Stolen iPod Touch Commercial

my stolen ipod touch commercial from matthew k on Vimeo.

Comments

[Joe H]

My 16GB iPod touch went missing from my desk at work. Regarding security for the iPod touch, how difficult would it be to have the center button also function as a fingerprint reader? It could be called "Mytouch" or SafeTouch. The biometric reader could be supplemented (in case the reader fails) by an attachment to your desktop PC. I bet people would gladly pay an extra $50 to $100 for such a feature.

Another option would be to use the wireless or USB cable to allow the iTouch to "check in" every so often. The base PC would have a USB "beacon" which comunicates with the iTouch via wireless. If the iTouch goes too long without checking in, the unit shuts down.

Finally, there could be a "proximity" solution which would include an iTouch case paired with a small battery powered unit (attached to the owner) which would check the "proximity" marked case every few seconds or so. If the 2 devices get too far apart an audible or vibrating signal is given from the battery powered unit. A super cool way to do this would have the case use bluetooth to communicate with your cell phone and ring or text if the phone and the ipod get too far apart.

The proximity solution has 3 benefits; first it can guard against misplacing your iPod, second, it can work with any iPod; finally it work without the need to shut down the iPod as the security is immediate.

While I am currently bummed about losing my iTouch at work, I would like to get another one but not until I have found a security solution.

Any thoughts?

[Scott]

You know, I hate to call Steve Jobs a money-grubbing f*ck, but the fact of the matter is that Apple could very easily identify the IP of the last computer that connected to iTunes with your iPod attached via the serial number. They just won't. And why? Well the lawyers will tell you there's a bunch of privacy considerations, but really if the RIAA can, once they've targeted your IP for doing illegal downloads, get a court order to make your ISP give up your name and address to sue you there's no way the geniuses at Apple can't find a secure channel to advise your local police of the IP and ISP to get a likely location of property that's been reported stolen (a slightly more compelling legal argument than the RIAA's because it's actual property as opposed to copyright violation). Obviously there would need to be some sort of control (original box, or something) to confirm you legitimately own the iPod you're reporting stolen and your local DA would need to determine if he wants to expend police resources on this effort or just set up another speed trap on the freeway, but if the NYPD starts knocking on people's door to ask about the iPod you bought off some scumbag mugger on ebay and that happens in enough cities and towns, the market for stolen iPods would rapidly dry up unless you WANTED to listen to the same library of songs forever and never connect it to a computer (yes, I know some hacker will find out how to change the serial number eventually, but frankly most people aren't that smart). Right now, to the buyer, it's a victimless crime and to the mugger it's an easy mark.

Now, you may ask why this makes Steve Jobs a money-grubbing f*ck. The reason is simple if you ask yourself WHY Apple isn't defending it's customers in this situation. Those of us who have the means to buy an iPod will almost certainly go out and buy another (my 30GB video was stolen from a coat check on Christmas night and I just bought a 32GB touch to replace it). Those who don't have the means to buy one will either steal one or buy one that's been stolen. Now Steve-O has TWO customers at iTunes instead of just one; me and the son-of-a-b!tch who stole my iPod (or the guy who he sold it to). Yet another reason iTunes is the number one digital music store on the web...

Thanks Apple. I miss "think different" but I guess once you own a massive share of a new consumer electronics market it's in your best interests to stop that kind of subversive thinking. :)

Steve W. wouldn't put up with this, I'll tell you that. :)

My 2 cents,

Scott

[James Taylor]

I Lost my iPod Touch in somebody's house when staying there on the weekend and they're claiming i dropped it when i was outside the house...

My idea would be for a "Stolen List" to be created on iTunes and if the iPod/iPhone is connected to a different computer when reported Stolen, action could be taken... Due to me only being 16, which legal action, i don't know, but they could certainly block the iPod and put a "Stolen" Message, alerting the original owner (provided they registered the iPod with their iTunes account

[Albert Russo]

hi
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good luck

[john]

I know this is stolen IPOD rehab here - But here goes, my ipod touch a handy little gadget that i was finding more use for every day was stolen by one of the guys that I allowed in my house to install my son's weight bench. No kidding- the name of the store that contracted the company to install the the unit was GET this Sports Authority yes that loveable company. The name of the company that stole my IPOD was Go Configure the guy's name that was hired by GO Configure- I will tell you later.Of course the guy who stole my IPOD denies taking it. The police who came to my house after I reported the theft said he denies it and there is nothing we can do-
Anyone out there have an IPOD theft where the SOB just took it and walked away and you knew it was them? And now its gone!

[meghan]

Hey guys,

I'm working on a story for reporting class about stolen iPods and I wanted to get input from someone who's actually had their iPod stolen. Let me know if you'd be willing to help me out! My email address is woods.meghane@gmail.com. I'd really appreciate your help!

[KAAMAVERIYAN]

Dear Sir,

How to change my iPod Touch 2G wi-fi address number and serial number?

Please help me.

Kindly awaiting your reply.

Thanks & Regards,

naankaamaveriyan@gmail.com

[jennifer]

ok, so my husbands ipod was just stolen, and it does suck that apple will do nothing about it when they absolutely have the ability to track it when it is plugged in for downloads. but if they call in for tech support they will be denied because I reported it, as if thats suppose to comfort me. I bought my hubby an ipod for xmas because I am very ill and I spend a lot of time in the hospital for procedure and/or surgery, and I thought it might make his time in the waiting room a little more barable. then I made the mistake of letting my neighbor (that I dont know very well) into my home for a little girl chat, then my husband came home from work, plugged his ipod in to charge and left to go get the kids from daycare. a few minutes later my neighbor (Linda) all of a sudden had to leave in a hurry. a few minutes after she left I noticed the cord to the ipod was plugged into the pc, but the ipod was gone. after I confirmed with my hubby that he didn't take it with him, I went to her home, and her roomate said he had seen her come in with it, and that she left right away. so I told him that if she returned it within 24 hrs I wouldn't contact the police. the next day I asked for it again and the roomate told me that he thinks she sold or pawned it. so I have contacted the police and left a voicemail on their theft hotline ( which is rediculous)and am waiting for the police to do something. (a call back would be nice) and apple is usless! I was thinking buying myself one since I have to spend so much time in bed, but now I am going to have to replace his which sucks, he totally deserved that Ipod, since I have been sick all he does is work, take car of the kids and take of me, and that made his day a little better and we can't really afford to be replacing things with me not working anymore and the economy the way it is. sorry to ramble, but I just got off the phone with ipod, and I assumed that there would at least be some way of shutting the ipod down so the person whole bought it from the little B**ch couldn't enjoy it.

[Chris]

so since i had never put a tracking app in my ipod im screwed?
i can confidently say if i will beat someone to near death when i find out. it was a friend that took it right from my house too

[Keith Shelton]

My 32GB ipod touch went missing the other day and the last place I remember having it was at work.

Serial #52823BX80JW

I am pretty devastated. =(

[Morgan]

My ipod touch 8 GB got stolen at school. I made the mistake of leaving it around high schoolers. My question is is there anything apple can do about it? It's the first generation and I had a lot of apps on there so there might be some tracking apps? It cost me three hundred dollars personally and it really hurt.=(

[milano_0]

don't worry people...
i know computers and tracking really well. Also i have a lot of connections.
this allows me to track my itouch that got stolen at school.
if you give me your serial number i can:
1. track adresses where was usedlast wiifi
^which is usually where the jerk lives
if not, im really sorry and i might not be able too.
but if you live in my area i can check the apple logs of what they sold :)

[unknown]

milano_0, are you still able to track?

[Catherine]

My son's two week old 32gb I Pod touch was stolen from his school changing room. It was two weeks old and I am in the proicess of being made redundnat and he uis heartbroken.Is there any way of tracking it ?

[Chris Martin]

Stolen iTouch from East Jordan High School in Michigan: Ser #1E8464O0201. Model A1288. Call East Jordan Police with info. Reward for recovery, so I can "beat the hell" outta the one that took it!

[Jacob Cooke]

Hello, I got my 32gig 3g iTouch stolen from school. I have no clue how it got stolen but I have the serial code for it, I had iHound but it was pointless since you need WiFi for it.

[Andrea]

Me acaban de robar mi IPOD Touch 3 G 32 gyga en Buenos Aires, en la sede de ANSES de Cordoba 1118 Capital Federal Argentina UDAI Centro.
Fecha 5/5/2010
El ID es Número de serie: 1A012J8X6K2
Agradeceria info para bvloquearlo o inhabilitarlo o hacer la denuncia fornmal en Apple