Photos From Inside a 747 Flying iPhone 6 Units to the U.S.

[phillipduran]

This has gone too far.

The logistics of moving iPhones is a big deal and I think may have influenced the way people think about moving products and packaging.

Simply, this is no small thing.

Definitely worth the space it takes up on MacRumors.

 

[usarioclave]

They've been hinting at this since they released iOS7!!

It's all so clear to me now!!

Gold parachutes, no less!

 

[phillipduran]

isn't this a bit of a security risk posting this with pics and times?

Sure, all someone has to do is go run onto the tarmac. Something tells me they wont get far at all.

----------

Posts like these genuinely creep me out.

Posts like these genuinely creep me out.

----------

So at what point do they put my account information onto the iPhone? It amazes me whenever I get my new iPhone that it's preloaded with my info.

I've never had a preloaded iPhone. What is this magic you speak of?

 

[Moto G]

"Ah! I can see how these photos show the shipment to actually be iPhones, and not just pulled from Google images"

Said noone.

Attach large parachutes and drop them over horrendously poor areas of the third world - now I would COMPLETELY approve of that. Seriously.

 

[phillipduran]

This isn't news, and it isn't a rumor. We know the iPhone 6 is shipping. We know it's coming. A picture of cargo that could be, for all we know, twenty-five tons of fish, really isn't very exciting.

As someone who's frequented Mac rumor sites for over 12 years, this is probably the worst I've ever seen.

What interest do you honestly get out of this?

As someone who visited Apple BBS's Since the 80's I'll answer this.

LOTS of interest. The logistics of millions of phones moving is amazing. The prestaging, manufacturing, security of the pallets etc.

AND since my phone is there, I feel a personal connection to this info and the article. I'm invested in this.

I don't see how you don't get that different things float different boats.

Are they here yet? Are they here yet?

 

[EvilQueen]

Mine isn't on there, it hasn't shipped yet :'(

EDIT: I'm not sure why people think this is stupid. It's interesting to see our beloved devices on their way to our homes.

First, we don't even know it's really iPhones, second who cares that they are on planes in China?

 

[CoMoMacUser]

Cool to see, but I hope that photo doesn't come back to bite that guy.

That was the first thing I thought.

Supply chain fascinates me. I don't work in that space, but I'd love to learn more about how companies line up all of the necessary ducks to pull off a major launch.

 

[TheKrs1]

If previous Apple orders from China are any indication, these pallets contain boxes already labeled for individual FedEx shipment, with each pallet grouped with packages destined for similar hubs or destination cities. Typical Tim Cook logistics, touch the boxes the fewest number of times possible.

TIL. I figured these would be re-distributed or going to carriers/stores. My bad.

 

[2005CTS]

Eastern time zone, Slate grey.

Ok...since I ordered mine before yours (at 2:01 AM CST) that says that Slate Grey must have had higher availability compared to Silver.

 

[Interesting_Way_924]

How much does insurance cost for that load? That's $136.5 million worth of devices, assuming an ASP of $700.

What's also interesting is that they're not being shipped via UPS/FedEx from the factory, which is what Apple used to do.

Remember, there are orders besides yours. So Best buy gets some, the Apple Store gets some, likely some corporate resellers get some as corporate customers have already begun placing orders. The AT&T store will get some, blah blah blah. Your orders are still likely getting shipped direct from the factory. That's lean manufacturing for you right there.

 

[fmalloy]

Not the point.

Only authorized personnel gets to see what is coming from China.

He is violating a confidentiality clause the airline has with its clients.
Truckers don't post pictures of themselves with the freight they are carrying.

Would he have done the same with a load of superhero underwear for Walmart?

His 5 minutes of fame are now used up!

So a nice pilot took a pic and gave us a nice little insight into how our beloved jewels get to us, and this is the responses he gets.

The pilot is probably reading all this and saying "Man, I am so glad I have a real job and a real life and am not a sorry technogeek like these losers"

Last time he does that for us. Feel better about yourselves?

 

[dvoros]

shipments

where are the rest of the phones that were ordered?:

 

[borneo76]

Its cool to see Live report tracking for iPhone 6

 

[scottish]

Upon further reflection, Apple saved a whole bunch of money by getting iOS 8 out the door a little earlier, which allowed Apple to airfreight iPhones from China to the US then release them to FedEx in the US - saving the cost of international shipping.

This is peanuts compared to the amount of $$ that Apple makes, but it shows that even though Apple has money coming out the wazoo it still cares enough to save $2m in freight.

I can't get a fedex quote between China and the US for some reason, but from previous experience I think it costs around $25. Given Apple's discount it'd be less, so:

195,000 iPhones = $12 savings per iphone = almost $2.3m less in shipping. Say $100k to fly the stuff over (which is high) and they save $2.2m.

What makes you so sure about this? Apple will no doubt be using a combination of international shipping and airfreight.

 

[mdlooker]

I think it's pretty cool to see. Shoot I hope there are 50 more planes by Friday so we all can get what we want w/o issue.

 

[HEK]

This is a 777, not a 747. It says “777” right in one of the pictures.

Clearly states the exterior plane shot is of another aircraft. The two interior shots are of 747.

 

[stevejobz]

The fact that they use a flying courier to ship in products instead of normal shipping of products via water shows how comfortable their profit margin is. Btw, i love the fact that the pilot says he stepped on the gas a little extra so we get our stuff extra fast haha

 

[sransari]

Still showing "preparing for shipment" on my order status with a 9/19 delivery. Hoping to get a tracking number soon!!! Hurrrryyy!!

 

[HEK]

isn't this a bit of a security risk posting this with pics and times?

Security risk? From whom, Samsung?

By the time you saw this, that flight was over anyways. Whoooo top secret, cargo hold of unidentified 747 showing tarped cargo. Or middle shot of 777 from days earlier. Oh my god, now the terrorists know the iPhones are not coming in by camel back on the overland spice route.

 

[HEK]

How do we know there really iphones in there ?

Right, the guy pulled a fast one. Cargo really melanin lace baby formula and and formanldahyde out gassing drywall. Probably not even pilot, just wore outfit from last Halloween. Did you ever think the moon landings were staged from Disney sound stage?

----------

Contemplate this......I am not allowed to ship a lithium battery, yet there are 195,000 of them on that plane?

----------

Guys, c'mon, Samsung used this exact same model airplane FIRST.

I love this comment!!!!!!!

----------

I'm wondering if russians/ukrainians would have been destroyed that plane what would have happened ?

Simple, no more bathroom breaks, lunch, or going home for the Foxconn employees till the deficit is made up.

 

[Macinva]

Will we see photos of them on UPS or FedEX trucks as well? lol

 

[dmax35]

Why do I feel like this guy is going to get fired? Next thing we know he'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog s--- out of Hong Kong.

It basically still pays the same. s---! lived that life as a freight dog.

 

[HEK]

I haven't even ordered one (yet) and I enjoy these stories about the shipping. Don't click on them if you don't like them.

Okay, you do not want to see the point.

Let me try again:

When I (Apple) pay for the transportation of my goods, I do not want ANYBODY
to know about it for a variety of reasons.

Security, Press, Competitors etc.etc.

How does this pilot have the right to publish confidential information?

And, again why doesn't/didn't he do this with all the freight he is/has been
flying?

Apple = headlines comes to mind.

On a personal note, I do not care to know when these phones come into the country and where and when they get distributed.

I am from a generation that knows how to wait and doesn't need the latest gadget or my life ends.
(See some of the entitlement posts in other threads)

As always, I'll wait for ample supplies in the stores, will hold one in my hand to decide 4.7 or 5.5 and will also wait for the first report of "ISSUES" as these only settle after about 3 months.

The entire frenzy is silly in my book.

And yet you are here, reading and commenting on all this "silliness". Obviously our passion gives meaning to your life. A chance to voice that certain sense of superiority your generation feels over the rest of us. Instructing us in how we should live our lives. We thank you, one and all, for sending down the light of your wisdom.

 

[mabhatter]

And news on MacRumor's has reached an all time low.

This is AWESOME!!!!
Yes it's silly, but is cool to see how it all works... And to see GIANT STACKS of iPhones heading to new owners!

 

[HEK]

where are the rest of the phones that were ordered?:

Arriving as we chat!