Jobs Using iPhone Already?
Could Steve Jobs already be using the iPhone as his personal mobile device? Flickr user thane seems to think so after seeing our favorite tech executive at his kids' soccer game over the weekend. Jobs was apparently holding a device with the same form factor as the iPhone, and was using his finger to navigate and make calls. This of course is all still rumor, and I'm not even sure if this sort of thing would be legal if the phone hasn't yet been approved by the FCC.If it really was an iPhone, then why wasn't Steve using the bluetooth capability instead of the ungainly wired earpiece?
[via Cult of Mac]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
doyouflip said 6:06PM on 3-07-2007
I doubt he'd be walking around with a prerelease product. He'd need bodyguards if he were. My guess is it was an ipod.
And does he really wear jeans and a black turtleneck everywhere?
Reply
franko said 6:14PM on 3-07-2007
there's a very good explanation of his constant attire at the flickr link, but i'll add a couple more of my own personal thoughts to the list:
1) i always sort of thought it was like einstein, who always wore the same thing, too, because he figured that way he didn't have to waste brain power on such mundane things as "what am i going to wear today?"
2) i also think he wears the same thing in public because it's so iconic now, he has an image to maintain. you see the jeans and mock turtleneck, and you think "steve/apple".
Reply
Jeremy T said 6:28PM on 3-07-2007
Well someone has to test it in the field... Otherwise we'd have thousands of bugs on launch. ;)
Reply
Brent said 6:33PM on 3-07-2007
It's doubtful that he would be taking a prerelease product out into the wild, but I wouldn't put it past him to have it on the airwaves before FCC approval - He drives around without license plates, why should he care about FCC regulations?
Reply
LikeWhoa said 6:38PM on 3-07-2007
Did you guys watch the Keynote? Jobs said he was glad he finally announced the iPhone, so now he could take it out into public.
Also, just because the iPhone isn't FCC approved doesn't mean there aren't plenty of them being around being tested. You think the FCC will make Apple wait until a month or so before June to start doing radio tests on the phone? These tests take many, many months. The FCC grants approval to test devices on a limited basis, just so long as they are not sold to the general public.
Reply
Brian said 6:40PM on 3-07-2007
I bet he could be tough on a soccer referee when he doesn't like a call.
Reply
Brian said 6:43PM on 3-07-2007
What do you think Steve brings when it's his turn to do the after game snack? Probably not orange slices and Gatorade.
Reply
Ryan said 6:47PM on 3-07-2007
How ironic would it be if it turned out to be a zune.
Reply
scott ivers said 6:55PM on 3-07-2007
It's definately possible that he's using it now. Wouldn't you?
When the iPhone was first announced, ABC News show Nightline did a story which has an interview between reporter Neal Karlinsky and Steve Jobs. He is informally asked whether he uses the iPhone. I tried my best to transcribe that part of the story interview.
Neal: "Are you using that phone as your phone?"
Steve: "I haven't been able to because I can't take it out in public. I've had one at home for a while and use it in the middle of the night."
Neal: "So after today you're gonna start using it?"
Steve: "Oh yeah, I'm gonna start using it."
To watch the entire video, read the post by TUAW here: http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/10/steve-jobs-on-nightline/
Reply
Brian said 6:58PM on 3-07-2007
Actually, I'd be surprised if he's using an iPod. What kind of dad listens to Bob Dylan while his kid is playing soccer? I expected Steve to be on the sidelines with his HD camcorder or digital camera collecting images to use when the next version of iPhoto/iMovie rolls out.
Reply
sam said 6:58PM on 3-07-2007
I wouldn't be surprised if he was using the iPhone in public. Given the chance, I think any geek would.
Also, I think the FCC needs to approve a device before it can be sold. Since Steve didn't sell himself the device through a retail channel he'll probably be fine. Using an unapproved device is probably gray area, but since it's on a frequency owned by Cingular/AT&T, and they're in bed together, I don't think he'll have any problems.
Reply
sam said 7:00PM on 3-07-2007
Furthermore, I'm sure Jobs wants to test the device in real world situations so he can provide feedback and direction on the interface and usability. Otherwise he would be flying blind.
Reply
josh said 7:06PM on 3-07-2007
"And does he really wear jeans and a black turtleneck everywhere?" - HAH that was exactly my thoughts when i first saw the picture
"What kind of dad listens to Bob Dylan while his kid is playing soccer?" - he probably had ipod/iphone/whatever on so as to avoid talking to others, i know i do that sometimes...
Reply
okto said 7:17PM on 3-07-2007
I can't believe TUAW would post this crap.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT PICTURE.
The Flickr note that supposedly pinpoints the iPhone contains a swatch of his jeans and a loop of iPod headphone cord.
Now, I don't know about you, but I think the iPod's baby daddy owning one is not exactly news—or even interesting.
Reply
Qin Zhi Lau said 7:27PM on 3-07-2007
I believe that his picture was Photoshopped in from one of the earlier keynote stills, and the white earbuds are easy to graft on as well. I think that this pic's a hoax, unfortunately.
Reply
jeff said 7:31PM on 3-07-2007
He's Steve jobs. He runs Apple. He helped invent the iPhone, probably for himself. OF COURSE HE HAS IT IN HIS POCKET AND IS USING IT.
For gosh sake – so is Ives and several other higher-ups.
Reply
Chris Tutor said 8:30PM on 3-07-2007
But what's Steve doing at a kids' soccer match? That's the big question no one's asking.
Reply
Catt said 7:45PM on 3-07-2007
Firstly, the picture is not clear and does not show much of anything except what looks like iPod headphones. Secondly, he's Steve Jobs I'm sure if he wants to test out the iPhone or any other device that his company makes before release to the general public he can do that. I can barely wait for the iPhone myself if I was at Apple on the design team I know I couldn't wait to get my paws on one and I would definately take it out in public and show it off to boot... as long as I wouldn't get in trouble for this... He's Steve Jobs so whose going to slap his hand? Nothing like some shameless extra advertisement before release.
Reply
spil said 7:55PM on 3-07-2007
This wouldn't suprise me if it were the iPhone, with his interview on Nightline or whatever, he said he was going to use it (if what the others said is true, I didn't watch it myself).
Also, steve wouldn't need bodyguards from fear of getting mugged or anything, I mean he is at his kids soccer game. And he's the CEO of a company, so I doubt his kid plays soccer in a crowded urban street or subway station near a bad part of town.
I wonder if his kid one the game?
Reply
Si said 8:08PM on 3-07-2007
I would think the lack of Bluetooth headset is because he doesn't want to broadcast his presence to the world (well, those 20 metres away) and have his phone bombarded with ZOMFG U R SOOOOO COOL! pictures etc.
Reply