Claimed iPhone 6 Prototype Appears on eBay With Bids Reaching $89,000

eBay seller kimberlyk1018 claims to have received a prototype iPhone 6 by accident and is auctioning the device with bids reaching over $89,000 since the auction's posting late last week. While the high bids are undoubdtedly not genuine, the auction is obviously attracting a significant amount of attention.



According to a rather suspect story from the auction description, the device supposedly is a prototype 64 GB iPhone 6 that was shipped to the seller from Verizon Wireless.

Apple does NOT let these phones out of their possession yet I was accidentally sent one upon renewing my contract. As you can see from the photos, iOS8 has not been placed on this device, rather it is in the true developer mode. There are no FCC markings on the rear of the device or a model number. This is the real deal!!! The lightening port is red which is a sure sign of a prototype.

The authenticity of the device and the story behind it cannot be verified, but several photos that accompany the listing suggest it is not a consumer device.





The device apparently does not include iOS 8, instead shipping with several development and testing apps that are similar to those seen on previously leaked prototypes. It also ships with a red-bordered Lightning port and lacks the FCC regulatory information that appears on all consumer iPhone models.





If authentic, this unit joins several previous prototypes that have made their way from Apple to eBay's auction listings. Most of these earlier prototypes were quickly removed from the auction website, likely at Apple's request.

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Posted in 2014 at 02:53PM, October 06

Sony shows off the Xperia Z3 Compact, a smaller flagship phone with the same killer specs

Sony has unveiled an impressive lineup of phones at IFA, but the flagship Xperia Z3 is clearly the star of the show. It's also a sizable device with a 5.2-inch display, but Sony doesn't want to scare off any consumers who aren't ready to make the leap to 5+ inches. That's where the Xperia Z3 Compact comes in.

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Posted in 2014 at 02:53PM, September 03

Apple's Rumored Reversible USB Connector Supported by Patent Filing, but Likely to Face Challenge

Several leaked photos in recent days have suggested Apple may be looking to move to a reversible USB connector for its next-generation Lightning cables, making it easier for users to plug the cables into their computers, chargers, and other equipment with standard USB ports.



As noted by Patently Apple late last week, the idea is actually supported by an Apple patent application filed in January 2014 covering just such a design. The application was published just a few weeks ago and cites as priority a provisional patent application filed by Apple in January 2013.



Apple isn't the only company with this technology, however, so it is unclear exactly how this situation will play out given that Apple's patent application was only assigned to an examiner ten days ago. A California company by the name of UltraTek already holds a patent for the reversible connector and is selling cables through major online retailers.





UltraTek first filed a patent application for its "User-Friendly USB Connector" technology in 2009 and was awarded the patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2010. In the patent, the company describes a cable with two sets of conductive contact pins that allow it to be inserted into a USB port in either orientation.

A new user-friendly USB (Universal Serial Bus) male connector is physically and functionally compatible to the existing and future USB female connectors. Unlike the conventional keyed, polarized and position dependent USB male connector. The new user-friendly USB male connector provides spare connections, eliminates potential connector damage and allows normal and opposite insertions to the USB female connectors.

More than just a patent, UltraTek is marketing its reversible cable under the brand name, Flipper, with distribution through TrippLite. Different configurations of the reversible USB cables can be purchased through retailers such as Newegg, TigerDirect and others for less than $10.






Given its resources, Apple would undoubtedly be able to overcome the existing patent protection on the concept of reversible USB connectors, either through licensing/purchasing the existing patent or finding a way to work around it. The existing patent is, however, rather broad in describing the concept of a reversible "Type A" USB connector of the sort apparently being considered by Apple.

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Posted in 2014 at 02:53PM, August 18

One of the biggest reasons you have no choice when it comes to home broadband

According to data from the Federal Communications Commission, about one-third of households in the United States have no choice when it comes to home broadband service. In other words, if they want reasonably fast home Internet service and they live in an area with access to wireline broadband, there is only one company they can pay. Another 37% of American households have a choice between just two Internet service providers for home broadband, which is defined by the FCC as Internet service with download speeds of just 4Mbps or more.

Why is the current state of home Internet service such a mess for consumers? One of the biggest reasons is so obvious that you might not have even considered it.

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Posted in 2014 at 02:53PM, April 07