Valleywag Offers Questionably Legal $100,000 Apple Tablet Bounty

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/13/valleywag-offers-questionably-legal-100000-apple-tablet-bounty/)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2010/01/13/155036-valleywag_tablet_scavenger_hunt.jpg

Valleywag today announced (http://valleywag.gawker.com/5447390/announcing-valleywags-apple-tablet-scavenger-hunt-win-up-to-100000) that it is offering a bounty of up to $100,000 for information on Apple's much-anticipated tablet device. The reward ladder begins at $10,000 for "bona fide pictures" of the device, increasing to $20,000 for video. Potential rewards for more ambitious tipsters include $50,000 for pictures of Apple CEO Steve Jobs holding the device, and $100,000 for anyone willing to let Valleywag play with it for an hour.We've had enough of trying to follow all the speculation around Apple's impending tablet -- how it'll work, its size, the name, the software and whether it will save magazines. We want answers, dammit! And we're willing to pay.As a disclaimer, Valleywag "encourages" tipsters to stay within the law and notes that it will not pay out any prizes until the Apple tablet debuts in order to ensure authenticity. Despite the disclaimer, however, Valleywag's offer could easily face legal challenges as pointed out (http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/13/valleywag-tablet-bounty/) by TechCrunch.We spoke to a lawyer about the legality of the bounty, who says that Apple could have a claim against Gawker/Valleywag for inducing breach of contract, since anyone who has their hands on the tablet is certainly under a nondisclosure agreement. This could result in tort damages, with potential for punitive damages.Apple has reportedly scheduled (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/04/major-new-apple-product-on-january-27th/) a media event for later this month, where it is widely expected to introduce the new tablet device, likely giving potential entrants for Valleywag's contest just two weeks to produce their information.

Article Link: Valleywag Offers Questionably Legal $100,000 Apple Tablet Bounty (http://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/13/valleywag-offers-questionably-legal-100000-apple-tablet-bounty/)

[thegoldenmackid]

Sounds like a certain user on here who offered thousands for a MacBook Air.

[Stella]

Sounds like someone is trying to get free advertising!

[xlii]

Where is my 10k?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/EtchASketch10-23-2004.jpg

PS Note the revolutionary text entry method....

[inkswamp]

$100,000 for anyone willing to let Valleywag play with it for an hour.

So many dirty jokes, so little time....

[nickXedge]

If Apple sues over this, it will only feed into the hype that the device exists.

On the flip side, if the device doesn't exist Apple couldn't care less about this because nothing legit will ever actually surface.

[HLdan]

Will the bounty still be available after the announcement? I can confirm for sure then. :D

[MartiNZ]

Sounds like a certain user on here who offered thousands for a MacBook Air.

Everyone does that. It's just how much they cost ><.

This thread made me LOL. And that was about all I needed while just getting started with work for the day :).

[.:R2theT]

Steve could make a quick $100k just to let them play with it. They still wouldn't have a picture and no one would believe them.

[jo0]

this is pretty hilarious. i hope someone makes some money off this one! might just be an underpaid apple employee...wait do they have any of those????

[IMPMAC]

Looks like its time for some Photoshop

[thegoldenmackid]

Everyone does that. It's just how much they cost ><.

This thread made me LOL. And that was about all I needed while just getting started with work for the day :).

No, there was a particular user who offered I believe over $5,000 for the MacBook Air if someone could get them one before the release date in the Marketplace.

[macduke]

With such a large amount of money changing hands, wouldn't it be relatively easy for Apple to figure out who did it? Seems like that person wouldn't have much to gain, as Apple would sue for damages and they would lose their job.

[chuckisruckis]

I think I could accomplish up to the 50K mark, but so could every blog and news channel.

[Irosaki]

Quick, to Photoshop!!!

[uraniumwilly]

Sounds like someone is trying to get free advertising!

"Valleywag?"

More like SCALLYWAG! *






* I'm sorry. That was embarrassing and truly awful.**

** I DO have some problems.

[kresh]

We spoke to a lawyer about the legality of the bounty, who says that Apple could have a claim against Gawker/Valleywag for inducing breach of contract, since anyone who has their hands on the tablet is certainly under a nondisclosure agreement. This could result in tort damages, with potential for punitive damages.

Only if it could be proved that Valleywag knew of the contract and were actively seeking to induce someone to willfully circumvent it could they be liable for inducing breach of contract.

I can see it now; Apple suing anyone who ever asked a question about a product that was covered under a NDA for inducing breach of contract :)

[Willis]

Where is my 10k?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/EtchASketch10-23-2004.jpg

PS Note the revolutionary text entry method....

kudos goes to you

[miles01110]

Only if it could be proved that Valleywag knew of the contract and were actively seeking to induce someone to willfully circumvent it could they be liable for inducing breach of contract.

Er, no- that's not how NDAs work. When an employee signs one, they make themselves culpable if it is broken. What people are getting at is the question of whether some Apple employee thinks $100,000 is worth breaking their NDA and probably being blacklisted out of any job in the electronics or government industry for the rest of their life. My guess is no.

[thegoldenmackid]

Sounds like someone is trying to get free advertising!

QFT. This is ingenious, as long as they don't see it and then get taken to the bank.

[BRLawyer]

Only if it could be proved that Valleywag knew of the contract and were actively seeking to induce someone to willfully circumvent it could they be liable for inducing breach of contract.

I can see it now; Apple suing anyone who ever asked a question about a product that was covered under a NDA for inducing breach of contract :)

Exactly. Valleywhatever has no obligation to know whether such unreleased products are under NDAs...the employees concerned may be punished, not the company offering such bounty.

[rdowns]

I bet they have this off their site by dinnertime. Either they'll find out it illegal or Apple Legal will request it.

[Velin]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7449/tabletk.jpg


Where's my 10 grand?

[KCMichaelB]

Where is my 10k?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/EtchASketch10-23-2004.jpg

PS Note the revolutionary text entry method....

That's fake! There is no camera.

[pimentoLoaf]

With such a large amount of money changing hands, wouldn't it be relatively easy for Apple to figure out who did it? Seems like that person wouldn't have much to gain, as Apple would sue for damages and they would lose their job.

Unless Apple itself is behind this, rooting out spies. :D

[thegoldenmackid]

Unless Apple itself is behind the scam, rooting out spies. :D

That doesn't look like their font.

First one to do the whois look up gets 100,000 brownie points.

[DipDog3]

Whoever has access to the iSlate probably has more incentive to NOT leak...

[usingpond]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

[applemax]

That's fake! There is no camera.

No, trust me, it's the real deal - I saw this earlier today, you know.

[*LTD*]

It is astounding the way Apple can do this to the media and consumers by dropping mere hints at a product that doesn't necessarily exist. Others pay fortunes for PR campaigns and bite and claw for every scrap of attention, while all Apple has to do is just drop the word "slate" somewhere on some patent application and the industry goes absolutely nuts.

Genius.

[thegoldenmackid]

Looks fine to me, but I still don't think full Mac OSX with touch support.

[Nermal]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

Fake; it's using non-US regional settings.

[usingpond]

Looks fine to me, but I still don't think full Mac OSX with touch support.

is this about my post? haha if it is then i dont think it can be both, since he said it was from the web page PSD, so its either real or a hoax. i dont think its supposed to be a mockup.

[usingpond]

Fake; it's using non-US regional settings.

whoa! good call. you mean the clock right? i also noticed that the apps in front arent open in the dock.

[thegoldenmackid]

is this about my post? haha if it is then i dont think it can be both, since he said it was from the web page PSD, so its either real or a hoax. i dont think its supposed to be a mockup.

It was to your post. I realized it was a mock-up, but it was just about the discussion in general. Great job though.

[SchneiderMan]

How i wish i had some pics haha

[Detlev]

I heard the announcement got pushed back to April 1.

[usingpond]

It was to your post. I realized it was a mock-up, but it was just about the discussion in general. Great job though.

no dude cant take credit, not mine. it is pretty good if its fake, i mean it had me about 70% fooled for a while there.

[Povilas]

It is astounding the way Apple can do this to the media and consumers by dropping mere hints at a product that doesn't necessarily exist. Others pay fortunes for PR campaigns and bite and claw for every scrap of attention, while all Apple has to do is just drop the word "slate" somewhere on some patent application and the industry goes absolutely nuts.

Genius.

That's what they do. Make people crazy.

[gnasher729]

Obvious plan of action: Apple produces a photo of Steve Jobs holding the Apple tablet with stretched out arms, with Phil Schiller standing in front of the tablet so that you can't actually see it. Accompanied by an affidavit by Schiller that Jobs _is_ indeed holding the tablet, or better yet, another photographer taking the same picture from the other side so that Apple can prove beyond any doubt that the picture shows Jobs holding a tablet. Then ask Valleywag for $50,000 and sue them if they don't pay up.

(I think their offer would be legally binding to them, and they asked for "a photo of Steve Jobs holding a tablet", no mention that the tablet must be visible in the photo).

[Eidorian]

Where's my 10 grand?Looks like I might have to pick up the air guitar.

[thegoldenmackid]

I heard the announcement got pushed back to April 1.

Man at the grocery store?

[Detlev]

No, trust me, it's the real deal - I saw this earlier today, you know.

Keep this one going guys. The elevator bit was a peach. You know, I fell for that one the first time. :o

[bacaramac]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

Great, but don't think they would put Macbook and slate on the same product. That name seems confusing as a slate is not a book.

[brownieguy19]

I think a video of Jobs playing with it should be worth more than actually getting one of them!!!

Although I'd rather have one myself to try out, the value of casual photos of Jobs "working".....who knows!

[rdowns]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.


It's the best fake I ever saw that had a typo in the product's name. :rolleyes:

[applemax]

Keep this one going guys. The elevator bit was a peach. You know, I fell for that one the first time. :o

I now pronounce the elevator Photoshop mockup contest... open. :cool:
:p

[*LTD*]

It's the best fake I ever saw that had a typo in the product's name. :rolleyes:

And it's running full OS X. Nay-nay . . .

I'll assume opening the pic in photoshop was done deliberately for comic effect. I hope.

[DevinPitcher]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

For one, Apple wouldn't spell MacBook with a lowercase letter 'b'.

Also, its in Photoshop, and I can see the text layers.

[thegoldenmackid]

I now pronounce the elevator Photoshop mockup contest... open. :cool:
:p

You won. Hands down. If you could, I'd like $500 out of the $100,000.

[thewireman]

Ha ha ha.... This is great.

[pimentoLoaf]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

(image of "MacBook Slate")



Not wordy enough for a name. Why not "MacBook Mini Pro Slate" or "Mini Pro Mac iBook Tablet"? :p

[budselectjr]

Only with Apple products would this happen

[AwakenedLands]

The bounty offer will generate more to that site than an actual $10,000 ad campaign. What would be funny is if Apple let them play with one for an hour to steal $100k out of their pockets on purpose.

I'm interested in what it will be like, but I can wait. It's amazing how much impatience there is out there. Once they release the thing I'll be like "oh cool it's out", while others will be in line for 7 hours to get the first one from a store. It's just an electronics device.

I'm sure it will do well, because if it doesn't all the fanboi-ism will turn against them. Will be interesting to see how the onboard keyboard will perform. Can't see using one for programming though.

[Tilpots]

Slate*


http://www.harvestofhistory.org/assets/object-images/main/slate.jpg



*With Stylus

[hudsonCrossing]

its out there...

[Small White Car]

Only if it could be proved that Valleywag knew of the contract and were actively seeking to induce someone to willfully circumvent it could they be liable for inducing breach of contract.

This is similar to defending yourself for murder by saying "Yes, I pulled the trigger and yes I aimed the bullet at the victim but I did not KNOW that shooting him would kill him!"

I suppose that if you could prove that, you could get away with murder and it would be ruled an accident.

Good luck with that one.

[peterdevries]

nevermind...

[killmoms]

I'd almost forgotten about the elevator fakes. What a riot. :D

[budselectjr]

I'd put my money on the leak would come from some worker in the manufacturing plant. Like the iPhone, Im sure than like 5 people including Steve Jobs have actually seen the thing complete and everybody else just works on different parts not knowing what its for.

[applemax]

I'd almost forgotten about the elevator fakes. What a riot. :D

Yeah - it all began with the iHome (http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/07/the-ihome/2)... :rolleyes:

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/0882345133590878.JPG?0.809177525563929

[usingpond]

For one, Apple wouldn't spell MacBook with a lowercase letter 'b'.

Also, its in Photoshop, and I can see the text layers.

i think this is supposed to be a picture taken of the guy's computer who is making the page that goes up immediately at product launch. right? dont people make designs in photoshop before they build them? or it could be an ad.

either way, fake or not, i dont think its supposed to be in someones browser.

[swagi]

Fake; it's using non-US regional settings.

whoa! good call. you mean the clock right? i also noticed that the apps in front arent open in the dock.

You guys are funny. Care to comment on iMovie being in Fullscreen, while the menu bar is still showing, that Finder is the active App used?

It sure looks nice, but so little thought on a mockup - nah - the elevator pic looks much more believable.

And to quote the obvious: *bla bla* gradient is not in line *bla* note the angle of the screen doesn't fit to the device *bla* fuzzy edges *blabla*

Oh no - not another "It is clearly Photoshop"-thread :rolleyes:

<edit> Forgot to say: The Tagline surely will be

iPod Slate - the touchest iPod ever

[ShiftyPig]

Not a bad publicity stunt. And the correct headline should be "legally questionable," not "questionably legal."

[Mal]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

It's probably fake, but I gotta say, I like that better than any of the other mockups I've seen! No stupid home button (makes sense on the iPhone, but it's impractical, at least in the implementations I've seen, on a 10-inch device).

jW

[ucfgrad93]

Sounds like someone is trying to get free advertising!

Agreed. This is a publicity stunt and nothing more.

[thegoldenmackid]

Yeah - it all began with the iHome (http://www.engadget.com/2005/01/07/the-ihome/2)... :rolleyes:

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/0882345133590878.JPG?0.809177525563929

That was my favorite.

[bedifferent]

That was my favorite.

I have to admit, the "iHome" was one of the better fakes I have seen. Almost to the point that I wonder if Apple was truly working on an all-in-one home system. An AppleTV meets iMac for your home is a great idea.

OOOOO that would be a great idea for a tablet. Control your home from your tablet, listen to your mobile and landline voice messages, watch your DVR'd shows from the new AppleTV that has a cable input with DVR functionality, turn on your lights, check your security system and monitors, and access your Mac or PC from the tablet. Very cool idea... as much as it may be a dream...

[ghostface147]

this is pretty hilarious. i hope someone makes some money off this one! might just be an underpaid apple employee...wait do they have any of those????

Yes they do. They are called retail employees. They don't make as much as people think. A genius in some markets only makes about 38k a year to begin with. Each market is different of course, but they don't make what people think they do or should.

[Creative One]

I think the iHome actually was going to be released.. Then it was pulled back and morphed into the Apple TV.

[frederick-milos]

With such a large amount of money changing hands, wouldn't it be relatively easy for Apple to figure out who did it? Seems like that person wouldn't have much to gain, as Apple would sue for damages and they would lose their job.

they would also get sued, go to prison, and probably get their fingers chopped off.

[lightpeak]

I smell an Apple tie-in here. Apple fronts the $100 grand and this company gets a lot of free advertising, the first person to get the proof gets rich. A win/win/win situation.

[appleguy123]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7449/tabletk.jpg


Where's my 10 grand?

Thats 50k now you have to cut me in :)

[frederick-milos]

Steve could make a quick $100k just to let them play with it. They still wouldn't have a picture and no one would believe them.

that's not worth steve's time by a long shot. With owning 5.5 million shares of aapl, steve's portfolio increases $100k every time the stock increases $0.02 (or 0.01%). in other words, steve has made a quick $100k in the time it took you to read this post.

[Nermal]

whoa! good call. you mean the clock right? i also noticed that the apps in front arent open in the dock.

Yeah, the clock. I didn't notice the dock issue though!

[General-iMac]

It's about time someone had the Gonads to do this. Lets see it anyone bites at the bait.:)

[powers74]

This is getting absolutely absurd.

[sampro]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.


lol if you look to the sides of pic you can see that its still in photo shop, of coarse its fake

[Maserati7200]

Looks like its time for some Photoshop

Where is my 10k?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/EtchASketch10-23-2004.jpg

PS Note the revolutionary text entry method....

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7449/tabletk.jpg


Where's my 10 grand?
I know you're all joking, but you wouldn't get your rewards until after the tablet is released to prove its authenticity

[MacFly123]

It is official... APPLE IS THE COOLEST COMPANY ON EARTH! :D

The fact that this bounty is legitimately being offered proves it! WOW lol! :cool:

P.S. I will offer a bounty of YOU paying ME $100,000.00 to look at a pic of the next Zune or Microsoft Tablet lol! :p

This could ONLY happen with Apple! :D
:apple:

[mac jones]

how about this prize


$100k fine for solicitation.

[Cynthia Steffe]

Inducing another to breach a contract is against the law? I mean, Apple can certainly sue for breach of contract, but I'm not sure there will be any cause of action against Valleywag. Companies induce others to break out of contracts all the time.

[Cynthia Steffe]

I can't imagine why courts would even care. Presumably, Apple would obtain whatever money they would have had, had the offeree kept up his end of the deal. If the offeree still ends up with a net profit after paying damages, there will have been a net increase in wealth between Apple and the offeree. That situation is definitely superior, in economic terms, to the situation in which both parties kept their terms of the deal.

Can't see why people wouldn't applaud the maneuver.

[Mac Kiwi]

I smell an Apple tie-in here. Apple fronts the $100 grand and this company gets a lot of free advertising, the first person to get the proof gets rich. A win/win/win situation.


This may have also been designed to gather news channels attention.....and voila the tablet smack bang in the international media again.

[Consultant]

It's a trap?

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7449/tabletk.jpg


Where's my 10 grand?

LOL, good one. You might want to upload the image here though.

[claughery]

never saw this attempt at gaining genuine apple leakage before. hope we can see more of this and hope to see how apple responds!

[oldwatery]

These guys are as dumb as the idiots at Pystar.
You gotta wonder what makes people do this kind of stuff :confused:

[Kwill]

Looks like we'll be getting a peek at the "real" upcoming tablet very soon now.

Let the auditions for boney actors wearing black T-shirts and blue jeans begin! ;)

[Kwill]

Only with Apple products would this happen

For the new Dell Vostro V13 (http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/vostro-v13/pd.aspx?refid=vostro-v13&s=bsd&cs=04&~ck=mn&dgc=IR&cid=dellhp&lid=delldeals), I offer $1 for to anyone that can convince me to buy it and $5 to anyone that will buy one and trash it for me so I won't have to touch it.

(Subject to verification of purchase and destruction. ;))

[ShiftyPig]

Yes they do. They are called retail employees. They don't make as much as people think. A genius in some markets only makes about 38k a year to begin with. Each market is different of course, but they don't make what people think they do or should.

Overpaid?

All the difficult work gets sent to a service center. Doing easy tasks like swapping a hard drive, adding RAM and resetting Grandpa's iPhone is worth about $38K per year, tbh. Add in the full health care and that's serious bank for someone doing that level of work.

For the new Dell Vostro V13 (http://www.dell.com/us/en/business/notebooks/vostro-v13/pd.aspx?refid=vostro-v13&s=bsd&cs=04&~ck=mn&dgc=IR&cid=dellhp&lid=delldeals), I offer $1 for to anyone that can convince me to buy it and $5 to anyone that will buy one and trash it for me so I won't have to touch it.

(Subject to verification of purchase and destruction. ;))

http://www.smashmycrappydellvostrov13.com. Might get you sued though, didn't end so well for the other guys.

[Thex1138]

Fake; it's using non-US regional settings.
They always try... but miss some little detail... They don't have very good QA.

[Thex1138]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

So does your buddy work at www.iec.ch because that's where this pic originated from... interesting ;)

Was it 'shoped on a HP Box?

[griz]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

Would have been a little more believable if the image wasn't actually STILL in Photoshop.

[griz]

genuine apple leakage

Sounds like something you wouldn't want.

[Anonymous Freak]

What would be funny is if Apple let them play with one for an hour to steal $100k out of their pockets on purpose.

Even funnier (to me at least,) would be for Steve Jobs to 'pose' with a random PC tablet, but held in such a way as to make it not-obvious that it's not an Apple tablet (and also not-obvious that it was staged/posed, but looks like a 'sneak' shot,) and have a random employee submit it. The site would be out $50,000, but with wrong info.

[SteveSparks]

Sounds like a good deal for one of the 10 year old kids building the tablets in china. The money would feed her family for years.

[davester]

Can't these people just wait 2 weeks and save themselves the dough?

(and the desperation)

:rolleyes:

[mac jones]

OK, someone gets greedy, shows the goods expecting a big cash payout at end, they go public, Apple lawyers up, no big cash payout, pigeon get's the cage, along with perps.

happy ending....

[acslater017]

It is astounding the way Apple can do this to the media and consumers by dropping mere hints at a product that doesn't necessarily exist. Others pay fortunes for PR campaigns and bite and claw for every scrap of attention, while all Apple has to do is just drop the word "slate" somewhere on some patent application and the industry goes absolutely nuts.

Genius.

Well, it's not entirely free. I know I'm going to sound like a fanboy, but they've really earned it in my opinion. At least since I've been following Apple (2003), nearly all of their products are beautiful, useful, and fun to use. The really breakthrough stuff is usually 2 years ahead of the competition - like getting sent stuff from the future!

They put a lot of hard design and engineering work into their products. If they didn't, they wouldn't have nearly as much goodwill/hype/fanboyism as they do now. :apple:

[puckhead193]

I'll give anyone a cookie if they can tell me when apple plans on releasing new mbp and mac pros :p

[acslater017]

BTW, if I had to put money on the device's name, I would go with "iBook". It's classy, simple, and already trademarked. "Slate" sounds so Flintstones. Sure, there are old laptops that carry the iBook moniker, but Apple's re-branded/recycled stuff before.

13" Al MacBook -> 13" MacBook Pro
iPod -> iPod Classic
Intel renamings:
Power Mac -> Mac Pro, PowerBook -> MacBook Pro

"iBook" would fit its form factor, wouldn't use the "Mac" name (assuming that it doesn't use Mac OS X), and rolls off the tongue SO much better than "Magic Slate" or even anything using "tablet".

Mark my words come January 27th!

[1enckore]

It think taking that $100,000 to the people of Haiti will go a long way. Why the rush when it comes out you will see it. It's going to be anything revolutionary anyways.. But seriously ....

[Candyman87]

Happy hunting!!!

Most awesome report on Macrumors!

PS: A cool name would be iTap :)

[NXTMIKE]

been meaning to post this somewhere, i guess this is as good a thread as any.

buddy of mine sent it to me, what do you guys think? looks legit to me. all i got is a jpeg so i cant get that cash money unfortunately.

lol you're being sarcastic right. those photoshop toolbars give it away, a little bit too much.

[DUSTmurph]

BTW, if I had to put money on the device's name, I would go with "iBook". It's classy, simple, and already trademarked. "Slate" sounds so Flintstones. Sure, there are old laptops that carry the iBook moniker, but Apple's re-branded/recycled stuff before.

13" Al MacBook -> 13" MacBook Pro
iPod -> iPod Classic
Intel renamings:
Power Mac -> Mac Pro, PowerBook -> MacBook Pro

"iBook" would fit its form factor, wouldn't use the "Mac" name (assuming that it doesn't use Mac OS X), and rolls off the tongue SO much better than "Magic Slate" or even anything using "tablet".

Mark my words come January 27th!

I know Apple has rebranded products, but I don't think they would take the name of a totally different past product and put it on something new. Thats a little different then changing the name of an updated product.

Plus, iBook wouldn't be so fitting if the device is flat and doesn't open like a book.

[EvanAgee]

Have you all seen this video on YouTube? I'm not sure if it's real or not but the fact that it doesn't have very many views and looks very convincing has me wondering. Thoughts? It's the video at the top of the post.

http://www.evanagee.com/blog/2010/01/13/5-ways-the-apple-tablet-could-effect-our-lives/

[iMaggot]

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7449/tabletk.jpg


Where's my 10 grand?

LMAO this is too funny :D

[cvaldes]

Can't these people just wait 2 weeks and save themselves the dough?

(and the desperation)

:rolleyes:
Really.

This is just a desperate attempt at pageviews.

Valleywag couldn't succeed financially as a standalone tech website, so Gawker Media folded it back in as a column into the home Gawker site.

Frankly, if they wanted a better ROI, they should just shut down Valleywag and sink the 100 grand into AAPL.

[iPhoney:)]

I'll give anyone a cookie if they can me when apple plans on releasing new mbp and mac pros :p

In the future, I guarantee it :p

[Mr. Gates]

Wow ! This hype is for the birds, I am more interested in the the new iPhone OS, and what kind of update that will come when this slate thing is released

[bogosortzomg]

That is certainly a crafty strategy requiring a substantial amount of bank if it's true...

*Goes off to photoshop something* :P

[kingcobra2010]

Has the apple slate been seen in the wild. Yes there are two videos showing the device. Both are from sources outside the states.
One video shows an individual interact with the unit (basic stuff nothing advanced seen in the video except for the design. it looks like there are three ports at the top which I suspect are for motion gestures since they do not fit the typical design apple has for cameras. The function was not displayed on the video but that is the only functionality that makes sense. also there is no center button. Is that to protect its identity similar to what detroit does with its cars or will it not have the center button? you can not see any apple icons on the display screen which I suspect is also an identity protection that apple has employed. The design is very slim and it is is 10 inches based on visual hand measurement from the video and how the individual holds the device. There is also a point when the individual interacts with a newspaper article but it was not like your typical web page it reminded me of harry porter with the interactive components in the column). There is also gyroscope function in the device. The video is short but it is very good quality. Unsure how they were able to film the device without anyone knowing.
The second video shows a guy holding the device and what looks like to be writing without a stylus. hard to tell how the writing comes out since the video is very shaky. looks like the individual has the hidden camera in a pocket. The person holding the slate writes twice on the device. the second time the person writes on the screen it looks like the person hit an icon and it placed the writing in typed form since the image on the screen did not look like written text.
The first video was done around august and released on the net in december 2009. The second video, I can not say when that was done. The typing functionality was not displayed in either video. The screen was definitely led but not oled. You can still see the flickering on the screen when the individual was playing on the capacitive screen. The demo unit had the same flickering screen problem that plagued the 2008 macbook unibodies screen. The os was definitely not OS X. It looked more like the iphone platform with some differences. There is cover flow functionality displayed in both videos. For the individuals that do not believe that the videos do not show the upcoming apple device, you will see fairly soon if the device matches the device in the videos. I did not make the videos nor do I know anyone involved with making the videos so do not ask how I know.
Do not ask me for the videos or their links. Google will help you find the videos. Both videos where definitely done in the UK but for some reason the first video is displayed on a french site.

That being said, device will probably have some functions that have wow factor but will it be a game changer. Probably not. Apple has made game changers. Iphone, os X, unibody MBP, and multitouch trackpad. This device however would go into the niche category. Just like the MB air, when you first see the device you will say that is nice. But just like the MB air, when you step back and actual think about the functionality, you will see that this device is just a cool gadget that will not provide you with more function that you already have. There will be those individuals that will defined the MB air like they will defend this device. But looking at it closely compare the macbook air to the regular macbook pro. They are both the same size/dimension. So for extra cost and the lose of one usb port and other ports and the superdrive, you get a skinnier/lighter laptop. Now if that 1-2 pounds is really that heavy for you then get the macbook air. if you need to mail your laptop to someone then get the macbook air. For the great majority of people if you are going to carry around the same size device then most people will ask for the macbook pro. Thus the reason for the poor sales of the macbook air. Now lets look at the apple slate. So you already carry around a iphone. So what will the slate do for you if it does not have the functions of a full fledge laptop/desktop os. Will you be able to connect it to a scanner, will be able to make pdf docs, will you be able to use adobe suite, can you use virtual box for windows, will you be able to do business software, etc.. The answer is probably not. the device is a more powerful iphone. It can provide enhanced iphone capability but the iphone can not do what a macbook, mac mini, imac, or mac pro can do. So why would anyone carry a device, that is an enhanced device that you already carry. The device is not small so that you can put it on a belt clip of in your pocket. so if you are going to carry the device there needs to be a reason for you to carry this device versus a macbook pro that is only a tad larger. Currently there is no good reason to pick this device versus the macbook pro. Not even the longer battery life. If you are going to carry something, then you are going to carry something that offers you the best functionality to weight ratio. Just like the macbook air lost the battle to macbook pro, this slate will loss the battle to the macbook pro (but there will still some devices sold). The fact that it has wireless/hspda connectivity will not help. You can tether your phone to your laptop so even that point is worthless.

One more heads up verizon will get the iphone with a smaller screen. Why you ask, because it will help those that have an iphone but have at&t it removes one reason not to get the slate with data plan from a different company that provides cellular coverage. The slate will be pushed on verizon since it has more coverage and more bandwidth unlike at&t who is struggling to keep up with the bandwidth that iphone users consume. The iphone porting also sweetens the deal for verizon to come to apples terms on subsidizing the slates sold to people that get the data plan. The iphone coming to verizon will hurt two companies at&t and nokia. First, there will be a switchers to verizon so that they can get the slate at a subsidized price and then there will be switchers that will move to verizon once they get the iphone since they really never cared for at&t service. Nokia will be hurt since it has started to go back in the cd ma phone business and it also has a good share of cd ma in india/asia which it will lose once qualcomm finally puts out its dual universal chipset. So if you are into stocks verizon might not be bad since by the middle of this year it might be above 40 or even higher where as right now it is in the 30s.

[djgamble]

Meh odds on if you've got one then $100 000 is peanuts to you (i.e. you're probably a multi-millionaire like Stever Jobs or Phil Schiller.)

Meh I doubt these guys have the money even if I did cough up pics of the tablet...etc :P

[badboyprod]

Has the apple slate been seen in the wild. Yes there are two videos showing the device. Both are from sources outside the states.
One video shows an individual interact with the unit (basic stuff nothing advanced seen in the video except for the design. it looks like there are three ports at the top which I suspect are for motion gestures since they do not fit the typical design apple has for cameras. The function was not displayed on the video but that is the only functionality that makes sense. also there is no center button. Is that to protect its identity similar to what detroit does with its cars or will it not have the center button? you can not see any apple icons on the display screen which I suspect is also an identity protection that apple has employed. The design is very slim and it is is 10 inches based on visual hand measurement from the video and how the individual holds the device. There is also a point when the individual interacts with a newspaper article but it was not like your typical web page it reminded me of harry porter with the interactive components in the column). There is also gyroscope function in the device. The video is short but it is very good quality. Unsure how they were able to film the device without anyone knowing.
.... So if you are into stocks verizon might not be bad since by the middle of this year it might be above 40 or even higher where as right now it is in the 30s.

This is the video you are talking about:

http://www.nowhereelse.fr/video-tabletmac-mactablet-apple-decembre-2009-27226/

I am still looking for the other one

I'll be back!

[gnasher729]

Inducing another to breach a contract is against the law? I mean, Apple can certainly sue for breach of contract, but I'm not sure there will be any cause of action against Valleywag. Companies induce others to break out of contracts all the time.

Breach of NDA = Breach of contract, you can sue for damages.

But the same action would also illegally find out information about Apple's trade secrets, and then you are in criminal land.

[dernhelm]

Roll out the photoshop people! All you need to do is submit some believable photos and if they are close enough to the real thing, you could win yourself some easy cash on the 27th.

[haravikk]

Now obviously I enjoy reading about Apple-related rumours (or I wouldn't be here), however I really don't like the people that get off on leaking secrets or encouraging the leaking of secrets in this way; I prefer speculation to slowly being given pre-release details.

So I sincerely hope Apple takes them to task on this, and gets themselves more than just that $100,000 prize, as I think this is despicable :)

[Cynthia Steffe]

Breach of NDA = Breach of contract, you can sue for damages.


Thank you for, rather succinctly, repeating what I said. Now if you had taken the reasoning just a step further, you'd have understood the possibility that the offerer (breacher) could potentially walk away with a net gain after paying damages (through the prize money he would receive).

Not experienced enough in criminal law to know about trade secrets, but that certainly doesn't sound like the "inducement to breach contract" cause of action arn was alluding to.

[zelman]

There is at least one person not under NDA who has access to an apple tablet (if it exists): Steve Jobs. Therefore, this is perfectly legal. If my store offers a sale price on an item, I can't be sued because individuals on house arrest might be tempted to come to my store. The offer isn't invalidated by a percentage of people eho cannot take advantage.

So here's what Steve should do: send them a photo, then a video, then a photo of himself using it, then let them have access to it for an hour. Do this all the day before it is released. They won't have time to publish much before apple has their release event, and will take $180,000 from Valleywag.

What do you think?

-- David Zelman

[excalibur313]

So here's what Steve should do: send them a photo, then a video, then a photo of himself using it, then let them have access to it for an hour. Do this all the day before it is released. They won't have time to publish much before apple has their release event, and will take $180,000 from Valleywag.

What do you think?


Steve hates when his surprises that are spoiled and goes to great lengths to try and prevent people from releasing stuff before he does. I think you are kidding yourself if you think that this release means less to him than $180k. The guy is a multi billionare.

[nickane]

Can't believe I'm only reading this now! A friend of mine from Apple let me borrow a prototype for a day just last week. No way he's gonna lend it to me again cos he got really pi$$ed off when I showed it to my nan and then she told her bridge mates and then one of them's daughter came round to interview me about it for the local paper and I had to pretend I was crazy just to make her go away.

[Mal]

There is at least one person not under NDA who has access to an apple tablet (if it exists): Steve Jobs. Therefore, this is perfectly legal. If my store offers a sale price on an item, I can't be sued because individuals on house arrest might be tempted to come to my store. The offer isn't invalidated by a percentage of people eho cannot take advantage.

So here's what Steve should do: send them a photo, then a video, then a photo of himself using it, then let them have access to it for an hour. Do this all the day before it is released. They won't have time to publish much before apple has their release event, and will take $180,000 from Valleywag.

What do you think?

-- David Zelman

Actually, considering Steve Jobs doesn't own Apple, he is likely under an NDA as well. He also is the least likely person at Apple to want to spill the information about it. People who have made the mistake of spoiling his surprises have not been well treated (think Newsweek).

jW

[AidenShaw]

Actually, considering Steve Jobs doesn't own Apple, he is likely under an NDA as well. He also is the least likely person at Apple to want to spill the information about it. People who have made the mistake of spoiling his surprises have not been well treated (think Newsweek).

jW

This Newsweek? ;)

http://www.macdevcenter.com/mac/2002/01/07/graphics/jobs_timemag.jpg

[Mal]

This Newsweek? ;)

http://www.macdevcenter.com/mac/2002/01/07/graphics/jobs_timemag.jpg

Yep, that's the one I was thinking of. Jobs was quite pissed off at them, and I doubt they've gotten access to new stuff until after release since then.

jW

[Becordial]

The supposed legal advice referred to in the article is laughable.

Apple are capable of making some nice things but they can't supplant extraneous people and make them party to a contract, and therefore claim damages from them for a breach of same.

[aznkid25]

Looks like Apple has indirectly confirmed it's existence by issuing this Cease and Desist Letter.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/500x_appleletter1_01.jpg

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/500x_appleletter2_01.jpg

Source (http://gawker.com/5448177/update-apple-wins-the-first-prize-in-our-tablet-scavenger-hunt)

[BRLawyer]

It is official... APPLE IS THE COOLEST COMPANY ON EARTH! :D

The fact that this bounty is legitimately being offered proves it! WOW lol! :cool:

P.S. I will offer a bounty of YOU paying ME $100,000.00 to look at a pic of the next Zune or Microsoft Tablet lol! :p

This could ONLY happen with Apple! :D
:apple:

Indeed, and congratulations, MacFly; you have just won the right to be at the Apple Fanboy Pantheon. :p

[Mal]

Looks like Apple has indirectly confirmed it's existence by issuing this Cease and Desist Letter.

Source (http://gawker.com/5448177/update-apple-wins-the-first-prize-in-our-tablet-scavenger-hunt)

Eh, that's not really confirmation. I personally believe it is coming, but there have been cease and desist letters issued regarding products that never came to be (remember Asteroid (http://www.macrumors.com/2004/12/17/apple-sues-over-leak/)?).

jW

[MacFly123]

Indeed, and congratulations, MacFly; you have just won the right to be at the Apple Fanboy Pantheon. :p

I know you are teasing, but if you have read my other posts among my time on this site, you would see I am quite level headed in spite of liking Apple! :cool:

[Maserati7200]

BTW, if I had to put money on the device's name, I would go with "iBook". It's classy, simple, and already trademarked. "Slate" sounds so Flintstones. Sure, there are old laptops that carry the iBook moniker, but Apple's re-branded/recycled stuff before.

13" Al MacBook -> 13" MacBook Pro
iPod -> iPod Classic
Intel renamings:
Power Mac -> Mac Pro, PowerBook -> MacBook Pro

"iBook" would fit its form factor, wouldn't use the "Mac" name (assuming that it doesn't use Mac OS X), and rolls off the tongue SO much better than "Magic Slate" or even anything using "tablet".

Mark my words come January 27th!
I doubt it, Stewie. It's not in a book form factor so it doesn't make sense. Don't worry, to make you feel better, I tied Lois up, so go ahead, kill her, she's waiting.
Looks like Apple has indirectly confirmed it's existence by issuing this Cease and Desist Letter.

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/500x_appleletter1_01.jpg

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/7/2010/01/500x_appleletter2_01.jpg

Source (http://gawker.com/5448177/update-apple-wins-the-first-prize-in-our-tablet-scavenger-hunt)
Oh, ******. They only have 15 minutes left to take down that offer, or Apple will sue their ass! :D:p And I wonder how much this law form makes from dealing with Apple, I'm sure it's a helluva lot!