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When Dateline NBC wanted to do a hidden-camera report to catch iPod thieves in the act, the network turned to a Boise technology company for help.
According to a statement from NBC, the iPod's iconic status has also made it an easy target for thieves. Dateline wanted to confront the people who steal the portable music player, and find out if Apple can track the stolen devices on its own.
In order for NBC to pull off the story, it needed to be able to track the iPod after it got stolen.
Four programmers and a project manager at Blackfin Technology were able to do it.
It took them about a month to put together, but once Blackfin proved it could track down a stolen iPod, NBC went to work getting the iPods stolen.
The iPods were packaged new in the box and left in bags in public places, where Dateline's hidden cameras recorded their disappearance. (The story aired Aug. 1 on NBC).
The iPods needed to look like they were new so that all the accessories were included. In order for Blackfin to track down a stolen iPod, it needed to connect with Apple's software through the included cable.
"We told [NBC] not to get their pocket picked," Blackfin...