[Jellotime91]

I have to disagree. Anyone that is going to really follow this story about the iPhone 4 is going to be nerdy enough to know that a new iPhone is going to come out in June / July. I mean even without this whole leak...my mom knows a new iPhone is coming this summer! It's not rocket science.

Also, I predict a new iPod touch coming in September...I should go play the lotto now

What you and I know (and your apparently smart and awesome mom knows) is NOT the same as what the average consumer knows.

Go ask a random person on the street when new iPods come out. They have no idea and it's been happening at the same time every year for sooo many years now. People know even less about the iPhone. Trust me, people DON'T remember when new iPhones come out. I have to remind people ALL THE TIME (because they all ask me if/when they should buy an iPhone).

[Hellpop]

@Ender, going to side with Jello on this as well. This is for sure costing the company money now in terms of man hours and damage control as well as very possibly affecting sales figures for the next few months. Even those who knew an iPhone was coming didn't know just what it was and may have saddled up for a 3GS upgrade if not for the new camera, HD, etc. This story has gone far beyond the blogosphere, it made Letterman's Top 10 this week!
And their current stock price is irrelevant as far as this incident goes. An employee cost the company money and embarrassment through neglect. Period.
All this "it's just a mistake, we all could have done it" is beyond sympathy in my opinion. Forgetting to put a stamp on an envelope is a mistake, not forwarding an email to the right person is a mistake, breaking a company's legendary secrecy policy through sheer neglect is a f**k up of major proportions. Of late, I have not seen any better grounds for termination outside of the Catholic church. I don't see this as harsh or vengeance at all, I see it as common sense.

[Jellotime91]

@Ender, going to side with Jello on this as well. This is for sure costing the company money now in terms of man hours and damage control as well as very possibly affecting sales figures for the next few months. Even those who knew an iPhone was coming didn't know just what it was and may have saddled up for a 3GS upgrade if not for the new camera, HD, etc. This story has gone far beyond the blogosphere, it made Letterman's Top 10 this week!
And their current stock price is irrelevant as far as this incident goes. An employee cost the company money and embarrassment through neglect. Period.
All this "it's just a mistake, we all could have done it" is beyond sympathy in my opinion. Forgetting to put a stamp on an envelope is a mistake, not forwarding an email to the right person is a mistake, breaking a company's legendary secrecy policy through sheer neglect is a f**k up of major proportions. Of late, I have not seen any better grounds for termination outside of the Catholic church. I don't see this as harsh or vengeance at all, I see it as common sense.

Yes, and I'm pretty sure if he molested children Apple would fire him...

Does this mean Apple is more holy than the Vatican? You decide... haha

[Enders]

@Ender, going to side with Jello on this as well. This is for sure costing the company money now in terms of man hours and damage control as well as very possibly affecting sales figures for the next few months. Even those who knew an iPhone was coming didn't know just what it was and may have saddled up for a 3GS upgrade if not for the new camera, HD, etc. This story has gone far beyond the blogosphere, it made Letterman's Top 10 this week!
And their current stock price is irrelevant as far as this incident goes. An employee cost the company money and embarrassment through neglect. Period.
All this "it's just a mistake, we all could have done it" is beyond sympathy in my opinion. Forgetting to put a stamp on an envelope is a mistake, not forwarding an email to the right person is a mistake, breaking a company's legendary secrecy policy through sheer neglect is a f**k up of major proportions. Of late, I have not seen any better grounds for termination outside of the Catholic church. I don't see this as harsh or vengeance at all, I see it as common sense.

Hrm. Yeah I see your point. But then what does Apple have to gain by booting Gray Powell? Make an example of him? Even then it's not like they can gain anything. Childish and naive point of view here I know, but humor me. What do they gain by sacking him publicly?, because it will be very public when they fire him.

[Hellpop]

Ender, you are right and that's what gets to me. My thoughts are more of a backlash to the overwhelming willingness within the internet community to support his "mistake" and forgive it. Despite the logic, Apple is now in a PR nightmare. They don't gain anything and will certainly lose public support by canning the guy. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say that I didn't follow the story and relish in the pics and info of the next iPhone - I followed it everyday with gusto.
But at the same time, I don't work at Apple and I don't (sadly) own their stock. Basically, whatever position or responsibilities he held within the company have to be far and gone. Do they stick him in the mail room or what? While I can say that I would fire the guy, I can't say that it would be Apple's best choice at this point whether it is right or wrong.
I also think there is another issue Apple should address: While everyone understands the need for Apple to test their projects in the wild, perhaps their choice of who to give this responsibility to needs to be addressed. In other words, maybe this guy should not have had the phone in the first place if they want to keep their devices so secret. Not an absolution, but perhaps they should not be giving these things to anyone but high level security folks that may not leave them on a barstool.

[jsntrenkler]

They guy had a birthday, went out and had a couple too many, I think it was a simple mistake that will cost apple some cash, however it was a mistake none the less. I doubt that Mr. Powell has lost his job.

[JustinHorn]

What you and I know (and your apparently smart and awesome mom knows) is NOT the same as what the average consumer knows.

This is true, but I guess my point is anyone that is reading about this stuff on gizmodo is already a nerd that knows when the iPhone comes out every year.

The people that don't probably haven't even heard of this leak.

[Jellotime91]

This is true, but I guess my point is anyone that is reading about this stuff on gizmodo is already a nerd that knows when the iPhone comes out every year.

The people that don't probably haven't even heard of this leak.

Right, and that point is well taken, but as I stated, it was reported on every major national news network as a top story. That makes a huge difference to public knowledge.

[lonbeehold]

This is true, but I guess my point is anyone that is reading about this stuff on gizmodo is already a nerd that knows when the iPhone comes out every year.

The people that don't probably haven't even heard of this leak.

Excellent point. As much as I follow local, national, and world news (thank you iPhone, lol) I only heard about this via tech sites and one friend who is as iPhone crazy as I am.

[lonbeehold]

I'm going to go on the other end of the spectrum here and say while it would be funny, this guy should sooooo be fired. He gets drunk and loses a highly secret piece of property and everyone seems to think he should get a pass. Consider all the long term planning Apple invests towards each product announcement that his act of negligence has just mucked up. Between the added planning, legal time and other commotion over this, what do you think he has cost the company and its stockholders? Would you trust this guy with your documents or private material? Unless he is some kind of savant, I would boot him in a heartbeat.

When I first heard about this new iPhone that made it out there via a drunken mistake, I thought, no way! Apple lets JUST ANYONE out into the wild with top secret stuff???! This cannot be real. Now that appears that it is, I wonder what level employee he is. Can't be a brand new hire, right? on another note, doesn't his name just sound made for TV movie-ish, lol.

[lonbeehold]

i'd rather see the old guy who got his finger ripped off do an iPad commercial

Man loses part of finger in iPad theft - Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com

Isn't that crazy? As mom to a child who lost most of her pinky finger in a freak toddler accident, I know life will go on for this poor guy, but what an awful story. Waiting for the lawsuit....

[iquinn]

Isn't that crazy? As mom to a child who lost most of her pinky finger in a freak toddler accident, I know life will go on for this poor guy, but what an awful story. Waiting for the lawsuit....

Just who would the poor guy sue? It's not the fault of Apple that he got robbed. And many other retailers use bags just like the ones that are used at the Apple store.

[lonbeehold]

Just who would the poor guy sue? It's not the fault of Apple that he got robbed. And many other retailers use bags just like the ones that are used at the Apple store.

People see deep pockets and file baseless lawsuits all of the time. Not saying he'd prevail-just wouldn't be surprised if he decided to sue someone, be it Apple, the bag manufacturer, store/mall security, et al.

[killthelights32]

If Apple really wanted to use this whole fiasco at launch they should have a bar stool on stage with the phone sitting on it LOL Then Steve can walk out and pick it up call Gray Powell out and ask him if he lost his phone

hahaha lmfao that would be epic!