Inside Apple's Lucky Bag @ Shibuya Apple Store, Japan

Lucky bags of all sorts go on sale on Japan on the day after New Year Day's.  The traditional lucky bags are concealed with the items inside undisclosed.  These lucky bags gives you a chance to test your luck for the year.  Wikipedia has a informative entry on lucky bags if you want to learn more.  

In keeping the Japanese tradition, Apple also offers limited quantities of Lucky Bags in Japan every year online as well at its retail stores.  Most stores open at 10 am and the bags are usually sold out by 8 am.  

This year the lucky bags of Apple cost 35,000 yen (about $384).  I decided to test out my luck and set out to buy one of these lucky bags.  Here we go!

Getting Ready

I decided to go to the store around 5 am.  The stores would open at 10 am, so there would be a 5 hour wait.  I rented two movies (X-Files and Hancock) from iTunes and loaded it to my iPod touch.  That should keep me company.

Getting to the store

I arrived at the store about 5:20 am where there was already a short line of 30 some people.  Here's a picture:

Waiting...

I started watching X-Files: I Want to Believe.  And Hancock subsequently.  After finishing the two movies, my iPod touch ran out of batteries.  

Starbucks - courtesy of Apple

At around 8 am, Apple employees passed out coffee from Starbucks to the customers in the line.  

Finally 10:00 am!

Did some web surfing on my iPhone, and it's finally 10!  The store opened, and the line started to move.  I paid with my credit card, and got my lucky bag.  It is said that a few lucky ones have a special card in the bags that will let them exchange a MacBook!

I quickly went to a corner, opened my bag, and checked out what's inside.  Unfortunately, I did not get a MacBook.  

So what's inside

Pics first, and the list of items below.

Woo hoo!  The Lucky Bag!

The contents

The original Apple calendar

List of  items inside the lucky bag

• iPod touch 2G (8GB) 
  
• USB Power Adapter
  
• Nike + iPod Sensor
  
• Nike Skylon (Adjustable sport headphones)
  
• Belkin FastFit Armband with Cable Capsule
  
• avenue--d Leather Sleeve for iPod touch 2G (Lucky bag special 2009 edition)
  
• Pure-Fi Anywhere 2
  
• Power Support anti-glare film set for iPod touch 2G
• Apple original calendar
  
• Apple original t-shirt
  
• The lucky bag itself - an original Apple carrying bag

Comments:

The Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 costs $100 and iPod touch 2G (8GB) costs $250 on Amazon respectively, those two items already cover the bulk of the $380 price tag of the lucky bag.  Though I have an iPhone and iPod touch 1G, overall, I still think it's a nice deal.  It's like an iPod touch that comes with speakers, cases, and protective films.  Although I'm not a big fan of using the touch as a sports device, they surely included all the stuff (armband, Nike earphones, Nike + iPod sensor) I need to use the touch as a gadget to run and jog with.  Oh yeah, except a pair of Nike shoes.  

Considering the iPhone was released last year in Japan, I was expecting some iPhone stuff, but this is good as well!  

Unboxing SwitchEasy Colors iPhone 3G Case

For now, I'm going with the SwitchEasy Colors iPhone 3G Case (my previous blog post about it is here).  I was originally going to get the white one, but many people complained that it got dirty easily and yellows rather quickly.  Instead, I settled for orange, which is the theme color of the online songwriting tool project I'm working on.  

I bought it for around 15 dollars here in Japan.  It came with 2 protective films for the screen and even covers for earphones.  So far it's doing what it's suppose to do, and does a nice job of protecting the entire phone.  The protruding home button may get in the way when pressing the space button, which is right above the button.  It isn't really a big issue and I haven't accidentally press the home button yet (plus, it'll take more then a tap to actually press the button).  You might want to be careful if you have big thumbs though =)

And here are some pics:

iPhone 3G Unbox Pics

The bag and the iPhone.

The iPhone 3G... let's get you out of there!

Wooo...

The cables and stuff.  A new USB adapter will be sent to me because the one in the box was recalled.  

And yes! The SIM card eject tool...

Another look at the iPhone 3G

And a look at its shiny white back side!

Good bye Nokia ;-) , and HELLO iPhone :-)

Just got Wii Music!

Just got a package from Amazon in Japan. It's Wii Music!!! Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to it as I'm swamped with work. But I'll try to play it and have impressions soon. Meanwhile, here are some unboxing pics.

Yay!  It's Wii Music!

Here's another shot with the cover slid off. 

Amazon Kindle Unboxing Video and Pics

 The unboxing video of Amazon Kindle is below, and you can find my impressions here.  

And here are some pictures: