In iPhone case, shield law doesn't matter

A court has set aside concerns that police trampled the state's shield law protecting the free-press rights of journalists and appointed a "special master" to search through the computer files of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen in hopes of finding information about a prototype iPhone. Apparently Chen's attorney, Thomas Nolan, brokered a deal to let the search happen.

Chen published several online stories and videos about the prototype, which he obtained after Gizmodo's parent company, Gawker Media, agreed to pay $5000 to a man who said he found the phone in a bar.

Judge makes public document public

A San Mateo judge decided the time was right to unseal an affidavit used as the basis to search Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's home. Police were looking for information about his connection to a man alleged to have stole a next-generation Apple iPhone. Here's the summary:

Suspect Brian Hogan found or stole a prototype iPhone 4G that was accidentally left at a restaurant by Apple employee Rober "Gray" Powell. Hogan identified the owner of the phone as Apple Engineer Gray Powell through the contents of the phone and through Internet searches. Rather than return the prototype phone to Powell and/or Apple, Hogan subsequently sold the iPhone [to] Jason Chen in Fremont for $5,000. Upon receiving the stolen property, Chen disassembled the iPhone, thereby causing it to be damaged. Chen created copies of the iPhone prototype in the form of digital images and video, which were subsequently published on the Internet based magazine Gizmodo.com

This search warrant seeks authorization to search the residence of Jason Chen for evidence related to the purchase of the iPhone prototype, copying (photographic images and video), and publishing of the iPhone prototype by Jason Chen...

MediaNews going mobile with Verve

Dean Singleton's MediaNews Group, along with Belo, Hearst and Cox, have contracted with Verve Wireless to develop publishing software to transfer online content to mobile devices, including the iPhone. Mobile technology appears to be the next big thing for online news content.

Verve is headquartered in Encinitas, California and headed by Art Howe, a former reporter who won a Pulitzer Prize with the Philadelphia Inquirer.