Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What are the chances that Apple gave the iPhone 4 to Gizmodo?

definitive

definitive

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 4, 2008
2,082
1,007
(provided that it is indeed the real iphone 4)

The whole story about a person finding it at a bar seems fishy, and days after it Gizmodo has hands-on videos and photos of the disassembled unit. Again, if it really is the next iPhone, then Apple leaking it on purpose makes more sense than someone losing it at a bar. Reason: to generate buzz, or to test out people's reaction to trying something new, so in case the general public doesn't like it, they can release something more traditional looking.
 
It is possible to stir up information and get Apple and the 4g iPhone some press.
 
Well they asked Bill Gates what his favorite gadget site was and he said Engadget. Funny enough Steve Jobs was asked the same question and said Gizmodo.
 
Possible. Like how Kotaku released Home information before PlayStation did. idk. The new design is kinda growing on me (no that Mr. Blurry cam took a back seat). I'm excited from the features that we can see so far, except that the screen is a tad smaller. Wonder if the ceramic backing will scratch as much as the current 3G/3GS'? Bummed through. Signed up for 2yrs of ATT in April 09, so I'll have to pay out the nose for a iPhone 4.
 
What I want to know is how did someone recognize it for what it was?? I would have just turned it into the bartender.
 
I think there's a really good chance this was intentional hype from Apple. With the iPad, OS4, new MacBook Pros, and now this, they haven't really left any tech sites' front pages for a month.

Plus, if Apple didn't want that story out there, I don't think it would still be front and center on Giz's homepage 4 hours later.
 
Guys guys guys.... and gals too!

Look, it's BS. Why? We went from NO leaked pics to leaked pics from a prototype found in a bar AND pics from a facility in China to back up the prototype pics within 24 hours!!!!! Cmon, how can you not say wtf! We hardly ever get leaked pics like this and from two sources in 24 hours..... Apple is a slippery snake, but I am glad they did this. :D
 
oHai said:
I think there's a really good chance this was intentional hype from Apple. With the iPad, OS4, new MacBook Pros, and now this, they haven't really left any tech sites' front pages for a month.

Plus, if Apple didn't want that story out there, I don't think it would still be front and center on Giz's homepage 4 hours later.
Click to expand...

That makes no sense at all. Since they are on the front page of every tech site, they don't need to artificially drum up any attention.

I seriously doubt Apple engineered this leak. A) This is counter to typical Apple culture and B) like I said, they don't need to stir the pot....we do that well enough without them.
 
Geckotek said:
That makes no sense at all. Since they are on the front page of every tech site, they don't need to artificially drum up any attention.

I seriously doubt Apple engineered this leak. A) This is counter to typical Apple culture and B) like I said, they don't need to stir the pot....we do that well enough without them.
Click to expand...

Touche.

The biggest thing that's giving me a hard time is that the story is still up, and that all seems to be well in the Gizmodo universe. I don't know what it means, but one would think Apple would be on it, or something, in a visible way.
 
oHai said:
Touche.

The biggest thing that's giving me a hard time is that the story is still up, and that all seems to be well in the Gizmodo universe. I don't know what it means, but one would think Apple would be on it, or something, in a visible way.
Click to expand...

Well, considering our freedom of the press laws I'm not sure they could do much. Even a C&D could be ignored and Gizmodo could easily defend themselves. (They have stood up to legal pressures in the past IIRC.)

The most I see Gizmodo has to worry about here is if Apple can somehow prove the device was stolen. Then Gizmodo prinicpals would be in trouble for receiving stolen property. I'm guessing Gizmodo will return the device to Apple....but the story will stay up.

But hey, I'm no lawyer. Perhaps someone with some real legal education will jump in and offer their opinion?
 
The bar story is plausible. Say an Apple employee got a little tipsy, and his phone fell out of his pocket? Then someone says "ooh an iPhone" and picks it up. They go to turn it on, and it's passcode protected. By the time they go home, take it out of the case and realize it's a prototype, Apple has already remote-wiped the phone.
 
Okay from what ive just read, Gizmondo could have actual stolen this unit, and the ''found in a bar'' is a cover story?

ooooooooooooo boy! somethings gona hit the fan!
 
@Geckotek,

Freedom of the press laws don't trump corporate espionage laws. If the unit was truly stolen, Apple would have the ability to sue Giz's pants off. This is the simple reason that I think it HAS to be an intentional leak. Gawker Media could be very easily put out of business by the legal juggernaut that is Apple if the unit was stolen. Probably so even if it was "found" because they know full well it's Apple's confidential property and spread it all over the web anyway.

I'm convinced this is Apple's doing with full complicity by Gawker/Gizmodo. They never would have run this story if the background of the device was as they're describing.
 
FunkyJunk said:
I'm convinced this is Apple's doing with full complicity by Gawker/Gizmodo. They never would have run this story if the background of the device was as they're describing.
Click to expand...

This is what I thought, too. The Gizmodo editors don't strike me as a terribly dim bunch, and I think that to post the story as is, if all the events were true, would be a horrifically stupid thing to do. Even moreso if there was some kind of "theft" involved. Seems way too risky for just some more traffic.
 
Well, in two months we'll know if it is real or not. I doubt its a fake. I don't think Gizmodo will do ALL that research and hands-on for NOTHING.
 
Geckotek said:
For what exactly? The most Apple can do is send a C&D.
Click to expand...

If this device was actually in the hands pf anyone at Gizmodo and it was not authrpized by Apple and further the device itself was reported stolen, then Gizmodo could be on the held both civily and criminally liable.
 
From all the different sites, the story seems to be that the phone was found back in January.

The guy who had it said it had a 4.0 release and was wiped before the 4.0 presentation.

Apparently it had been shopped around for a buyer. How much Gizmodo paid would be an interesting story in itself.

Gruber's contacts have indicated that the phone was stolen as opposed to lost. Who knows, I wouldn't be shocked, but you never know if you put it down on a table and some kid walks by thinking he got himself a free 3g. If it was truly lost, it was the find of the year.

We'll see if the Apple lawyers demand the phone back from Gizmodo by mid-week (if they haven't already).

OR

Its a prototype and it really doesn't matter.

In reality, there's nothing there that hasn't already been speculated by the release of 4.0.

It might be just not worth it at this point, since they are so close to an official announcement anyway. I haven't seen any major media do a news story on this yet, so maybe Apple is hoping it flies under the radar.
 
FunkyJunk said:
@Geckotek,

Freedom of the press laws don't trump corporate espionage laws. If the unit was truly stolen, Apple would have the ability to sue Giz's pants off. This is the simple reason that I think it HAS to be an intentional leak. Gawker Media could be very easily put out of business by the legal juggernaut that is Apple if the unit was stolen. Probably so even if it was "found" because they know full well it's Apple's confidential property and spread it all over the web anyway.

I'm convinced this is Apple's doing with full complicity by Gawker/Gizmodo. They never would have run this story if the background of the device was as they're describing.
Click to expand...


splashnader said:
If this device was actually in the hands pf anyone at Gizmodo and it was not authrpized by Apple and further the device itself was reported stolen, then Gizmodo could be on the held both civily and criminally liable.
Click to expand...

Everyone seems to forget that Apple would have to prove theft here.

If the device was truly lost in a bar (even if it was swiped w/o the user realizing), Apple would not have a case. Simple enough.
 
Geckotek said:
Everyone seems to forget that Apple would have to prove theft here.

If the device was truly lost in a bar (even if it was swiped w/o the user realizing), Apple would not have a case. Simple enough.
Click to expand...

That's simply not true. Even if it was lost in a bar, Gizmodo knew what it was and outed it for the whole world to see - for profit. The law uses the word "misappropriation," not "theft." Misuse of the item qualifies under that description.

From dictionary.com:
misappropriate
–verb (used with object),-at·ed, -at·ing.
1.to put to a wrong use.
2.to apply wrongfully or dishonestly, as funds entrusted to one's care.
Click to expand...
 
Jelsoft said:
http://daringfireball.net/linked/2010/04/19/gizmodo-rumors

Gruber is implying that Gizmodo's source stole it.

Gizmodo might see themselves uninvited for a lot of things going forward...
Click to expand...

I also consider this to be stolen.

Both the person who found it and Gizmodo know this phone doesn't belong to them. They also know it belongs to Apple. And yet they have yet to return it. Additionally, they are publicly divulging trade secrets. They're not doing it for the greater good. They're doing it to drive viewership to their site.

When Pepsi was confronted with a similar situation when Coca Cola employees attempted to sell them Cokes secret formula Pepsi did the right thing. They turned them in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back