Stump the Experts is one of the highlights of a WWDC experience. Stump the Experts is the most popular session at WWDC- by far. TheiLife.com is bringing coverage from this years event in the form of transcribed text and photos. In the meantime, for those who aren’t familiar with how the game is played (via Wikipedia):

Stump the Experts is structured as a game show in which the audience acts as one team, and the experts on stage are another. The audience may ask the experts any question related to Apple in an attempt to “stump” them, hoping to earn a point for their team. Conversely, experts may ask the audience questions that any audience member may try to answer. Any and all resources are allowed including source code, the Internet (e.g., Wikipedia & Google) and cell phones. Host Fred Huxham describes it as an “open book test”.
Stump the Experts is chaotically hosted by Fred Huxham and Mark “The Red” Harlan.

There are three types of questions (via Wikipedia):

Songs – The 7-8 songs played before Stump the Experts begins are chosen by Fred, the leader of the show for the past 15 years. Audience members may come up to the microphones and guess the artist and name of the songs to win prizes and get points for their team.
Images – The experts create cryptic images that represent Apple-related phrases or information. The audience must decipher the image’s meaning. This innovation was introduced by Craig Marciniak in 2006.
Standard – Questions about arcane Apple knowledge.

Sidney San Martin from theiLife.com is attending the 2008 Stump the Experts and will be transcribing some of the questions as well as bringing back photos. Check back soon.

Here is theiLife.com’s gallery of the first day of WWDC 2008. From Sidney waiting outside on line for 19 hours to Stevenote- it was a quite memorable day. Stay with theiLife.com for continuing coverage of WWDC related events all week. Like they say, “A picture speaks a thousand words”.

Gallery (42 pictures) after the jump! Read more…

Reports are coming in the 5th Avenue Apple Store, located in New York City is being shut down. Rumor has it that Apple is filming a commercial for the new, unreleased iPhone inside the store. On the 5th Ave Retail Website, a message reads:

“Please note we will be temporarily closed Thursday, May 29 at 3:00 p.m. and will reopen Friday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m. During this time, please visit one of our other two Manhattan locations.”

The store is normally open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has only closed on two occasions, for about three hours- the release of Mac OS X Leopard and the iPhone last June. TheiLife regular, Sidney San Martin is en-route to check out the scene, and should be reporting live within the hour- pictures, live blogging and a little investigative reporting to come. If you live in or near New York City, and would like to help contribute to the coverage, please feel free to contact us!

6:31 PM Sidney is off from work and en-route (via Subway) to the 5th Ave store.
7:30 PM Sidney is on the scene confirming that it is indeed commercial- there are booms and a Genie outside the store. He says that lighting is being setup to highlight the Cube and elevator.
7:37 PM Sidney has confirmed that there is filming going on in the store. Director chairs and people mingling around the tables. All computers have the Leopard aurora desktop background showing with no menubar or icons.
7:39 PM He can see into the Apple Store, and there are iPhone tables with cardboard around them. Most of the people are congregating around the iPhone tables. The cardboard is very eerie, very Apple, he notes.
7:52 PM The crew outside is discussing ways to get into the store, appears to be looking at a floorplan.
7:56 PM “I recognize the 5th Ave HR Manager standing outside the store. She is dressed well and clearly happy about this event.”
7:58 PM More lights are being setup around the outside of the Cube.
8:08 PM “Crews are all talking through radios. I wish I had a frequency scanner right now!”
8:11 PM The crews are hooking into the Fire Hydrant now. What the heck!?
8:33 PM BLACK CASES MARKED “Anonymous 5+4” entering store.
8:33 PM More black cases marked “Anonymous 4+3” entering store.
9:33 PM Sidney has to leave as his iPhone has died; the liveblog is over. The servers are being pounded from traffic from all over; including AppleInsider and MacRumors. Thanks to all who have visited!!
9:47 PM Almost the entire sidewalk is blocked off on 5th Ave, with the Apple employees pushing the line back as much as possible. Sidney has left for home.

Pictures after the jump! Read more…