Finder of Lost Next-Generation iPhone Identified

[mavis]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone 3GS (JB3.1, unlocked): Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.4 Mobile/7D11 Safari/531.21.10)

Glad I don't live on the west coast anymore - that dude could pass for my brother. Kinda creepy.

 

[Anuba]

Apple's got some big balls

"May we come inside?"

 

[ksgant]

Honestly, I think people are being way too hard on him.

How many people on this board would, if finding a next-gen iMac prototype, not immediately post it on MacRumors? Heck, people practically fantasize about doing this, making up mockups and fakes.

Um...me. For one, and I've done this before, if I were to find a dropped or forgotten phone I would have given it to the bartender and said I found it...someone dropped it. I've found 3 different cell-phones at places. People drop things.

Oh, and one time I found a perfect Dell laptop in the middle of the street at like 3am in the morning. It booted and there wasn't a scratch on it. I turned it into the police. Hey, it's not mine. I'm not trying to be Mr. Morality here or anything, but it's just one of those things. I also had my 13 year old son I'm trying to instill SOME values into.

Yeah, I've been ridiculed by some people I know for turning it in. "Man, I woulda kept it...that's so stupid, turning it in. Free computer dude." Well, that's not me I guess.

 

[MH01]

Its a bunch of kids, leave them alone.

If the part about apple representatives trying to gain entry into someone's premises is true, that is total BS!

M$ might have done alot wrong on the past, but they have never stooped this low. Shame on you apple, I hope this is not true.

 

[ValSalva]

What a crappy situation for this kid. I feel bad for him but he deserves what's coming to him.

If he wasn't aware that selling somebody's else's property is against the law, especially something this high profile (the offer of 5k should have been a hint), then this will be a hard lesson learned for him.

He clearly must have known. Didn't he shop it to Engadget first?

 

[rhinosrcool]

Apple is the country's biggest law firm.

 

[Tadros]

If I lose my iPhone and some guy found it and sold it but told me who he sold it to, then it's up to the person he sold it to, to give it back. It's not this guys fault for finding the phone and WAITING where he found it for the person to come back and claim it... it's the person who lost it's fault. This is crazy, this dude is 21 years old! What's Apple going to do next...

 

[Srai-W]

That's all???

Ok, after reading I don't know how many posts this is my first one on the subject. My first thoughts on reading this are - that's all? You mean he didn't even try himself to return it? It just seems to be next to no effort.

I can see why the fuss. If I left my LG phone somewhere would I expect someone to return it? Nah... But if it was a prototype not out on the market... Hmmmm. You would kinda think that he would've thought just a tad bit more.

Oh well here we go again anyways.

 

[Scooterman1]

You're riding down the road, you find a bag of cash. You look around and don't see anyone that lost it. But you're not a Christian from what you've indicated. But the boy that has since begun working at a church is now a Christian AND a thief from what you say, and you're an upstanding rich person.
You are funny!!!!

 

[mingoglia]

I'm sure glad I'm surrounded by so many that have NEVER found something and kept it in their life...especially after attempting to find it's owner (which may or may not be hearsay).

 

[Eddyisgreat]

What a noob. I would've held it in my posession and called Apple/emailed sjobs@a~ nonstop until I got a response and my only demand would have been a $10,000 Apple gift card and lunch with Steve J.

Anything less and it would've been hidden in a safe deposit box in the Cayman Islands and sold to Nokia

 

[BigBeast]

Apple!

I love my MBPs dearly and can't live without OS X- but Apple's outrageous need to keep EVERYTHING top secret is getting very annoying. And AFTER Apple failed in keeping the 4th gen iPhone under wraps, they start pulling stunts like this?? Apple's public opinion hasn't been great over the years- and is looking worse with each day. Apple could have shown some tact and class in this matter, but instead they seem to have taken the low road complete with with a ton of douchebaggery. -1 Apple.

 

[blasto333]

This story is like a soap opera

 

[wovel]

Thief is a strong word, and should be taken as such.

Mistake, poor judgement, brain fart ok. Thief-no.

His intentional actions (done for his own profit) deprived someone else of their property for several weeks. I know how I would label it.

 

[Diode]

He should have done more to give the prototype back to apple...maybe email someone with photos or go to the apple store...something atleast...

Or maybe apple should have made it easier to return the device? Perhaps a direct 1800 number to an exec's office on a sticker on the back of the phone?

Where talking a device worth millions in R&D cost - you'd think Apple would have some method to recover it.

I think this whole thing blew out of proportion - I personally think both Giz and this guy should get off the hook. Apple just learned an important lesson....

 

[Anuba]

Um...me. For one, and I've done this before, if I were to find a dropped or forgotten phone I would have given it to the bartender and said I found it...someone dropped it. I've found 3 different cell-phones at places. People drop things.

Oh, and one time I found a perfect Dell laptop in the middle of the street at like 3am in the morning. It booted and there wasn't a scratch on it. I turned it into the police. Hey, it's not mine. I'm not trying to be Mr. Morality here or anything, but it's just one of those things.

We have no way of knowing but it's not inconceivable that Hogan would've done the same, had he found some regular Dell laptop or Nokia phone. But it dawned on him what this thing was, the next day when he tinkered with it – and while he should have returned it none the less, you can't tell me that the magnitude of this particular find would have zero impact on you.

 

[JediZenMaster]

How many people on this board would, if finding a next-gen iMac prototype, not immediately post it on MacRumors?

I wouldn't of have posted the details and i would have turned the phone over ASAP to the owners or even the police. But that's how i was raised. And i know people were raised differently that's evident in the crime rates

 

[whatever]

Wow these kids are really stupid.

It's really starting to look like this generation just has no common sense.

I can see this playing out in court.

Lawyer: So you found the iPhone just sitting their.

Brian Hogan (or whatever his name is): Yes.

Lawyer: And you thought it was okay to take payment from someone else so they could write a review of it?

Brian: Yeah, it was just sitting there, it's owner wasn't there.

Lawyer: So, you admit that it did not belong to you?

Brian: Yeah dude, it's a top secret Apple prototype.

Lawyer: And it was okay to do what you did?

Brian: Yeah, it was just sitting there, unattended.

Lawyer: So let's say the bartender was not at the bar, would it be okay for you just over the bar and serve someone a beer, charge them and pocket the money?

Brian: No, that would be breaking the law.

Lawyer: Why is that?

Brian: Because I don't own the bar and just because it's not being tended doesn't mean I can do whatever I want with it.

Lawyer: And how's that different from the iPhone?

 

[macfan881]

Apple is becoming more evil as they get bigger. Shame really.

How? apple just got royally screwed over on there WWDC they have every right to be as angry as they are and now pretty much everyone knows what the new phone is going to be like and Apple wont have the same thunder as they normally would coming into the Keynote. I would be just as annoyed as Apple would be if i were in there shoes.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Apple representatives attempted to search Hogan's home, but were turned away by a roommate.

What?!?!? If this statement is true Apple Inc. has some explaining to do. A private corporation cannot go in and attempt a search without law enforcement and a search warrant. Either this is a false statement or Apple believes they are above the US legal system. Scary!

 

[Vulkan]

Honestly, I think people are being way too hard on him.

How many people on this board would, if finding a next-gen iMac prototype, not immediately post it on MacRumors? Heck, people practically fantasize about doing this, making up mockups and fakes.

He made some effort to return it, and realized what he had and sold it to the journalist with the mindset of giving them an exclusive, not trying to move stolen goods.

He probably wasn't very familiar with laws on lost goods. He probably called Gizmodo and tried to get some money in exchange for a story, and was talked into celling it to them. Per the story:



A naive kid who stumbled into something bigger than him. 90% of the boards probably would've done something similar.

I probably would have tried to sell Gizmodo photos and videos myself before returning the phone. I'm not under NDA from Apple, I have no obligation to keep it secret after I return it.


I don't think it's worth ruining his life by arresting him for theft over this.

I would have kept it secretly, made an altar with it. It would be my Precious...

Then give it to my grand children...

or

Told Gizmodo, "Er 5K ONLY? Take a hike bub... This is the Frigging iPhone 4, have you heard of it? Of course not, it's a prototype, now pay up."

 

[muskratboy]

"i believe my lawyer has told me that the only way i'm getting out of this is if i convince people that the payment was only for the review of the phone."

"a review where i gave up possession and ownership of the phone for money... but didn't sell it."

"please, please believe me. i love you, mr. jobs."

 

[Mark Booth]

As I predicted all along, this man is cooperating with authorities. My bet is that is disappointing news to Jason Chen and Gizmodo.

Of significant interest is the statement that Hogan was NOT the person that called AppleCare. Then who the hell did? Could it have been Jason Chen?

Authorities already KNOW they can nail Hogan with theft if they want. But that's not who they're after. I suspect we'll hear of some arrests soon.

If I was Jason Chen, I'd be really worried right now!

Mark

 

[GeekLawyer]

What?!?!? If this statement is true Apple Inc. has some explaining to do. A private corporation cannot go in and attempt a search without law enforcement and a search warrant. Either this is a false statement or Apple believes they are above the US legal system. Scary!

They didn't go in. They asked for permission. When they were denied access, they contacted law enforcement. Sounds about right to me.

If you stole something from me, I'd probably come by and try to get it back from you before calling the cops and ruining your life. Or maybe not. Hard call.

 

[Vulkan]

What?!?!? If this statement is true Apple Inc. has some explaining to do. A private corporation cannot go in and attempt a search without law enforcement and a search warrant. Either this is a false statement or Apple believes they are above the US legal system. Scary!

Of course they can... They are Apple... And that was not just any apple employee's, that was probably Moshe's assasin crew, and they were not looking for the phone either, they were looking to set an example by breaking a few fingers.