10 juicy details from the iPhone affidavit

How the cops cracked the case of the missing fourth-generation prototype, step by step

Click to enlarge. Source: San Mateo Superior Court

Here's what we know now that we didn't know before the court released a San Mateo detective's 10-page sworn statement of facts:

• When Gizmodo posted photos and videos of Apple's (AAPL) top-secret iPhone prototype, Steve Jobs got right on the horn to Gizmodo's editor, Brian Lam, and read him the riot act. He wanted the thing back, but was mostly worried what Gizmodo's story would do to sales of the iPhone 3GS.
• Lam comes back with a smarmy "off the record" e-mail. He won't return the dingus without a story he can run with -- like a letter from Apple legal saying it's the real deal. Then he makes a pitch for better access: "The thing is, Apple PR has been cold to us lately... I know you like walt [Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal] and pogue [David Pogue of the New York Times], and like working with them, but I think Gizmodo has more in common with old Apple than those guys do."

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Posted in: Apple, Brian Lam, Gizmodo, iPhone, Jason Chen, Lost, Missing, Prototype, Stolen

• Jon Stewart to Steve Jobs: 'Chill, baby'

  The Daily Show host blasts Apple for Big Brother tactics in the lost iPhone case

  You know a story has turned a corner when Jon Stewart takes it on, as he did Wednesday night with the case of the lost iPhone prototype.

  The satirical host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show devotes nearly nine minutes to the saga. He gets a few facts wrong and glosses over the possibility that crimes were MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Apr 29, 2010 6:50 AM ET
  Posted in: Apple, Gizmodo, Jon Stewart, Lost iPhone, Prototype, Steve Jobs

• Police raid Gizmodo editor's home

  Cops break open front door and seize computers in investigation of lost iPhone prototype

  It looks like the police are taking this pretty seriously.

  Armed with a search warrant, members of California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team broke into a private home Friday night and seized computers and other electronic equipment, according to a report posted Monday on Gizmodo.

  The home belonged to Jason Chen, the Gizmodo editor who published photographs and videos MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Apr 26, 2010 5:37 PM ET
  Posted in: Apple, Gizmodo, Jason Chen, Lost iPhone, Police, Prototype, Stolen iPhone

• Lost iPhone: The cops are on the case

  Santa Clara police are reported to be investigating the purchase of a top-secret prototype

  Is somebody going to go to jail?

  According to a CNET report posted Friday, police in Silicon Valley are investigating the sale of an iPhone prototype that was accidentally left in a bar by an Apple (AAPL) engineer and purchased by a gadget website for $5,000.

  The purpose of the investigation, according to CNET's source, an unnamed law-enforcement official, MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Apr 23, 2010 5:34 PM ET
  Posted in: Apple, CNET, iPhone, iPhone 4G, Lost iPhone, Prototype, Stolen

• Letterman's Top 10: Excuses for the guy who lost Apple's top secret iPhone

  The tale of the lost prototype is now a late-night comedy joke -- and not a very funny one

  David Letterman, with great reluctance, used the story of Apple's (AAPL) misplaced iPhone as fodder for his top 10 list Wednesday night.

  "Frankly I'm a little sick -- fed up -- with the Apple people," he begins. "Because, first of all, nobody's got any money. And second of all, would we need it MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Apr 22, 2010 9:54 AM ET
  Posted in: Apple, David Letterman, iPhone, iPhone 4G, Prototype

• Apple wants its secret iPhone back

  The end of the cloak-and-dagger tale of a lost or stolen prototype

  Now that most of the pieces are in place, the story turns out to be pretty straightforward.

  On March 18, a young Apple (AAPL) engineer had a few too many drinks at a beer garden in Redwood City, Calif., and left his cellphone behind on a bar stool. A customer picked it up, saw that it looked like an iPhone, MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Apr 20, 2010 7:05 AM ET
  Posted in: Apple, Engadget, Gizmodo, Gray Powell, iPhone 4G, John Gruber, Lost iPhone, Nick Denton, Prototype, Stolen iPhone