You are looking at Apple’s next iPhone. It was found lost in a bar in Redwood City, camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS. We got it. We disassembled it. It’s the real thing, and here are all the details. Why we think it’s definitely real.
We’re as skeptical—if not more—than all of you. We get false tips all the time. But after playing with it for about a week—the overall quality feels exactly like a finished final Apple phone—and disassembling this unit, there is so much evidence stacked in its favor, that there’s very little possibility that it’s a fake. In fact, the possibility is almost none. Imagine someone having to use Apple components to design a functioning phone, from scratch, and then disseminating it to people around the world. Pretty much impossible.
….
It has been reported lost
Apple-connected John Gruber—from Daring Fireball—says that Apple has indeed lost a prototype iPhone and they want it back:
Yawn!
Wow! That thing actually has exposed screws on the bottom. That’s weird and un-Apple like.
If Apple claims it was “stolen” where is the police report? If gizmodo still does not return the phone aren’t they guilty of receiving stolen goods?
I call PR stunt either from Apple, digruntled employee, or Gizmodo.
Here’s the latest poop. Gizmodo will “probably” return the phone.
#33 said what I was thinking. Aren’t there laws about receiving stolen property? And if so, does the victim have to go public? Or can a victim’s identity remain a secret with the police?
This was not only theft, but possibly corporate espionage. It was theft when he left the bar with the phone, and it was corporate espionage when he sold the story to Gizmodo.
Apple has every right to sue the pants off this guy because he admits he knew what it was. Also, Gizmodo will here from Apple’s lawyers about receiving the stolen phone. Bad decisions all around.
Meh, it looks like a Nokia or something. Nothing special. If I want a Nokia, I’ll buy one.
#38 – Their profession changes with every article – industrial design expert for one article, programmer the next, for another, attorney specializing in commercial law. The many-faceted knowledge base claimed by mac zealots is truly extraordinary.
Sounds like the phone will go back. Gizmodo will quadruple their readership (high-minded funny tone always wins). Waiting to see if Gray Powell is tossed into the Great Pit of Carkoon.
I love how Gruber immediately jumps to Apple’s defense, “It wasn’t lost, it was STOLEN!!!!!!” Leave it to an Apple fanboy to defend Apple no matter how minor the apparent chink in their armor.
#38
For the record, I hate Apple. I’m not on anyone’s side. They all acted stupidly.