Details of Lost Next-Generation iPhone Saga Revealed in Search Warrant Affidavit

[iLunar]

So why not fire/sue the guy who lost it?
Surely he has breached his NDA, intentionally or not by lack of due care
Because Apple just want to throw their weight around is why, and make Gizmodo an example

As they should. Gizmodo editors are looking pretty guilty.

I find it interesting that they haven't posted one iota about this now, yet, were very quick to post when Chen's house was "raided".

I also find it interesting that Engadget hasn't posted anything about this today. They were the first to post pictures of the iPhone. I wonder if they paid anything to Hogan for access to the pictures?

 

[LagunaSol]

So you've been reduced to cheering on anti-Apple misinformation. How sad.

You must be new here, and unfamiliar with the commenter-in-question, his purpose for being here, and his historical position on Apple in general.

 

[rcandre2]

Steve Job is from another planet. Did anyone see the Apple crop circle on CNN today?

 

[Atkins]

Priceless prototypes shouldn't be used in a bar, when accidents like this can happen. Also, Gra could still test this iPhone like everyone would, just not bring it to any dumb place like a bar.
Regardless. He should have checked his purse/bag, and or pants pockets. having a prototype that money can't buy (according to apple) should mean being X-tra careful. If i had something like that, it would be in my pockets, hand, or at home safely hidden. Def not in a bag.

But still why Gray would bring something priceless to a bar, where people get drunk is beyond me.

You do have some issues with bars. You say it like people necessarily get drunk there - well, most people can control themselves quite well in fact. And it wasn't exactly a bar, btw - http://www.gourmethausstaudt.com/blog/, and this was before 10PM. You are making a badly based assumption.

Now, he probably should've been more careful to some extent, but you are basically saying that it is his fault! Are you really saying that Apple should anticipate someone stealing the phone, selling it to a media blog, and this media blog destroying the device while posting images of it? Maybe we should wear gas masks too, just in case?

The only thing this guy should've done is to check if the device was in the bag on his way out - well, he did it a bit later. I don't see a fault there.

 

[MacPhilosopher]

Ha!

Where are all of the trolls that were cursing Apple and arguing with me that these guys had done nothing wrong? Where is that jerk that said my ignorance of the law was astounding? You sir are ignorant of the law. Whether or not these guys get charged, from a basic read of the affidavit, Gizmodo knew exactly what they had and even acted with intentional malice towards Apple. I'll take my apology anytime, Trolls.

 

[cvaldes]

Steve Job is from another planet. Did anyone see the Apple crop circle on CNN today?

No, I did not see it.

As an AAPL stockholder, I really don't give a rat's ass about which planet Steve is from, as long as the company increases AAPL shareholder value.

 

[iLunar]

You must be new here, and unfamiliar with the commenter-in-question, his purpose for being here, and his historical position on Apple in general.

It's no surprise that poster would side with criminals.

I also wonder if Powell has legal council separate from Apple. IMO, his name was unfairly dragged through the mud on this one.

 

[rcandre2]

No, I did not see it.

As an AAPL stockholder, I really don't give a rat's ass about which planet Steve is from, as long as the company increases AAPL shareholder value.

+1

I actually dumped my Google to get in with more Apple

 

[MacPhilosopher]

The female roommate and APPLE are the only two players involved in this story who aren't complete morons and/or thieves.

The female roommate was apparently smart enough to realize that she didn't want anything to do with her shady roommate in regards to his "found" iPhone and she didn't want to get into trouble so she did the right thing.

All Apple did is take legal steps to protect it's property, which is what any sane company would do.

Actually, the female roommate's actions show that any reasonable person should have known the device belonged to Apple and that it's sale would expose them to criminal charges. They are scr3wed.

 

[WeegieMac]

I had a good laugh reading that the first complaint from Apple was a loss of money because people who would have bought an existing Apple product no longer did.

 

[johnnymg]

It's no surprise that poster would side with criminals.

I also wonder if Powell has legal council separate from Apple. IMO, his name was unfairly dragged through the mud on this one.

I'm sure he's trying to just lay low for now. Trying to stay out of sight and out of mind as much as possible.

 

[cvaldes]

As they should. Gizmodo editors are looking pretty guilty.

I find it interesting that they haven't posted one iota about this now, yet, were very quick to post when Chen's house was "raided".

I also find it interesting that Engadget hasn't posted anything about this today. They were the first to post pictures of the iPhone. I wonder if they paid anything to Hogan for access to the pictures?

I'm convinced that Lam and Chen aren't active employees of Gawker Media. They're probably looking for housing offshore, hoping to move before the San Mateo County DA books them on various charges. They're never going to work in high-tech media journalism again.

My guess is that they are dying to clear their names, even to post the tiniest tidbit of misinformation, but they are forbidden by their attorneys to even use the Internet.

A naive person might say "sucks for them," but basically they brought this situation upon themselves.

 

[AidenShaw]

It's no surprise that poster would side with criminals.

No, I'm siding against Apple bullying the courts and journalists over a lost telephone.

If Apple wins in a court of law, and loses in the court of popular opinion - then Apple loses.

As Jon Stewart said - "Apple - you used to be the good guys".

 

[iLunar]

No, I'm siding against Apple bullying the courts and journalists over a lost telephone.

If Apple wins in a court of law, and loses in the court of popular opinion - then Apple loses.

As Jon Stewart said - "Apple - you used to be the good guys".

Right....remind me again about the turtleneck overlord?

And Jon Stewart (gawd, I love him) totally jumped the gun on this one. He's the one looking bad.

 

[i.mac]

I had a good laugh reading that the first complaint from Apple was a loss of money because people who would have bought an existing Apple product no longer did.

this is true in my case.

I was going to purchase an iphone for a relative because I was undecided if I should wait for x months for the new phone. Once this article about the stolen phone came about, I decided that the new phone is way to much improved over the old 3gs, and I am therefore waiting for the new phone to come out. Apple lost a sale, although to be honest, it is only deferred sale... but this may not be always the case (others may opt for a goggle phone, for instance).

I am sure that I am not the only one, rather, most folks will now wait for the new phone... which is precisely why apple never announces ahead of time what they are doing.

 

[cvaldes]

No, I'm siding against Apple bullying the courts and journalists over a lost telephone.

If Apple wins in a court of law, and loses in the court of popular opinion - then Apple loses.

As Jon Stewart said - "Apple - you used to be the good guys".

I'm sorry to have to point this out, but if AAPL posts record earnings, the "court of popular opinion" has no voice. Or more accurately, the "court of popular opinion" has voted for Apple with their dollars.

I respect your ability to offer an opinion, especially one so thoughtful, but my dollars are against you.

Go ahead and short AAPL. Let's meet up in six months or a year and compare ROIs.

 

[ramuman]

Gizmodo are punks, but we knew that. The best thing to come out of this will be how Jobs invariably addresses this during the WWDC keynote in passing with snark.

 

[i.mac]

...

And Jon Stewart (gawd, I love him) totally jumped the gun on this one. He's the one looking bad.

I wonder if old jony will apologize?

I like jony stewart, but he annoys me every one and then (have not seen his programs in months).

 

[cvaldes]

Gizmodo are punks, but we knew that. The best thing to come out of this will be how Jobs invariably addresses this during the WWDC keynote in passing with snark.

My guess is that Jobs will not refer to this episode. His public addresses are focused on positive elements of the device in question. This unfortunately early unveiling is a done deal, more accident than anything else. If he can't turn this into a sales/marketing opportunity, he's going to ignore it.

 

[Speedy2]

Apple lost a sale, although to be honest, it is only deferred sale...

Apple loses on deferred sales, too. Old 3G/3GS is most likely cheaper to manufacture than new 4G, and both are most probably sold for the same price.

This was the only "new" iPhone whose existence and specifications were announced to a broad public. Even if they lose only a few dollars per deferred sale, it might add up to a nice amount because the effect is worldwide. A few hundred thousand people holding out because of the leak -> several million $$ damage.

 

[robby818]

Look, we have been through this over and over. I feel like a f-cking broken record.


The fact that Apple did not fire Gray Powell after the incident is evidence that they do not think that he was excessively irresponsible about his privilege of carrying around a field-test unit. He did not deliberately disclose the device; he accidentally lost it. Since Apple continues to employ him, they are implicitly stating that he did not exhibit a gross lack of due care. They probably consider that he was functioning within his parameters of normal field-testing and that the loss of his unit was a possible risk.

.

Not really. It doesn't matter why he lost it, he lost it. Under normal circumstances that would have gotten him fired. But probably due to the pending criminal charges, Mr. Powell is going to be a very important witness for the State and Apple. In other words, he has value to the company, and that's the only reason why he isn't gone. Apple fires people without blinking an eye over much more minor infractions. Makes no difference what his intent or state of mind was at the time.

 

[Axl Rose]

I dont think its a big deal, everyone knew a new iphone was coming out anyways.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

As Jon Stewart said - "Apple - you used to be the good guys".

I think Apple is the new bully on the block. I also believe Gizmodo royally screwed up and then publicly documented their screw up.

I wonder if old jony will apologize?

I like jony stewart, but he annoys me every one and then (have not seen his programs in months).

Why not? Apple somehow pressured Ellen Degeneres into apologizing on the air for a commercial that made more fun of her than it did the iPhone.

 

[robby818]

My guess is that Jobs will not refer to this episode. His public addresses are focused on positive elements of the device in question. This unfortunately early unveiling is a done deal, more accident than anything else. If he can't turn this into a sales/marketing opportunity, he's going to ignore it.

Agreed, it's a pending criminal matter so he won't make light of it, it would undermine Apple's position that this was a theft and they were harmed. I think the only time it would be appropriate to make fun of Apple in the news would be incidents such as when Steve's obituary was erroneously printed in the newspaper..all in good fun.

 

[pilotzen]

i wonder...

I wonder if apple tried to kill 3 birds with one stone here....

1. 'out' a possible snitch in apple... Gray Powell
2. have gawker and gizmodo setup to take a mighty fall and be exposed as hack rumor journos by not resisting publishing the 4thgen secret bits and at the same time maybe break some laws
3. free advertising for apple, but release something totally different on the day

Is it feasible to believe that apple had suspicions over Gray, wanted to see the 'leak' trail, kill off a rumour site and spook every competitor into a false direction?

hmm