The funny thing is I bet Apple would have paid more than $5,000 to get it back.

But when this guy actually tried to return it, they wouldn't really do anything with his phone call.

I don't understand what prompted this vitriol, but I can't fault the guy for capitalizing on some idiot Apple employee's huge mistake. Also, what possible long-term revenue do you think this guy chose to forgo? Do you think his talents as a finder of lost prototype phones would've landed him a gig with Apple??
Splain yourself, please.

I didn't mean to sound vitriolic but I think there are a good number of people left scratching their heads here at the actions of adults in question, including the original finder of the iPhone and the actions of Gizmodo. For starters, he sold something that wasn't his to sell due to an honest mistake by an Apple engineer who may or may not be an idiot. Acting in good faith and with good will can usually take you farther in life. Hey, he at least could've been 'internet famous' as the guy who returned an Apple prototype. And who knows, maybe Apple would've considered offering the dude a job at 1 Infinite Loop or at an Apple store if he's got half-decent skills. -gs

Steve Jobs is definitely not happy. Here’s a video of his reaction to the whole fiasco:

http://www.thecynch.com/video-steve-jobs-speech-on-gizmodo-iphone-4g/

-Cynthia

Forget the iPhone, this is in defense of basement dwellers. Have I been one or harbor one? No. Why is living in your parent's basement such a thing for some? What's the alternative? Living with others who may not care for or about you?

As an avid watcher of "Criminal Minds," I often like to dream up profiles of alleged criminals. (And there is debate going on that what this phone-finder did with selling it to Gizmodo was criminal.) I thought it would be a fun mental exercise to draw up a profile of the iPhone 4G "unsub." The profile I came up with had him living in his parents' basement. Profiles, however, aren't perfect. -gs

I don't see what merits the name-calling here. We all need to remember that this person is just some average Joe. This person is not necessarily even an Apple product owner or fan. He attempted to give it back, people in-the-know at Apple weren't made aware of what was going on, and the phone was remotely bricked. It became a prototype paperweight. What do you do with such a thing if you can't give it back? Recycle it, hoard it, or hand it off to someone it means something to. He didn't recycle it, didn't hoard it, and gave it out to someone who was willing to pay for it. Apparently this prototype Apple product was worth $5,000 to this person. To some people, particularly Apple fans, such things are priceless. To others they're worthless. Let's account for varying opinions.

Personally, I think any criticism should be levied at the news media which sensationalized this story. They got their hands on it, knew what it was, and then exploited the device, person who found it, person who lost it, and Apple all at the same time for the sake of the story and website traffic. The dweeb here isn't the guy who this blog entry is about. Its the people who turned this whole thing into a story and then an embarrassment for parties involved.

I like your point. Thanks. -gs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0sEfwChDv

Maybe it's one of these guys...