Fake iphone 4S online

In CNET

A Chinese reseller, posting on the reseller Website EC21.com, is offering to sell the non-existent Apple iPhone 5.

As the launch of the latest AppleiPhone draws near, eager consumers should be cautious when buying devices from unauthorized resellers online, because they might be getting a fake.

Some experts estimate that up to 10 percent of technology products worldwide, or roughly $100 billion worth of technology product sales each year, are for counterfeit or fake products. Many of these products make their way into the U.S. market through online marketplaces, like eBay or Craigslist.

"Counterfeit devices are a very big problem in the secondary market," said Robert Auray, president and CEO GENCO Marketplace, a division of GENCO ATC . His company is a legitimate player in the secondary market. "One of the things we do is to control where the products are sold and to enforce protections for the customers who buy from us."

While Auray's company buys excess inventory from big retailers and manufacturers and then sells those devices to other sellers who may list products on a site like eBay or Amazon, the company says that all of its products are from legitimate suppliers. And it guarantees to its customers that the devices are authentic.

But Auray admitted that the launch of new and hot products, such as Apple's iPhone 4S, tends to attract the sale of counterfeit devices in many marketplaces. In fact, several Chinese online stores, including the business-to-business Website EC21.com, have already been selling the new "iPhone 5." Of course, the big catch is that there is noiPhone 5, since Apple announced the iPhone 4S earlier this week as its latest generation iPhone.

A popular online marketplace in China called Taobao.com, which has some 370 million registered users, was listing the fake iPhone 5 for as low as 200 Yuan or about $31, according to the Agence France Press.

Some of the smartphones offered are called "HiPhone 5" or "iiPhone 5" in an attempt to avoid accusations that they are counterfeit devices. But pictures of the devices show the Apple logo and look exactly like iPhones.

Chinese authorities have already seized fake versions of the iPhone 5, which the news agency Xinhua reported earlier this week.

A brief survey of popular consumer shopping Web sites in the U.S., such as eBay, Craigslist, and Amazon, didn't turn up what looked like illicit iPhone 5 or even iPhone 4S smartphones. But Theresa Mock, vice president of global marketing at Opsec Security, which helps companies protect their brands by scouring the Web for fakes, said counterfeits are likely coming.

The iPhone 4S will be launched in the U.S. and in six other countries next week. And experts are anticipating it to sell very well in all markets. Mock said that counterfeiters typically seed the market early with fake products right before a highly anticipated product launch, such as the one of the iPhone 4S.

Last year, Opsec compiled a report that found in the weeks and days before an official launch of a new smartphone, several suspicious listings for products from six manufacturers, namely Nokia, RIM, Apple, HTC, Samsung, and Motorola on reseller Websites. Opsec said that many of these products were being offered for deep discounts, with one seller offering 1,000 units per week at 65 percent below list price. The listings for devices advertised on the Websites also had features listed that hadn't been announced yet by the manufacturers.

"When it came in the mail, it was obviously a fake," she said. "The packaging didn't look right. The icons on the device and the logo from the company were a little different."

To help ensure you don't buy a fake iPhone 4S or any other kind of device, CNET assembled these questions that you should ask yourself before hitting the "buy" button.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20117021-266/experts-warn-shoppers-of-fake-iphone-4ss-online/#ixzz1a6kDda4k

Apple Vs Samsung War

In BBC News

Samsung wants iPhone 4S banned in France and Italy Samsung claims Apple failed to license patented technology in the iPhone 4S Continue reading the main story

Samsung is seeking an injunction to get the new iPhone 4S banned from sale in France and Italy.

It claims that Apple has used 3G wireless technology, which Samsung invented, without paying for it.

A patent war between the companies has been rumbling on for months in courts around the world.

Apple has obtained temporary embargoes on its rivals' products in Australia and Germany and is seeking similar rulings in several other countries.

In a statement, Samsung said: "Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology, and we will steadfastly protect our intellectual property."

Patent law blogger Florian Mueller warned that Samsung was putting the cart before the horse by seeking an injunction before negotiating terms.

"Imagine what would happen if every participant in a standard-setting process could later shut down entire telecommunications networks even if the alleged infringers are willing to pay a royalty to be determined, in the event of a commercial disagreement between the parties, by a court of law," wrote Mr Mueller on his Foss Patents site.

Sales bans

Samsung's claim centres around two patents covering Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), part of the iPhone's 3G wireless connectivity.

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 has also been the subject of patent cases

Because the technology is essential to the functioning of modern phones, Samsung is obliged to license it to other manufacturers under Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

Conversely, the patents being enforced by Apple against Samsung in Germany, the Netherlands and Australia relate to specific innovations which it is not obliged to license - primarily around its touchscreen user interface.

It has also successfully argued before the courts that the look and feel of Samsung's Galaxy Tab gave a "clear impression of similarity.

As a consequence of the actions:

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is currently banned from sale in Germany.

A ban on sales of Samsung smartphones is due to come into effect in the Netherlands in October.

Samsung has postponed its tablet launch plans in Australia while its legal battle there is ongoing.

Many observers believe that Samsung is walking a fine line between standing-up to Apple and avoiding jeopardising valuable contracts with its occasional foe.

Samsung supplies parts for many of Apple's devices, including screens for some of its smartphones and tablets. The two companies are said to have agreed a components deal in February worth $7.8bn (£5bn).

RIP Steve JOBS

The man who made possible mass technology, making the revolution of the interface between man and machine twice (Computer & Smartphone).

Low cost/low price tablet - World cheapest tablet

In BBC

India launches Aakash tablet computer priced at $35

Costing a fraction of Apple's iPad, the subsidised Aakash is aimed at students.

It supports web browsing and video conferencing, has a three-hour battery life and two USB ports, but questions remain over how it will perform.

Officials hope the computer will give digital access to students in small towns and villages across India, which lags behind its rivals in connectivity.

At the launch in the Indian capital, Delhi, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal handed out 500 Aakash (meaning sky) tablets to students who will trial them.

He said the government planned to buy 100,000 of the tablets. It hopes to distribute 10 million of the devices to students over the next few years.

"The rich have access to the digital world, the poor and ordinary have been excluded. Aakash will end that digital divide," Mr Sibal said.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

The thing with cheap tablets is most of them turn out to be unusable”

End Quote Rajat Agrawal BGR India

The Aakash has been developed by UK-based company DataWind and Indian Institute of Technology (Rajasthan).

It is due to be assembled in India, at DataWind's new production centre in the southern city of Hyderabad.

"Our goal was to break the price barrier for computing and internet access," DataWind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said.

"We've created a product that will finally bring affordable computing and internet access to the masses."

The company says it will also offer a commercial version of the tablet, called UbiSlate. It is expected to hit the shelves later this year, retailing for about $60.

iPhone 4S UK price confirmed

IN techradar

The iPhone 4S UK price has been made official by Apple, with the latest handset starting at £499 for the 16GB model in black or white.

The iPhone 4S UK release date, along with the US, Canada, France and Germany has already been set at 14 October and now we know the pricing structure.

You can check out our hands on hands on iPhone 4S review or watch our launch event video below

As you may expect, the iPhone 4S pricing it is broadly in line with its predecessors, with the lowest cost version arriving at £499 without a contract.

Appple Vs Samsung War: blocking iphine 4s sale

In Cnet

Samsung is already moving to block the sale of the newiPhone 4S in Europe barely a day after Apple announced its new flagship phone.

In a blog post today, Samsung said that it is filing requests for preliminary injunctions both in Paris and in Milan, Italy, asking the courts to ban the sale of the new iPhone.

In filing the motions, Samsung plans to accuse Apple of two patent infringements related to wireless technology, specifically the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standard used on 3G phones. The mobile handset maker said it believes that Apple's violation of its patents is "too severe" and that sales of the new iPhone should be blocked as a result.

"Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology," Samsung asserted in its blog. "We believe it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation."

Samsung added that it plans to file injunctions against the new iPhone in other countries after reviewing the matter further.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20115855-38/samsung-targets-iphone-4s-in-france-italy/#ixzz1ZuQzJQ1G

Apple Announces “Cheaper” iPhones: The Old Ones

in techcrunch

Despite predictions to the contrary, Apple did not announce a cheaper, mass market version of the iPhone today. Instead, it announced an upgraded iPhone 4 called the iPhone 4S. It’s the same on the outside, but with all new insides.

However, there are more affordable iPhones now on the market: the old ones. Apple says it’s keeping the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 around. Not only that, it’s dropping their prices. Why would Apple keep these aging devices alive? Simple. To battle Android, Symbian, RIM and Windows Phone – especially in emerging markets.

According to today’s announcement, the iPhone 3GS is now free with a contract. The iPhone 4 has been reduced to $99. While the new lower prices are based on 2-year agreements with mobile carriers, the fact that the phones are not being killed off entirely is important.

These are the “new” cheaper, mass market iPhones.

Apple didn’t specify where these discounted devices would be sold, only noting that the iPhone 4S would be available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., France, Germany and Japan. It would not be surprising to see these older models used as Apple’s inroads into emerging markets, though.

Here’s why:

More people are buying Android smartphones than iPhones. That fact is not in dispute.

According to recent estimates from comScore, Android’s U.S. market share is 41.8% to Apple’s 27%. In Europe, where Symbian still reigns, it’s 22.3% for Android vs. 20.3% for iPhone. Worldwide, some analysts now peg Android as having nearly 50% of the smartphone market.

What iPhone lacks in volume, though, it makes up for in profit, capturing two-thirds of available mobile phone profits in Q2 2011. One could even argue that Apple does not need to provide a low-cost iPhone – it was doing just fine without one, thank you very much.

Apple anounces iphone 5/iphone 4s

In techcrunch

The specs disclosed so far:

• Dual-core A5 CPU, said to be “2x as fast at CPU tasks”
• Dual-core graphics, up to “7x faster than the previous iPhone”
• Battery life estimates: 8 hours talk time on 3G, 14 hours on 2G. 6 hours of browsing on 3G, 9 on Wi-Fi. 10 hours of video playback, 40 hours of music.
• Theoretical download speeds of 14.4Mbps (as opposed to 7.2 on the iPhone 4.) Interestingly, Schiller called out Motorola, LG, and HTC for calling these speeds “4G”.
• World Phone (in other words, the one model will handle both GSM [like AT&T] and CDMA [like Verizon], and it should work well in most countries around the world)
• 8 megapixel camera (Photo resolution: 3264 x 2448). The camera also takes advantage of image processing on the A5 chip, enabling stuff like Face detection and 26% more accurate white balance.
• 1080p video recording with real-time noise reduction and video stabilization (!)
• Voice-controlled personal assistant. You can ask things like “Will it rain in Cupertino?”, or “Can you find me a Greek Restaurant in Palo Alto?”, or “What’s the time in Paris?” and it’ll answer accordingly. This is the culmination of their purchase of Siri back in 2010 — and surprisingly enough, they’re keeping the “Siri” name
• 
  

Apple Find my friends - Which Parents Can Use To Track Their Child’s Location:

Apple SVP of iOS software Scott Forstall unveiled a new feature that may sound familiar: ‘Find My Friends’, a map-based app that’ll let you see where your friends and family members are, provided they’ve opted into sharing their location with you.

Fire up the app and the location of each of these friends will be indicated by a purplish orb, which could come in handy if you’re trying to figure out how far someone has to go on their commute, or where they are at an amusement park.

Of course, the app sounds quite similar to Google’s Latitude, which has been doing the same thing since early 2009 (Latitude comes pre-installed alongside the Maps application on Android, though you have to opt into it). But Apple’s version includes some features that go a little further (and, once again, will compete with some existing startups).

First: there’s a way to share your location for a few hours at a time, with the feature automatically turning off at a specified hour (a service called Glympse was among the first to start doing this a couple of years ago). It’s a good idea, and one that helps cut back significantly on the creepy-factor associated with these persistant location sharing services.

And there’s a feature that’ll appeal to some parents: they can activate location tracking on their child’s phone, and use parental controls to ensure their kids can’t turn it off. This could be helpful for making sure younger, iPhone touting kids are safe, but it’ll probably lead to plenty of family debates between teens and their parents (my folks wouldn’t have ever tried to get me to use this, but if they did, I would’ve figured out a way to disable it).

Apple Reveals Siri Voice Interface: The “Intelligent Assistant” Only For iPhone 4S

All those rumors of deep voice integration in iOS 5 have just been confirmed. Scott Forstall is back onstage demoing the new “intelligent assistant” service, which surprisingly retains its original name: Siri.

Activating Siri requires a quick hold of the home button, and then Siri is ready to listen. So far, Forstall’s demos seem to confirm what we’ve already heard: it’s surprisingly robust, and is a champion when it comes to interpreting voice input.

So far, Forstall has asked Siri the current time in Paris, how the NASDAQ is doing today, and the location of great Greek food in Palo Alto. So far, Siri has answered all queries with aplomb, and the crowd is really getting a kick out of it.

Hotest: The iPhone 5/4S: The Complete Rumor Rundown

In techcrunch

The iPhone 4S Will Be A Less Expensive iPhone

Argument: Numerous leaked SKU line ups with iPhone prototypes that are made of just plastic rather than glass and aluminum found in Brazil.

Apple would completely disrupt Android and Windows Phone 7 by selling a new iPhone at $100 or less.

The iPhone 4 still packs enough computing power for most users.

Objections:

Unsubstantiated leaks cannot be trusted

Judgment: The stars just seem aligned for this one. The iPhone 4 is still a hot phone despite being over 15 months old. Apple just needs to repackage the current hardware into a less expensive body to completely demolish the competition.

Redesigned, thinner iPhone 5

Argument: Countless thinner cases have leaked over the previous months all purportedly built for the next iPhone.

Every successive iPhone has been thinner than the previous.

Apple likes to keep design cues constant between products and so the next iPhone will look similar to the iPad.

Objection: None, it’s a pretty solid claim

Judgment: Apple has never released a product thicker than the previous model and won’t start with the next iPhone.

Larger screen

Argument: The iPhone 4's 3.5-inch screen is tiny compared to recent superphones from Motorola, Samsung, and LG.

Leaked cases signal that the next iPhone will be physically longer and wider. A larger screen is logical if the size of the iPhone is increasing.

Our own research has shown that a larger screen is “likely.”

Objections: Larger screen could mess with apps designed for the smaller screen

Judgment: Apple cannot ignore the current popular trend of larger screen sizes. As long as the phone is thinner, a larger screen will not make the phone feel any bigger.

Edge-to-edge glass

Argument: Apple has always pushed the limit with its LCD implementation.

Edge-to-edge glass would give Apple something to tout over just using a larger screen.

Objections: Likely higher manufacturing cost, which would cut into the profit margin

Could lead to more broken screens

Judgment: Not likely just yet. Apple pushes the limit but only as far as its financially viable.

NFC Chip

Argument: NFC is the next big thing and already a feature on leading Android handsets

An NFC-equipped iPhone would further the advancement of mobile payments

Objection: Current NFC radios are separate microchips and not integrated into a unified communication chip, which requires PCB real estate and extra battery power

Apple could be waiting until the payment companies make a lucrative offer to them

Judgment: Apple tends to incorporate non-proprietary tech only after its viability is proven. So that’s a “No.”

Dual-core A5 CPU

Argument: Apple tends to include a faster CPU with each iPhone release

iOS 5 will likely benefit from a faster, dual-core CPU

Objection: More powerful CPUs tend to decrease battery life

Judgment: It’s very likely the next major iPhone will have the A5 CPU. However, Apple might stick with the A4 for a mid-model refresh like the rumored iPhone 4S

New home button

Argument: Leaked cases and bezels show an elongated opening/button

Touch-sensitive bezels allows for new controls, multitouch gestures

Objections: Completely changes Apple’s “Keep It Simple, Stupid” design

Could break current apps

Judgment: Don’t start designing your next Kickstarter iPhone case project around this rumor. Apple will likely stick with its traditional home button.

8MP camera

Argument: MP count has increased with every new iPhone release

An 8MP photo previously appeared with iPhone 5 metadata

Megapixel counts are unfortunately a comparison point between different phones

Objections: Higher megapixel counts does not necessarily improve picture quality. Apple knows this. Hopefully.

Judgment: Camera sensors are constantly shrinking in size while increasing in MP count. Expect a higher count sensor but not necessarily an 8MP version.

CDMA/GSM dual-mode radio

Argument: The next iPhone will use Qualcomm Gobi Baseband and run on both GSM and CDMA networks

Dual-mode phones have shown up in developer’s usage stats

Would allow Apple to makes/sell just one version, decreasing manufacturing costs

Allow Apple to sell a completely unlocked iPhone. Buy one from the Apple Store and activate it however you want

Carrier independence is a huge selling point

Objection: Dual-mode mobile radios are still very rare

R&D cost could make it financially unfeasible

Judgment: It’s hard to say. The upsides are huge for both Apple and consumers, but dual-mode radios are not widely used. Apple tends to use highly-available and therefore, high margin components.

Extensive voice controls

Argument:The next iPhone will have powerful voice controls built by Siri called Assistant, which Apple bought last year for $200m

The voice controls would outclass Android’s with more natural navigation paths

These function would need beefy hardware like the rumored A5 CPU, which creates an up-sell point for iPhone 4 owners

Objections: None, really. Seems like a logical step for iOS.

Judgment: It’s hard to predict future iOS features, but more beefy voice controls are probably on the road map.

Hotest: The iPhone 5/4S: The Complete Rumor Rundown

In techcrunch

The iPhone 4S Will Be A Less Expensive iPhone

Argument: Numerous leaked SKU line ups with iPhone prototypes that are made of just plastic rather than glass and aluminum found in Brazil.

Apple would completely disrupt Android and Windows Phone 7 by selling a new iPhone at $100 or less.

The iPhone 4 still packs enough computing power for most users.

Objections:

Unsubstantiated leaks cannot be trusted

Judgment: The stars just seem aligned for this one. The iPhone 4 is still a hot phone despite being over 15 months old. Apple just needs to repackage the current hardware into a less expensive body to completely demolish the competition.

Redesigned, thinner iPhone 5

Argument: Countless thinner cases have leaked over the previous months all purportedly built for the next iPhone.

Every successive iPhone has been thinner than the previous.

Apple likes to keep design cues constant between products and so the next iPhone will look similar to the iPad.

Objection: None, it’s a pretty solid claim

Judgment: Apple has never released a product thicker than the previous model and won’t start with the next iPhone.

Larger screen

Argument: The iPhone 4's 3.5-inch screen is tiny compared to recent superphones from Motorola, Samsung, and LG.

Leaked cases signal that the next iPhone will be physically longer and wider. A larger screen is logical if the size of the iPhone is increasing.

Our own research has shown that a larger screen is “likely.”

Objections: Larger screen could mess with apps designed for the smaller screen

Judgment: Apple cannot ignore the current popular trend of larger screen sizes. As long as the phone is thinner, a larger screen will not make the phone feel any bigger.

Edge-to-edge glass

Argument: Apple has always pushed the limit with its LCD implementation.

Edge-to-edge glass would give Apple something to tout over just using a larger screen.

Objections: Likely higher manufacturing cost, which would cut into the profit margin

Could lead to more broken screens

Judgment: Not likely just yet. Apple pushes the limit but only as far as its financially viable.

NFC Chip

Argument: NFC is the next big thing and already a feature on leading Android handsets

An NFC-equipped iPhone would further the advancement of mobile payments

Objection: Current NFC radios are separate microchips and not integrated into a unified communication chip, which requires PCB real estate and extra battery power

Apple could be waiting until the payment companies make a lucrative offer to them

Judgment: Apple tends to incorporate non-proprietary tech only after its viability is proven. So that’s a “No.”

Dual-core A5 CPU

Argument: Apple tends to include a faster CPU with each iPhone release

iOS 5 will likely benefit from a faster, dual-core CPU

Objection: More powerful CPUs tend to decrease battery life

Judgment: It’s very likely the next major iPhone will have the A5 CPU. However, Apple might stick with the A4 for a mid-model refresh like the rumored iPhone 4S

New home button

Argument: Leaked cases and bezels show an elongated opening/button

Touch-sensitive bezels allows for new controls, multitouch gestures

Objections: Completely changes Apple’s “Keep It Simple, Stupid” design

Could break current apps

Judgment: Don’t start designing your next Kickstarter iPhone case project around this rumor. Apple will likely stick with its traditional home button.

8MP camera

Argument: MP count has increased with every new iPhone release

An 8MP photo previously appeared with iPhone 5 metadata

Megapixel counts are unfortunately a comparison point between different phones

Objections: Higher megapixel counts does not necessarily improve picture quality. Apple knows this. Hopefully.

Judgment: Camera sensors are constantly shrinking in size while increasing in MP count. Expect a higher count sensor but not necessarily an 8MP version.

CDMA/GSM dual-mode radio

Argument: The next iPhone will use Qualcomm Gobi Baseband and run on both GSM and CDMA networks

Dual-mode phones have shown up in developer’s usage stats

Would allow Apple to makes/sell just one version, decreasing manufacturing costs

Allow Apple to sell a completely unlocked iPhone. Buy one from the Apple Store and activate it however you want

Carrier independence is a huge selling point

Objection: Dual-mode mobile radios are still very rare

R&D cost could make it financially unfeasible

Judgment: It’s hard to say. The upsides are huge for both Apple and consumers, but dual-mode radios are not widely used. Apple tends to use highly-available and therefore, high margin components.

Extensive voice controls

Argument:The next iPhone will have powerful voice controls built by Siri called Assistant, which Apple bought last year for $200m

The voice controls would outclass Android’s with more natural navigation paths

These function would need beefy hardware like the rumored A5 CPU, which creates an up-sell point for iPhone 4 owners

Objections: None, really. Seems like a logical step for iOS.

Judgment: It’s hard to predict future iOS features, but more beefy voice controls are probably on the road map.

World’s first Google store opens in London

In The Telegraph

Google has opened its first physical shop. The ‘Chromezone’ is a shop within a branch of Currys and PC World on London’s Tottenham Court Road, and is being used by Google to trial a new way of selling its own ‘Chromebook’ laptops.

The new laptops run Google’s own operating system and rely heavily on an internet connection for functionality. Previously, they were only available online but the search giant now believes consumers will benefit from being shown the in real life.

Samsung has previously questioned the original strategy of selling Chromebooks online.

The launch was low key compared to Apple’s massively hyped opening of its first London shop in 2004, but Google claimed that it will experiment with the format and could open more retail outlets in the future.

"Specially trained Chromebook experts will be on hand to offer guidance and advice to shoppers", the company said in a statement.

iPhone 5 cases show up at AT&T stores

In techradar

Someone somewhere has a crystal ball. An unnamed company has managed to make a bunch of silicon sleeves for the Apple iPhone 5 before the device is announced to the world.

The cases, which have arrived at an AT&T retail shop in the US, show a wider device than the iPhone 4, with a tapered (some might say 'raindrop') design.

The only other thing we can see is different from the iPhone 4 is that the mute button seems to be on the opposite side of the handset.

One other detail worth noting is that the sleeve's packaging calls the product "Silicone sleeve Apple iPhone 5" - you'll note that it doesn't say iPhone 4S. But then you'll also note that the name is printed on a dodgy-looking white label.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus announced

In Techradar

Samsung has announced the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus – a Honeycomb version of its 7-inch tablet range.

Samsung seems to be loving the 7-inch section of the tablet market, probably because it is a place where Apple can't put them through the courts.

While the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 offers up a superior screen, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has some impressive specs.

Android 3.2

The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus runs the latest Android Honeycomb 3.2 and has been given a 1.2GHz dual core processor (up from 1GHz), 1GB of RAM, either 16GB or 32GB of built-in storage, 3-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras on the back and front, respectively.

So far so Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 old version, but the chassis has been given a trim as well, it's now 9.96mm and the tablet has been made lighter, too – weighing in a 345g.

Other features include a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi, 3G (HSPA+), Bluetooth 3.0, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi Direct.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus UK release date is "later this year" with pricing to be announced.

Anonymous starts activism via corporate securities research

In Cnet

Members of the Anonymous collective are not just taking their activism to the Internet and the streets; they're now targeting corporate financials with a securities research arm.

The mission of Anonymous Analytics is to "expose companies that practice poor corporate governance and are involved in large-scale fraudulent activities," according to the Web site.

Anonymous researchers--who include unnamed and unnumbered "analysts, forensic accountants, statisticians, computer experts, and lawyers"--will base their investigative reports on information "acquired through legal channels, fact-checked, and vetted thoroughly before release."

Their first target is a produce firm listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange that is under investigation by the Hong Kong government. Anonymous Analytics released a 38-page report (PDF) this week accusing Chaoda Modern Agriculture of China of deceiving shareholders and investors, falsifying financial statements, using a shell company to siphon money out, and perpetrating "one of the Hong Kong Exchange's largest, and longest running frauds." The report predicts that the company will be eventually delisted.

Despite the unorthodox provenance of the report, financial news service Reuters reported on it.

Representatives from Chaoda did not respond to a CNET request for comment via e-mail. A spokesman told Reuters that the company was looking at the report and might issue a statement later.

"Think of them as Muddy Waters on steroids: no regulation, no supervision, no accountability--just pure content, and credibility-driven merit (or, of course, lack thereof): a model which if validated will totally revolutionize the field of public company research," wrote a blogger on Zero Hedge.com.

The Financial Times interviewed an unidentified Anonymous Analytics researcher who explained the new focus on corporate financial activities and governance as "the logical next step."

"When you target a company's share price, suddenly the message gets heard really quick," the activist is quoted as saying.

In another article, an Anonymous Analytics researcher disclosed to the Financial Times that "associates, partners, affiliates, consultants, clients," and other parties have short positions on Chaoda's stock price and thus have an "indirect interest" if the share price drops.

Anonymous is using various methods to promote its anti-corporate, anti-censorship, pro-civil liberties messages. It used to just organize distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on targets like Sony, and repressive regimes in other countries in solidarity with Arab Spring uprisings, but is expanding its scope.

In offline activities Anonymous activists have promoted demonstrations in San Francisco to protest alleged police brutality by Bay Area Rapid Transit police. And more recently they have been active in the Occupy Wall Street protests. Anonymous supporters leaked personal information this week of a New York police officer who pepper sprayed a group of protesters in a holding area in what appears to be an unprovoked act, based on video footage. Hackers also released personal information for Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein.

Borrowing a page from the WikiLeaks whistleblower site, Anonymous launched LocalLeaks and HackerLeaks sites earlier this year for insiders and other hackers to leak sensitive information from governments and corporations.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20113668-245/anonymous-starts-activism-via-corporate-securities-research/#ixzz1ZQhIGdVC

Missing iPhone 5 may explain new cases from China

In Cnet

An iPhone 5 prototype allegedly taken from a factory run by Apple supplier Foxconn may be the blueprint for all the unofficial cases popping up in China.

Visiting Shenzhen, China, last week, members of the blog site M.I.C. Gadget, who cover stories on China, said they were tipped off by an "iPhone accessories supplier" that the prototype had been missing from Foxconn factory's in the Shenzhen district.

Whoever got their hands on the prototype reportedly wiped its software clean so that it couldn't be traced and then sold it to one of the case makers for around $3,100, leading to the flood of iPhone 5 cases being hawked by online marketplace Alibaba and other Chinese retailers.

Though the prototype was in a case designed to camouflage it as aniPhone 4, the phone itself sported a tapered teardrop shape, which some rumors have claimed theiPhone 5 will use. Compared with cases for the iPhone 4, the cases being created for the new iPhone are thinner but also wider and longer, says M.I.C. Gadget, in some aspects similar to an iPod Touch.

Assuming the story about the missing prototype is true, the blog site says it's "very sure that one or more of these case manufacturers have access to what is believed to be the prototype of the iPhone 5 with the finalized design."

iPhone prototypes seem to have a history of getting lost.

Last year, an Apple employee left an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar in San Jose, Calif. The phone ended up in the hands of tech blog site Gizmodo, which shelled out $5,000 for it, eventually triggering a police probe. And more recently, an iPhone 5 was reported lost, this time in a bar in San Francisco, and again drawing in the local police.

Whatever iPhone 5 prototypes or cases may be floating around out there, we'll know for sure what the new phone looks like when Apple finally unveils the device next Tuesday.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20112775-37/missing-iphone-5-may-explain-new-cases-from-china/#ixzz1ZQU8Z2Pd