Rumor had it that the new iPhone 5 would be released in September. Or maybe October.  Zhao Shen wasn’t taking any chances. He had set up camp outside the 百脑汇 electronics market in Shanghai in June, quite pleased with himself that he’d be first in line to get one of the smuggled, unlocked Hong Kong ones as soon as they came in. Whenever that was.

He wished he’d packed spare underpants and something besides packets of dried ramen.