Trade secrets, Engineering and Journalism...
Apple has certainly changed not only the way phones look but in how they are built, if you look at the design orientation of Nokia, HTC and Motorola before the iPhone there is a huge difference, after the iPhone appears, the design, construction and features changed, why? because they see the benefit of a carefully constructed and engineered gadget. HTC may have been using touchscreen tech but they where not as known here in the US(at least for their handsets) Im willing to bet that their upcoming designs will appear similar to the prototype shown by Gizmodo, even if it isn't the final rendering.
All companies alter their designs after Apple releases their stuff, thats why Apple decided to use the "blessing" system like: "made for iPod" system, they know their influence, look at the 1st G iMacs, everything from Post-It dispensers to radios where being built ala aqua, semi-transparent smooth-rounded features.
My point is that this is a very disruptive event, it affects all companies not just Apple, it affects the way they invent, hire and test their prototypes etc, this affects in ways that may not be obvious but its big! why big? "its just a phone!" to the naive and untrained, yes, but not to the corporate spy thats looking to anticipate the "next best thing". There is a price to pay for the thirst of unveiling a possible secret, Gizmodo could of had a child-like enthusiasm for sharing their "find" but the pseudo-mock tone of the writing denotes a tangible disdain for Apple's secrecy and it paints Gizmodo as being Clever-enough to have one on Apple, at least thats how I read it, their hastiness in publishing the material is evident which is to me self-serving since they didn't even consider Powell's fate.
The retort by Gawker's lawyer of how they (Gizmodo and Chen) are under the umbrella of journalism is a minute one at best, anyone here remember the founder of Thinksecret? he tried the same defense and in the end reached a deal (that benefitted Apple mostly and spared him and other journalists from further damage)
What is at stake?
The nature of true journalism I think finds itself with the task divulging lies or finding truth that may benefit people or prevent people from getting harm, providing people with knowledge that is in some sense useful to humanity, at least thats my naive view of it, the journalistic ethos of Gizmodo is skewed at best, the article relates to official agencies and journalists of real news etc, the internet bloggers fall ironically within an unspoken vagueness of the article itself (just ask the former Thinksecret founder) They are not benefiting Apple nor Gray Powell nor humanity, If anything they have opened a can of worms that may affect true journalists in a negative way. Companies will find a way to protect themselves thoroughly, if any of you where in inventor the first thing you do is get a patent to "protect" your invention, why? because its money, its your profession its the economy! this in many way is like I said: Disruptive on an ethical, legal, corporate and psychological level.
Its is a big deal, its not just a phone, its not just a secret.
