brian hogan

iPhone 4 leaker tells all on Reddit AMA

Brian Hogan knew he had something valuable when he discovered that the cell phone he found in a California bar in 2010 was actually an unreleased iPhone prototype. However, it quickly led to some poor decisions, he now admits.

Three years down the line, Hogan feels ready to talk about the saga, which he did on Tuesday via a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session titled "I leaked the iPhone 4."

"I rarely talk about topic with people, but my conscience is clear, I'm over the embarrassment, and life's too short for some of the … Read more

iPhone theft suspects enter no-contest plea

Two men pleaded no contest today to theft of lost property in a case involving last year's iPhone 4 prototype, which Apple claimed was so valuable that a price could not be placed on it.

The men, who were accused of selling the device to gadget blog Gizmodo last year, were sentenced to one year of probation, 40 hours of public service, and a requirement that each pay $250 in restitution to Apple, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told CNET.

Brian Hogan, the man who allegedly found the prototype in a bar, and Sage Wallower, who allegedly … Read more

Gizmodo not charged in iPhone 4 theft

Hewlett-Packard permanently cuts the price of the TouchPad to just $399, Google is reportedly rushing to finish the Ice Cream Sandwich update to its Android operating system, and the San Mateo, Calif., district attorney has filed charges in the theft of an iPhone 4 prototype but not against Gizmodo.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

iPhone 4 charged filed against two men but not Gizmodo HTC buys Beats by Dr. Dre HP cuts price of TouchPad to $399 Google rushing to finish Ice Cream Sandwich Verizon and AT&T block jailbroken tetherers Nintendo 3DS gets "Flame Red" … Read more

Police interview Steve Jobs about prototype iPhone

For months, little news has surfaced about the police investigation into the sale last spring of a lost prototype iPhone 4. That may soon change.

Stephen Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, Calif., told CNET today that police are close to wrapping up their theft investigation and could forward their final report to his office within the next few weeks. Wagstaffe will then review the information and determine whether to file criminal charges.

As part of the investigation, police interviewed a "number of Apple employees" and other people connected to the case, including Apple CEO … Read more

Court examines Gizmodo devices for iPhone info

Authorities have finally begun examining the computers, server, and other electronic gear seized from a Gizmodo editor as part of the investigation into a missing iPhone prototype.

Stephen Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, told CNET on Wednesday that a court there had appointed a "special master" to search the items seized from the home of Jason Chen in late April. The court has asked the special master to collect only information that pertains to Gizmodo's dealings with an iPhone prototype that the blog purchased for $5,000.

In March, an Apple employee lost … Read more

Court docs: iPhone finder had no pity for Powell

Records released Friday in the ongoing investigation into a lost prototype iPhone painted an unfavorable picture of Brian Hogan, the 21-year-old student who found the device and later sold it to a gadget blog.

According to police records released as part of an affidavit in San Mateo County (Calif.) Superior Court, Hogan's roommate, Katherine Martinson, told authorities that Hogan knew the identity of the owner very soon after finding the handset but had no intention of returning it. Robert Gray Powell, a 27-year-old Apple engineer, lost the phone in March after a night of drinking in a Redwood City, … Read more

Court fight brews over unsealing iPhone records

An attorney for the 21-year-old Silicon Valley resident who found what appears to be Apple's prototype iPhone in a bar is expected to oppose a request by CNET and other media organizations to unseal court records relating to the investigation.

A coalition also including the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, the Los Angeles Times, and Wired.com has prepared a 7-page legal brief that will ask a court to unseal the detective's affidavit used to obtain a search warrant nearly two weeks ago. A hearing has been tentatively scheduled in the San Mateo County courthouse for 2 p.m. … Read more