An unlucky customer had his new iPhone 4 catch fire while AT&T tried to troubleshoot the device.

It’s the first time our guy has seen this happen (us too), but the brand new iPhone 4 caught on fire while being hooked up to a computer using the Apple USB cable that accompanied the device. The customer wanted to exchange the iPhone — obviously — for a new, non-charred unit however the AT&T store in question was out of stock. An Apple Store did confirm to our AT&T connection that this did appear to be a defective USB port and not some sort of user error.

When it caught on fire the iPhone bezel became extremely hot, slightly burning the customer’s hand. The USB port was slightly melted and the USB cable was badly melted as can be seen. For More Pics Read more…

Apple has accidentally hinted at iWork for the iPhone in yet another discovery on international Apple Store sites, according to MacRumors.

Clicking the “Learn more” link for AppleCare on the ordering page reveals additional information on the program, with a section devoted to software support specifically mentioning “Using iWork for iPhone and other Apple-branded iPhone apps” as a topic users for which users can receive assistance. Read more…

Dallas News is reporting that the first (seen) camper for the iPhone 4 has been spotted this morning outside the Knox Street Apple store in Dallas. He surely has a long seven days ahead of him.

[9to5mac]

Apple has ended their no cash policy after a woman on fixed income was prevented from buying an iPad. The woman had saved up for the device for weeks but when she went to the Apple Store she was turned away.

“It took quite a long time for me to just save up this small amount of money to go down and purchase one,” she said. “I had my cash in the backpack and I went up proudly to the counter and told them, ‘I would like to purchase an iPad.’” Read more…

As loyal readers know, Apple stores are not particularly cash-friendly; in the case of the iPhone and the iPad, they’re downright cash-hostile. Both devices require a credit or debit card for purchase, although you can waltz down the block and buy an iPad with cash at Best Buy if you like (and you can use a gift card for iPhone, but not for iPad).

There are some points on Apple’s side for the pay-with-plastic requirement (the primary one being that it’s hard to enforce the two-per-person purchase limit without some way to track buyers), but it’s clear that the rule is a source of annoyance to some potential customers. Now the annoyance is getting magnified. Read more…

It was a gruesome and sad story. After Bill Jordan picked up an iPad for a friend from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center Apple Store in Colorado, he was assaulted by two men who stole the iPad — and in the process damaged his pinky finger so badly that part of it had to be removed. Read more…

Be careful how many iPads you buy because the Apple Store may decide that you have reached your ‘lifetime limit’. That’s what happened to a medical student who was doing a favor for international members of the NeoGAF gaming forum.
Read more…

After purchasing an iPad from a local Apple Store a Denver-area man was jumped by thieves who ripped off most of his pinky finger whilst yanking the bag away from him.

The man who was purchasing the iPad for a colleague admits to not even really understanding the fuss with Apple’s new product. After paying for the device he headed down the Apple stairs. The strings of the Apple bag were wrapped around his hand as he walked out. Read more…

Apple today announced that the Wi-Fi + 3G models of its iPad will be delivered to US customers who’ve pre-ordered on Friday, April 30, and will be available in Apple retail stores the same day starting at 5:00 p.m. Read more…