Apple faithful line up across Bay Area for iPhone 7

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The moment is finally here, Apple fans flooded into stores ready to be among the first to get their hands on the new Apple iphone 7.

Our KTVU crews spotted long lines snaking around the block at the Apple store in Walnut Creek as well as the AT&T store in San Francisco. 

SALES AND STOCK

Technology companies made the largest gains as Apple rose for the fourth consecutive day. It's up 12 percent this week on growing optimism about early sales of its newest iPhones.

Apple rose to its highest price in 10 months on reports of strong preorders for the new iPhones it introduced last week. The stock added $3.80, or 3.4 percent, to $115.57. Other technology companies also rose. Microsoft gained 93 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $57.19 and Intel picked up 94 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $36.56.

iPhone 7 FEATURES

The latest phone may be more notable for what's missing, instead of what's been added. In Apple's view, consumers will use the same wireless ear buds to shift seamlessly from listening to music on their iPhone to talking with their Apple Watch and other gadgets made by the California tech giant. 

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus come with a faster processor, longer battery life and better cameras — including a new dual lens system in the pricier 7 Plus model that provides higher quality zooming. But the new phones won't have the analog headphone jack that's been a staple for decades in just about every consumer electronics device that can play audio.

Apple is betting its legions of loyal fans will embrace the shift to digital headsets that use wireless connections. Or — if they insist on sticking with their old ways — that they won't mind using a new style of earbuds that plug into the iPhone's "Lightning" charging port.