Wireless And Mobile News

Redwood City college student, Brian Hogan has been identified as the lost iPhone 4 finder who sold it to Gizmodo. His attorney released statement  Hogan "regrets his mistake in not doing more to return the phone," and that he thought the $5,000 payment from Gizmodo was only "so that they could review the phone."

Gizmodo revealed all the new features of the iPhone 4 to the public, the iPhone 4 has a front facing camera, larger battery, square shape, MicroSIM and camera flash.

"Brian opened the iPhone onto a Facebook page but then the phone shut down," attorney Bornstein writes. "From that time on, the phone was inoperable the entire time Brian had it."

Brian was in the bar with friends when someone handed him the iPhone after finding it on a bar stool near the area where Brian was sitting. Brian said the phone was not his but the bar patron walked away from the conversation and left the bar. Brian asked others near him if the phone belonged to them. When they disclaimed ownership, Brian and his friends left the bar with the phone.

"Brian believed and Gizmodo emphasized to him that there was nothing wrong in sharing the phonewith the tech press. Brian has been and is willing to cooperate.:

Hogan is not all that bad. Brian  teaches swimming to kids at a church community center. He also has taught English in China to college students and volunteered at a Chinese orphanage and volunteered in Vietnam to plant a friendship garden. Hogan volunteers to assist his aunt and sister with fundraising for their work to provide medical care to orphans in Kenya,"

CNET is reporting  that Hogan's friend, Sage Robert Wallower, a UC Berkeley student "contacted technology sites" about the prototype iPhone 4. Wallower told CNET that he "didn't see it or touch it in any manner" but knows "who found it," adding, "I need to speak to a lawyer ... I think I have said too much."

CNET reported under California any person who finds lost property and knows who the owner is likely to be--but "appropriates such property to his own use"--is guilty of theft. There's  a second state law stating that  any person who knowingly receives property that has been obtained illegally can be imprisoned for up to one year.

Gizmodo's editor Brian Chen's house was searched and computer equipment seized. California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team entered editor Jason Chen's home without him present, seizing four computers and two servers. They did so using a warrant by Judge of Superior Court of San Mateo.

This news story is being watched by all the tech press.  There has been an increasing trend of tech sites and blogger paying for leaked information of trade secrets and pre-release smartphones, that is very disconcerting to tech companies that want to keep their trade secrets to themselves.

The other side to this story is that there is still a high theft rate for iPhones, iPods and other high-priced electronics.

Wireless and Mobile News does not pay our tips, we work by finding information that is helpful to our readers.  We try to keep of track when the new latest smartphones are appearing  and their specs, because it helps consumers make buying decisions.