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Law Enforcement Reportedly Looking Into Circumstances of Lost Next-Generation iPhone

Cartaphilus said:
It depends on the place, I guess. Where I grew up we left our cars parked in the driveway with the keys in the ignition all the time, and our front doors were never locked. I never had a key to my parents' house and never needed one. But in a more risky area I wouldn't be surprised if the police took the keys, locked the doors, and had a chat with the car's owner.

In any case, the authorities may not be able to prevent the theft of a car left open with the keys inside. They can, however, see that anyone caught stealing a car, despite it being left unlocked with the keys inside, is prosecuted vigorously, and that a severe sentence is passed on the thief. And then they can ensure that the conviction and sentence receive wide publicity. This might still not deter everyone, but the more certain you make punishment for a crime, the fewer people will be tempted to commit it.

And then there are places where the legal authorities are ineffective or corrupt. And in those places when you are caught with something that doesn't belong to you, the owner or his family or his tribe cuts off your hand--if you're lucky.

I like that way least, which is what makes me feel so strongly about the need for parents to instill some legal, ethical, moral, religious, or philosophical sense of right and wrong in their kids, and that failing, seeing that the authorities ensure that those who lack the sensibility to do the right thing for its own sake do it for their own sake.

Thanks for your generous comment.
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Wow, thank you for replying back.

For the purposes of sharing, where I grew up, I would expect someone to steal my car if I left the keys in it. I would also expect the police would grow tired of dealing with the same issue.

Here's a brief article from a local news station on the issue:
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=128598&provider=top
 
You are missing a few facts....

From what I read, it said Apple requested the finder to send them pictures of the phone for proof that it was a next generation phone. The guy that found it, did not send the required info to Apple as requested.

The person that found it, said he turned the phone on and went to his facebook app. So he knew who the person was that lost the phone, why not post a message on his facebook page telling him he found the phone. Or friend him on facebook and then exchange details on how to give the phone back.

The person that found it did not ask the bartender or the manager if anyone lost the phone. Having done so would have let him know that the bar had received numerous calls about the missing phone. Especially since the finder stated that he stayed at the bar for some time before leaving.

I think the person that found it knew what it was. Tried to sell it to competitors or something ( since he did keep the phone for a few weeks ), and when there were no buyers, he looked towards the media.

Gizmodo is at fault because they knew it was an iPhone, and that it was a next generation prototype. They bought the phone and still posted pictures on the internet. They even took the phone apart, and posted most of the components on the internet.

I can see Apple suing them for millions of dollars in lost profits. Posting those pictures has given the competition 2 months of lead time to work on a competitive phone to compete against iPhone. Those 2 months, especially in the early stage of release, can mean lots of lost iPhone sales.

Also, you need to look at how many iPhone 3GS's that will not be sold now that people know that there is a new phone coming out in June. Prior to this it was all rumors and speculation as to if there was a next gen phone coming and when it was coming.

saxamoophone said:
:D. I know right! If Apple wants somebody to blame, they only have to look at their drunk employee. He f@#$ed up.

The person who found the phone contacted Apple (who owned the device NOT the drunk employee). This is legally correct. The Engineer did NOT own the device.

Let me repeat this: Apple (the owner) said they it was not theirs.

So while you we got ethically merky with the $5000, not checking in at the bar, and everything else...the bottom line is this: Apple (the owner) turned the device away. When Apple said "oh no, it is ours afterall!," it was returned.

Better luck next time Apple!
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HyperZboy said:
Oh c'mon fanboys, get back in the REAL WORLD!​


With LENO and LETTERMAN all making fun of this whole ordeal and Apple, if Apple and Steve Jobs sue either Gizmodo or fire the employee or go after the poor but now rich idiot who found the phone, guess who will look bad?

DUH! ............... A P P L E !!!!!​

Of course no fanboys will get anything I just typed and will cite legal precedents, blah blah blah, like anyone gives a rats ass.

If anything, this is a good thing for Apple!

Best advice for Apple from me is to **** about this and surprise us with something new on the official launch with an added feature or 2.

Oh, if the fanboys didn't notice, this phone is hardly a breakthrough device, nor was anybody surprised by its features.
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Well said, actually without the features why would anyone care, or want it. the 3G and 3GS are still good enough, I can't complain on my 3G still runs great. :) Now ATT is another thing i rather not talk about :mad:
 
gkarris said:
... and the drama continues... :eek:

Customers considering the Android, Windows Mobile, and Palm phones please hold your purchases off until the drama is over and Apple releases the new iPhone...

:rolleyes:
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Yes this is now a full blow soap opera of a 10am tv slot. :rolleyes:
 
pdjudd said:
And when it is all said and done (assuming they do decide to go ahead) it will be that DA who will press charges.
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Da, that how law works. Police enforce, they do not dictate the law. District attorney bring charges based on evidence or lack of. Remember the rape case of the Duke students, once they got some real lawyers in there it was found that she was full of it, and last I heard the District Attorney was in deap dudu.
 
kiljoy616 said:
Most of the time if you find something in a bar you take it home. Please don't start with the whole I am a good samaritan garbage. And yes its human nature to be shady, but of course no one here would be like that, oh no. Then again who would even care about finding a palm.
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You are unsavory. No decent person over the age of 18 or under the age of 12 would do just pocket a cellphone that someone left behind. The only people who could justify this kind of behavior are crooks, self-indulgent slime-balls and most teenagers.
 
Gasu E. said:
You are unsavory. No decent person over the age of 18 or under the age of 12 would do just pocket a cellphone that someone left behind. The only people who could justify this kind of behavior are crooks, self-indulgent slime-balls and most teenagers.
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Yeah, I'd like to know what bars he frequents so I can be sure to avoid them.
 
One thing people may not realize is that,

Apple is mad because we have seen the new phone with a front facing camera and a Camera flash on the back.

Apple does not have to include this on the new phone, but everyone who has seen the pictures are expecting it.

If Apple chooses to remove these features, It will hurt sales a little bit. IMO

Apple may look at it like Gizmodo has forced their hand on including these features, and having to rush to make sure everything is in fact ready.

Just my opinion.

On a side note I plan to upgrade to the new phone regardless of front camera or back camera flash.:)
 
Gasu E. said:
You are unsavory. No decent person over the age of 18 or under the age of 12 would do just pocket a cellphone that someone left behind. The only people who could justify this kind of behavior are crooks, self-indulgent slime-balls and most teenagers.
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I have found cash, gift cards, and other possessions before, lying on the floor or table of various establishments. In each case, I turned it into the establishment's customer service counter. Never was I tempted to keep any of it (OK, the cash was tempting.) If I found an iPhone, prototype or no, I would have turned it in as well.

When I lost my cell phone, years ago, one of my friends called me to tell me the finder went through my phonebook and left messages to try to get the phone back to me.

And once I was at a ski lodge and I stupidly left some cash sitting on my tray beside my lunch. I went up to get some napkins or something, only gone a few moments, and when I got back the entire tray was missing, food and money and all.

Call it karma, call it the golden rule, call it whatever. I call it being a decent human being. I'm not telling you all this to brag about how great and wonderful person I am.
 
notjustjay said:
I have found cash, gift cards, and other possessions before, lying on the floor or table of various establishments. In each case, I turned it into the establishment's customer service counter. Never was I tempted to keep any of it (OK, the cash was tempting.) If I found an iPhone, prototype or no, I would have turned it in as well.

When I lost my cell phone, years ago, one of my friends called me to tell me the finder went through my phonebook and left messages to try to get the phone back to me.

And once I was at a ski lodge and I stupidly left some cash sitting on my tray beside my lunch. I went up to get some napkins or something, only gone a few moments, and when I got back the entire tray was missing, food and money and all.

Call it karma, call it the golden rule, call it whatever. I call it being a decent human being. I'm not telling you all this to brag about how great and wonderful person I am.
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I'd have done the exact same thing, right down to at least by being tempted by the cash. Ah, who am I kidding? I'd have pocketed anything $50 or under. But I'm right there with ya on everything else. Nice to know there are at least a few other decent people in the world. A lot of people suck.
 
well, as for me, seeing the leak convinced me to wait on buying an HTC Incredible. That's not to say I *won't* buy the Incredible, but I want to see if the iPhone gets released with a front-facing camera. If it is, and can do Skype video chat, I'll get it instead.

P.S. though, if Apple takes any legal action against Gizmodo you better believe the future will be Incredible... I'm just SICK of Apple's practices and attitude. To be totally honest, after the Adobe fiasco I really feel I should avoid Apple products - I just really want that front-facing camera and Skype videoness (yes, I know about S60 phones but they don't do Slacker and Pandora...)
 
Steve Jobs thinks he is above the law. I think the FBI needs to launch an investigation into whether Steve is tampering with due process of law by trying to bribe the Santa Clara police.
 
gibbz said:
Not really, sorry.

TUAW has a lawyer on staff and she wrote a good piece regarding the legalities of the situation, including Apple's responsibility.
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Interesting piece. I wrote a massive reply in here countering her initial discussion about Gizmodo, until I read further and see she essentially covered it all and why they likely have some real liability here criminally.
 
Some of you need to pay more attention to the facts. As has been said repeatedly the "finder" went to bed and woke up intending to contact the owner but the phone was bricked. He then called Apple once he knew what he had and they blew him off. It's pretty clear he made good faith attempts. But don't let that stop you from blaming HIM for someone else being irresponsible with a prototype and leaving it when he was drunk. He didn't even return to the bar that night looking for it.

All the internet lawyers are going to be eating crow later with some of these "Expert opinions"

I know it is really hard to not be mad that your wittle surprise was ruined but get over it. The "I hope they sue Gizmodo and execute them!!!!" stuff is pathetic.
 
PixelFactory said:
He must not live that far from the Apple campus, why didn't he try to return it personally?
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Excellent question. It's less than 20 miles from the bar in Redwood City where the phone was found to Apple HQ in Cupertino. If the guy had really wanted to return it, it wouldn't have been very difficult. I'll bet he would have gotten something pretty nice in return, too, although expectation of a reward shouldn't be one's motivation for, you know, doing the right thing.
 
pastparticiple said:
He tried to call it in to Apple and they blew him off. Some of you need to pay more attention to the facts..
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You don't seriously think that the entry-level employees who answer the customer service phones at Apple would be privy to information on a lost engineering prototype, do you ? If so, then you have absolutely no concept of how a modern corporation is run.
 
pastparticiple said:
Some of you need to pay more attention to the facts. As has been said repeatedly the "finder" went to bed and woke up intending to contact the owner but the phone was bricked. He then called Apple once he knew what he had and they blew him off. It's pretty clear he made good faith attempts. But don't let that stop you from blaming HIM for someone else being irresponsible with a prototype and leaving it when he was drunk. He didn't even return to the bar that night looking for it.

All the internet lawyers are going to be eating crow later with some of these "Expert opinions"

I know it is really hard to not be mad that your wittle surprise was ruined but get over it. The "I hope they sue Gizmodo and execute them!!!!" stuff is pathetic.
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You should take your own advice.
 
pastparticiple said:
Some of you need to pay more attention to the facts. As has been said repeatedly the "finder" went to bed and woke up intending to contact the owner but the phone was bricked. He then called Apple once he knew what he had and they blew him off. It's pretty clear he made good faith attempts.
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Bullsh*t. If he intended to contact the owner he should have left it at the bar. He knew that it was Gray's phone but he called Applecare. STILL knowing it was NOT HIS PHONE he SOLD IT for $5000.

The very definition of "bad faith."
 
finders keepers. apple is pathetic if they press charges on some guy for randomly finding an iphone prototpye or a website which is run by thier fans. im so sick of apple crying about android, phystar and now this.
 
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