where they won't share the spotlight with anyone on their precious launch day. Seriously, why didn't they welcome him in, give him an interview, and sell him a phone. Do you think that this guy getting his message out would have somehow slowed phone sales in the slightest? If you ask me, it's a missed opportunity to portray the company as something other then money grubbing.

Guinness record for the "longest time waiting in line to buy something.", i.e. iPhone. All this in order to raise awareness of local farms and green earth? These are completely incompatible goals. When will folks understand that we can not shop our way to conservation. What did the activists do with their "ancient" one year old iPhones? Sent them to China so that a 10 year old kid can make 50 cents recycling it in a toxic plant?