Techmeme: Apple says it takes 3 years to get a new cell tower in San Francisco (Katie Marsal/AppleInsider)

3:55 PM ET, July 17, 2010

Top Items:

Official statement from Research In Motion in response to Apple's iPhone 4 Antennagate propaganda! — I hoped this was coming. Here it is. A joint statement from RIM Co-CEOs in response to misleading comments from Apple made Friday by Steve Jobs at the iPhone 4 press conference:

Paul Miller / Engadget:

Apple to give away free cases to iPhone 4 users — Apple's not really ready to say it's sorry about the iPhone 4 antenna design, but it is willing to give all you darn squeaky wheels free cases for your trouble. Since Apple can't build its own Bumpers fast enough, it will give you a few options …

Joshua Topolsky / Engadget:

Inside Apple's ‘black lab’ wireless testing facilities — It's not surprising that after Apple finished explaining the iPhone 4 antenna issues to the press today, the company wanted to go one step further and say “yes, actually, we do test the hell out of these phones before we release them to the public.”

Discussion: Gadget Lab, Gizmodo, MacRumors, Daring Fireball, iClarified, Macworld, Geek.com, Bits, Laughing Squid, App Advice, IntoMobile, Unwired View, techblog.dallasnews.com, Mobile Industry Review and eWeek

Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:

A Raging, Rambling Debate About Antennagate, Followed By A Fanboy Intervention — I had a theory about today's Apple iPhone 4 Press Extravaganza. Apple was just too eager to get all the press that cares about Apple stuff into one room at the same time on one day's notice.

Discussion: MacStories and Daring Fireball

Chris Ziegler / Engadget:
Nokia: 'we prioritize antenna performance over physical design …

Discussion: Gizmodo, Thoughts from the Sidelines, Softpedia News, Neowin.net, everythingiCafe, Unwired View, Boy Genius Report, PhoneDog.com, Cult of Mac, Erictric, Fone Arena, Edible Apple, The Atlantic Online, VentureBeat and FierceWireless

Cleve Nettles / 9 to 5 Mac:
Apple shipping redesigned iPhone in October?

Discussion: Pocket-lint, Slide To Play, LiewCF.com, Engadget, Daring Fireball, iClarified, MobileCrunch, iPhone Download Blog, AppleInsider and CrunchGear

Tricia Duryee / paidContent:
That Thunk You Heard Was The iPhone Falling Off Its Pedestal

Discussion: 9 to 5 Mac

Katie Marsal / AppleInsider:

Apple says it takes 3 years to get a new cell tower in San Francisco — Lingering reception issues in San Francisco, Calif., are exceptionally difficult to rectify because the local approval process for a new cellular tower takes an average of 3 years, Apple revealed Friday.

Discussion: Electronista and PC World

Mathew Ingram / GigaOM:

Is the Difference Between MySpace and Facebook Black and White? — Is the rise of Facebook a result of “white flight” away from MySpace? That's the argument made by sociologist Danah Boyd, in a chapter from a yet-to-be-released anthology (PDF link) on the issue of race and how it affects the way we behave online.

Kim Zetter / Threat Level:

Gawker Media Deals Its Way Out of iPhone Search Warrant — A California court has granted the request of local prosecutors to withdraw a controversial search warrant against an editor for the tech site Gizmodo over its scoop about the iPhone 4G. — Prosecutors reached an agreement with Thomas Nolan …

Discussion: everythingiCafe, PC World and Electronic Frontier Foundation, more at Mediagazer »

Declan McCullagh / CNET News:

Wikileaks editor skips NYC hacker event — NEW YORK CITY—Julian Assange, public face of a Web site that posted a video embarrassing to the U.S. military, doesn't seem to want to get too friendly with inquisitive Homeland Security agents and skipped a speaking engagement at a hacking conference here Saturday.

Discussion: Boing Boing and HOPE

Kara Swisher / BoomTown:

Exclusive: Facebook Will Announce 500 Million Users Next Week With “Facebook Stories” — Facebook confirmed that it expects to announce its 500-millionth user next week, and will mark the occasion with new consumer marketing initiative called “Facebook Stories.”

Discussion: Gawker, Softpedia News, Neowin.net and Pocket-lint, Thanks:sameerpatel

Janet Novack / Forbes:

Academic Study: eBay Sellers Shirk Sales Tax Law — Economists' findings come as states and Congress look for new ways to collect tax on Internet sales. — Sales tax collection compliance among eBay sellers is “alarmingly low,” says a new academic study published as states look for ammunition to bolster tax-collection laws.

Matt Hamblen / Computerworld:

Wi-Fi available on 1 in 3 U.S. planes — No longer rare, the service is gradually being added on more passenger jets, but VoIP a no-no — Computerworld - Wi-Fi service is offered on more than one-third of the nation's passenger planes, so it's no longer rare to see travelers connecting to the Internet in midflight.

Matt Brian / The Next Web:

OAuth and OpenID Authentication Vulnerable To “Timing Attack” — Authentication systems employed by large websites such as Twitter and Digg could be at risk after researchers have discovered a basic flaw that could crack a large number of open-source software libraries wide open leaving …

Discussion: Computerworld and Techie Buzz

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