Week in review: An iPhone prototype walks into a bar...

In one of the more intriguing tech tales of late, a blog site ended up in possession of what is believed to be a prototype iPhone 4G that was either left, lost, or stolen in a Silicon Valley bar.

Last weekend, Engadget posted photos of what appeared to be a yet-to-be-announced, next-generation Apple device that was allegedly found on the floor of a bar in San Jose, Calif. A tipster had apparently sent the photos to the gadget blog for posting.

Come Monday morning, Engadget rival Gizmodo upped the ante and said it was actually in possession of what appeared to be the same device, claiming it was from "someone" who found it on the floor of a bar in Redwood City, Calif.

Nick Denton, CEO of Gizmodo parent company Gawker Media, later acknowledged that he paid $5,000 to the person who possessed the phone after it was reportedly lost in a bar by an Apple software engineer Gray Powell. One publication has even noted that Gawker may have violated California laws on the buying of "stolen property."

Gizmodo sent the device to Apple following a request from the company's legal chief, which Gizmodo called verification of the device's authenticity.
•  How Gizmodo got its iPhone scoop (Q&A)
•  Lost iPhone prototype spurs police probe
•  Did lost iPhone lead to blog bidding war?
•  Gray Powell's father: 'He was devastated'
•  Letterman pokes fun at Gray Powell, iPhone 4G
•  Lufthansa to Gray Powell: Drinks are on us

More headlines

Facebook F8: One graph to rule them all

The social network's big announcement at its F8 developer conference is what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls the "Open Graph."
•  What Facebook's latest means for the Web
•  Where is geolocation at Facebook's F8?
•  Facebook nixing 'Facebook Connect' branding
•  Manifest destiny at Facebook's F8 confab

McAfee glitch whacks Windows XP machines

A routine update to the company's antivirus software provokes false positives, knocking for a loop PCs with XP SP3.
•  McAfee bug forces Aussie store closures
•  How to fix your McAfee-crippled computer
•  McAfee apologizes for antivirus update disaster

Adobe scraps work to bring Flash apps to iPhone

An Adobe technology to deliver Flash apps to Apple's iPhone has no future. But Adobe isn't going down without a very vocal fight.
•  The Flash fracas between Adobe and Apple (FAQ)

Legal spying via the cell phone system

Researchers say they are able to access telco data to get information believed to be private--cell phone numbers and where they are being used.
•  Second-hand copiers can spill secrets

Amazon fights demand for customer records

E-tailer files privacy and First Amendment suit after North Carolina tax collectors demand detailed records revealing residents' online buys.
•  N.C. defends request for Amazon customer records

Privacy officials criticize launch of Google Buzz

Letter from 10 privacy commissioners, including Germany, Canada, and the U.K., asks for reassurance that future product launches will have "adequate" privacy protections.
•  Google Buzz pops up in Google Maps online

Hacker runs Google's Android on Apple's iPhone

Don't expect to see this in stores anytime soon, but evidently technology from two mobile phone rivals can be made to cooperate.

Can green tech save the Earth? It won't be easy

Innovation has blossomed in energy and the environment, but green-tech upstarts still have a long way to go to make a real impact. As we observe Earth Day, here's a look at the progress--and the challenges.
•  Chasing home efficiency, nudged by the sun

Study: Teens prefer texting to talking

Text messaging outshines all other means of communicating on teens' cell phones, with one-third of them texting more than 100 times a day.
•  Shot girl gets text message apology

Also of note
•  MLB.TV plays ball live with Sony PS3
•  iPad has 'changed' 99-year-old woman's life
•  Google Street View shoots same woman 43 times