http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
I suspect it was remote wiped and bricked intentionally after it went missing. ]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 4:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 5:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
Wait... that's not right...]]>Jul 3rd 2009 5:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 6:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 5:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
"Hi, Apple Support? I have this prototype phone I found lying around. You want it back?"

I'm sure that they would believe you.]]>Jul 3rd 2009 5:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
occurring to the serial number this was built in Nov. 2008; It's probably just a 3G, that's why this guy gets an error message when he tries to load the 3GS firmware onto it. ]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
.....really?]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
I don't think "2" is a word either...]]>Jul 3rd 2009 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
Well, yes, "2" is not a word per-say, but it is a symbolic/numerical representation of the word "two". So, not only did he not actually use the word "two", the word which the symbol represents wasn't even the correct word... now I've gone and made a jerk out of myself. I don't know why I do this. I'm sorry.]]>Jul 3rd 2009 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 6:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 4th 2009 6:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
I mean OS inside can be different, but outside, it looks exactly the same, no?]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
I mean OS inside can be different, but outside, it looks exactly the same, no?]]>Jul 3rd 2009 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
When you lose something, it's your own fault. If the person wasn't aiding in the engineer's separation from the item (IE stole it), then he is under no obligation to return it, other then the moral one. It's basically abandoned property. If you find 7 100 dollar bills on the ground, are you going to try to track someone down to determine whom it belongs to?

Basically, finders keepers

This obviously does not extend to every situation on earth, and I would imagine there would be consequences if he used the phone to rack up charges IE caused financial damage to Apple ect, similar if you found a credit card. You aren't required to return the plastic card, but if you use it fraudulently, then you are breaking the law.

But as it stands, looks like this random fool is pretty lucky, as the people of our nations are financially ignorant, and well armed with Visa cards powered by the money from their 4th mortgage. ]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
Not sure what country your posting from, but here in the U.S. finding something does not make you the owner. You have to prove that you own the item. And selling said "found" item only gets you in hotter water.
I'm pretty sure that Apple may not care about this phone now that the launch has happened. But trust me, if they wanted it back, they would get it back. The only other question that would be asked is if they want to press charges. ]]>Jul 3rd 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
abandoned property is different to misplaced though, but its unlikely this is abandonment.

of course that is only if the back story is legit.

]]>Jul 3rd 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 8:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html) it really is an iPhone 3GS!]]>Jul 3rd 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/Jul 3rd 2009 3:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/iphone-3gs-prototype-scooped-up-at-airport-now-on-ebay/
A puc of the serial number is listed and any AT&T or Apple store would identify the phone as stolen ... So the seller us lying that he took it to an Apple store in the up and up.

If the Apple store rep had "Serviced" the phone they are required to get your evaluation number for prototypes.

(Ive prototyped / tested a product fir Apple before)]]>Jul 6th 2009 12:14PM