3 ms·

How Apple Lost the Next iPhone

22 points by transburgh 16y ago

ugh 16y ago
I don‘t really understand why it is necessary to show a photo of the guy and give out his name. Seems sleazy. Tell the story if you must but show some restraint, maybe?
- aaronbrethorst 16y ago
  It's one of Nick Denton's rags. Of course it's sleazy. Sleaze = Page Views.
- qeorge 16y ago
  They should be ashamed. This benefits no one. Edit: I'd like to highlight TUAW and Slashgear, who have both shown more class and decency than Gawker and their ilk by choosing not to plaster his name and photos all over their articles. Unfortunately, they seem to be the exception.
asimjalis 16y ago
Could the leak be part of Apple's marketing?
- alanh 16y ago
  It doesn't feel controlled to me. It makes both Apple and the news organization look bad (bad at keeping secrets and unethical, respectively).
- TomOfTTB 16y ago
  Even if Apple would do something like this, which I don't think they would, Gawker media's the last company they'd ever give it to.
  - ciscoriordan 16y ago
    If they just let the phone out into the wild instead of micromanaging the leak, they wouldn't control what company broke the story.
qeorge 16y ago
FWIW, Gray is a close friend of mine and a wonderful engineer. He's been passionate about Apple since the day I met him, and tirelessly defends the company when I give him a hard time about their policies. I truly hope Apple doesn't fire him over this. Any company would be lucky to have him, but I know Apple is where he wants to be.
- timcederman 16y ago
  Any further back-story you can provide on how this happened? I'm guessing not. The consequences to Gizmodo for all of this should be interesting.
  - qeorge 16y ago
    No, and I'm sure he doesn't want to/can't talk about it. Techmeme was the first I'd heard of it. Even when we talk candidly, he's always been fiercely loyal to Apple and respectful of their IP. A worse thing couldn't have happened to a better guy.
- dlnovell 16y ago
  I went to school with Gray and he lives and breathes Apple... way beyond the point of sanity in many cases, but his loyalty is beyond reproach. Apple is lucky to have employees as devoted as he is, and hopefully they'll recognize it and let him keep his job after perhaps a personal spanking from his hero, Steve "Stevie Poo" Jobs. If he does happen to get fired, I'd recommend him to any bay-area startups looking for a seriously passionate developer who happens to like a beer (or 5).
- TomOfTTB 16y ago
  I don't know what to say. I feel bad for the guy and I hope he doesn't get fired but if he fiercely defends Apple then he's defended the practice of firing people for stuff like this. You're free to suck up to a dictator but if you do don't complain when the dictator turns on you.
doron 16y ago
Gawker has some serious explaining to do. Its sleazy to pay and it is sleazy to make fun of guy. The possible public service that the news offers, which can be debated, is overshadowed by this corporate espionage mode of operation. With that said, the extreme paranoia apple exacts on media, only serves to make this more acute, Apple carefully mandated scripted "magic" moments also feel sleazy at times, and heavy handed.
dasht 16y ago
There is a subtle, cool point in the story as gizmodo tells it: The fellow what left the bar with the phone called Apple repeatedly, and "all he got for his trouble was a ticket number". I bet the gawker lawyers said, at some point, "when you write this up, be sure to mention that we have that ticket number." That's ample support for a fairly broad subpoena if Apple were to decide to take action. Oh, you should also notice that they aren't putting out a call to identify the Random Drunk Guy. That's a bit unlike them, unless they are already in contact with that person. Oh, and: Apple's counsel saying "where and when can we pick it up" -- Apple knows they have no cause of action here. Otherwise, they would just send 'round a sheriff to collect it. So, is Apple now going to repudiate that ticket number? Or do we all agree that an appropriate and honest attempt was made to return the phone, that failed because of negligence by Apple, and that any money paid for the transfer to the press is, at the very, very least - perfectly legal? (As for Gray, I would hope that Jobs et al. would do what any decent boss would do if the stated facts are right: console the guy, remind him that shit happens and that the firm highly values his work, make fun of him at a staff meeting and mention at his next performance review how happy everyone was that he reported the phone missing as soon as he realized it.)

22 points by transburgh 16y ago

ugh 16y ago

I don‘t really understand why it is necessary to show a photo of the guy and give out his name. Seems sleazy. Tell the story if you must but show some restraint, maybe?

aaronbrethorst 16y ago
It's one of Nick Denton's rags. Of course it's sleazy. Sleaze = Page Views.
qeorge 16y ago
They should be ashamed. This benefits no one. Edit: I'd like to highlight TUAW and Slashgear, who have both shown more class and decency than Gawker and their ilk by choosing not to plaster his name and photos all over their articles. Unfortunately, they seem to be the exception.

asimjalis 16y ago

Could the leak be part of Apple's marketing?

alanh 16y ago
It doesn't feel controlled to me. It makes both Apple and the news organization look bad (bad at keeping secrets and unethical, respectively).
TomOfTTB 16y ago
Even if Apple would do something like this, which I don't think they would, Gawker media's the last company they'd ever give it to.
- ciscoriordan 16y ago
  If they just let the phone out into the wild instead of micromanaging the leak, they wouldn't control what company broke the story.

qeorge 16y ago

FWIW, Gray is a close friend of mine and a wonderful engineer. He's been passionate about Apple since the day I met him, and tirelessly defends the company when I give him a hard time about their policies. I truly hope Apple doesn't fire him over this. Any company would be lucky to have him, but I know Apple is where he wants to be.

timcederman 16y ago
Any further back-story you can provide on how this happened? I'm guessing not. The consequences to Gizmodo for all of this should be interesting.
- qeorge 16y ago
  No, and I'm sure he doesn't want to/can't talk about it. Techmeme was the first I'd heard of it. Even when we talk candidly, he's always been fiercely loyal to Apple and respectful of their IP. A worse thing couldn't have happened to a better guy.
dlnovell 16y ago
I went to school with Gray and he lives and breathes Apple... way beyond the point of sanity in many cases, but his loyalty is beyond reproach. Apple is lucky to have employees as devoted as he is, and hopefully they'll recognize it and let him keep his job after perhaps a personal spanking from his hero, Steve "Stevie Poo" Jobs. If he does happen to get fired, I'd recommend him to any bay-area startups looking for a seriously passionate developer who happens to like a beer (or 5).
TomOfTTB 16y ago
I don't know what to say. I feel bad for the guy and I hope he doesn't get fired but if he fiercely defends Apple then he's defended the practice of firing people for stuff like this. You're free to suck up to a dictator but if you do don't complain when the dictator turns on you.

doron 16y ago

Gawker has some serious explaining to do. Its sleazy to pay and it is sleazy to make fun of guy. The possible public service that the news offers, which can be debated, is overshadowed by this corporate espionage mode of operation. With that said, the extreme paranoia apple exacts on media, only serves to make this more acute, Apple carefully mandated scripted "magic" moments also feel sleazy at times, and heavy handed.

dasht 16y ago

There is a subtle, cool point in the story as gizmodo tells it: The fellow what left the bar with the phone called Apple repeatedly, and "all he got for his trouble was a ticket number". I bet the gawker lawyers said, at some point, "when you write this up, be sure to mention that we have that ticket number." That's ample support for a fairly broad subpoena if Apple were to decide to take action. Oh, you should also notice that they aren't putting out a call to identify the Random Drunk Guy. That's a bit unlike them, unless they are already in contact with that person. Oh, and: Apple's counsel saying "where and when can we pick it up" -- Apple knows they have no cause of action here. Otherwise, they would just send 'round a sheriff to collect it. So, is Apple now going to repudiate that ticket number? Or do we all agree that an appropriate and honest attempt was made to return the phone, that failed because of negligence by Apple, and that any money paid for the transfer to the press is, at the very, very least - perfectly legal? (As for Gray, I would hope that Jobs et al. would do what any decent boss would do if the stated facts are right: console the guy, remind him that shit happens and that the firm highly values his work, make fun of him at a staff meeting and mention at his next performance review how happy everyone was that he reported the phone missing as soon as he realized it.)