Michael
May 2nd, 2007, 12:09 AM
There's been a lot of buzz on the net lately surrounding two pictures that were allegedly taken with the iPhone and then posted to Flickr.
<center><a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic1_thumb.png" alt="" style="padding-right:10px /></a><a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic2_thumb.png" alt="" /></a></center>
Everyone here at iPhone Alley have unanimously agreed that these were complete fakes. I mean, lets face it, how hard is it to fake that EXIF data? I've never done it, but I'm willing to bet a few minutes with these pictures and a hex editor is all you'd need.
So the guys over at <a href="http://www.appleiphonereview.com/rumors/photos-taken-on-an-iphone-all-but-confirmed-see-proof/" target="_blank">Apple iPhone Review</a> have done a bit of research on these photos. What they've found is awfully interesting. According to their article, the two photos can be linked to two individuals in the Valley. One that works for Apple, and the other a programmer.
The first potential piece of evidence lies within the Flickr account where the two iPhone pictures used to reside. Searching for the word "Cupertino" in this account yields a photo of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meriko/12019721/" target="_blank">the photographer's office</a>, which indicates it's located in the town. This is significant because Apple HQ is right smack dab in the middle of Cupertino, CA. Now what Apple iPhone Review failed to mention (or notice) is that along with the photo of the woman's office, she also has a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meriko/11988489/in/photostream/" target="_blank">plate of desert</a> with "Congrats! QuickTime 7!" written on it. This, to me, is much more significant than the desk photo, and strongly indicates this person works for Apple.
The other piece of evidence for these photos' legitimacy is the subject of photo number one. Apparently, the guy resembling Richard James eating a piece of toast is actually Derrick Schneider. Now Derrick is a programmer and food critic that also lives in the Bay area. According to Apple iPhone Review, if you click on a photo in <a href="http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/about-owf-final.html" target="_blank">his blog</a>, you are linked back to the iPhone Flickr page. Now, I'm not sure what they saw, but when I go there, the only Flickr page is to that of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissanicole" target="_blank">Melissa Schneider</a>, and not the other Flickr page. However, if you check out the Wayback Machine, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20060424070141/http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/" target="_blank">his blog used to have a picture</a> that looks a lot like the man in the iPhone photo.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/derrick-schneider.jpg" alt="Derrick Schneider" /></center>
All in all, this is a significant amount of evidence that points to the pictures' legitimacy. The only thing making me think they're real is the woman working for Apple. Then again, it's by no means an air-tight case. We may never know the truth on this, but if we hear anything else, we'll be lettin' y'all know.
<center><a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic1_thumb.png" alt="" style="padding-right:10px /></a><a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/iphone_camera_pic2_thumb.png" alt="" /></a></center>
Everyone here at iPhone Alley have unanimously agreed that these were complete fakes. I mean, lets face it, how hard is it to fake that EXIF data? I've never done it, but I'm willing to bet a few minutes with these pictures and a hex editor is all you'd need.
So the guys over at <a href="http://www.appleiphonereview.com/rumors/photos-taken-on-an-iphone-all-but-confirmed-see-proof/" target="_blank">Apple iPhone Review</a> have done a bit of research on these photos. What they've found is awfully interesting. According to their article, the two photos can be linked to two individuals in the Valley. One that works for Apple, and the other a programmer.
The first potential piece of evidence lies within the Flickr account where the two iPhone pictures used to reside. Searching for the word "Cupertino" in this account yields a photo of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meriko/12019721/" target="_blank">the photographer's office</a>, which indicates it's located in the town. This is significant because Apple HQ is right smack dab in the middle of Cupertino, CA. Now what Apple iPhone Review failed to mention (or notice) is that along with the photo of the woman's office, she also has a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meriko/11988489/in/photostream/" target="_blank">plate of desert</a> with "Congrats! QuickTime 7!" written on it. This, to me, is much more significant than the desk photo, and strongly indicates this person works for Apple.
The other piece of evidence for these photos' legitimacy is the subject of photo number one. Apparently, the guy resembling Richard James eating a piece of toast is actually Derrick Schneider. Now Derrick is a programmer and food critic that also lives in the Bay area. According to Apple iPhone Review, if you click on a photo in <a href="http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/about-owf-final.html" target="_blank">his blog</a>, you are linked back to the iPhone Flickr page. Now, I'm not sure what they saw, but when I go there, the only Flickr page is to that of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissanicole" target="_blank">Melissa Schneider</a>, and not the other Flickr page. However, if you check out the Wayback Machine, <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20060424070141/http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/" target="_blank">his blog used to have a picture</a> that looks a lot like the man in the iPhone photo.
<center><img src="http://www.iphonealley.com/images/storyimages/derrick-schneider.jpg" alt="Derrick Schneider" /></center>
All in all, this is a significant amount of evidence that points to the pictures' legitimacy. The only thing making me think they're real is the woman working for Apple. Then again, it's by no means an air-tight case. We may never know the truth on this, but if we hear anything else, we'll be lettin' y'all know.