Steve Jobs Shows Sympathy to iPad-Robbed Developer

Stone, a Chinese Apple developer from Tencent, the company responsible for ¬¬¬China’s most popular IM software (QQ), was robbed of his iPad on the way to Apple’s WWDC10 event. He managed to escape with a broken rib, and the tablet device itself, although it too was damaged. Upon receiving a replacement iPad from one of Apple’s tech guys in San Francisco, Stone was happy to find a message in his inbox from none other than Apple’s CEO.

The Chinese developer was reportedly assaulted by the robber in broad daylight, on a bus, as he was headed to the Moscone Center, to attend Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference for 2010. In a fight with the robber, he had a rib broken, and his iPad destroyed. He managed to escape, along with the damaged device, which he then took to Apple’s Genius Bar, at one of the company’s San Francisco retail stores.

There, the Apple Genius offered his support, hooking Stone up with a replacement iPad. The Apple support guy reportedly told Stone he felt bad for his tragedy. According to a few screenshots posted at micgadget.com, Stone emailed Steve Jobs telling him, “iPad may be dangerous, but Apple guys are still nice.” Apple’s CEO replied with one of his typically short messages, in which he wished Stone “Safe travels home.”

This is not the first time an iPad owner becomes the target of a robbery. The device, touted by Apple as “magical,” seems to have mystified criminals, who’ve even gone as far as ripping off fingers to steal the device from people. It is the story of Denver resident Bill Jordan who had his brand-new iPad stolen from him as he was leaving his local Apple Retail Store. Jordan lost the little finger on his left hand as a result of the attack, the Denver Police confirmed in April.