Reporter has mic stolen during iPhone interview, recovers ungracefully

We're quite aware of the mayhem that went on during the buildup to the iPhone launch, and while it may cross someone's mind to purloin the oh-so-coveted device just hours before it went on sale to the public, we can't imagine a Fox News microphone being an acceptable substitute. 'Course, we've no way of really reading the vigilante's mind, but a brief iPhone interview was cut even shorter by a random mic stealer. Click on through for the zaniness as it happened, and kudos to the reporter on not just bailing out while she had the chance.

[Thanks, Matt]

[404error @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:34AM]

Haha, oh wow. What does he say when he takes the mike? All I made out was "Gimme that ****in mike. ****in ????" It's good that he did that, though. Fox News shouldn't even be on the air.

[Seni @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:03AM]

Because you disagree with them? How fair of you.

I don't think the food network should be on the air, but I'm not going to run on set and mess with their ovens. This is why we have programmable channel listings.

[Shannon @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:49AM]

@Seni

"Because you disagree with them? How fair of you.

I don't think the food network should be on the air, but I'm not going to run on set and mess with their ovens. This is why we have programmable channel listings."

Theoretically, if you can agree or disagree with a news network, they shouldn't be defined as a news network. And if they describe themselves as such anyway, I'd say that's a good argument for why they shouldn't be on the air. Wow, I guess that takes care of about half of the media out there today.

[Bob @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:12AM]

Yeah, seeing that I don't agree with CNN and their bias means people should go and steal their mics right? Of course not, because Conservatives actually believe in the first amendment (let's not forget the second one though).

damn hippies

[NHAnimator @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:38AM]

No Food Network = No Giada De Laurentiis

Bad idea.

[alex @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:31AM]

Hahaha I lovvvve Giada.

[foodie techie @ Nov 3rd 2007 11:22AM]

I stumbled onto http://iphone.foodnetwork.com/ via iPhone and was blown away not only that it existed and the food network seems to have created it for the iPhone.

I was delighted there was a video section (giada video comes in perfectly)

Somebody is getting it right at food network.

[Justin @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:51AM]

wow, what a fuckin' douche bag.

Some people handle their tastes in media differently, i guess. I'm glad that Fox News was able to handle it well though.

If I were the reporter, I'd grab a knife and castrate what little balls he had left to do such an immature act.

[Aaron @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:30AM]

Of course the reporter kept her cool. Castration of violent douchebags is the fotog's job!

(I'm posting this from my iPhone. The keyboard's not bad at all, but I sure can't wait for a software update to offer cut and paste!)

[Ant @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:56AM]

That blokes got an iPhone in open view and the guy goes for the Fox Mic, thats funny. As I've said before the iPhone attracts lunatics.

[BatteryAcid @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:44PM]

I thought the same thing. My guess is that he was a distraction and his buddy was going to go for the iphone. All in all this is pretty stupid as a cell phone can be tracked and they are on camera.

[Bear @ Jul 3rd 2007 4:33AM]

Well, the iPhone would be a lot harder to sell, and a good broadcast mic for TV can run you 2 grand used (and they are not as likely to be traced).

[Ant @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:58AM]

And he ran like a right big girl, dam fool.

[drebes @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:06AM]

That's so fake.

The media would love to have the same kind of chaos that came up on the release of the PS3 during the release of the iPhone as well. See how she tries to make a big deal out of it? ("I think we're gonna need some security around here") And then the guy goes up to steal a fuckig mic?! I'm pretty sure the "robber" was with FoxNews and that Steven Levy didn't know anything about it, so they "respectfully" avoided taking his iPhone and risking dropping it on the floor, or something.

[Dan @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:40PM]

Well that's GOTTA be it!

Tard.

[David Chills @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:13AM]

Wow Engadget, this is awesome gadget news. Keep it up.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:35PM]

Where?

[Johnny @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:19AM]

"Recovers ungracefully"?

The hell are you talking about? I think she was awesome in how she made that tool work for the mic instead of running away like a scared little girl. The best part about the whole clip was how the camera crew pwned the guy on live TV. Say what you will about Fox employees... they sure as hell aren't a bunch of wusses.

The only 'ungraceful recovery' going on was the dude standing there with a stunned look on his bum-rushed face after his well thought-out crime went horribly wrong.

[Rupert @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:21AM]

And this is the day Engadet become a tabloid!

[David Chills @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:28AM]

Wow Engadget, this is awesome gadget news. Keep it up.

[M @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:29AM]

The Fox guy kicks the thief as he goes down.
M

[mastershake916 @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:47AM]

A couple of days old.

[kompression @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:13AM]

Interesting how someone was actually recording a Fox News clip and uploaded it on YouTube.

[Mark @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:27PM]

Or maybe they were watching on a DVR, saw the attempted theft go down, hit record then transfered the video to a PC then uploaded it.

[ALLurGroceries @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:29AM]

Is that dude in the green shirt near the end of the video with the messed up hair the same dude who stole the mic with the sunglasses and hat? He looks like he's out of breath... HMMMMM.... look at his shirt closely and replay the clip a few times. I still can't really tell for sure but it seems close.

[ALLurGroceries @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:37AM]

OK it is the same guy, you can see the rest of the clip here from where it cuts off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz8M34t0M1Y

As to whether it was staged or not, who knows really, because they don't show you him being apprehended or taken away...

[Logik @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:45AM]

Here he is being loaded, on his way to his new home.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/apple/updated-fox-news-iphone-grabber-gets-busted-by-the-5+0-now-with-video-273771.php

[ALLurGroceries @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:48AM]

Nice, mystery solved!

[Mike @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:12AM]

Ok. I have an iphone so i am not Bit*hin for no reason. But did you guys have to really report about this. It seems like you just wanted one more iPhone related story. Seems like after the AOL thing the site's viewers have been let down. Listen to the viewers guys!!! no more iphone stuff... report big iphone details not how many units are sold in the first week. Report a Ringtone hack, A defect, Somthing useful when it happens. Not just anything iphone.. after all this site is not apple's blog is it?

[Natedog @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:26AM]

"after all this site is not apple's blog is it?" It isn't? I think many people would disagree... including Engadget!

Amen, brother.

[Logik @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:49AM]

This will undoubtedly make it into the annals of technology history.

[Mr. Swaggaholic @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:24AM]

"Interesting how someone was actually recording a Fox News clip and uploaded it on YouTube."

It's called TiVo...welcome to 1999...

[chris @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:20AM]

Is it true he works for Microsoft? Ha Ha

[Craig @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:23AM]

not really sure why engadget is re-hashing stories posted on engadget mobile yesterday...

i think this is much more funny:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NYBFY98lWcU

[eric @ Jul 3rd 2007 1:14AM]

HAHAHAHA...

Stupid woman throws away $800 because she's and idiot. Classic.

I wonder how many people made the same mistake.

[Phour ZwanZig @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:20PM]

That link rocks..

Apple - 1

EBay - 0

[venk @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:42AM]

Why would they not report this? This isn't as iphone news as it is a funny video that made my morning. :)

[Boynamedsue @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:43AM]

i love that they point out that they have a big guy there that will take care of it.

because rather than just chalk it up to theft, fox news is ready to use force at any moment. just like their mentors.

[XSportSeeker @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:20PM]

People complain like they paid for the news or something.
If you don't like it, just don't read it guys.
Video is at least funny, in a gadget way.
The guy could've tried to steal the iPhone, but instead he grabbed the reporter's mic.

May not change the way we see the world, but it's still gadget related. Also, it's not like Engadget team is not publishing other news also.

[Jiggs @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:40PM]

Actually, Engadget hasn't jumped the shark yet but the boat's in the water and the ramp's in place.

[Paul @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:15PM]

"Sometimes people have disputes with the media. That's not the way to handle it."

Yes it is.

[ka1axy73 @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:44PM]

Sure looks like he hands the mike off to the grey haired guy in the light green button down shirt. He keeps one hand behind his back and walks quickly away from the dark car after protesting his innocence.

[Player1 @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:06PM]

Liberals are exactly the same in that regard. What's your point?

[Gene Schmeling @ Jul 2nd 2007 8:35PM]

You need to delete the "uncovers ungracefully" portion of the title as it is inaccurate. You contradict yourself later on in the story itself, too, when you say "kudos to the reporter on not just bailing out while she had the chance."

Gene

[will @ Jul 10th 2007 2:08AM]

damn, it would have been funny to see him actually get away.