Gizmondo thief busted by GPS
Looks like the integrated
GPS on the Gizmondo is good
for something after all. Word is that, after a robber stole a Gizmondo unit from the company's London store, he was
tracked by GPS and got a text message from the company letting him know they were onto him. The thief immediately
returned the device. We're not quite sure exactly how the staff at the store accomplished this, but we hope they're
only able to do it with display units. After all, while the Gizmondo is capable of phoning home with tracking info via
GPRS, we'd like to assume that, in most cases, this has to be activated by the purchaser, and isn't on by default. Or
is our Gizmondo tracking us right now at this very moment?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
umm, if all they did was text him then what was the gps for?
They could have just said they were tracking him even if they weren't..
onuoo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I'm just waiting for someone to post a comment about how dumb the guy was to nick a Gizmondo !
...waiting...
onuo
Ethan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Haha, excellent point, Mike. Maybe they were just making that claim to spook the robber, and he's an idiot. "We're tracking you via GPS ... we'll get you anytime now." If they actually /could/ track him by GPS, it'd be pretty stupid to inform him before they went after him!
vman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I think this is just a publicity stunt to counter the already poor sales of that device.
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I agree, I don't think this ever happened. Think! How would they track him anyway? does the device send GPS data through GPRS or something to some secret server? I don't think it does because that would be illigal.
Laurent "crp" Hogue @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Maybe they sent the message to ALL gizmondo units already sold and since it was the only one in streets...
Nik @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Anyone tried going to the Gizmondo site in Firefox? Mine goes into crazy spasms trying to detect the Flash plugin lol.
flash boredom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I don't think the 12 Gizmondo owners have anything to worry about...
Ed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
****************
PUBLICITY STUNT
****************
and a paper thin one at that...
benhc911 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
"Or is our Gizmondo tracking us right now at this very moment?"
You have a Gizmondo?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
LOL LOLLERCAKES ROFL ROFLCAKES ROFLWAFFLES ROFLCOPTER REQUESTION PERMISSION TO TAKE OFF!!!!!!!!!!
ZOMFG THAT IS HI-freaking-LARIOUS
:)
Patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
This is fake (and idiotic): "The thief immediately returned the device." Does anyone (other than possibly Gizmondo marketing) actually believe that the thief would be stupid and bothered enough to take the device back to the store and say "here's the Gizmondo I stole earlier." My guess is they'd dump it in a rubbish bin, or if he wanted to have some fun leave it on a taxi or train.
Gizmondo should hope this doesn't backfire for their U.S. release: "Gizmondo tracking device users' locations."
Syphon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
benhc911, I loved that eBay auction. XD
Nguyen Van Thoc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I agree with vman, it's a publicity stunt. I mean, who could believe that Gizmodo has a b&m store???
brian @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I'm calling BS on this one, and so is TechDirt:
http://techdirt.com/news/wireless/article/6027
It bears a striking resemblance to a story about a stolen Seimens phone:
http://www.admblog.com/blog/2004/03/siemens_tracks_.html
joe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Of course its fake...
i mean come on who would steal a gizmondo
Changaz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Even if it was true, why would anyone want a device that allows the powers that be to track you down???
Do you really want to buy a device that lets the po-po know exactly where you are?
Privacy concerns anyone?
I call bullshit.
Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
When you buy something with GPS on it you are going to be tracked. Face the facts that all of your little privacy will one day be removed in order to strive world peace. Though, I don't give a rats ass about privacy as I have nothing to hide except my massive hentai collection. I do give it out so i'm not like.. uptight about it.
The thing that is annoying is that the Gizmodo people (forgot company name) doesn't know how to market. They don't know how to bring up hype, they don't know how to sign companies to make games for them, and they are appealing a product that is rendered relitively useless unless you use it for a GPS and hacking device. I almost bought a gizmondo yesteryear before back when 3D on a handheld was unheard of but it was too expensive. This could be a really nice handheld though and i can't say it is not since i haven't played it.
With all this said they have no choice but to get free advertisement or create publicity stunts.
OMAC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
#15, anything with GPS can't be tracked. Only way to track a device with GPS is if the device has some way of comunicating its location to the outside world, which the Gizmondo has. Gizmondo can be used for much more than a portable game device. You could wire one into your car and track it remotely. Got a cheating spouse? Perfect tracking device :)
c.lo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I went to Gizmondo site to see how their GPS system works. They say they can track the system and even set this "wall" in case the system went too far from your preferred location(I think it goes something like that.) I do believe you have to activate this system first for them to track it because inside their website, they said it'll only tell the last place it was tracked on, so if you turn it off it can't be detected. With that, I'm also assuming that it does have some sort of "connection" everytime it's on to tell where it is when activated. The only benefit to this is Parents wanting to know if their children is playing at home or a safe designated place.
I could see this as a publicity stunt but if you do steal an item you think they can trace, you'd probably do the same thing as he did out of fear. I mean, if he manage to sell the item, the buyer might be told it was stolen and the buyer might reveal him to the police. I would think of other ways to do that(but I'm not gonna say it) yet since he got scared right away, I don't think he's smart enough to figure out other ways to hide and sell this item he stole. Then again, that stupid fake mini commercial pisses me off cuz it's suppose to be a joke but it sure feels stupid since some people wanted to know if it's real or not and still goes on and on...
falcom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
hello people....gps tracking is nothing new....anyone here have a nextel phone? guess what, anyone with your phone # can track where that phone is. whoopty do. who cares.
Cambob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Who cares?? Still NOT gonna buy one.
Rich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
The Gizmondo has a GPRS radio in it I believe. Using mobile phone location based services, you can be tracked to within (roughly) a 30m radius. Less if you're somewhere with a high density of base stations -- such as Oxford Street. The mobile phone companies know where you are all the time (and will tell the police if they have a warrant).
The GPS device in the Gizmondo will give a more accurate location, and can send this back to Tiger Telematics' servers via an always on GPRS connection (similar to the setup Danger use for the Sidekick devices).
In other words, it's really not that difficult. And you *are* being tracked all the time. Only difference is, the mobile phone companies don't really care where you are most of the time.
Still think it's a publicity stunt though!
Div @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
HA HA HA HA someone actually wasted time and effort stealing a Gizmondo u cant see me right now but i am actually gutting myself. I mean seriously why steal a Gizmondo? I hope the guy used it to wipe his ass
Viral Buffoon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
I am one of the 12 people that have Gizmondo (thanks) - yes, so this may be a publicity stunt by Gizmondo (and a poor one at that) but the device does work and I have tried the GPS locator which is wicked. Now if they can only come up with some cool games to match this ...
slainte @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
Definately publicity BS but have to come up in the Gizmondos defence - I'm a complete sucker for a new Gadget having had one since April and its my prefered handheld of choice over my GBASP, DS and PSP, I just which they'd sort out their marketing/games and crappy battery life.
Max Cady @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM
In response to all the sad jibes about this unit, yes i do have one and yes it is great V.F.M., easy to knock something but there's always something better or faster out there. I've used the sat nav and found it to be very effective, and when i'm stuck in traffic i can just switch to a movie or an MP3 or game, try and do that with your Gps units...Cut the B.S. go and try one who knows in the real world you might like it?......