Armed with a warrant, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home last week and seized four computers and two servers in its felony investigation of an obtained prototype iPhone.
Remember "1984", with the Thought Police chasing down the girl with the hammer?
It could argue that, but I would probably lose. First, with all the Chinese knock offs floating around do you really think Gizmodo is going to pay $5, 000 for a phone that might be an iPhone? That doesn't pass the sniff test any more then me saying I didn't know the $2, 500 Macbook Pro I bought on the corner for $500 wasn't stolen until the police busted me.
Second, Gizmodo didn't have to do tests on the phone if it had enough information to suspect it had a lost Apple prototype. If it bought the phone, it suspected it was Apple's. It could have contacted Apple immediately and asked if it lost a phone. It eventually contacted Apple through proper channels. Why wait to tear the phone apart? It doesn't need to be sure it belonged to Apple, it only had to suspect it did.
Actually, that defense would be plausible, as you well know, assuming it was "stolen" and "purchased".
Of course it could also be argued, assuming the above is true and valid, that once they got it apart and verified it was an apple product, they felt it was their duty to report on it, as journalists.
If it was a knock off (again, speculation) $5k down the drain. If it was real, media platinum.
Even from the outside looking in, I could see the risk/reward argument they may have had.
And you still fall back on "stolen" with no proof of such allegation.
One step forward, two steps back.....
Really?
Ok, consider every time I say stolen phone, what I mean is:
The phone that Gizmodo claims, as posted on their site, purchased, as they claim as posted on their site, from someone as they claim as posted on their site, who they knew as they claim as posted on their site, stole the phone.
Throw in a few more "Gizmodo claims as posted on their site"s if it makes you feel better.
... he would let Gray Powell introduce the iPhone at the Keynote speech this summer.
Steve Jobs:
"Ladies & Gentleman- Gray Powell [wild applause] As Gray Powell walks out on stage with the new iPhone 4G , Steve welcomes him with a beer; they toast. [wild applause]
As cool as Steve Jobs is perceived to be, he's not cool enough to do this. \
I'd honestly love to know how he would have accomplished that. Unless he's Tom Cruise, I more feel this piece of tech was handed to them, but that's just my opinion based on holes and the public nature of the circumstances.
Any fool would not have stated they paid for an item that was obviously a potential piece of corporate espionage unless there was reason to distance themselves from whomever gave it to them.
That's entirely possible. Again which is why the police are investigating.
Like I said they might find emails like this in his computer
Quote:
From: S.Jobs
To: Gizmodo
Yes sure, send $5000 to my swiss bank account, and I'll get you one.
Too bad police did not have time to leave. If they did the story would have went something like this:
"We were just passing by the house and the Garage door was open. So we walked in and saw all these computers that no one seemed to claim. We yelled around once or twice, and while we saw the phone number on Chan's GS, we did not call him. In fact we sold his possessions to a rival tech blog engadget, who posted Chan's personal information all over the internet. When Chan contacted us about his lost property we said we will give it back right away, now that we know for sure it's his. But before we do that we will post his passwords and user names on the internet as well. Can't sue us, we are just doing anything for a story."
I would really love to see that. Gray Powell had an accident that could've happened to most of us. I really feel for him and hope he comes out the other side of this for the better.
I wrote to Steve saying that he should go on stage and say, "And now, to re-introduce the iPhone 4...Gray Powell!"
Also with the previous thread, he should close the show with music by The Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons?
dude... gray powell had an accident that couldve happened to most of us? really?
maybe you should get fired with him.
it is not like i bought an iphone 3gs and lost it, shit happened.
he had a prototype of iphone 4g and carelessly lost it being drunken.
Ok, consider every time I say stolen phone, what I mean is:
The phone that Gizmodo claims, as posted on their site, purchased, as they claim as posted on their site, from someone as they claim as posted on their site, who they knew as they claim as posted on their site, stole the phone.
If you fall back on that story, you must also fall back on the same report where in said finder asked (though no bartender even remembers any of this actually happening) asked several people if it was their phone or if they knew who it belonged to, attempted to contact other agencies to no response and then suddenly knew how to get a hold of Gizmodo.
All of which seems flakey, but whatever.
I could fall back on what others stated when it was first reported which was this would be the first reported failure of "find my iPhone".....but that horse has been beaten to death.
found the phone. I still feel it important to distinguish between finding it on a barstool and lifting it out of someone's pocket, even if both acts are illegal in CA.
And all of these blogs point to high profile apple execs testing said devices, such as SJ himself, not a low level engineer.
Find an apple employee that states a low level programmer gets to take home a high level device and do whatever with it.
Also, lets be honest here, if you were an apple tech would you take your new prototype out to the bar with you, or the 3GS you were issued for being a loyal apple employee?
Apparently common sense does not reign in this venue.....
I'm not here to do a pissing contest, though I could tell you things that could either curdle your blood or make you laugh, but I would like people to actually think about the circumstances rather than shooting from the hip.
I believe people (like macslut for example above) have already spoken to the roving aspects of having the engineers who are working on the device doing just that - out in public, the exec's get the fully functional versions - the engineers get mules with the hardware easy to access to make adjustments. Was Gray dumb - perhaps. Certainly for leaving it lay around like that - yes. But let's be clear he is a base-band engineer not some code hack. If Apple is doing something different with connectivity, antennas - what ever, he has to be using it out and about to make sure it is a solid solution performance-wise. I used to work for 3M in research, we had similar situations, nearly as draconian as Apple because we dev'd for DARPA, so none of this surprises me.
And for the record pissing contests aren't necessary. I have friends in most of the enforcement and intelligence units in the Fed as well as Treasury. I've worked shoulder to shoulder with some of them in discrete situations so yeah we have our stories, each of us. But I am curious as to why you are so adamant in your defense of Gizmodo's alleged behavior and their potential culpability in this situation. A simple synthesis of facts alleged and attributed give a substantial probable cause here - in particular by Gizmodo's own rather detailed descriptions are rather damning. And I for myself will toast your Grey Goose with a less conspicuously labelled spirit of ancient age - my fine last sips of a very old cognac.
dude... gray powell had an accident that couldve happened to most of us? really?
maybe you should get fired with him.
it is not like i bought an iphone 3gs and lost it, shit happened.
he had a prototype of iphone 4g and carelessly lost it being drunken.
It's not just being fired. I could understand that.
It's being unemployed in the career you prepared for during the rest of your life because the Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons? outed you and there would be no way someone in this industry would hire you after doing the Google check for just a few seconds and seeing this.
Also, we don't know all the details around the loss of the phone or his possession of it. There may be circumstances that make it more understandable...was he required to always have it? Was he drugged? Did the "finder" really find it, or was it out right stolen?
Whatever the case, I don't like seeing people without malice having their lives ruined.
I believe people (like macslut for example above) have already spoken to the roving aspects of having the engineers who are working on the device doing just that - out in public, the exec's get the fully functional versions - the engineers get mules with the hardware easy to access to make adjustments. Was Gray dumb - perhaps. Certainly for leaving it lay around like that - yes. But let's be clear he is a base-band engineer not some code hack. If Apple is doing something different with connectivity, antennas - what ever, he has to be using it out and about to make sure it is a solid solution performance-wise. I used to work for 3M in research, we had similar situations, nearly as draconian as Apple because we dev'd for DARPA, so none of this surprises me.
And for the record pissing contests aren't necessary. I have friends in most of the enforcement and intelligence units in the Fed as well as Treasury. I've worked shoulder to shoulder with some of them in discrete situations so yeah we have our stories, each of us. But I am curious as to why you are so adamant in your defense of Gizmodo's alleged behavior and their potential culpability in this situation. A simple synthesis of facts alleged and attributed give a substantial probable cause here - in particular by Gizmodo's own rather detailed descriptions are rather damning. And I for myself will toast your Grey Goose with a less conspicuously labelled spirit of ancient age - my fine last sips of a very old cognac.
Plainly because the circumstances, the explanation, and the way it was reported was too pat, too simple, too not their style for this type of reveal.
The timing is too conspicuous, the way it was obtained and how it was stated it was obtained seems too by design.
And as we all well know, apple is known for pulling this exact style of stunt.
You of all people should know that there are time limits to testing as well as geographic requirements in order to adequately and accurately test said device and you should also know that you would not have taken a piece of equipment to a bar, bordello, or whatever you chose to do for fun for fear of losing a clients valuable piece of tech, much less your employer's.
BTW, I stopped drinking congac in 2002. I made a decision to only go to clear liquors. Too much congac, too many manhattans, and a nearly destroyed stomach lining will do that.
found the phone. I still feel it important to distinguish between finding it on a barstool and lifting it out of someone's pocket, even if both acts are illegal in CA.
According to Gizmodo (if you will) he CLAIMS to have found it on a barstool, asks around, got no response and decided to take it home. Checking it out, found Powell's Facebook link on it (and so had his name) but instead of doing the logical thing and returning it to the bar where it was left, he attempted, according to Gizmodo, to call the Apple support lines to return it, etc. This stuff is all out there in GIzmodo's recount of it. He removed it from where it was found. That alone according to Cailfornia law is considered theft. Further when Gizmodo finally contacted Powell he said he had called the bar several times to see if anyone has TURNED IT IN. A logical and expected behavior by an honest person. All of this has been hashed and rehashed.
It's not just being fired. I could understand that.
It's being unemployed in the career you prepared for during the rest of your life because the Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons? outed you and there would be no way someone in this industry would hire you after doing the Google check for just a few seconds and seeing this.
Also, we don't know all the details around the loss of the phone or his possession of it. There may be circumstances that make it more understandable...was he required to always have it? Was he drugged? Did the "finder" really find it, or was it out right stolen?
Whatever the case, I don't like seeing people without malice having their lives ruined.
How about, and I am surprised no one has even touched on this yet, how did Gizmodo know it was he that lost the phone when they stated that by the time they received it, the handset was killed remotely and there was no way to get past the iTunes setup screen?
How do you track an engineer or the loser of the handset when you have no way of gaining any information from the handset?
How did they know he left the post and from that phone?
Comments
Armed with a warrant, California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home last week and seized four computers and two servers in its felony investigation of an obtained prototype iPhone.
Remember "1984", with the Thought Police chasing down the girl with the hammer?
Good.
It could argue that, but I would probably lose. First, with all the Chinese knock offs floating around do you really think Gizmodo is going to pay $5, 000 for a phone that might be an iPhone? That doesn't pass the sniff test any more then me saying I didn't know the $2, 500 Macbook Pro I bought on the corner for $500 wasn't stolen until the police busted me.
Second, Gizmodo didn't have to do tests on the phone if it had enough information to suspect it had a lost Apple prototype. If it bought the phone, it suspected it was Apple's. It could have contacted Apple immediately and asked if it lost a phone. It eventually contacted Apple through proper channels. Why wait to tear the phone apart? It doesn't need to be sure it belonged to Apple, it only had to suspect it did.
Actually, that defense would be plausible, as you well know, assuming it was "stolen" and "purchased".
Of course it could also be argued, assuming the above is true and valid, that once they got it apart and verified it was an apple product, they felt it was their duty to report on it, as journalists.
If it was a knock off (again, speculation) $5k down the drain. If it was real, media platinum.
Even from the outside looking in, I could see the risk/reward argument they may have had.
And you still fall back on "stolen" with no proof of such allegation.
One step forward, two steps back.....
Really?
Ok, consider every time I say stolen phone, what I mean is:
The phone that Gizmodo claims, as posted on their site, purchased, as they claim as posted on their site, from someone as they claim as posted on their site, who they knew as they claim as posted on their site, stole the phone.
Throw in a few more "Gizmodo claims as posted on their site"s if it makes you feel better.
It's Gizmodo's own allegation against themselves.
Remember "1984", with the Thought Police chasing down the girl with the hammer?
Good.
That is an apple ad and not the actual Orwell novel, though many here would do well to read the actual novel.
... he would let Gray Powell introduce the iPhone at the Keynote speech this summer.
Steve Jobs:
"Ladies & Gentleman- Gray Powell [wild applause] As Gray Powell walks out on stage with the new iPhone 4G , Steve welcomes him with a beer; they toast. [wild applause]
As cool as Steve Jobs is perceived to be, he's not cool enough to do this.
I'd honestly love to know how he would have accomplished that. Unless he's Tom Cruise, I more feel this piece of tech was handed to them, but that's just my opinion based on holes and the public nature of the circumstances.
Any fool would not have stated they paid for an item that was obviously a potential piece of corporate espionage unless there was reason to distance themselves from whomever gave it to them.
That's entirely possible. Again which is why the police are investigating.
Like I said they might find emails like this in his computer
From: S.Jobs
To: Gizmodo
Yes sure, send $5000 to my swiss bank account, and I'll get you one.
Sent from my iPad.
On Apr XX, 2010, at xx:xxpm Gizmodo wrote
Hi Steve Can I buy an iPhone prototype?
Too bad police did not have time to leave. If they did the story would have went something like this:
"We were just passing by the house and the Garage door was open. So we walked in and saw all these computers that no one seemed to claim. We yelled around once or twice, and while we saw the phone number on Chan's GS, we did not call him. In fact we sold his possessions to a rival tech blog engadget, who posted Chan's personal information all over the internet. When Chan contacted us about his lost property we said we will give it back right away, now that we know for sure it's his. But before we do that we will post his passwords and user names on the internet as well. Can't sue us, we are just doing anything for a story."
instant classic.
I would really love to see that. Gray Powell had an accident that could've happened to most of us. I really feel for him and hope he comes out the other side of this for the better.
I wrote to Steve saying that he should go on stage and say, "And now, to re-introduce the iPhone 4...Gray Powell!"
Also with the previous thread, he should close the show with music by The Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons?
dude... gray powell had an accident that couldve happened to most of us? really?
maybe you should get fired with him.
it is not like i bought an iphone 3gs and lost it, shit happened.
he had a prototype of iphone 4g and carelessly lost it being drunken.
Really?
Ok, consider every time I say stolen phone, what I mean is:
The phone that Gizmodo claims, as posted on their site, purchased, as they claim as posted on their site, from someone as they claim as posted on their site, who they knew as they claim as posted on their site, stole the phone.
If you fall back on that story, you must also fall back on the same report where in said finder asked (though no bartender even remembers any of this actually happening) asked several people if it was their phone or if they knew who it belonged to, attempted to contact other agencies to no response and then suddenly knew how to get a hold of Gizmodo.
All of which seems flakey, but whatever.
I could fall back on what others stated when it was first reported which was this would be the first reported failure of "find my iPhone".....but that horse has been beaten to death.
dude... gray powell had an accident that couldve happened to most of us? really?
maybe you should get fired with him.
it is not like i bought an iphone 3gs and lost it, shit happened.
he had a prototype of iphone 4g and carelessly lost it being drunken.
Exactly.
Really?
stole the phone.
found the phone. I still feel it important to distinguish between finding it on a barstool and lifting it out of someone's pocket, even if both acts are illegal in CA.
And all of these blogs point to high profile apple execs testing said devices, such as SJ himself, not a low level engineer.
Find an apple employee that states a low level programmer gets to take home a high level device and do whatever with it.
Also, lets be honest here, if you were an apple tech would you take your new prototype out to the bar with you, or the 3GS you were issued for being a loyal apple employee?
Apparently common sense does not reign in this venue.....
I'm not here to do a pissing contest, though I could tell you things that could either curdle your blood or make you laugh, but I would like people to actually think about the circumstances rather than shooting from the hip.
I believe people (like macslut for example above) have already spoken to the roving aspects of having the engineers who are working on the device doing just that - out in public, the exec's get the fully functional versions - the engineers get mules with the hardware easy to access to make adjustments. Was Gray dumb - perhaps. Certainly for leaving it lay around like that - yes. But let's be clear he is a base-band engineer not some code hack. If Apple is doing something different with connectivity, antennas - what ever, he has to be using it out and about to make sure it is a solid solution performance-wise. I used to work for 3M in research, we had similar situations, nearly as draconian as Apple because we dev'd for DARPA, so none of this surprises me.
And for the record pissing contests aren't necessary. I have friends in most of the enforcement and intelligence units in the Fed as well as Treasury. I've worked shoulder to shoulder with some of them in discrete situations so yeah we have our stories, each of us. But I am curious as to why you are so adamant in your defense of Gizmodo's alleged behavior and their potential culpability in this situation. A simple synthesis of facts alleged and attributed give a substantial probable cause here - in particular by Gizmodo's own rather detailed descriptions are rather damning. And I for myself will toast your Grey Goose with a less conspicuously labelled spirit of ancient age - my fine last sips of a very old cognac.
Remember "1984", with the Thought Police chasing down the girl with the hammer?
That is an apple ad and not the actual Orwell novel, though many here would do well to read the actual novel.
I remember the broadcast spot and I have read George Orwell's novel and it is foolish to even draw a comparison.
dude... gray powell had an accident that couldve happened to most of us? really?
maybe you should get fired with him.
it is not like i bought an iphone 3gs and lost it, shit happened.
he had a prototype of iphone 4g and carelessly lost it being drunken.
It's not just being fired. I could understand that.
It's being unemployed in the career you prepared for during the rest of your life because the Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons? outed you and there would be no way someone in this industry would hire you after doing the Google check for just a few seconds and seeing this.
Also, we don't know all the details around the loss of the phone or his possession of it. There may be circumstances that make it more understandable...was he required to always have it? Was he drugged? Did the "finder" really find it, or was it out right stolen?
Whatever the case, I don't like seeing people without malice having their lives ruined.
I believe people (like macslut for example above) have already spoken to the roving aspects of having the engineers who are working on the device doing just that - out in public, the exec's get the fully functional versions - the engineers get mules with the hardware easy to access to make adjustments. Was Gray dumb - perhaps. Certainly for leaving it lay around like that - yes. But let's be clear he is a base-band engineer not some code hack. If Apple is doing something different with connectivity, antennas - what ever, he has to be using it out and about to make sure it is a solid solution performance-wise. I used to work for 3M in research, we had similar situations, nearly as draconian as Apple because we dev'd for DARPA, so none of this surprises me.
And for the record pissing contests aren't necessary. I have friends in most of the enforcement and intelligence units in the Fed as well as Treasury. I've worked shoulder to shoulder with some of them in discrete situations so yeah we have our stories, each of us. But I am curious as to why you are so adamant in your defense of Gizmodo's alleged behavior and their potential culpability in this situation. A simple synthesis of facts alleged and attributed give a substantial probable cause here - in particular by Gizmodo's own rather detailed descriptions are rather damning. And I for myself will toast your Grey Goose with a less conspicuously labelled spirit of ancient age - my fine last sips of a very old cognac.
Plainly because the circumstances, the explanation, and the way it was reported was too pat, too simple, too not their style for this type of reveal.
The timing is too conspicuous, the way it was obtained and how it was stated it was obtained seems too by design.
And as we all well know, apple is known for pulling this exact style of stunt.
You of all people should know that there are time limits to testing as well as geographic requirements in order to adequately and accurately test said device and you should also know that you would not have taken a piece of equipment to a bar, bordello, or whatever you chose to do for fun for fear of losing a clients valuable piece of tech, much less your employer's.
BTW, I stopped drinking congac in 2002. I made a decision to only go to clear liquors. Too much congac, too many manhattans, and a nearly destroyed stomach lining will do that.
I remember the broadcast spot and I have read George Orwell's novel and it is foolish to even draw a comparison.
Is it? Really? Really?
found the phone. I still feel it important to distinguish between finding it on a barstool and lifting it out of someone's pocket, even if both acts are illegal in CA.
According to Gizmodo (if you will) he CLAIMS to have found it on a barstool, asks around, got no response and decided to take it home. Checking it out, found Powell's Facebook link on it (and so had his name) but instead of doing the logical thing and returning it to the bar where it was left, he attempted, according to Gizmodo, to call the Apple support lines to return it, etc. This stuff is all out there in GIzmodo's recount of it. He removed it from where it was found. That alone according to Cailfornia law is considered theft. Further when Gizmodo finally contacted Powell he said he had called the bar several times to see if anyone has TURNED IT IN. A logical and expected behavior by an honest person. All of this has been hashed and rehashed.
Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons?
Love the trademark designator
Is it? Really? Really?
-Yes.
It's not just being fired. I could understand that.
It's being unemployed in the career you prepared for during the rest of your life because the Hit Whoring Idiotic Douchebag Felons? outed you and there would be no way someone in this industry would hire you after doing the Google check for just a few seconds and seeing this.
Also, we don't know all the details around the loss of the phone or his possession of it. There may be circumstances that make it more understandable...was he required to always have it? Was he drugged? Did the "finder" really find it, or was it out right stolen?
Whatever the case, I don't like seeing people without malice having their lives ruined.
How about, and I am surprised no one has even touched on this yet, how did Gizmodo know it was he that lost the phone when they stated that by the time they received it, the handset was killed remotely and there was no way to get past the iTunes setup screen?
How do you track an engineer or the loser of the handset when you have no way of gaining any information from the handset?
How did they know he left the post and from that phone?
Seriously? No one thought of that? Really?