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Apple's iPhone 6 Release Packs Malls In Westchester

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. – The lines for the new Apple products released Friday were some of the biggest since the first iPhone release, according to many brand-loyal patrons waiting hours Friday to buy the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Frank Sanchez has been using Apple products since the early 1990s.

Frank Sanchez has been using Apple products since the early 1990s.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
The Westchester mall opened at 7 a.m. Friday, but lines formed outside all night for the release of the new iPhone.

The Westchester mall opened at 7 a.m. Friday, but lines formed outside all night for the release of the new iPhone.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
Hundreds lined the halls of The Westchester mall in White Plains Friday.

Hundreds lined the halls of The Westchester mall in White Plains Friday.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus release drew hundreds to the Apple Store in The Westchester mall.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus release drew hundreds to the Apple Store in The Westchester mall.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
Kwasi Osae-Kwapong's iPhone 4 broke recently and is using his dad's 3G iPhone until he buys the new iPhone 6.

Kwasi Osae-Kwapong's iPhone 4 broke recently and is using his dad's 3G iPhone until he buys the new iPhone 6.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
An app developer (center) looks to add to his Apple collection, which is already significant.

An app developer (center) looks to add to his Apple collection, which is already significant.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly

Hundreds turned out at The Westchester Mall in White Plains and the outdoor Ridge Hill Mall in Yonkers. In White Plains, people started lining up outside as early as 2 a.m.

Many on line said people lined up outside multiple entrances, which led to a "mad dash" to get online inside the mall when it opened at 7 a.m., causing some chaos and even pushing and shoving. The store opened at 8 a.m.

"This is way bigger than any I’ve seen and I’ve done a couple," said David Raguso, a Tarrytown resident hoping to buy an iPhone 6 Plus Friday at The Westchester. 

Still others like Lingyao Meng of Tarrytown took issue with not being able to leave the line without losing their spot. Like Meng, many arrived around 5:30 a.m. and waited on line for many hours. 

To pass the time, Kwasi Osae-Kwapong of White Plains brought homework for graduate courses he is taking. The chemistry major graduated from George Washington University and is looking to enroll in a masters program in New York City. 

"It was kind of disorganized unfortunately," he said of the line formation. "You don’t want anyone getting hurt over a device. So, for next time they should designate a single entrance and start the whole process in here."

White Plains resident Frank Sanchez said he has been using Apple products since the early 90s and usually braves the madness of Apple’s iPhone releases.

“I own Apple stock, so I kind of come out her to get a feel for what’s going on,” he said. “I talk to people online and ask them random questions about stuff in regard to what’s being released… It’s fun. There’s a buzz.”

Sanchez bought the iPhone 6, saying he favored the smaller screen to the larger iPhone 6 Plus because it fits comfortably in his pocket.

“And as far as features they’ve improved on a lot of things here: performance, capacity, form factor,” he said, adding that he like the rounded edges and how thin it is. “It feels kind of strange because it’s so thin, it makes it feel kind of delicate in a weird way. It’s supposedly flexible and more resistant to scratching and stuff.”

Alicia Toberdhan of Tarrytown chose The Westchester over crossing the bridge to go to the Pallisades Mall. She waited in line from 7 a.m. with her friend Madiha Mughal of New Rochelle.

Sam Roberts of Scarsdale said the promise of longer battery life with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus was the key for him. 

"I get the battery case on this because it runs out of battery constantly," he said. 

While Sanchez liked the smaller screen, most in line Friday wanted the larger screen, like Larchmont resident Brian Delatola.

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