A San Mateo County judge on Thursday refused to consider a request by media organizations to learn the justification police used to search a Gizmodo editor’s home for information about the sale of a possible prototype iPhone.

Judge Stephen Hall rejected the group’s request for a hearing on Thursday, instead assigning it to the judge who granted the search warrant last month and who is expected to hear arguments next week.

Prosecutors also said the sealed affidavit is “not a public record, and thus is not subject to requests under any public records act.”

Full story at http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20004389-37.html

There are tons of rumours surrounding the iPhone 4G and Verizon iPhone (or CDMA iPhone) and when, where, and how they are supposed to be released. Some respected blogs have released what could almost be considered ’statements’ claiming that the iPhone 4G and Verizon iPhone will be released on the same day, at the WWDC, on June 7, June 8, etc. While we love the speculation and appreciate the anticipation, we prefer to maintain grounded and make our guesses at least based on some sort of factual evidence.

We see a variety of factors that will influence this year’s release of the new iPhone, as well as if and when there will be a release of a CDMA version of the popular iPhone, and finally whether it would be locked to any particular network, such as Verizon.  These factors include Sprint, Verizon, and their various device release dates and subscriber activity.

We all know that not only Steve Jobs doesn’t want to play second to anyone, he doesn’t want there to BE any second.  One cluster of incidents that point to June 7 release date for the iPhone 4G is the following:  Last month, it was reported through various sources that the iPhone 4G would be released on or around June 22, 2010.  However, recent dissatisfaction with the AT&T network has caused some industry shakeup, and when combined with the release of new Android models and Verizon’s device decisions, it’s a worthy assumption that Apple would release the iPhone 4G before the new HTC Evo 4G, which is scheduled to be released on June 13, 2010.

With regards to the CDMA, or Verizon iPhone 4G, there have been rumours for some time and from a variety of sources, but nothing so far that can be confirmed, which is typical for Apple.  However, with the recent stampede of customers to Verizon upon the release of the Verizon HTC Incredible, it’s safe to say that Apple has at least been eyeballing the CDMA market, in which Verizon is the undisputed king.  However, the iPhone does have one of the most loyal and powerful consumer bases in the device world, and it’s always a possibility for Apple to release an unbranded CDMA device which they could control and distribute internally.  On the other hand, an unbranded GSM device would be much more marketable and convenient, and we haven’t seen that happen yet either, so it’s hard to make assumptions in that arena.

Of course two of the most recent and discussed factors are the Gizmodo iPhone 4G incident and the Apple WWDC, which is scheduled to open on June 7, 2010.  While the public will probably never know the full story, there is no shortage of theories, one of the most popular being that the whole incident was a not-s0-sneaky Apple publicity stunt.  And while we know Apple loves its ‘buzz’ this is one rumour that will probably be never be confirmed, officially at least.  As far as the WWDC, everyone knows that previous iPhone version releases always happened at or at least around the WWDC dates, so it’s a somewhat safe assumption that if they are planning an iPhone 4G or a Verizon iPhone release, it will happen there.

While we understand that this really doesn’t present any definite answers, we would like to remind our readers to be skeptical of any of the numerous release date claims, even on websites that seem credible.  The fact is that at this point, no one outside of the select Apple inner circle really knows exactly when the iPhone 4G will be released, and whether or not there will be a Verizon iPhone and when it would be released.

We have received a number of links from our readers to websites that claim inside knowledge or predict specific dates, etc.  Please continue to send us your links, we will be posting a complete list and calling out all of the bogus claims and their authors in the next few days.

Also, please don’t forget to click the ‘Like’ button at the top of the page.  We usually release exclusive and breaking information to our Facebook fans and friends before posting them on our blog, so if you want the latest and most accurate releases regarding the iPhone 4G, Verizon iPhone, and more, connect with us on our Facebook page or by clicking the ‘Like’ button at the top of any of our blog posts.

A number of popular websites and blogs (see below for list of sources) have begun to report the release date for the Verizon iPhone 4G as being during the week of the WorldWide Developer Conference (WWDC).  Additionally, Apple today announced that it will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 7 through June 11 at San Francisco’s Moscone West.  All of these signs point to an imminent release of the iPhone 4G device.

PLEASE NOTE:
AntiCommon.com will be posting a number of exclusive updates containing breaking information regarding the rumored CDMA iPhone device and Apple-branded iPhone Car Connect Kit, the Verizon iPhone 4G release date, and lots more over the next week as we receive authorization from our sources.

If you want the latest updates, click here and become a fan of our Facebook page right now!

We will be releasing all of our iPhone news and device release updates etc on our Facebook page first, so become a fan now to be notified of every update in real time!

Sources:
QuickPwn.com – Verizon iPhone Release Date, new iPhone…
Khabrein.info – Verizon iPhone Release Date and new iPhone…

Gizmodo.com, the technology blog, said law enforcement officials seized computers from the home of Jason Chen, a staff editor who wrote about a prototype for an Apple Inc. iPhone that had been left behind in a bar.

“Last Friday night, California’s Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen’s home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers,” according to a statement on Gizmodo’s site, which is owned by Gawker Media.

Gawker Chief Operating Officer Gaby Darbyshire asked the police today to return Chen’s property, citing a law that protects online journalists from having their newsroom equipment seized. The seizure may reignite debate over whether bloggers should be accorded the same status as reporters who work for traditional news outlets.

“Under both state and federal law, a search warrant may not be validly issued to confiscate the property of a journalist,” Darbyshire wrote in a letter posted at Gawker’s Web site. “We expect the immediate return of the materials you confiscated from Mr. Chen.”

Gizmodo said it paid $5,000 to obtain the device after it was left at a Redwood City, California, bar by an Apple engineer identified as Gray Powell. A patron who found the device on a stool and realized it was an unreleased iPhone, tried to contact Apple to return it, Gizmodo said, citing an interview with the unidentified finder.

Gizmodo gave the phone to Apple on April 19 after receiving a letter from Bruce Sewell, the company’s general counsel, asking for the return of a “device that belongs to Apple.”

‘Are Bloggers Journalists?’

Nick Denton, founder and president of Gawker, said in an e- mail that the question boils down to whether Chen is considered a journalist. “Are bloggers journalists? I guess we’ll find out.”

REACT, a Silicon Valley technology crime task force, is continuing with the investigation, said Stephen Wagstaffe, chief deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, which has jurisdiction over Redwood City, about 25 miles south of San Francisco. He declined to say who or what initiated the investigation.

“What Gizmodo is saying has been addressed to us and is being looked at by us and the prosecutor assigned to the investigation,” Wagstaffe said in an interview today. “When and if the investigative team submits a case to us, I don’t know if they will or when. At this point, we are just investigating, no different than any other incident that is reported to us.”

The investigation is being led by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department detectives assigned to REACT, an independent law enforcement agency.

Wagstaffe said that there have been allegations that the probe involves violations of California theft laws. The allegations of theft involve the person who found the phone, Wagstaffe said, adding he’s “not suggesting anything as to anyone else.”

Chen described the seizure in a six-paragraph letter posted on Gizmodo, which also published the search warrant inventory provided by REACT.

iPhone 2010 CDMA & Apple 4.0 4g OS Cell Phone Handset.  Verizon works on CDMA technology, and AT&T works on GSM technology. GSM technology is used more widely throughout the world, whereas CDMA technology is used primarily in North America.  When Apple created their iPhone, they placed it on the AT&T network.  There is an exclusivity deal that is rumored to end sometime during the year.  If that is the case, it appears as if Verizon customers may be in luck.

There are a few rumors out there.  One states that Verizon is going to have an iPhone, and the other is that Apple is going to make a CDMA handset that you purchase directly from them, and then activate on whatever CDMA network you are on.  The two biggest CDMA networks in the US are Sprint and Verizon.

The Apple iPhone 4.0 4g hasn’t come out yet- and there’s no official word that it will. However, with the new OS coming out in the Summer it would make sense for Apple to release yet another new iPhone handset.

The rumor of an updated handset intensified when Gizmodo released photos of a phone left in a bar that is believed to be a newly redesigned Apple cell phone.  Its origin was traced back to an engineer at the Cupertino, California based company.

Still yet, the rumors aren’t enough. People want to know MORE about what Apple has planned.  On June 22, it is said that the company is renting out a facility where they typically make announcements.  Could it be that on that date we will see a new handset revealed? It will be interesting to find out.

Until then, Apple lovers can look forward to Friday’s release of the iPad 3g.  This is a superb addition to anyone’s gadget collection and will allow you to keep the world at your fingertips.