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Apple Confirms Lost Device Is Its iPhone

Article Comments  100+  

Apr 20, 2010, 2:08 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

In response to images and video posted of an unannounced version of the Apple iPhone by tech blog Gizmodo, Apple has responded through its attorneys to ask for the device back. The device was lost by an Apple software engineer in March and eventually fell into the hands of Gizmodo. Gizmodo analyzed the device and posted a lengthy article that included a tear-down of the device. Some of the internal components were labeled "Apple". Site editorial director Brian Lam received a letter from Bruce Sewell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Apple, which said, "It has come to our attention that Gizmodo is currently in possession of a device that belongs to Apple. This letter constitutes a formal request that you return the device to Apple." By requesting the device be returned, Apple confirmed that what Gizmodo had was at the very least a prototype version of the next-generation iPhone if not the next-gen iPhone itself. Apple did not confirm any details about the device.

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bluecoyote

Apr 20, 2010, 4:00 PM

Gizmodo is stupid

On the one hand, this is a cool leak. Apple's gotten a ton of free publicity and it thoroughly neutered the launch of the Droid incredible. Oh, I like the design of it too- the seams are a little big (but it's a prototype) , but

But beyond that, apparently nobody at Gizmodo has ever lost a cell phone and had it found by someone.

Here's what you don't do:

1) You don't "hold on to it." If you ever find a phone and don't want to lost-and-found it, hand it to the police department immediately. Period. Or the guy who found it should've gone to an Apple store and handed it to a manager.

2) You don't "go through it."

3) You don't "take it apart"

4) You don't find the guy's Facebook profile and write a blog post about it.

I h...
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hahahahah. good stuffffff. ahaa
Lol your a liar, jail time for a 500 dollar phone, it is barely a felony, most states it takes $1000 dollars before its a felony.
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This seems staged to me....as tight as the security is at Apple is....it's amazing how convenient every circumstance in this whole scenario was. And if the person who found in really tried to return it first then Apple is lame for not looking into it....
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While I agree with the concept you're getting at...and by no means should they have released the guy's name...but as far as taking it apart, going through it, etc...it's a prototype not a personal phone and it's clear that was the case.

Apple expe...
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Yeah they are real stupid for getting all this publicity about their website.
The guy who found it originally tried contacting apple several times and never got called back.

On top of that, I doubt an apple store rep would know the new Iphone when they saw it considering how crazy apple is about security, and there is the (v...
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"thoroughly neutered the launch of the Droid incredible."?? Really? No one even noticed the Incredible launch because of this fluff of a story? Somehow I don't think even you believe that. And it's interesting you mentioned (slipped?) having a Nexus...
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Following the rules are for wusses...... ;)
glinc

Apr 20, 2010, 2:27 PM

Belongs to Apple???

Obviously they have never played finders keepers. You lose it, its not yours anymore. They should just fire the guy instead.
Actually, if you read the article at the main site it's technically theft because the person who found the device had knowledge of who the owner was and how to contact him.
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I read an article last night on CNET's News website that said Gizmodo asked Apple to be light on the guy that lost it.

Ooohhh yiKes, pray for mercy for that mans soul!!!
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Dude, this is funny, I read the full NYT's article of Andry Rubin, and he was asked how he would feel if somebody lost an Android prototype at a bar:

At the end of the hourlong chat, I joked with Mr. Rubin that his press relations colleague, who wa...
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gringo.mexican112

Apr 21, 2010, 5:12 PM

apple hieres drunk people :o!!!!!!!

i wanna work there!!
justfinethanku

Apr 21, 2010, 2:14 PM

I want the last word!

If Apple made an iCar I would drive it.

If Apple made an iToilet I would poop in it.

If Apple made an iPizza I would eat it.

If Apple made an istroller I would place my child in one.

If Apple made an iTV then I would watch it.

If Apple made an iClothing line I would wear it.



No guys, I'm not that bad...
honest.
justfinethanku

Apr 20, 2010, 2:45 PM

I want one. NOW

It is rumored to have an 8 megapixel camera W/flash, a front facing camera, running a version of Apples A4 1GHZ processor a battery that is 16% larger and a LOT higher definition screen.

I. Want. One. Now.
HOLY MACAROL. 8 megapixl??? im seriously considering changing my username from applesucksxx to iluvapple ahahahaaa. I WANT ONE TOO!!!!
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Yay Apple. Way to follow the competition.

Way to Think Differently (While now following the pack)
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I wasn't too wild about the 3G/3GS design. It wasn't bad, but this new prototype looks stunning and clean. I hope the final production product is similar.
applesucksxx

Apr 21, 2010, 10:18 AM

In my opinion..

. att shouldve kept the iphone with its same shape.. people get used to one thing and some may think its good they're coming out with something different but i personally now dont want an iphone now that its shape is verrry much similar to everything else coming out now.. and on that note, the iphone should come out with 3 different kinds of iphones..

IDEAS;

iphone model #1
looks like the regular iphone with color changing back pieces...

iphone model #2
same shape as reg. iphone but with a side slide keyboard..

iphone model#3
iphone as the one announced to be released...


just some ideas..
Apple is in love with unibody. I highly doubt we will be seeing iPhones with many moving parts for a while.
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applesucksxx

Apr 20, 2010, 3:01 PM

INTENTIONAL LEAK (;

does anyone else here think its suspicious that the evo and the incredible are going to be released within the next month after this "leak"..

..apple, are you trying to hurt HTC sales? lol
I don't think anyone at Apple honestly thinks leaking a new iPhone 4 months before it is rumored to be out is a good idea, and it looks nothing like what Apple has done in the past.

Kudos Gizmodo for paying $5,000 for the story of the year!!!!
applesucksxx said:
does anyone else here think its suspicious that the evo and the incredible are going to be released within the next month after this "leak"..

..apple, are you trying to hurt HTC sales? lol



I ...
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I thought the very same thing!

By the looks of it...I doubt that is a recent version. I was thinking they leaked out an older prototype just to cause a stir.

Where was the forward-facing camera? Volume control changed from rocker to buttons?
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jhr2112

Apr 20, 2010, 5:54 PM

honesty

So you find a phone and rather than being honest and turning it in you decide to try to steal private information and embarrass a company and more than likely get the engineer fired.
What piece of trash does this? Reminds me of the time someone stole Coke's recipe and wanted to sell it to Pepsi. When the thief contacted Pepsi, Pepsi contacted Coke..honest business practices are gone I fear..
I don't want to say that entire media network is run by idiots because idiots isn't quite a strong enough word. But they are notoriously "I read about the law on Wikipedia we're good guys" dumb. But how they're handling this is ridiculous- their lette...
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In the phone finders defense (not gizmodo but the guy who actually found it) he called Apple directly and said "hey I think I found a prototype" but they keep their CSR's completely in the dark so they dismissed the claim as a China knockoff...that's ...
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While I agree the teardown was a bit much (and while I don't agree with the article releasing the guys name, I can understand why they did it, and was most likely an attempt to SAVE the guys job.. and they had to clear it with him first) At the same ...
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applesucksxx

Apr 20, 2010, 4:29 PM

What apple needs to do..

..is come out with a new phone maybe one with a keyboard..

ahahahha sike.
apple wouldnt be what they are without the iPhone.
What they should do is come out with one of each. One Iphone with a keyboard, and one w/o. Give people choice!
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onscreen keyboard is so amazing you dont need a physical keyboard waste of space.
Craigory

Apr 20, 2010, 3:21 PM

well, well, well

Its a miracle that Blue hasn't said smack about this.
Indeed it is! He's probably crying over it, how sensitive he is over Apple.
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Can't. Talk. Apple... is..... instructing me..... to....

[as of 16:44 EST Bluecoyote's comment has been edited via remote wipe]
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GeeksAreBest

Apr 20, 2010, 2:27 PM

Doesn't confirm...

The request to return the device just brands it as an apple device. It doesn't confirm that the device is the iphone. Jobs is such a devious bastard...I wouldn't be suprised if it was a plant just to get free hype.

If they used the Mobile Me app...why not also have used the locator?
i think i read somewhere that it died and when he tried to power it back on it had the connect to itunes display
...
The latest OS on 3GS and 3G broke both. The likely case is that the remote wipe wasn't mobile me but through internal security put on the phone.
justfinethanku

Apr 20, 2010, 2:38 PM

I love you Eric.

No seriously, you're the best.
 
 
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