Gawker, the parent company behind tech site Gizmodo, has said this weekend that they have reached an agreement with authorities in California where they will give all material relevant to the investigation, in exchange for receiving back items seized from editor Jason Chen’s home.
In April, Gizmodo leaked a prototype iPhone 4 model to the world, and within the month, California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team had seized Chen’s computers, working on a warrant from the Superior Court of San Mateo.
The iPhone 4 model was dropped in a bar by Apple developer Gray Powell, and eventually purchased by Gizmodo for $5000 USD.
On request from Apple, the district attorney’s office had opened an investigation into whether Gawker had done anything illegal in the matter.
The warrant has been withdrawn now, with Chen’s belongings returned to him.
“Mr. Chen and Gizmodo have agreed to cooperate with our investigation,” adds Chris Feasel, deputy district attorney for San Mateo County.
Result for: apple developer
According to a new note by Rodman & Renshaw Equity Research, Apple could sell up to 15 million iPhones in the quarter ending in September, easily the company’s strongest quarter for iPhone sales.
Sales will be boosted by the upcoming iPhone “4G” or “HD,” the smartphone leaked last month by Gizmodo after it was left in a bar by an Apple developer.
Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar said the company will manufacture 12 million of the new iPhone HD for the September quarter, which combined with iPhone 3GS sales could lead to 15 million for the period.
For the fiscal year, Apple could sell 40 million iPhones, up from 18 million for the fiscal 2009.
Adds Kumar (via SFGate): “Apple is close to achieving peak market share with its existing lineup of wireless carriers. The only way to keep growing its iPhone business is to expand its relationships with other carriers and to become more carrier-agnostic.”
The new iPhone will have a front-facing camera for video conferencing, a better standard camera (including larger lens and flash), a Micro-SIM slot (just like the iPad), large 960×640 resolution, a second mic, metallic exterior (not plastic) and split side buttons for volume.
Result for: apple developer
Gizmodo editor Jason Chen has had his home computers seized this week by California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team.
The team was working on a warrant from the Superior Court of San Mateo.
Chen recently revealed the upcoming iPhone 4G/HD, which was dropped in a bar by Apple developer Gray Powell, and eventually purchased by Gizmodo for $5000 USD.
New to the “iPhone HD,” are a front-facing camera for video conferencing, a better standard camera (including larger lens and flash), a Micro-SIM slot (just like the iPad), 960×640 resolution, a second mic, metallic exterior (not plastic) and split side buttons for volume.
After the report went up, Apple demanded its prototype back.
