Archive for August 25th, 2010

Paul Devine, the Apple supply manager charged with accepting kickbacks from overseas partners, allegedly had more than $150,000 in cash stashed in shoe boxes in his home when it was raided by federal agents. Moreover, the investigation had found “a significant number of overseas accounts and a significant amount of money”. The judge determined that Devine represents a potential flight risk if he is let out on bail before the foreign funds have been moved into the U.S.

Earlier this month, Devine was arrested and charged with wire fraud, kickbacks and money laundering. Prosecutors have alleged that the Apple global supply manager used his security clearance to provide confidential information to the hardware maker's suppliers. Apple's partners then allegedly used the information to negotiate favorable contracts with Apple, and, the prosecution says, paid kickbacks to Devine. Devine is accused of accepting more than a million dollars from Asian suppliers.

While on vacation, Vincent Hunter received an alert from his iCam iPhone app: Something had set off the motion detectors in his home. He used the app to access his security cameras, called 911, and helplessly watched a burglary unfold.

While Hunter's home security company had also contacted the authorities around the same time as he did, the man was still left watching two burglars leave his home before police officers arrived. There are no details about what was taken from the home and the burglars have not been caught.

The five dollar iCam iPhone app used by Hunter is somewhat similar to software you could install to monitor your security system while away from home, but there's something additionally frustrating seeming about pulling your iPhone out of your pocket to a devastating alert and watching the crime right there on the little screen.