What should happen to Gray Powell?

[nfl46]

It was a mistake, a costly mistake, but nevertheless, it happens. We are human and we make mistakes. At least no one died. Apple can come out with the new iPhone whenever they chose. They aren't obligated to release it in June/July. They could wait until August for all we know. They know people are going to buy it anyway.

 

[joneill55]

Make him web surf on the Edge Network forever.

 

[Small White Car]

Correct me if I'm wrong...

We still don't really know if the phone was actually lost or if it was stolen with the intent to sell it. In fact, we don't really know what Powell's involvement in the whole thing is.

So I really can't say what should happen to someone when I don't know what it is they did.

 

[Lorenz0]

I imagine there are dozens if not hundreds of these pieces of hardware in use and being tested in a 'live' environment even as we speak.

The guy should have his arse handed to him for losing it, but there are many things to consider that we are not privvy to. Why should the likes of us even care anyway?

We don't know if carrying the phone was sanctioned and/or if he was instructed to go out and use it as his 'normal' phone as part of some pre launch test process - it certainly would back up the need for a full on disguise bodykit.

We also don't know if he was out on the piss with his boss, or with co-workers who knew what he was carrying. That would shift the goals considerably.

 

[JediZenMaster]

It was a mistake, a costly mistake, but nevertheless, it happens. We are human and we make mistakes.

And in my job i'm privy to confidential information and guess what? It's my responsiblity to make sure that i do what i need to do to abide by confidentiality agreements.

There are mistakes and there is just plain stupid. That's what this was. Because i am sure that there are 1000's of people around the US who are unemployed right now. Who would not make this kind of mistake to lose their job. But then again i suppose that some people have no work ethic

 

[grantsdale]

I would say 'make him pay for the phone', but since they are getting it back, nothing.

This has gotten Apple a ton of attention, and it has one very good side effect for when its officially released: People won't be as disappointed, since we all have a pretty good idea of whats in the phone.

 

[steveca]

he did cause a problem cause now people who can wait for the new iphone will just wait... at least i would...

but as correctly pointed out people do make mistakes so Apple should not fire him

 

[grantsdale]

he did cause a problem cause now people who can wait for the new iphone will just wait... at least i would...

but as correctly pointed out people do make mistakes so Apple should not fire him

Anyone who asks anyone with any type of knowledge would have told them to wait anyway. I have a couple extended family that have been waiting for two months+ already. Getting the old model in the last few months of the product cycle just isn't that great of an idea.

 

[RebootD]

He should be promoted to VP of Marketing.

Exactly. I find it hard to believe that some random underling lost his prototype at a bar, then the finder 'tried real hard' to get it back then decided to sell it to Gizmodo for $10k and they paid it. No legal counsel would tell the Giz staff "yeah don't worry about lawsuits from buying known lost/stolen goods go ahead!"

This is the best viral marketing stunt in ages.

 

[carlgo]

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours" he said. She glanced at him, just to see, but just turned away from him and resumed her 37th phone call that evening at the bar, chatting away feverishly lest there be a pause.

Undeterred, he elaborately pulled out the secret iPhone and dialed his usual automated fishing conditions number, the one with the endless loop that allowed him to have long, loud, fake important and impressive conversations with himself.

Unfortunately, there was no AT&T reception in the bar. She made a rude remark about his network, hoping to embarrass him so that he wouldn't bother her anymore.

Mortified, he bolted from the bar, forgetting his phone...

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Humans make mistakes.

 

[noah82]

They shouldn't fire him...poor guy.

 

[noah82]

If he was in China, there would be a mysterious suicide at his house...

 

[Hawke]

I believe it is a publicity stunt, if it's one thing Gray did was cause a lot of heads to turn

 

[-aggie-]

I'm wondering how they were able to find out who he was.

 

[terraphantm]

I'm sure he got some kind of reprimand. I doubt he'd be fired, I'd imagine engineers good enough to work at apple are valuable assets. But he probably lost some kind of bonus that he would have earned otherwise, or had some privelages revoked.

 

[Black107]

I voted for 5 with Steve, but I bet he's already had 30 between Steve and Ives already.

 

[brendon2020]

depending on the situation if hes had a clean record it should be fine, if i made that mistake i may just resign

 

[OllyW]

I'm wondering how they were able to find out who he was.

They got his details from the Facebook app on the prototype iPhone.

The person who ended up with the iPhone asked around, but nobody claimed it. He thought about that young guy sitting next to him, so he and his friend stayed there for some time, waiting. Powell never came back.

During that time, he played with it. It seemed like a normal iPhone. "I thought it was just an iPhone 3GS," he told me in a telephone interview. "It just looked like one. I tried the camera, but it crashed three times." The iPhone didn't seem to have any special features, just two bar codes stuck on its back: 8800601pex1 and N90_DVT_GE4X_0493. Next to the volume keys there was another sticker: iPhone SWE-L200221. Apart from that, just six pages of applications. One of them was Facebook. And there, on the Facebook screen, was the Apple engineer, Gray Powell.

http://gizmodo.com/5520438/how-apple-lost-the-next-iphone

 

[puffnstuff]

The man was probably robbed the whole story is riddled with B.S. I feel sorry for this guy his choices are to hope it blows over or jump at this point. Since Gizmodo is not letting it die probably never will he may take his life.

 

[Blueline29]

I Agree! Things like that are under lock and key. Security has to high. Could he really just walk out the door with it?

This. I don't believe for a second that this was an "accident." Brilliant marketing ploy. God knows it worked on me.

 

[zap2]

Everyone makes mistakes, and if he's otherwise good at his job, I'd keep him.

And to be far, the marketing from this leak was HUGE! CNN had an article on the leak.

It might hurt 3GS sales a bit now, but I think many people knew there was iPhone coming this summer, so its likely not the end of the world as far as sales go

 

[Penguissimo]

We should all leave him alone, that's what. His name and photo never should have been published by Gizmodo. That was cruel and unnecessary.

Agreed. And this morning they rubbed it in further by posting an article gloating about how the day he lost the phone was his birthday.

What the hell, Giz?? What does this add to the discussion?? And are the ad dollars really worth your soul??

 

[MrCrispy]

In the event this wasn't intentional, I think this guy is probably STILL getting yelled at by Steve.

Apple does do strategic leaks for sure but it's usually one of those "knowledgeable insider tells NYT..." type things. With Steve's tendency for control of information and secrecy, this isn't going to end well for Gray. Just go back and read that story about to Apple Gestapo sometime (http://gizmodo.com/5427058/apple-gestapo-how-apple-hunts-down-leaks).

Apple is known for "eating their own dogfood", if you will, and many of their managers and executives commonly use the items for their everyday use in order to provide better feedback.

If he doesn't get fired, I suspect he'll either be demoted to the point he can never get one again or promoted to the point of least incompetence. If I were a betting man I'd say he's probably updating his resume and filing for a name change.

 

[ethical]

Since Gizmodo is not letting it die probably never will he may take his life.

WTF?! It's a phone. In 5 years no one will neither care nor remember his name! All these people going on about name changes and suicide are being ridiculous.