Another iPhone prototype goes missing

[Phil Thien]

http://news.yahoo.com/police-help-apple-hunt-missing-iphone-prototype-013611061.html

Yep, happened again. Another iPhone prototype lost. In a bar.

Perhaps Apple employees can't handle their alcohol?

And I wonder how many demerit points you get for losing phone prototypes?

And yet I'm warmed by this story. Apple employees are human, and lose crap just like the rest of us.

[John Coloccia]

Gee, I wonder if this one will end up in a tech writer's hands too? What better free advertising? If he says it stinks, they say it's a prototype. If he loves it, even better. I think this is the new model going forward. Soon companies will be loosing SUVs in bars. "Hey, did anyone see who forgot their prototype pilates ball at the bar?"

[Greg Peterson]

You may be onto something John. A viral campaign to create buzz and hype about the next version. Cheaper and more transparent than a well coordinated multimedia ad campaign.

[Tim Morton]

it may be less about the ipone5 buzz and more of an attempt at taking buzz away from the new galaxy S2 phone that is due out any time. But i got to play with IOS5 last night...i may be sold on a new iPhone5 :-)

[Phil Thien]

Perhaps Apple should have "Lost iPhone Prototype Hall of Shame" plaque made.

They could add little brass plates with the names of the guys that lost their phones (along with the generation of the phone).

I'd suggest they leave room for at least another 10-15 plates, for future lost phones.

I really do understand the lost phones. I imagine they are trying them out pretty thoroughly. However, maybe when going into a bar the employees should be advised to leave the phones in the car.

[Curt Harms]

Gee, I wonder if this one will end up in a tech writer's hands too? What better free advertising? If he says it stinks, they say it's a prototype. If he loves it, even better. I think this is the new model going forward. Soon companies will be loosing SUVs in bars. "Hey, did anyone see who forgot their prototype pilates ball at the bar?"

Uh huh. Once might be an accident. Twice, probably not.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Uh huh. Once might be an accident. Twice, probably not.

There are always skeptics........:rolleyes:;)

[Phil Thien]

Uh huh. Once might be an accident. Twice, probably not.

Well, I'd hate to be the reporter that falls into this trap. Didn't they play hardball with the last guy when they decided they wanted the phone back?

How many prototypes are they creating? I'd imagine they have a good fifty of each generation in use, for testing.
But I'm just guessing, I have nothing to base that on.

[John Coloccia]

So the pressing question in my head is this: If this is a new prototype, what is it even doing out of your pocket at a bar? Are you showing it off? Are you trying to drum up interest? What's the game plan, here? If I had one of those, it would never leave my possession and probably not even come out in a bar at all. That's one reason it just seems very suspicious to me. This isn't happening to any one else's prototypes, it seems, but it's happening regularly to Apple (who previously has been tight lipped about everything). Unless someone comes up with a simple explanation for why Apple employees have inexplicably and suddenly because irresponsible with company prototypes, I'm going to invoke Occam's razor and go with the simplest explanation that these are planned leaks.

The story is made all the more bizarre by the seeming unwillingness for police to get involved beyond simply escorting Apple's own security team to the house of the suspect. In what other investigation, ever, can anyone remember police escorting a private security team, impersonating police officers, to the house of the accused criminal? This just never, ever, ever, ever happens.

I may not live right near the ocean anymore, but that doesn't mean I can't smell when something's fishy. :D

[Curt Harms]

There are always skeptics........:rolleyes:;)

That big red S on my shirt don't stand for Superman :)

[Phil Thien]

So the pressing question in my head is this: If this is a new prototype, what is it even doing out of your pocket at a bar? Are you showing it off? Are you trying to drum up interest? What's the game plan, here?

I suspect this is alpha testing. That, they build a bunch of the prototypes and the employees use them as their phone to make sure all the bugs are worked out.

It would be very dangerous to STAGE a loss/theft. That would require a conspiracy of at least a few Apple people. If word got out that it was intentional, it would be one heckuva black eye.

I don't even think a move like that is in Apple's DNA. If a bunch of Apple people were sitting around a desk thinking of a way to get publicity, I doubt an illegal move would make it past anyone's lips.