San Francisco DA: Apple Told Me The Next Two iPhone Models Preceded Tim Cook - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

San Francisco DA: Apple Told Me The Next Two iPhone Models Preceded Tim Cook

San Francisco district attorney George Gascón told the SF Examiner (via AppleInsider) that an Apple representative told him the next two generations of iPhones have already been developed and that Steve Jobs was involved in their development, saying "they preceded Tim Cook".

After Jobs passed away, it was reported that Apple had four years of product plans in the pipeline that Jobs had personally approved, matching nicely with the above claim.

Iphone5
Gascón said he also spoke with the Apple representative, a government liaison named Michael Foulkes, about the possibility of a 'kill switch' in iOS devices that could permanently disable them if they were stolen. He said he was "underwhelmed" with the discussion, saying the Apple rep seems to be "trained in the art of doing a lot of talking and saying nothing."

Major U.S. carriers agreed last year to develop a database that would allow stolen mobile phones to be disabled and deny them voice and data service, but law enforcement officials would like to see phone makers on board with a similar service as well.

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Released Yet Another New Product Today

Friday March 20, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple has unveiled a whopping nine new products so far this March, including an iPhone 17e, iPad Air models with the M4 chip, MacBook Air models with the M5 chip, MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the all-new MacBook Neo, an updated Studio Display, a higher-end Studio Display XDR, AirPods Max 2, and now the Nike Powerbeats Pro 2. iPhone 17e features the same overall design as...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Wednesday March 18, 2026 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another six months or so, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component...
ios 26 4 pastel

iOS 26.4: Top 10 New Features Coming to Your iPhone

Friday March 20, 2026 2:44 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 isn't the major update with new Siri features that we hoped for, but there are some useful quality of life improvements, and a little bit of fun with an AI playlist generator and new emoji characters. Playlist Playground - Apple Music has a Playlist Playground option that lets you generate playlists from text-based descriptions. You can include moods, feelings, activities, or...

Top Rated Comments

MrXiro Avatar
169 months ago
This would have never happened if Steve was still alive... oh wait...
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
avanpelt Avatar
169 months ago
They had four years of product ideas in the pipeline as of the end of 2011? Okay; but there's a problem with letting those ideas from almost a year and a half ago continue to guide your decisions today. Mobile technology is fluid and it has changed quite a bit from the vantage point Steve had in 2011.

I suspect (hope) Apple's product roadmap until 2015 is dynamic and is not based upon what Steve knew in 2011. Otherwise, we're likely in for a disappointing next two years, folks.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
169 months ago
How is this news?

Ever read Steve Jobs biography? Mentions several next generation products all in Ive's secret room.

This is the same for other companies.

Slow news day.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nepalisherpa Avatar
169 months ago

San Francisco district attorney George Gascón told the SF Examiner (http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2013/03/san-francisco-da-gasc-n-says-industry-keeps-giving-him-run-around-mobile-device-thefts) (via AppleInsider (http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/04/01/apple-govt-rep-says-next-two-iphones-were-designed-under-steve-jobs)) that an Apple representative told him the next two generations of iPhones have already been developed and that Steve Jobs was involved in their development, saying "they preceded Tim Cook".

After Jobs passed away, it was reported that Apple had four years of product plans in the pipeline (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/07/steve-jobs-leaves-apples-pipeline-with-four-years-of-products/) that Jobs had personally approved, matching nicely with the above claim.

I thought we already knew this. :confused:
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
169 months ago
A lot can change in 4 generations of tech. Unless they got something mind blowing up their sleeves they had better start doing some fresh ideas

So unless they have something fresh planned, they better plan something fresh? Got it.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wonderspark Avatar
169 months ago
Haha, nice April Fool's joke.

I'm sure Steve knew four years in advance about the ways he would decide to change his mind, too.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: South Africa | Mac | Politics | Travel | Education