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Gizmodo gets its hands on the new iPhone prototype

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Okay something doesn't add up here.

So some dude who works at Apple lost the new iPhone at a bar and gizmodo acquired it through a guy who found/stole it. That's fine, I get it.

Engadget ran a story yesterday about how that a leaked iphone was legit (before Gizmodo's story) and the proof they had was that the phone was in the same pic as the ipad leak.

So does anyone find it fishy that we got TWO leaks of the new iphone back to back, by TWO major tech players.

My theory is that this Apple engineer never lost his phone and he leaked out the ipad and the iphone for money.
 
NYR said:
My concern isn't apple finding out. They already knew, but by outing him, he has been given a scarlet letter that will follow him for his entire LIFE. Not just his career. This was un-needed. No one needed to know, it doesn't give the story anymore weight by knowing his name and some pics. The story was enough.

And to those who say people would have found out sooner or later, trust me, I know a handful of people who have been fired from jobs for worse things but found new jobs becuase the reason was well hidden and not brought up. This guy has no choice but to be defined by a druken mistake.

(sorry for the double post, using the neogaf app, can't double quote two people!)
Click to expand...

Scarlet letter? I guess. Most people in a month including employers probably won't care even if his name does come in the search engine for this.

I think the bigger deal for him personally would be losing his job now. I hardly think anyone will care in a year.
 
New York Times with the journalism:
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/technology/companies/20apple.html

The person who found the phone peddled it to Gizmodo, which bought it for $5,000, Nick Denton, chief executive of Gawker Media, which owns Gizmodo, said by instant message.

His company’s sites have had a longstanding practice of paying for scoops, and the windfall was tangible. Traffic spiked on Monday, and at midday more than one million visitors stopped by the site in one hour to see pictures of the coveted gadget.

By late in the day, reports began to surface on the Internet that Apple’s chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, had called Gizmodo to get the device back. Mr. Denton declined to comment, saying any conversation between Mr. Jobs and Gizmodo would most likely have been off the record.

“We haven’t had any formal communication with Apple,” he said. Brian Lam, the editor in chief of Gizmodo, said his publication would “probably” return the device to Apple.
Click to expand...
 
numble said:
You can try jail breaking your phone and selling it. Will probably get a decent amount--some guy just said he sold a 3G with 2 screen scratches and a cracked bottom for £225 or something, which is like $400.
Click to expand...


If you can find a 3.1.2 iphone...sure. A jailbreakable iphone can sell for $150 more than a non-jailbreakable 3.1.3 on ebay.
 
NYR said:
My concern isn't apple finding out. They already knew, but by outing him, he has been given a scarlet letter that will follow him for his entire LIFE. Not just his career. This was un-needed. No one needed to know, it doesn't give the story anymore weight by knowing his name and some pics. The story was enough.

And to those who say people would have found out sooner or later, trust me, I know a handful of people who have been fired from jobs for worse things but found new jobs becuase the reason was well hidden and not brought up. This guy has no choice but to be defined by a druken mistake.

(sorry for the double post, using the neogaf app, can't double quote two people!)
Click to expand...


i think you are overreacting. He didn't rape a baby. If he does good work I'm sure another tech company will grab him up.
 
tino said:
If you can find a 3.1.2 iphone...sure. A jailbreakable iphone can sell for $150 more than a non-jailbreakable 3.1.3 on ebay.
Click to expand...
Just curious--do you know what the secondhand market is like in China? I have a jailbroken 3.1.2 3G phone, and might be in China soon.
 
I don't know anything about gizmodo, but this is one of the biggest shithead moves I've seen in a long time. So exposing this guy who lost the phone was important, but the fucker who took this stranger's phone home (which makes him a thief) and made a really half-assed attempt to return it then decides to sell it to a website? Oh, don't worry about him, he doesn't matter in the scheme of the story.

What I guess is gizmodo can't reveal the thief's name because of an agreement, but how wonderful would it be if he did get exposed eventually (detective GAF?), and he got proper fucked because of it? Man, hope it happens.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
I sold my 3.1.2 3G on eBay last week for $380 shipped.
Click to expand...

This intrigues me. Since I recently started up a new contract and purchased the 3gs, however I really one this 4g model, how much could I make off it on ebay?
 
cnizzle06 said:
Isn't purchasing a stolen item, with the knowledge that it's stolen, illegal?
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I'm sure they wrote a contract saying that it was the right to publish the story, not purchasing the product itself. This is why they've made a big deal about contacting the employee so that they can "return" it, as well as constantly saying that it was a lost item, not a stolen item.
 
numble said:
Just curious--do you know what the secondhand market is like in China? I have a jailbroken 3.1.2 3G phone, and might be in China soon.
Click to expand...


Do you know Chinese? Go to Weiphone and sell it yourself. You can sell a 3GS for about $50 higher than the usual ebay price. As long as there is no way to jb 3.1.3:lol
 
cnizzle06 said:
This intrigues me. Since I recently started up a new contract and purchased the 3gs, however I really one this 4g model, how much could I make off it on ebay?
Click to expand...

If you recently bought it you probably have 3.1.3, which can't be jailbroken.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
i think you are overreacting. He didn't rape a baby. If he does good work I'm sure another tech company will grab him up.
Click to expand...

I really think that a lot of people saying this sort of stuff do not work in the tech industry around corporate secrets. This is the sort of thing that will haunt you. Even if you don't lose your job w/ the existing company, when looking at promotions or further job assignments - this will absolutely come back at you. Furthermore, pretty much every single job I've ever applied for (and have hired for with my own promotions) require strict background checks.

When hiring for positions that I've hired for in my place of employment (which is definitely not anywhere near apple level), this is the kind of thing that will absolutely come up in a background check and will absolutely stunt someone's position for my employers if it came out after they were hired and were being looked at for a promotion.

I've been in the tech industry for a while now and I've seen people (software developers) suffer in getting new jobs due to leaks that occurred while at another job. I've also seen very capable developers be passed over for team leader promotions because of an issue very similar to this one (albeit slightly less 'out there').

It happens - and unless this poor sap is really, really look - will happen to him.
 
abq said:
Potential future employers didn't, though.
Click to expand...

NYR said:
My concern isn't apple finding out. They already knew, but by outing him, he has been given a scarlet letter that will follow him for his entire LIFE. Not just his career. This was un-needed. No one needed to know, it doesn't give the story anymore weight by knowing his name and some pics. The story was enough.

And to those who say people would have found out sooner or later, trust me, I know a handful of people who have been fired from jobs for worse things but found new jobs becuase the reason was well hidden and not brought up. This guy has no choice but to be defined by a druken mistake.

(sorry for the double post, using the neogaf app, can't double quote two people!)
Click to expand...

The very first thing you said was "They just cost a man his job..." I don't believe they did and thought I made it clear that's what I was referring to. I have no idea why Gizmodo revealed his identity and have already said that I hope they have a very good reason.
 
cnizzle06 said:
This intrigues me. Since I recently started up a new contract and purchased the 3gs, however I really one this 4g model, how much could I make off it on ebay?
Click to expand...
if you wait until OS 4.0 and the subsequent jailbreak come out? install some Cydia apps on it and I'd expect you can make quite a pretty penny off of it.
 
mattiewheels said:
I don't know anything about gizmodo, but this is one of the biggest shithead moves I've seen in a long time. So exposing this guy who lost the phone was important, but the fucker who took this stranger's phone home (which makes him a thief) and made a really half-assed attempt to return it then decides to sell it to a website? Oh, don't worry about him, he doesn't matter in the scheme of the story.

What I guess is gizmodo can't reveal the thief's name because of an agreement, but how wonderful would it be if he did get exposed eventually (detective GAF?), and he got proper fucked because of it? Man, hope it happens.
Click to expand...


I don't see anything wrong with the blog. Apple could lay off the fucking secrecy and none of this would have happened. I am sure the guy will be fired and everybody will blame Gizmodo, while they can instead stop for a second and consider the option of Apple not firing the guy.

This is karma coming back to bite Steve Jobs.
 
tino said:
Do you know Chinese? Go to Weiphone and sell it yourself. You can sell a 3GS for about $50 higher than the usual ebay price. As long as there is no way to bj 3.1.3:lol
Click to expand...
Thanks, I may look into that. I think its ridiculous that a lot of electronics cost much more in China, where everything is made, but I guess I might as well exploit that while it exists.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-iPhone-3G...=Cell_Phones&hash=item4ceec653b5#ht_795wt_958
Dreams-Visions said:
if you wait until OS 4.0 and the subsequent jailbreak come out? install some Cydia apps on it and I'd expect you can make quite a pretty penny off of it.
Click to expand...

What if I didn't do all that, I mean, this seems like a rather pretty penny to me:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-iPhone-3GS-16-GB-Black-AT-T-Locked-/330423489461?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item4ceec653b5#ht_795wt_958
 
tino said:
I don't see anything wrong with the blog. Apple could lay off the fucking secrecy and none of this would have happened. I am sure the guy will be fired and everybody will blame Gizmodo, while they can instead stop for a second and consider the option of Apple not firing the guy.

This is karma coming back to bite Steve Jobs.
Click to expand...

I can't think of a company that wouldn't fire an individual responsible for losing a multi-multi-million dollar investment and allowing it to be revealed so openly. Can you?
 
doesn't the apple stock go way up after they announce their long awaited things?

technically, this getting leaked could cost them a lot or something like that. I dunno. I just want to buy this phone.
 
Looks OK. I don't know why anyone is hating/nutting over it when the iPhone has always sold itself on the software side - it's never been the highest-end handset available in terms of specs or even design, although that's highly preferential.
 
tino said:
If you can find a 3.1.2 iphone...sure. A jailbreakable iphone can sell for $150 more than a non-jailbreakable 3.1.3 on ebay.
Click to expand...

3G 3.1.3 with model No starting with other than MC are jailbreakable...
 
tino said:
I don't see anything wrong with the blog. Apple could lay off the fucking secrecy and none of this would have happened. I am sure the guy will be fired and everybody will blame Gizmodo, while they can instead stop for a second and consider the option of Apple not firing the guy.

This is karma coming back to bite Steve Jobs.
Click to expand...
I'm talking about karma biting the ass of the thief who decided to cash in on the phone that anyone else would have just given to the bar employees as he left.

Gizmodo does deserve blame too, just for the fact that there was no reason to give this guy's name, just tell his story and keep the name to yourselves shitheads.
 
Add me to the list of people that are annoyed by this, this shit its illegal and everybody just turns a blind eye because "ZOMG NEW iPHONE"
 
Raging Spaniard said:
Add me to the list of people that are annoyed by this, this shit its illegal and everybody just turns a blind eye because "ZOMG NEW iPHONE"
Click to expand...

Illegal? Explain how, because as far as I can tell it's anything but clear cut(if everything is as Gizmodo and their source claim).
 
RyanDG said:
I really think that a lot of people saying this sort of stuff do not work in the tech industry around corporate secrets. This is the sort of thing that will haunt you. Even if you don't lose your job w/ the existing company, when looking at promotions or further job assignments - this will absolutely come back at you. Furthermore, pretty much every single job I've ever applied for (and have hired for with my own promotions) require strict background checks.

When hiring for positions that I've hired for in my place of employment (which is definitely not anywhere near apple level), this is the kind of thing that will absolutely come up in a background check and will absolutely stunt someone's position for my employers if it came out after they were hired and were being looked at for a promotion.

I've been in the tech industry for a while now and I've seen people (software developers) suffer in getting new jobs due to leaks that occurred while at another job. I've also seen very capable developers be passed over for team leader promotions because of an issue very similar to this one (albeit slightly less 'out there').

It happens - and unless this poor sap is really, really look - will happen to him.
Click to expand...
UM it SHOULD BITE HIM IN THE ASS.

He lost the new iPhone forchrisakes.
 
That's weird. It costs me just 70$ to unlock mine...
 
RyanDG said:
I really think that a lot of people saying this sort of stuff do not work in the tech industry around corporate secrets. This is the sort of thing that will haunt you. Even if you don't lose your job w/ the existing company, when looking at promotions or further job assignments - this will absolutely come back at you. Furthermore, pretty much every single job I've ever applied for (and have hired for with my own promotions) require strict background checks.

When hiring for positions that I've hired for in my place of employment (which is definitely not anywhere near apple level), this is the kind of thing that will absolutely come up in a background check and will absolutely stunt someone's position for my employers if it came out after they were hired and were being looked at for a promotion.

I've been in the tech industry for a while now and I've seen people (software developers) suffer in getting new jobs due to leaks that occurred while at another job. I've also seen very capable developers be passed over for team leader promotions because of an issue very similar to this one (albeit slightly less 'out there').

It happens - and unless this poor sap is really, really look - will happen to him.
Click to expand...


You know, that's kinda sad in a way. Like, I understand why this is the case, but...I don't know. I'm not even sure what kind of point i'm trying to make :lol. I guess I just don't like how the industry operates.
 
Futureman said:
UM it SHOULD BITE HIM IN THE ASS.

He lost the new iPhone forchrisakes.
Click to expand...

Absolutely it should bite him in the ass. It should cost him his job at Apple (or at the very least affect his current position in apple) - which was probably going to happen no matter what Gizmodo did - but my issue comes with Gizmodo's decision to post his name openly on the web and finger pointing him when it is completely irrelevant to the story. Apple knew who lost it/had it stolen - why publish the name?
 
KHarvey16 said:
Illegal? Explain how, because as far as I can tell it's anything but clear cut(if everything is as Gizmodo and their source claim).
Click to expand...

I have no idea if it is illegal, but if someone were to forget their personal phone in a bar and someone finds it, would they have the right to sell it to someone else? Even if the person they sold it says they will return it after they finish using it? At the very least it's ethically shady, but it seems like that would still be theft. Especially since they knew who it belonged to. Doesn't really bother me either way as this isn't going to hurt Apple that much, but if this was someone's personal phone I doubt there would be much argument about what should have been done with it.
 
mattiewheels said:
I'm talking about karma biting the ass of the thief who decided to cash in on the phone that anyone else would have just given to the bar employees as he left.

Gizmodo does deserve blame too, just for the fact that there was no reason to give this guy's name, just tell his story and keep the name to yourselves shitheads.
Click to expand...
I think it is more interesting that we know the guy's name and face.
 
KHarvey16 said:
I can't think of a company that wouldn't fire an individual responsible for losing a multi-multi-million dollar investment and allowing it to be revealed so openly. Can you?
Click to expand...

Fine, blame the guy, don't blame Gizmodo.

Hey at least he hasn't committed suicide under suspected circumstance has him?
 
Dineren said:
I have no idea if it is illegal, but if someone were to forget their personal phone in a bar and someone finds it, would they have the right to sell it to someone else? Even if the person they sold it says they will return it after they finish using it? At the very least it's ethically shady, but it seems like that would still be theft. Especially since they knew who it belonged to. Doesn't really bother me either way as this isn't going to hurt Apple that much, but if this was someone's personal phone I doubt there would be much argument about what should have been done with it.
Click to expand...

As someone said earlier, I very much doubt Gizmodo paid anything for the phone. That $5k was "for the story," if you follow my meaning.
 
Happy to have you pick this thing up. Was burning a hole in our pockets. Just so you know, we didn't know this was stolen when we bought it. Now that we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's, I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner.
Click to expand...
:lol
 
tino said:
Fine, blame the guy, don't blame Gizmodo.

Hey at least he hasn't committed suicide under suspected circumstance has him?
Click to expand...

Really? LOSING THE NEXT IPHONE PROTOTYPE and having it revealed to the world, costing the company millions of dollars, isn't something worthy of a pink slip? I want you to be my boss!
 
Yeah, that reply letter from Gizmodo is...interesting to say the least. It's like a 14 year old wrote it.
 
KHarvey16 said:
Really? LOSING THE NEXT IPHONE PROTOTYPE and having it revealed to the world, costing the company millions of dollars, isn't something worthy of a pink slip? I want you to be my boss!
Click to expand...

How does this cost Apple any penny except Steven P. Jobs' ego?
 
KHarvey16 said:
Really? LOSING THE NEXT IPHONE PROTOTYPE and having it revealed to the world, costing the company millions of dollars, isn't something worthy of a pink slip? I want you to be my boss!
Click to expand...

Really. Its not like his car was broken into and the phone was in there. He got drunk and left it at a bar.
 
Dreams-Visions said:
well...as long as you have something to use in the interim, why not?
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Yeah, I have a shitty pay as-you-go phone I could throw my sim card in during the hiatus. Could I, in anyway, be fucked over by doing this. Like, it's definite I can purchase the 4g outside of a contract, right?
 
KHarvey16 said:
Really? LOSING THE NEXT IPHONE PROTOTYPE and having it revealed to the world, costing the company millions of dollars, isn't something worthy of a pink slip? I want you to be my boss!
Click to expand...

How exactly is all this hype and discussion and excitement costing Apple millions?
 
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