Apple Loses Another 4th-Gen iPhone

Just a thought by sheph · 2010-05-12 00:57 · Score: 4, Insightful

Couldn't be intentional to drum up interest?

--
I don't believe in karma, I just call it like I see it.

Re:Just a thought by Pojut · 2010-05-12 01:01 · Score: 4, Interesting

I think at this point, it would have to be...years of successfully controlling leaks, and then a prototype for the same product line gets leaked TWICE within weeks of each other? Yeah...I could believe the first one to be an honest mistake, but there is no way this one wasn't planned. /tinfoil hat

--
Living With a Nerd
Re:Just a thought by crossmr · 2010-05-12 01:18 · Score: 4, Funny

speaking of which, what is this i-phone thing anyway?
Re:Just a thought by Aeros · 2010-05-12 01:23 · Score: 5, Funny

Isnt this just Apples new way of selling iphones for $4000-$5000 a pop?
Re:Just a thought by natehoy · 2010-05-12 01:33 · Score: 5, Insightful

The early prototype for what eventually became the Palm Pre, Blackberry Bold, and Nokia Symbian phones.
Some people still buy them out of nostalgia for the good old days when you weren't bothered with having to tether, were protected from the confusion of too much choice in applications, didn't have to deal with the hassle of replacing batteries, could concentrate on doing only one thing at a time and your phone supported this by not multitasking, and when "(whatever memory is installed in the phone) is enough for everybody".
Ah, memories.

--
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
Re:Just a thought by Dracker · 2010-05-12 01:33 · Score: 4, Insightful

Probably not, for two good reasons.

-Apple has taken legal action against the journalist at Gizmodo reporting on the previous prototype. This would not have happened if the leak was intentional.

-Apple is not stupid. They know about the Osborne Effect - that releasing too much hype and information on new products causes immediate losses as people who would have bought the current product sit and wait for the new product's release instead.
Re:Just a thought by cowscows · 2010-05-12 01:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

Or maybe with Apple currently being more successful that it's ever been, and the iphone being a hugely popular device right now, the temptation to learn or share privileged information is just well beyond anything that Apple has seen before?
Apple would have zero problems getting more "legitimate" news coverage if they wanted it. They're always so careful with the aesthetics of their marketing, why would they want to leak grainy photos and poorly lit videos by random people when they could easily get crisp clean front page covers of a dozen different magazines/website? I guess they could be trying some sort of "underground" marketing strategy, but that doesn't make sense for a company where image is very important.

--
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
Re:Just a thought by gotpoetry · 2010-05-12 02:56 · Score: 5, Insightful

You make valid counter points, but people often adjust thier behavior to the capibilities of a device.

"Doesn't have multitasking" - I won't listen to Pandora while I read email.

"No replaceable battery" - I won't use it on the plane to watch that movie, that way I can make sure to call a cab when I land.

"It can be tethered now" - I have AT&T and they don't allow tethering, but the AT&T 3G network is so crappy I won't even bother.
Re:Just a thought by Lumpy · 2010-05-12 03:56 · Score: 4, Interesting

"Doesn't have multitasking" - I won't listen to Pandora while I read email.
Sorry but most smartphones did not do this either. A very VERY small number of people want this. and many that did have it on a WM5 phone hated it as the phone would crawl because of having apps in the background running consuming processing power. My older Nokia smartphones also suffered from multitasking apps. nothing like getting the battery sucked dry and the phone taking 12 seconds to answer a call because of some damn app in the background using up the system resources.
"No replaceable battery" - I won't use it on the plane to watch that movie, that way I can make sure to call a cab when I land.
I have never met a person that carries around spare phone batteries. Plus anyone that even had a Palm Treo had the same problem. not easy to replace battery on smartphones has been a theme. Ever try to replace the battery in a Blackjack? the battery door self-welded shut every time you put it back on.
"It can be tethered now" - I have AT&T and they don't allow tethering, but the AT&T 3G network is so crappy I won't even bother.
It always was able to tether if you got away from a sociopath carrier. Unlock it to go to t-mobile and you can add a tethering app or more recently use the built in function.
I have been a smartphone user for over a decade. I have used them all. and I currently have an iPhone because the apps that work with my workflow are on it, I don't have to reboot it weekly, and being a phone is first priority to it. I have never had a call I could not answer because the damned phone was busy... Unlike Windows Mobile phones. or have a phone freak on certain callers... like my Nokia E62 did.
there are some "neat-o" things I would like to do. Like have the phone report my GPS location every 15 seconds to my server at home. It would be cool to have the house see that I am on my way home and turn the heater on the hot-tub on when I am within a 15 minute distance, or make other decisions when it senses I am on a return path. but I can live without that, or simply grab the phone, fire up the crestron app and press the button myself.
I also still have not found a single Apple-hater that does not change their mind when I actually show them what I do with my phone that they CANT do with theirs. (lack of "app for that"(tm)(r) on their platform mostly)
Recently the biggest was sitting at a bar, talking to a client, filling out and sending them an invoice and then processing a credit card payment over the phone right there after they got the invoice. A colleague freaked and instead of doing his typical, frothing at the mouth apple-hate, started asking serious questions about it more.

--
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.

punctuation by Threni · 2010-05-12 00:58 · Score: 5, Funny

> This doesn't seem like the most efficient distribution mechanism Steve

I always had my doubts about the efficiency of Steve as a distribution mechanism.

Lost? You keep using that word. by Rogerborg · 2010-05-12 00:59 · Score: 4, Funny

I do not think it means what you think it means.

Apple hardware is being found, in the same way you can find a wallet, if the owner doesn't notice your hand in their pocket.

--
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.

Re:Lost? You keep using that word. by kannibal_klown · 2010-05-12 01:12 · Score: 4, Interesting

It's hard to do considering these phone are pseudo camouflaged, from my understanding at first glance it looks like an ordinary iPhone.
It would be like "Finding" a wallet in someone's pocket with something specific inside (like a 2-dollar bill or a Discover credit card). Sure if you check enough wallets I'm sure you'll find them but it would be noticed fairly quickly.
I imagine the big options are:
- Intentional leaks by Apple. The most likely in me eyes since it's now twice.
- *Very* careless employees, perhaps bragging that they have the new 4g (perhaps while intoxicated). Then leaving them behind, or not noticing that the phone disappeared 2 minutes after they bragged about it.
- An inside job, or some otherwise corporate espionage thing. I don't see what they would gain here other than seeing what Apple's internals look like a few weeks early, which wouldn't help them rush a product to market ahead of Apple.
- Some other sort of coordinated effort with geeks trying to find out which Apple employee might have the phone. Find out where the phones are developed, determine which employees work in fields with access to the iPhones, chat up those 1-2 dozen employees until you find one with the phone.
Re:Lost? You keep using that word. by dintech · 2010-05-12 01:26 · Score: 5, Funny

ZOMG! There's no way I would buy this phone considering how easy it is to lose. They really need to work on that. /joke

Re:LOL WUT!? by zarzu · 2010-05-12 01:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

because steve will have a hard time convincing obama to go to round two with vietnam?

Re:They need to stop arresting the FINDERS by Darth+Sdlavrot · 2010-05-12 01:07 · Score: 5, Insightful

What ever happened to finders keepers??

If Apple is gonna keep losing their 4G iPhones, I seriously think law enforcement needs to stop helping them. Apple is careless and that's the price they pay.

Kindergarden playground rules don't apply in the Real World. IANAL, but I do know that from a legal standpoint I can "store" my property anywhere I want and it doesn't cease being mine just because you can pick it up and carry it off.

Oh look, I found your Porsche parked on the street. I'll just take it home with me. Finders keepers. I don't think so.

lessons from the past by kylant · 2010-05-12 01:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

The iPhone-liberators have certainly learnt from the past:
Instead of exposing themselves to corporate controlled police action again they decided to export the phone to a free country before publishing their victory.

Wait, there is something seriously wrong about this...

Great by elrous0 · 2010-05-12 01:13 · Score: 5, Funny

Well, looks like our boys are going back to Vietnam.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.

Re:Wow. by elrous0 · 2010-05-12 01:19 · Score: 5, Funny

No communication is allowed in or out at Apple's re-affirmation camp.

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.

Lost your phone? by Chrisq · 2010-05-12 01:19 · Score: 5, Funny

Lost your phone? We've got an app for that .... wait damn it's in flash.

Re:Part deux by elrous0 · 2010-05-12 01:23 · Score: 4, Funny

Not funny. Do you realize how long my father carried a watch up his ass when *he* was in Vietnam?

--
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.

Re:They need to stop arresting the FINDERS by nomadic · 2010-05-12 01:37 · Score: 5, Informative

No, but park it in my parking space, don't remove it after I have you served with a notice to either do so or that I will go to court and get title of it, and guess what - I *can* go to court and get title transferred.

Uhhhh...what?? What law is this? IAAL and I've never heard of this legal maneuver.

Time for a conspiracy theory! by mdm-adph · 2010-05-12 01:41 · Score: 4, Interesting

The last one happened right in time for the release of the HTC Incredible -- I wonder if this "leak" has anything to do with yesterday's story about Android sales overtaking the iPhone...

--
It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed

Ambassador... by Hasai · 2010-05-12 01:52 · Score: 4, Funny

“...are you saying that you've lost another nuclear submarine?”

];)

--

Regards;

Hasai

Re:Wow. by Dog-Cow · 2010-05-12 02:11 · Score: 4, Funny

Of course not. He lost his phone.

Re:Part deux by Bombcar · 2010-05-12 02:22 · Score: 4, Funny

Andre... you've lost another submarine?

--
Fellowship 9/11

Re:Part deux by kiwimate · 2010-05-12 02:27 · Score: 4, Insightful

even assuming foul play, pickpocketing != robbery.

robbery implies threats of violence.

So if someone breaks into your house while you're away on vacation, you can't say that you've been robbed?!?!?!?

This is one of those areas where /. readers love to pontificate on the precise meaning of words and totally lose sight of what the intent might be.

So, if someone breaks into your house, they can:

* take pictures of every page of your diary;
* write down your social security number and any passwords they might find;
* take a copy of your spare set of car keys;
* format your hard drive;
* ...after they've copied all the files, including your final draft of the book you're writing for O'Reilly.

But in the world of /., nothing tangible has been taken from you, so it's not theft or stealing. (It's not even copyright infringement, in the cases posited above.) Neat, huh?

I wonder if Taco is still bitter... by Duradin · 2010-05-12 02:35 · Score: 4, Informative

I wonder if Taco is still bitter about how "Less space than a Nomad. No wireless. Lame." turned out for him.

My vote is that yes, yes he is.

Apple doesn't get to call out SWAT. The Cops use SWAT for everything these days. Apple wouldn't need SWAT anyways as they have their Black Turtleneck Ninja Corps.

Re:Part deux by Anonymous Coward · 2010-05-12 02:55 · Score: 4, Insightful

yes, and the word you're searching for is trespassing

don't let your shallow language knowledge hinder you on your way to dig.

Re:Part deux by Anonymous Coward · 2010-05-12 03:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

ally lose sight of what the intent might be.

So, if someone breaks into your house, they can:

* take pictures of every page of your diary;
* write down your social security number and any passwords they might find;
* take a copy of your spare set of car keys;
* format your hard drive;
* ...after they've copied all the files, including your final draft of the book you're writing for O'Reilly.

But in the world of /., nothing tangible has been taken from you, so it's not theft or stealing. (It's not even copyright infringement, in the cases posited above.) Neat, huh?

Yeah, and if I see someone fail to stop on the red lights, I can't call it hit-and-run! And have you even tried to call jaywalking embezzlement? People behave as if words had some kind of agreed-upon meanings!

Re:Part deux by toooskies · 2010-05-12 03:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

It's breaking and entering, identity theft, and unauthorized access to a computer. Those crimes probably involve a longer amount of jail time, combined, than simple robbery.

Re:Part deux by Altus · 2010-05-12 03:14 · Score: 4, Funny

Ive always preferred 'burgled'

--

"In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson

Slashdot Mirror

Apple Loses Another 4th-Gen iPhone

31 of 466 comments (clear)