American football fans might enjoy the news that Madden NFL 12 is now available on the Android Market for just US$0.99. For that price, even people who don’t like American football just might buy it! Think of it: Real teams with real rosters. Only your skill makes the difference. Well, your enjoyment counts most of all, and for the low, low price, what’s not to enjoy?

…Except for the Chinese who might enjoy American football apps on the iPhone 4 S mobile phones, anyway.

You see, Apple and outlets apparently outclassed themselves on their pre-release advertising: Crowds in Beijing weren’t entirely polite as they waited for the retail stores to open. The crowd spanned tens of people shoulder-to-shoulder and wrapped around the building and down the block, each person waiting for an iPhone 4S.

The unruliness of the impatiently waiting crowds caused Apple’s primary store in the Sanlitun district to not open its doors at all: The staff were very concerned regarding not just safety of the merchandice but of the employees themselves.

When a store representative announced that the retail outlet would not open, the location was pelted with eggs, and scuffles and skirmishes broke out. No reports were publicized regarding possible injuries.

Apple has only five Apple Stores across the whole of China – two in Beijing and three in Shanghai. Similarly sized crowds gathered at each Apple Store location.

To avoid such scenes in the future, Apple has decided to offer the iPhone 4S only online and via its local carrier, China Unicorn.

How many times do you think they might have checked their smartphones regarding time to opening, text messages and incoming calls during the all-for-nought wait?

Considering the tension already present, it was probably a lot.

What is called “smartphone obsession” causes elevated stress and preoccupation with checking mobile phones and smartphones for emails, texts, calls, social updates – any number of user-attention functions.

The stress of just having to know is causing phantom vibrations felt by the obsessed users, and only separation or conscious effort to decrease the check-now habit will possibly cure it.

Pardon a moment, our mobiles are ringing … we think.