Oops.
(Credit:
Gizmodo/flickr)
Unfortunate Apple employee who lost a
prototype next-gen iPhone in a San Francisco Bay Area bar. The
supposed carelessness has sparked a flurry of
cloak- and dagger-style discussion in the blogosphere, among tech
pundits, and, of course, on Twitter.
Gizmodo says Powell left his phone on a stool at German bar Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City, Calif. The oft-tweeted story goes that a drunk person handed it to the Mysterious Man, the person who got the prototype phone to Gizmodo after allegedly waiting at the bar to see if its owner would come back to claim it. He didn't.
The Mysterious Man found out who Powell was via the Facebook app in the phone. The next day Apple wiped the device, so the Mysterious Man contacted Gizmodo. The rest, as they say, is history.
Here's Gray's flickr photostream. You'll note the many iPhone photos of booze. Oops.
Gizmodo says it got in touch with Powell over the telephone and offered to return the phone, which he asked they do through Apple. Probably a smart move on his part. Gray, good luck. We're happy you didn't have to go around trying to find it yourself.
Now the only thing left to figure out is who, exactly, Gawker (Gizmodo's parent company) paid for access to the prototype that's most certainly going back to Apple in the near future.
With more than 15 years experience testing hardware (and being obsessed
with it), Crave freelance writer Matt Hickey can tell the good gadgets
from the great. He also has a keen eye for future technology trends.
Matt has blogged for publications including TechCrunch, CrunchGear, and
most recently, Gizmodo. E-mail Matt.