IPhone Prototype Missing Again?

Apple employees are trusted with next-generation phones before the general public sees them. But some policy changes may be in order if this latest report is true: yet another iPhone prototype has apparently gone missing.

The story is familiar: an iPhone prototype lost at a bar in California. This also happened last year.

CNET first reported the latest incident. An Apple employee allegedly lost an iPhone 5 prototype at the San Francisco bar Cava22 in late July. This led to a San Francisco police and Apple security investigation, but the device was never found.

The iPhone prototype was rumored to have been sold on Craigslist, but that hasn't been confirmed.

In early 2010, an iPhone 4 went missing, turned up at a bar in Redwood City and was subsequently sold to Gizmodo, which published reports about it.

Before getting too excited about this second incident, Computerworld voices skepticism, and notes the latest report appears to be based on a single source.

In related news, suspects in the original iPhone prototype case have pleaded not guilty.

Comments

[Xious Ziousk]

11:37 AM on 09/04/2011

This clearly is a marketing gimmick by Apple to get free publicity for its next iphone. This has become a yearly event. Just wonder why or how only the iphone prototype goes missing or misplaced or stolen every year just prior to its release. The media is buying into this year in and year out (hasn't anyone read about the boy who cried wolf?). The bookmakers should have this event for players to place their bets on every year.

[seriousbidness]

02:32 AM on 09/04/2011

I don't know what would drive me more crazy. Knowing I had the latest edition iphone and didn't have to wait in line for 5 hours to get it. Or knowing I have the thing and can't ever use it.

[Josephine AcostaPasricha]

11:21 AM on 09/03/2011

It is really beside the point if this lost and never found story of an iPhone is true or not, because it is really meant to create a legend. But the story telling needs to be revisited and its defining function made more clear. Read: Denning, Stephen, 2005: "The Leader's Guide to Storytelling, mastering the art and discipline of business narrative."

[Etropalld]

11:59 PM on 09/02/2011

Again?

[Madmac]

04:39 PM on 09/02/2011

An Apple employee walks into a bar...

[FungusAmungUs]

03:38 PM on 09/02/2011

We are all so easily manipulated...by our gov't, corporations and media...if you truly believe this phone was lost by accident then I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

[Madmac]

04:37 PM on 09/02/2011

It was. Apple doesn't call the police for pranks. By the way the bridge goes for $99 bucks on eBay.

[FungusAmungUs]

05:15 PM on 09/02/2011

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/09/02/casts.doubt.on.source/

http://www.electronista.com/articles/11/09/02/accusation.says.fake.sfpd.went.on.iphone.hunt/

[rysagr]

03:19 PM on 09/02/2011

i am holding it host@ge and want ten million dollars. i'll give you a secret location to drop the money tomorrow at 3 am. don't call the cops. small bills only lol

[Krek]

01:39 PM on 09/02/2011

2011: Year of the copycats indeed.

[becky bradshaw]

01:18 PM on 09/02/2011

Apple managers live in the bars. There are shuttle buses every 15 minutes between Apple's Cupertino headquarters and the local watering holes. Alcohol helps them deal with their guilt over the hundreds of thousands of imprisoned workers in the Foxconn labor camps.

[CaptainObvvious]

03:16 PM on 09/02/2011

Here's a list of companies that use Foxconn... While keeping in mind there are many many many more places like it

Apple Inc. (United States)
Acer Inc. (Taiwan)
Amazon.com (United States)
Asus (Taiwan)
ASRock (Taiwan)
Intel (United States)
Cisco (United States)
Hewlett-Packard (United States)
Dell (United States)
Nintendo (Japan)
Nokia (Finland)
Microsoft (United States)
MSI (Taiwan)
Sony Ericsson (Japan/Sweden)
Vizio (United States)

Why single out Apple like they're the only company that uses Chinese labor?

What company made your computer?

Use any products of any of the companies on this list? Have an Intel computer?

[becky bradshaw]

04:02 PM on 09/02/2011

Apple gets the full treatment, as does Dell and Hewlett Packard. Intel is incorrectly on your list.

Compaq. The personal computer has really not progressed significantly in the last decade.

Intel chips are made all over the world, including the United States.

[SteveHansen]

06:59 PM on 09/01/2011

The iPhone should have a little hole at one corner, to which a wrist-loop or leash can be attached. When apple employees take one of the new fruits for a walk, it should have a leash, and the other end of the leash should be attached to the employee.

Regular people could attach the other end of the leash to their purse or belt, if they want. It would seriously reduce the incidence of lost or dropped phones.

[MochasMom]

10:27 AM on 09/03/2011

That's actually a good idea! My iPhone is so beat up from repeated droppings and I can't count how many times I've almost left it behind somewhere.

[Selbor]

05:18 PM on 09/01/2011

Pics or it didn't happen

[youngrasc]

05:48 PM on 09/02/2011

Word

[aaroncemery]

04:41 PM on 09/01/2011

Well, you're only like a day late on this. I've seen this same story in my twitter stream about 10 times already.

[efunk1130]

04:27 PM on 09/01/2011

haha I am starting to think they are doing this on purpose to gain hype about the next phone