How Gizmodo revealed the iPhone 4G

The 4G revealed

As tech exclusives go, it's a biggie... but as company cock-ups go, it's a classic. Gizmodo managed to get their hands on Apple's latest incarnation of the iPhone after an Apple engineer had too many drinks at a German beer bar in California and left the coveted device on a bar stool.

Now we've all probably drunkenly left our phones, keys or coat somewhere accidental, but when you're trial-testing the hottest gizmo on the market, you probably want to ease up on the number of pints. The device was then picked up by a fellow drinker who recognized the device and what a find it was.

Like we all would, he sent pictures of the device to Engadget and Gizmodo, essentially starting a bidding war for exclusive first looks at the device. Gizmodo won, after allegedly paying $10,000 for the device. A worthy investment it would appear as by breaking news of the device, the website has seen its website traffic surge with some sources banding around numbers like two-three million unique visits.

Of course, Apple must be furious with the leak but they have calmly reached out to Gizmodo asking for the device back, which they have agreed to. Gizmodo have also asked that Steve Jobs and his acolytes "take it easy" on the engineer who lost the device

Ah yes, the man who lost Apple's top secret smartphone - Gray Powell, a 27 year old Apple Software Engineer, who has probably not been able to sleep since he mislayed it.

Anyway, that's not important - what is important is the device itself and according to Gizmodo's exclusive review, it's a interesting piece of kit.

Now the product is out there on the web, this raises up a whole bunch of questions. What does this mean for Mr. Powell? Why are Apple employees allowed to take top secret devices out on benders? What does the 4G not have 3G's sleek, smooth design? And how will Apple's relationship Gizmodo be affected from this little exclusivity coup.

Relevant articles:

The new features of the iPhone | iPad: Hit by glitches? | Apple Vs HTC: Phone patents

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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