“Apple has asked its retail employees to sign non-disclosure agreements ahead of an all-hands meeting likely to be held later this week, and potentially foreshadowing a forthcoming media event,” Neil Hughes reports for AppleInsider.
“People familiar with the company’s retail plans revealed that Apple employees on Monday were asked to sign non-disclosure forms,” Hughes reports. “Those who did not sign are said to be excluded from the next employee meeting, expected to be held in the next week.”
Hughes reports, “The timing of the meeting could suggest that Apple plans to hold a media event to unveil new products, and could send out invitations to such an event as soon as this week… In the event that the new MacBook Pro launch occurs as expected on Thursday, the most likely subject for an Apple media event would be the anticipated second-generation iPad.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
As an employee of Apple or any other American corporation for that matter you’re entitled to blab about company secrets to reporters of the Wall Street Journal or broadcast secret company activities on YouTube unless specifically prohibited by NDAs.
That about sums it up I think. Time to open the floodgates.
Floodgates indeed. Simply putting the NDA in the mix heightens the “need to know at any cost” factor exponentially.
Maybe I should get a job at Apple Retail?
If the primary purpose of that would be to satisfy your personal craving for exclusive Apple information, then fine. However, if the purpose would be so that you could relay insider info to others (such as MDN), that job wouldn’t last very long. Apple seems to have a fairly reliable way of finding (and dealing with) leaks.
Something happening here….
After you sign the NDA you can still, “Don’t quote me.” What could it be? Lion? TV? MBPs don’t need such drastic measures.
No you can’t. The NDA specifically prohibits you from releasing any information, period. Just because you won’t identify yourself or say “Don’t quote me” doesn’t mean you didn’t violate your NDA.
Must be something big to warrant this. It coincides with the arrival of pallets of secret stuff disclosed yesterday.
Of course all this is conjecture and will add more fuel to the volatile aapl market.
but we all thought that was MBPs.. which.. sorry.. is not really that interesting
This seems unprecedented, correct? If so…I’m afraid to suggest this…but could it more likely have to do with Steve Jobs and his health condition?
That doesn’t track; it would make sense if it were an all-hands meeting for all employees but why would Apple need or want to tell *retail* employees about Jobs’ medical condition, under NDA, when it would be announced shortly after anyway? Retail staff have no reason to be discussing Apple’s leadership with customers.
No, a new product announcement is far more likely.
iOS 4.3 will BLOW YOUR MIND!
Or not. What do I know?
Being an Apple Employee, we have not had to sign any NDR.
Your days are number you slimy untwisted rat.
Untwisted= untrusted= blabber mouth
I agree, I suspect it’s to do with steve jobs health.
The sort if cancer he has people only tend to live a maximum of 10 years.
Even if you’re a billionnaire your life expectancy isn’t long even with the best doctors in the world.
I suspect steve jobs is going to announce that he is standing down from Apple permanently.
See my comment above; this is (rumoured) for retail staff only, who don’t (and shouldn’t) need to know Jobs’ condition when dealing with customers.
I am also a three year Apple retail employee and have not been asked or heard of an NDA tha is going around.
Boy, they’re sure putting it on thick. iPad 2 is late, iPhone 5 is late, every publisher on earth is dropping iOS devices and about to teach Android users how to find their wallets and, last but not least, Jobs is about to kick the bucket and talking to all Store Employees is on his bucket list.
When Apple Inc. stock hits $300 this week, I’m mortgaging the lake house and buying 2000 shares.
Oh, the NDA also prohibits employees from disclosing that there WAS an NDA in the first place. 🙂
I’d tell you if there was an NDA, but I’ve signed an NDA that forbids me from revealing if there is an NDA in place.
What the hell – PowerBook G5 is imminent!!!
RastaMouse you made me spill coffee. Long time ago I heard that one. You must be one of the old-hands over here.