iPhone 4 owners can now claim $15 settlement

Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Owners of the iPhone 4 who had antenna or reception issues can now receive $15 if they refused to take a free case from Apple as a result of a class-action settlement.

Apple settled the lawsuit over reception concerns with the iPhone 4 antenna last February. The settlement offers users either a free iPhone bumper case, which the company sells for $29, or they can instead opt to receive $15 in cash.
Even though the iPhone 4 free bumper case program technically ended on Sept. 30, 2010, Apple continued to offer free cases after that deadline to customers who contacted AppleCare support with reception issues.


Current and former iPhone 4 owners were notified of the settlement in an e-mail sent out on Thursday.
Those who want to receive a free case from Apple can visit the company's support page. They are eligible to request a free black iPhone 4 Bumper from an Authorized iPhone Service Provider.
Those who would rather receive the $15 cash payment must receive a detailed notice and claim form package. Customers can call 1-877-417-7234 or go towww.iPhone4settlement.com to get one.

Rumor: Next PlayStation coming in 2013

                   

By Chris Morris | Plugged In 

(Photo credit: AP)There have been plenty of leaks, whispers and rumors about the next Xbox for a few months now, but there hasn't been a lot of talk about Sony's plans for the next generation.

Kotaku, though, claims to have uncovered some inside information about the system that, on the surface, makes it sound like the next generation console race is going to be a tight one -- and begin next year.

Citing a single anonymous source, Kotaku says it believes the code name for the next PlayStation is "Orbis." And while the next console from Sony is widely expected to be called PlayStation 4 when it hits shelves, the site infers that Orbis might be the system's final name.

Whatever it's called, Kotaku says we can expect to see it released in the holiday period of 2013 -- the same timeframe most expect the next Xbox to arrive. If so, that would eliminate the one year head start Microsoft enjoyed with the Xbox 360, a year that gave it a lead over Sony that thus far has proven insurmountable.

[Related: New Sony CEO to keep charge of troubled TV operations]

Much like the rumored next Xbox system (codenamed Durango), the new Sony system will lock games to a PSN account, which could impact the used game market.

"If you then decide to trade that disc in, the pre-owned customer picking it up will be limited in what they can do," the site said. "While our sources were unclear on how exactly the pre-owned customer side of things would work, it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game."

If true, that's likely to upset a notable segment of the gaming population, not to mention have a serious impact on retailers like GameStop who make a tidy profit on the used game market. And Sony could ruffle even more feathers if the system ditches backward compatibility with the PlayStation 3, as Kotaku says it will.

In terms of hard specs, Kotaku says the system will use either AMD's x64 CPU or perhaps AMD's Southern Islands GPU, the company's high-end chip. Graphics-wise, Orbis is said to be capable of resolutions up to 4096x2160, commonly called '4K' in TV manufacturer parlance (and one of the technological boosts shown off at this year's CES). It's also said to be able to play 3D games in full 1080p, a leap over the PS3's max 3D resolution of 720.

It's critical to note that these are unconfirmed reports based on a single source, so it's wise to be skeptical. Developers Yahoo! Games has spoken with are unable to confirm anything in Kotaku's report, and note they haven't been contacted yet by Sony to discuss the new system (though they say they have spoken with Microsoft).

Don't expect Sony to officially start talking about the PS4 or Orbis anytime soon, either. In January Sony's Kaz Hirai stated clearly that the company would not announce any new home systems at E3.

Cash Money Records Re-Up With Producers Cool & Dre

by Roman Wolfe and Grouchy Greg 

 Hit making producers Cool & Dre have announced they have renewed a production deal with Cash Money Records.

The pair will continue to work with artists on the Cash Money/Young Money roster of artists, that includes acts like DJ Khaled, Busta Rhymes, Drake, Mystikal, Nicki Minaj and others.

“Cash Money has some amazing artists,” Marcello “Cool” Valenzano told AllHipHop.com in a statement released today (March 27). “This deal allows for us to continue to work with the artists creatively and do business on a grander scale.”

“Cool & Dre are extremely hard workers and very creative producers,” added Bryan “Birdman” Williams. “We are always excited about partnering up with their brand to make great hits and get creative in the studio.”

According to Cash Money’s co-CEO Ronald “Slim” Williams, renewing Cool & Dre’s deal was a top priority for the label.

“Cash Money Records is only as strong as the body of work that we put out,” Slim said. “We are committed to making the best music and giving our fans quality albums. Cool & Dre are a big part of that and we look forward to working with them to realize and execute our vision.”

Sheek Louch & Styles P Announce Canadian Tour Dates

by SLAVA KUPERSTEIN

D-Block's Sheek Louch and Styles P head north.

Yonkers, NY rappers Sheek Louch and Styles P have announced several tour dates in Canada starting in May.

Toronto-based rapper Peter Jackson will open for the duo.

The tour is presented by the McKee Agency, which has produced recent Canadian tours for Ghostface Killah, Royce da 5'9, Akon, Flo-Rida, Busta Rhymes, Tech N9ne, and more.

Currently, D-Block and the Wu-Tang Clan are working on a collaborative album, Wu-Block, most recently releasing the tracks "Flash Back " and "Barry ."

Below is a list of dates:

May 9 - Niagara Falls, ON Bank Lounge
May 10 - Toronto, ON Guvernment
May 11 - Oshawa, ON Status Lounge
May 12 - Peterborough, ON Club 172
May 13 - Montreal, QC (venue TBC)
May 14 - Hamilton, ON Club 77
May 15 - London, ON Music Hall
May 16 - Sudbury, ON SRO Lounge
May 23 - Saskatoon, SK Odeon Events Centre
May 24 - Edmonton, AB Starlite Room

Additional dates are expected to be added in the coming weeks.

Rap Release Dates: Lauryn Hill and Game

by KATHY IANDOLI

At the risk of disappointing Hip Hop fans in the future months, there is a lot to look forward to on the album release front. Sure we lose out to pushbacks, project scrapping, and title changes, but hey, at least the hope is there. This week's announcements are all full of hope. Let's see what sticks and what doesn't.

Lauryn Hill and Game announce albums

Lauryn Hill has evolved into quite the elusive (and polarizing) figure as of late. Once the shift over to "Ms. Hill" came, the idea of ever getting another studio album following the epic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill seemed like a total fantasy. Well fear not: Ms. Hill has announced that her second solo studio album will be titled The Return. Hill announced she'll be performing at London's O2 Arena on April 14th, and then dropped the even bigger news that there will be another album. We reported earlier in the month that Game has also titled his R.E.D. Album follow-up as F.I.V.E.: Fear Is Victory’s Evolution. So now there's a mixtape (California Republic) and an album for Game. He's never not working. Both Lauryn Hill and Game have yet to release dates for these projects.

DJ Clue Rants About Funkmaster Flex, Accuses Him Of Threatening Labels

by SLAVA KUPERSTEIN

DJ Clue responds to Funkmaster Flex's disses from earlier in the week.

Earlier this week, Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex took to the airwaves to proclaim his dominance in the Hip Hop radio game, and to claim that he intercepted an email intended for DJ Clue's radio show, containing Nicki Minaj's latest song, "Beez in the Trap. On Friday (March 23) Clue responded on Power 105 with a rant, courtesy ofRapRadar.

"Gotta address this clown... actually, where I would come from, we call him a ho. He a ho," said Clue in response to Flex. "That's what hoes do. They bitch and moan, and they make excuses for why you number two. And you number two because, basically, you're tied for the number two spot. The station you're tied with bills way more money than you do. ...So really, you came in number three, buddy!"

Clue explained that Funk Flex was, in fact, threatening not to play labels' artists. "Because you're spending ninety-nine percent of your day worrying about what I'm doing, you're calling labels, telling them, 'Look, I'm not gonna play you artist's record if you don't give it to me first. If you give it to Clue, your artist is not allowed on the station and we're gonna drop all your records.'"

"Stop calling club owners, telling them, 'I'll do parties for free.' C'mon, man, you're embarrassing yourself. You're doing parties for five hundred dollars, or you're doing them for free!"

Clue and Flex's beef goes back some time, with the two dissing one another on Twitter in 2010.

Diamond Passes On “Love & Hip Hop,” Discusses New Album

by Mikey T The Movie Star 

Atlanta rapper Diamond recently sat down with AllHipHop.com’s Mikey T The Movie Star to speak on declining an offer to appear on the upcoming season of “Love & Hip Hop,” which is shooting in Atlanta, Georgia.

While official cast members have yet to be revealed, early rumors suggested that Diamond, Lil Scrappy, K. Michelle, Rasheeda, Ms. Rici, Phaedra Parks, and others were on board.

“I will absolutely not be a part of ‘Love & Hip Hop’ for Atlanta,” Diamond told AllHipHop.com, stating that she is focusing on her career instead.

“I’m just not trying to surround myself around drama,” Diamond told AllHipHop.com. “I just have worked so hard to get away from that. I’d rather put my life into music, rather then just be on a reality show. I’m just not one to gamble with my life and career like that.”

While Diamond admitted that TV and film could play a role in her career, she has decided focus on her solo album.

Diamond, who joined Atlanta rap group Crime Mob in 2004, left the group for a solo career in 2007 and has maintained a presence through mixtape releases like Bitch Music 1-4, Cocaine Waitress, and others.

“I’ve been in the studio working on my first ever solo debut CD, been working with a lot of great producers. I am in the process of signing a major record label deal.”

No air date or official cast members  list for “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” has been announced as of press time.

Watch the first part of the exclusive interview with Diamond below.

Follow Mikey T The Movie Star on Twitter @MTMovieStar

Curren$y Suing Dame Dash For $1.5 Million; Claims Dash Released Music Without Consent

by jcuest

TMZ is reporting that Jet Life Recordings founder Curren$y is suing Dame Dash, co-founder of both Roc-A-Fella and DD172.

Curren$y, whose real name is Shante Scott Franklin, is suing Dash for $1.5 million for releasing his music without  permission or compensation. TMZ states that both Dash and Franklin began negotiating an agreement to release music together back in 2010; while the deal never materialized, music was still released.

The lawsuit states that two of Curren$y’s albums in 2010, Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II, were released by Dash despite the New Orleans MC striking a deal with Warner Bros. who had exclusive rights to his music.

At press time, Dash has responded by claiming that he had the right to release “the albums in question because he was given permission.” Dash states that Curren$y stabbed him in the back by “reneging on their agreement and signing instead with Warner Bros.”

A judge has yet to rule in favor of either side. More details will be released soon.