Gizmodo
Gizmodo (/ɡɪzˈmoʊdoʊ/ giz-MOH-doh) is a design, technology, science, and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton, and runs on the Kinja platform. Gizmodo also includes the sub-blogs io9 and Earther, which focus on pop-culture and environmentalism respectively. Since April 2019, Gizmodo is part of G/O Media, owned by private equity firm Great Hill Partners.[3]
Not to be confused with Gizmodo Media Group, of which Gizmodo is the flagship website, nor Gizmondo, a handheld game console.
Type of site
English, French, Dutch, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese
United States
Yes
Optional
July 1, 2002[2]
The blog, launched in 2002, was originally edited by Peter Rojas, who was later recruited by Weblogs, Inc. to launch their similar technology blog, Engadget. By mid-2004, Gizmodo and Gawker together were bringing in revenue of approximately $6,500 per month.[4]
Gizmodo then launched in other locations:
In February 2011, Gizmodo underwent a major redesign.[11]
In 2013, Matt Novak moved his Paleofuture blog to Gizmodo from Smithsonian.[12]
In 2015, the Gawker blog io9 was merged into Gizmodo. The staff of io9 continued with Gizmodo and continued to post articles on subjects covered by the website, including science fiction, fantasy, futurism, science, technology and astronomy.[13]
Gizmodo was one of six websites that was purchased by Univision Communications in their acquisition of Gawker Media in August 2016. Univision in turn sold Gizmodo and an array of sister websites to private equity firm Great Hill Partners in 2019.[14]
In Australia in 2018, after Nine Entertainment merged the business behind PEDESTRIAN.TV with that of Allure Media,[15] forming the larger Pedestrian Group,[16] the website and associated company changed its name to Pedestrian, and also incorporated the brands Gizmodo AU,[6] Business Insider Australia, Kotaku and POPSUGAR Australia.[17][18]
Controversy[edit]
iPhone 4 prototype[edit]
In April 2010, Gizmodo came into possession of what was later known to be a prototype of the iPhone 4 smartphone by Apple.[32] The site purchased the device for US$5,000 from Brian J. Hogan, who had found it unattended at a bar in Redwood City, California, a month earlier.[33][34] UC Berkeley student Sage Robert, an acquaintance of Hogan, allegedly helped him sell the phone after failing to track down the owner. With Apple confirming its provenance, bloggers such as John Gruber and Ken Sweet speculated that this transaction may have violated the California Penal Code.[35]
On April 26, after Gizmodo returned the iPhone to Apple, upon Apple's request California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team executed a search warrant on editor Jason Chen's home and seized computers, hard drives, servers, cameras, notes, and a file of business cards, under direction from San Mateo County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe.[34][36][37] Since then, Gizmodo and the prosecution have agreed that a special master will review the contents of the items seized and determine if they contain relevant information.[38][39] Gizmodo was since barred from Apple-hosted events and product launches until August 2014, when they were invited once again to Apple's September 2014 "Wish we could say more" event.[40]