Investigation

Fair Labor Association says China iPad and iPhone factory conditions are more acceptable than most

By Andrew Wray, Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 a 12:54 pm

Apple recently requested that the Fair Labor Association conduct audits of its assembly suppliers, with Foxconn being a focus due to recent media attention surrounding the working conditions there. The FLA has now indicated that general conditions within Foxconn's iPad and iPhone production facilities have better overall ratings than most other assembly vendors in the business.

FBI file on Steve Jobs released, raises questions about his character

By Allyson Kazmucha, Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 a 1:05 pm

Steve Jobs' FBI file has been released and is now available for public viewing on their web site. It contains information from a background investigation conducted in 1991 when Jobs was being considered for an appointment to the President's Export Council during the Bush I White House. It also includes information relating to a bomb threat against Jobs in 1985.

FCC to investigate Verizon's $2 convenience fee

By Andrew Wray, Friday, Dec 30, 2011 a 2:14 pm

After yesterday's news that Verizon would be charging a $2 fee for paying bills online and over the phone, the FCC has chimed in.

“On behalf of American consumers, we’re concerned about Verizon’s actions and are looking into the matter,” the statement said.

Investigating Apple

By Rene Ritchie, Sunday, Feb 20, 2011 a 10:55 pm

EU Commission calls off investigation into Apple

By Staff, Sunday, Sep 26, 2010 a 9:19 am

The European Commission is calling off the investigation into Apple's ban on cross-compilers after Apple reversed the policy. The EU also claims that the policy change was a direct result of their investigation.

"Apple's response to our preliminary investigations shows that the Commission can use the competition rules to achieve swift results on the market with clear benefits for consumers, without the need to open formal proceedings," Almunia said.

US government investigating Apple's AdMob exclusion

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Jun 10, 2010 a 10:19 am

The US government is reportedly now investigating Apple for the terms in the iOS 4 GM license that restrict rival ad networks owned by competing platforms -- i.e. Google's AdMob. Independent ad networks are not effected, nor is Apple's own iAd platform.

According to two people close to the situation, US regulators have already taken an interest in Apple’s actions, though it is not yet clear whether it will be left to the Federal Trade Commission, which carried out the recent Google investigation, or the Department of Justice to take an investigation forward.

Government investigating Apple over iTunes music anti-trust?

By Rene Ritchie, Wednesday, May 26, 2010 a 7:55 am

The New York Times is reporting that the Justice Department is taking a look at Apple's conduct in the digital music space:

people briefed on the inquiries also said investigators had asked in particular about recent allegations that Apple used its dominant market position to persuade music labels to refuse to give the online retailer Amazon.com exclusive access to music about to be released.

This goes back to a story in March about Amazon asking for 24hrs of exclusivity on certain new music tracks in exchange for prominently featuring those tracks on Amazon MP3. Apple reportedly asked labels not to give Amazon that exclusivity, and withdrew their own marketing support for those who made the deal with Amazon.

Apple "saddened and upset" and investigating recent suicides at Foxconn

By Rene Ritchie, Wednesday, May 26, 2010 a 7:40 am

As manufacturer Hon Hai/Foxconn opens their facilities for an unprecedented media tour in the wake of a growing number of worker suicides, Apple has issued the following statement:

"We are saddened and upset by the recent suicides at Foxconn. We are in direct contact with Foxconn senior management and we believe they are taking this matter very seriously. A team from Apple is independently evaluating the steps they are taking to address these tragic events and we will continue our ongoing inspections of the facilities where our products are made.”

UPDATED: iPhone HD/iPhone 4G "finder" found

By Rene Ritchie, Thursday, Apr 29, 2010 a 6:49 pm

While Gizmodo showed off a prototype iPhone HD/iPhone 4G just over a week ago, and revealed the identity of the Apple engineer who brought it to the now-infamous bar, the identity of the man who brought it from the bar to Gizmodo was not revealed -- until now.

An investigation by Wired involving (we kid you not), looking at social network posts and confirmed via a source (which was not revealed) led them to Brian J. Hogan, a 21-year-old resident of Redwood City, California who, through his lawyer, said:

Police seize evidence in iPhone HD/iPhone 4G investigation

By Rene Ritchie, Monday, Apr 26, 2010 a 5:23 pm

Exercising a search warrant last Friday, members of California's Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team seized evidence in the ongoing investigation into the iPhone HD/iPhone 4G that wound up outside of Apple's control and plastered all over the internet last week.

Gizmodo has the full account up, including the warrant, a response from Gawker legal, and their account of the events.

[Gizmodo]