Hah. Seriously? Guy just happens to leave a 4G iphone in a bar? This has "leaked" marketing ploy all over it. It's the perfect way to get people excited about the new iphone.
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Circumstances Surrounding Lost Next Gen iPhone Detailed
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How do we know that this phone isn't still waiting at the bar for the owner to return and prove that it is really their property? If you were a bar owner, would you hand a unmarked lost phone over to just anybody who just walked in and said "hey, I work at Apple"? Maybe someone is waiting for the owner to show up with verifiable legal ownership documentation (what would that be?), or a police missing property report with a unique and exactly matching description?
Your honor, I swear I did not steal that car. I know the owner did not give me permission to take it, but I only used for two weeks, took it apart and made money off of it. That is all, I swear. Now, could you kindly ask these gentlemen here to remove the handcuffs?
Completely! How lame does Apple look that they can put a front-facing camera in the smaller, less expensive (via contract) iPhone, but can't do the same for their new, "game changer" iPad.
Two cameras as a matter of fact! Lame.
Exactly. And what would be even better for Apple is if there are more of these controlled leaks, so this design is "confirmed" and everything and then this June, Steve pulls out something totally different, but better! (Just to keep the hype up)
It seems like when the keynotes all come around anymore, we have all seen the leaks, and there is not much surprise anymore, so I think it would be smart for Apple to do that.
While I enjoyed Gizmodo's exposé of the device quite a lot, NAMING the guy who lost it is taking this several steps too far. Not cool. At all.
They're gone from my bookmarks.
They're gone from my bookmarks.
It's been more then 30 days.
Maybe I missed it, but no one has mentioned that it has been 30 days since this phone was lost. In most jurisdictions 30 days is the magic number for lost property, after which it can be dealt with.
I think the timing of this breaking when it did might have everything to do with waiting to be in the legal clear, as it happened just when the 30 days was up.
Maybe I missed it, but no one has mentioned that it has been 30 days since this phone was lost. In most jurisdictions 30 days is the magic number for lost property, after which it can be dealt with.
I think the timing of this breaking when it did might have everything to do with waiting to be in the legal clear, as it happened just when the 30 days was up.
I'll be laughing my ass off if this iphone turns out to be fake. The fact that they paid $5k for this points to be some sort of scam. I bet some geek made this looking for some quick and easy cash.
why is there still no info on the hardware? The device can't even power on for crying out loud!
why is there still no info on the hardware? The device can't even power on for crying out loud!
Excellent point! A whole new thread could be created about that theory
Well, we all know one thing for sure... Steve is either nodding his head in disappointment and anger, or laughing his head off seeing that everyone is believing this story.
From the 1996 Act itself:
(3) receives, buys, or possesses such information, knowing the same to have been stolen or appropriated, obtained, or converted without authorization;
If Apple is not complacent in this then it is an act of economic espionage. They made public misappropriated trade secrets. On that point, everyone on this thread is arguing about whether or not it is stolen. It is not a matter of theft. One more time. This is an act of economic espionage according to the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. I've already posted the wiki link, so find it yourself. You may also check Cornell's Law School site where I found the above quote. Gizmodo or someone connected to Gizmodo purchased this phone for $5000 because they knew it was proprietary property belonging to Apple. This pretty much proves they knew it was something that they should return to Apple and not publish. Also, espionage is not just stealing secrets for another companies use. It also includes using that secret in a manner that causes economic harm. The only other possible story is that Apple was complacent. So, all of you need to do some research or at least read more comments before you make claims.
All of that said, I don't think anyone has ever been convicted of a crime under the Act other than a Chinese expat that was convicted for selling(or attempting to sell) defense secrets to China. That was under the first section of the act regarding foreign powers, not private companies doing interstate trade.
If I found it, I would try calling someone in their contacts. If it was locked (with a pin) I would have told Apple and asked what to do with it.
I guess it's pretty easy to see that the iphone is perhaps the most popular product Apple has ever made or sold. I mean this is like the third thread today that will easily surpass 500 posts in just a couple of hours. I have to believe that Apple is enjoying all this conversation.
I can't think of any other product that gets this kind of attention.
I can't think of any other product that gets this kind of attention.
They probably couldn't get enough supply for both....so they had to make a decision.... ipad or iphone. The iphone wins.