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Gizmodo gets its hands on the new iPhone prototype

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xcrunner529 said:
eh I'm sure Google wouldn't mind hiring him. This is an expensive lesson, but I'm sure he'll learn. Plus, not everyone is so anal when it comes to products as Apple so it's not a fact he won't be hired anywhere. I'm not even sure Apple will fire him now - they'll look douchey in a year full of doucheyness - they don't need any more.
Every tech company is anal about tech prototypes. Companies routinely fire people for this stuff, and it'll take the biggest stretch to paint Apple as being "douchey" for doing so.
 
Gizmodo two words for you DOUCHE BAGS, seriously what's the point of outing the dude? I would of cut a deal with apple for long term benefits
 
Also, I'm sorry for bringing it up because I know that in a way they're not completely similar, but there's still some issues (and what I see as double standards) I have with a lot of people's opinion on this. From reading this forum, I get the feeling that many of you are completely for the New York Times, Wikileaks, etc. publishing confidential documents, even if they could possibly affect our national security. It's the job of good journalists they (and I) feel to inform the public and not simply kiss up and be happy with what the source gives you.

Why is Gizmodo getting all the backlash for publishing a story? Just because Apple could be mad? Because a person's job is at stake? Someone in the military's job isn't potentially at stake? Or even some forces' LIVES aren't at stake?

For the record, I am for both cases - I believe these kind of stories are what real journalism is about. In the case of the NY Times, I believe those articles keep the government honest. Of course there are always exceptions, and it's up to the reporter.
 
xcrunner529 said:
eh I'm sure Google wouldn't mind hiring him. This is an expensive lesson, but I'm sure he'll learn. Plus, not everyone is so anal when it comes to products as Apple so it's not a fact he won't be hired anywhere. I'm not even sure Apple will fire him now - they'll look douchey in a year full of doucheyness - they don't need any more.
It's not so much about him learning a lesson.... it's about everyone else at Apple learning a lesson.
 
evil ways said:
Shitty move by Gizmodo to out the guy, but I guess it's damage control for them in case Apple goes with the "stolen prototype" story.

but they could have just waited for Apple to make those claims first and then offered their account to Apple or in court.
 
Sentry said:
Talk is real easy my friend. :lol Imagine seeing not only the phone for the first time, but the new OS as well (remember when this took place). Not only that, but the fact that you can make thousands off of giving it to someone like Gizmodo.. Yeah, I don't think I would have returned it no questions asked. Probably would've blackmailed Apple so I can see what they're working on (or meet Jobs) or some shit. :lol
1rx576.jpg
 
evil ways said:
Shitty move by Gizmodo to out the guy, but I guess it's damage control for them in case Apple goes with the "stolen prototype" story.
bingo. we already had a couple of choice posts here parroting the 'stolen' line.

sprsk said:
I love how they find a phone in a bar and then just steal it.
couldn't have timed it better myself.
 
numble said:
Every tech company is anal about tech prototypes. Companies routinely fire people for this stuff, and it'll take the biggest stretch to paint Apple as being "douchey" for doing so.

How many leaks do we see from MS (and to a lesser extent, Google)? I sure don't see any reports on firings. Sure it's important to most companies, but not everyone is as crazed as Apple and would also see that this guy (if he's talented, which working at Apple I'm guessing he is) likely learned his lesson and could be useful.
 
xcrunner529 said:
Also, I'm sorry for bringing it up because I know that in a way they're not completely similar, but there's still some issues (and what I see as double standards) I have with a lot of people's opinion on this. From reading this forum, I get the feeling that many of you are completely for the New York Times, Wikileaks, etc. publishing confidential documents, even if they could possibly affect our national security. It's the job of good journalists they (and I) feel to inform the public and not simply kiss up and be happy with what the source gives you.

Why is Gizmodo getting all the backlash for publishing a story? Just because Apple could be mad? Because a person's job is at stake? Someone in the military's job isn't potentially at stake? Or even some forces' LIVES aren't at stake?

For the record, I am for both cases - I believe these kind of stories are what real journalism is about. In the case of the NY Times, I believe those articles keep the government honest. Of course there are always exceptions, and it's up to the reporter.
Gizmodo is a tech blog, and it doesn't add anything to the story to reveal the name of the person who lost the phone. What matters is the phone, not the employee who lost it.

Too much.
 
Sentry said:
Talk is real easy my friend. :lol Imagine seeing not only the phone for the first time, but the new OS as well (remember when this took place). Not only that, but the fact that you can make thousands off of giving it to someone like Gizmodo.. Yeah, I don't think I would have returned it no questions asked. Probably would've blackmailed Apple so I can see what they're working on (or meet Jobs) or some shit. :lol

Nah, I'd feel bad for the guy. I don't think what this guy who found it did was wrong or anything, and hell it makes for an awesome story, but still. I like my sleep :lol.
 
xcrunner529 said:
Also, I'm sorry for bringing it up because I know that in a way they're not completely similar, but there's still some issues (and what I see as double standards) I have with a lot of people's opinion on this. From reading this forum, I get the feeling that many of you are completely for the New York Times, Wikileaks, etc. publishing confidential documents, even if they could possibly affect our national security. It's the job of good journalists they (and I) feel to inform the public and not simply kiss up and be happy with what the source gives you.

Why is Gizmodo getting all the backlash for publishing a story? Just because Apple could be mad? Because a person's job is at stake? Someone in the military's job isn't potentially at stake? Or even some forces' LIVES aren't at stake?

For the record, I am for both cases - I believe these kind of stories are what real journalism is about. In the case of the NY Times, I believe those articles keep the government honest. Of course there are always exceptions, and it's up to the reporter.
Nobody is questioning the right to publish the story. It is about outing the guy in the private sector for a non-deliberate action. Reporting on public figures, or deliberate acts for public/private harm, is an entirely different matter.
 
Sentry said:
Talk is real easy my friend. :lol Imagine seeing not only the phone for the first time, but the new OS as well (remember when this took place). Not only that, but the fact that you can make thousands off of giving it to someone like Gizmodo.. Yeah, I don't think I would have returned it no questions asked. Probably would've blackmailed Apple so I can see what they're working on (or meet Jobs) or some shit. :lol
And Jobs would have riped you head off and shit down your neck. That man is one hardcore bastard.
 
xcrunner529 said:
eh I'm sure Google wouldn't mind hiring him. This is an expensive lesson, but I'm sure he'll learn. Plus, not everyone is so anal when it comes to products as Apple so it's not a fact he won't be hired anywhere. I'm not even sure Apple will fire him now - they'll look douchey in a year full of doucheyness - they don't need any more.

Have you worked in the technology field? Pretty much every company I've ever had the pleasure (and displeasure) of working with are incredibly anal about products. Apple is not an exception here. Especially products that have not been officially revealed. This is a huge black mark on someone's record, and even if Apple doesn't fire him, and not only that, it is a huge black mark that is now pretty much public record and out in the open for anyone to see. Gizmodo did a pretty piss poor thing here in my opinion. It's one thing to tell the story of how the phone was found, but the inclusion of names and photos was completely unnecessary to the story and irrelevant other than to basically let readers laugh at the guy's misfortune...

This has the potential to be a career killer in a lot of ways -- when it didn't have to be that way for the poor guy who lost/had the phone stolen.




I'm also curious if the person who lost the phone attempted to contact it before performing the wipe... There's a lot of unanswered questions here...

I just wish that Gizmodo had the same courtesy they offered to their 'source' as they offered to the guy who lost the iphone especially since the who wasn't necessarily as important to throw out as public record. Of course Apple already knew who the guy was - but did every other person really need to know?
 
RubxQub said:
Gizmodo is a tech blog, and it doesn't add anything to the story to reveal the name of the person who lost the phone. What matters is the phone, not the employee who lost it.

Too much.
really, that's not that big a deal either. there is nothing on the phone really surprising or unexpected. not physically, anyway. if this had been the very first iPhone...would have been insane. but now? not really.
 
Zombie James said:
I really hope Apple doesn't decide to change the design just because it got leaked a bit early.

im hoping they make it a bit smaller. still a lot of space near the speaker and home button that could be taken down some.

overall design is much nicer though. i doubt it will change since release is supposed to be june/july i believe. i hope apple comes through with their promise about the phone being cheaper overall(phone and plan).
 
RubxQub said:
Gizmodo is a tech blog, and it doesn't add anything to the story to reveal the name of the person who lost the phone. What matters is the phone, not the employee who lost it.

Too much.

Well I was mainly responding to those saying Gizmodo should been nice and returned it - do the "moral" thing, etc.
 
xcrunner529 said:
Also, I'm sorry for bringing it up because I know that in a way they're not completely similar, but there's still some issues (and what I see as double standards) I have with a lot of people's opinion on this. From reading this forum, I get the feeling that many of you are completely for the New York Times, Wikileaks, etc. publishing confidential documents, even if they could possibly affect our national security. It's the job of good journalists they (and I) feel to inform the public and not simply kiss up and be happy with what the source gives you.

Why is Gizmodo getting all the backlash for publishing a story? Just because Apple could be mad? Because a person's job is at stake? Someone in the military's job isn't potentially at stake? Or even some forces' LIVES aren't at stake?

For the record, I am for both cases - I believe these kind of stories are what real journalism is about. In the case of the NY Times, I believe those articles keep the government honest. Of course there are always exceptions, and it's up to the reporter.
Gizmodo is getting raked here for outing the apple engineer who lost it. There's no need for that.

The guy who found the phone last month, took it and then sold it to gizmodo is not a reporter. He's an opportunist. That's a separate issue from gizmodo publishing gray's name.
 
RyanDG said:
Have you worked in the technology field? Pretty much every company I've ever had the pleasure (and displeasure) of working with are incredibly anal about products. Apple is not an exception here. Especially products that have not been officially revealed. This is a huge black mark on someone's record, and even if Apple doesn't fire him, and not only that, it is a huge black mark that is now pretty much public record and out in the open for anyone to see. Gizmodo did a pretty piss poor thing here in my opinion. It's one thing to tell the story of how the phone was found, but the inclusion of names and photos was completely unnecessary to the story and irrelevant other than to basically let readers laugh at the guy's misfortune...

This has the potential to be a career killer in a lot of ways -- when it didn't have to be that way for the poor guy who lost/had the phone stolen.
qft.

and to know it was lost because of amount of alcohol. just smh.
 
xcrunner529 said:
How many leaks do we see from MS (and to a lesser extent, Google)? I sure don't see any reports on firings. Sure it's important to most companies, but not everyone is as crazed as Apple and would also see that this guy (if he's talented, which working at Apple I'm guessing he is) likely learned his lesson and could be useful.
Apple leaks as well. Leaks are planned. This is not a leak. A leak is condoned or tolerated, but LOSING confidential tech is not.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
really, that's not that big a deal either. there is nothing on the phone really surprising or unexpected. not physically, anyway. if this had been the very first iPhone...would have been insane. but now? not really.
I don't know, man.

Front facing camera and a case-redesign are pretty big deals. If nothing else, I think it's awesome to see how this whole thing unfolded. I love the thought that there are Apple ninjas in the wild with fake iPhone 3GS looking cases with pimp hotness underneath.

Fun story, cool reveal, unneccessary reveal of the dude.
 
xcrunner529 said:
Also, I'm sorry for bringing it up because I know that in a way they're not completely similar, but there's still some issues (and what I see as double standards) I have with a lot of people's opinion on this. From reading this forum, I get the feeling that many of you are completely for the New York Times, Wikileaks, etc. publishing confidential documents, even if they could possibly affect our national security. It's the job of good journalists they (and I) feel to inform the public and not simply kiss up and be happy with what the source gives you.

Why is Gizmodo getting all the backlash for publishing a story? Just because Apple could be mad? Because a person's job is at stake? Someone in the military's job isn't potentially at stake? Or even some forces' LIVES aren't at stake?

For the record, I am for both cases - I believe these kind of stories are what real journalism is about. In the case of the NY Times, I believe those articles keep the government honest. Of course there are always exceptions, and it's up to the reporter.
lol this isn't real journalism, this is just a bunch of nerds getting nerd lust for secret future gadgets. Real journalism would be researching the crazy manufacturing going on in China and why people kill themselves over similar fuck ups over there.
 
Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
lol this isn't real journalism, this is just a bunch of nerds getting nerd lust for secret future gadgets. Real journalism would be exposing the crazy manufacturing going on in China and why people kill themselves over similar fuck ups over there.

Pretty sure these same bloggers covered that story so I'm not sure where you're getting at
 
RubxQub said:
I don't know, man.

Front facing camera and a case-redesign are pretty big deals. If nothing else, I think it's awesome to see how this whole thing unfolded. I love the thought that there are Apple ninjas in the wild with fake iPhone 3GS looking cases with pimp hotness underneath.

Fun story, cool reveal, unneccessary reveal of the dude.
I hear you. I guess...it's really nothing that wasn't quasi-expected in the 4G. if we had seen something never talked about or rumored before...like a keyboard or something...I'd totally agree with you.

I think the killer--as always--lies in the apps. I bet the iChat app will be to die for.
 
xcrunner529 said:
How many leaks do we see from MS (and to a lesser extent, Google)? I sure don't see any reports on firings. Sure it's important to most companies, but not everyone is as crazed as Apple and would also see that this guy (if he's talented, which working at Apple I'm guessing he is) likely learned his lesson and could be useful.


Are you dense? We have people trying to come in to our company all the time under different pretenses and every time we have to go through the company and hide under development stuff. We had some guy that was a total moron that we layoff, because we don't have any documentation control, he takes everyone else's lab notes to the competition and sets up shop there.

Moral of the story, you don't lose prototypes of products your company are producing. You lose your key design advantage and then your competition finds out what you are doing and gets free pass from your RnD.
 
LCfiner said:
Gizmodo is getting raked here for outing the apple engineer who lost it. There's no need for that.
when Gruber's sources claim the phone was 'stolen,' Gizmodo has every right to set the public record on acquiring the device to dissuade against possible litigation from Apple.
LCfiner said:
The guy who found the phone last month, took it and then sold it to gizmodo is not a reporter. He's an opportunist.
how very judgmental of you.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
I hear you. I guess...it's really nothing that wasn't quasi-expected in the 4G. if we had seen something never talked about or rumored before...like a keyboard or something...I'd totally agree with you.

I think the killer--as always--lies in the apps. I bet the iChat app will be to die for.
I can already see Steve with his new iPhone on stage dialing up Cpt. Bald "it's magical" dude in the audience for the first public video chat.
 
I'm hoping they had a reason for revealing the guys name. Something along the lines of him claiming it was stolen or something. But then I have to wonder, how would Gizmodo know who to believe in that instance? I don't know, just trying to imagine a good reason for outing the guy publicly.
 
scorcho said:
when Gruber's sources claim the phone was 'stolen,' Gizmodo has every right to set the public record on acquiring the device to dissuade against possible litigation from Apple.

how very judgmental of you.
GAFs warped view of right and wrong rears it's ugly head again.
 
xcrunner529 said:
Pretty sure these same bloggers covered that story so I'm not sure where you're getting at
What does that even mean? That was real journalism, so this is too because they're the same people?

This is the gadget scoop of the year, but let's call gadget lust by its name. This doesn't compare to Wikileaks or any NY Times political scoops at all.
 
scorcho said:
when Gruber's sources claim the phone was 'stolen,' Gizmodo has every right to set the public record on acquiring the device to dissuade against possible litigation from Apple.

how very judgmental of you.
I don't know what else to call it.

If someone finds your phone, gets your name from this phone and then doesn't give it back but instead sells it to someone else, yeah, I'll call bullshit on that.


Would you call that dude in the bar an entrepreneur instead?

Edit. And to your first point, there's STILL no need to reveal the apple employee's name. None at all. They could still tell the story and keep that dude's name redacted. Apple already knows it was that guy's test phone. There's no reason everyone else on the net needs to know
 
scorcho said:
when Gruber's sources claim the phone was 'stolen,' Gizmodo has every right to set the public record on acquiring the device to dissuade against possible litigation from Apple.
There is some obfuscation in their "public record" though. Like the part about paying the source for access to the phone, or why it took one month for them to get it back to the owner, when the source knew the owner's name after one night. And they can still call the employee "GP" or "Gary Payton" instead of giving his name, college, and facebook profile.
 
scorcho said:
when Gruber's sources claim the phone was 'stolen,' Gizmodo has every right to set the public record on acquiring the device to dissuade against possible litigation from Apple.

So, cut out the name and personal identifiable parts (ie photos) of the apple tech who lost the phone and simply refer to him as John Doe -- every other part of the story can be posted as is? The identification of the person who lost the phone yet the need to protect their 'anonymous' (and now $5,000 richer or more) source seems to fly in the face of the idea of 'setting the record straight', especially when their 'record' is one of the people who made a financial gain on the situation and colored by that individual's need to protect himself.

I'm not advocating that Gizmodo should give up their source -- simply that this has less to do about litigation and more about page views. Any belief otherwise is misguided at this point...
 
Liu Kang Baking A Pie said:
What does that even mean? That was real journalism, so this is too because they're the same people?

This is the gadget scoop of the year, but let's call gadget lust by its name. This doesn't compare to Wikileaks or any NY Times political scoops at all.

I understand your point, which is why I implied that they're not the same. However, it's still journalism. Just because it's about technology and a little less formal doesn't make it not journalism. There's plenty of political blogs and even podcasts (hello This American Life) that do some excellent analysis and stories and I think we all realize the power of the internet. Just because the group/website/etc isn't CNN or the NYTimes doesn't change its impact or importance. And just because this is about technology doesn't chance a journalists moral obligations. My argument is against people like andy ihnatko who could care less about getting the story and believes they should have just given back the phone to Apple without doing the story. What kind of BS is that?

Now, I'm sure Gizmodo has their reasons, but I understand why people would be angry for them outing the employee. I'm not necessarily trying to defend that.
 
Okay I see your point now. You're talking more about revealing the phone rather than the guy.

To me, putting out the phone is huge, but namedropping the guy is insane. That wasn't worthy of a story.
 
xcrunner529 said:
I understand your point, which is why I implied that they're not the same. However, it's still journalism. Just because it's about technology and a little less formal doesn't make it not journalism. There's plenty of political blogs and even podcasts (hello This American Life) that do some excellent analysis and stories and I think we all realize the power of the internet. Just because the group/website/etc isn't CNN or the NYTimes doesn't change its impact or importance. And just because this is about technology doesn't chance a journalists moral obligations. My argument is against people like andy ihnatko who could care less about getting the story and believes they should have just given back the phone to Apple without doing the story. What kind of BS is that?

Now, I'm sure Gizmodo has their reasons, but I understand why people would be angry for them outing the employee. I'm not necessarily trying to defend that.
I don't even know what you're arguing--I don't think many people have questioned Gizmodo's right to publish the phone or story at all. Some people said they might have done something else if they found the phone.

But you seem to be arguing that and 2 other points: it was necessary to publish the engineer's name, and there will be little harm because Google will hire him if Apple fires him, and Apple will look "douchey" if it fires him.
 
RyanDG said:
I'm not advocating that Gizmodo should give up their source -- simply that this has less to do about litigation and more about page views. Any belief otherwise is misguided at this point...
funny thing is - i was initially going to jump in here and inveigh great injustice at outing the person's name and photos, but after mulling things over it seemed obvious that this was a pre-emptive strike to change the debate away from the device being 'stolen'.

you're right, though. it could've worked just as well with 'John Doe' posted sans pictures; the parties would know who's involved, and it's not like Apple could've disappeared the dude entirely.

there's also a distinction to be made between returning the phone of Joe Schmoe and, say, a HW/SW engineer losing a prototype phone from a multi-billion dollar corporation. there's immense newsworthiness in the latter and it's hard to begrudge people for being able to monetize that - within reason, of course.
 
  1. I was going to buy this phone anyway
  2. Excited to see the pics and early reveal
  3. Gizmondo blows for putting this guy out there. Name and picture needed? Really?
 
I'm just really curious as to how Jobs is going to unveil this thing in a couple of months. Surely he'll acknowledge that most people have known about it's design and hardware features for a while. Will he just play it off like it never happened?

I guess he'll probably just spend less time on the "big reveal" and spend more time talking about the nitty gritty of the new features like ichat.
 
Man wtf is going on in this thread? It turned into a shit hole really quick. All the people who dislike the iPhone, please leave the fucking thread!!!!! You don't want anyone trolling in the Pre and Droid thread, so GTFO and let the fanboys worship their Cupertino Gods!
 
civilstrife said:
I'm just really curious as to how Jobs is going to unveil this thing in a couple of months. Surely he'll acknowledge that most people have known about it's design and hardware features for a while. Will he just play it off like it never happened?

I guess he'll probably just spend less time on the "big reveal" and spend more time talking about the nitty gritty of the new features like ichat.
I'm betting that he will acknowledge it.

He made a point of it when the leaked fat nano got revealed. I think he'll do the same here and focus on things not revealed here like the screen resolution, camera quality, battery life (hopefully), etc.
 
All I wanted from the new iPhone was better battery life, to get faster, and have a better camera. Everything else I want from the software side (like a new look for the OS).

Looks like I will get everything I want plus a front facing camera that I will probably never use nor see the point of, but it should make the nerds happy that they get an extra feature for a week or two until they come to the same conclusion.
 
LCfiner said:
I'm betting that he will acknowledge it.

He made a point of it when the leaked fat nano got revealed. I think he'll do the same here and focus on things not revealed here like the screen resolution, camera quality, battery life (hopefully), etc.
Agreed since the phone was basically dead when they got it there is still quite a bit to reveal
 
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