Shoddy iPhone 4 Design

TECHNOLOGY - The iPhone 4, which sold 1.7 million units worldwide in its first three days, may be getting recalled in the near future because of a shoddy design which causes low reception quality when you hold the bottom left corner in your hand (which is often).

This design flaw is now causing many customers to be returning the devices and demanding their money back. Consumer Reports did their own testing of the devices and confirmed that there is definitely signal loss when the phone is held in such a fashion and are now recommending people not to buy the iPhone 4.

The thing is however... some iPhone users probably won't care. They're so addicted to their gadgets they could be sold manure with the Apple logo on it and they'd happily hand over $29.99 for it.

"Look, I got my own Apple Manure!"

"What does it do?"

"It smells horrible! And its got BlueTooth! Its so kewl!"

Seriously, I can just see the line of events in my mind... the design technicians were showing off their latest designs to one of Apple's executives and the executive asked "Hey, why don't we move this gizmo here so we can save space and have more room for gizmos?" and one of the technicians said "Um, yes, we could, but it would result in a loss of signal when its held a certain way." To which the executive responded "Bah, that doesn't matter. Our customers will buy any piece of crap anyway. Make the changes and lets sell it."

Proof why executives making 'executive decisions' often make the wrong decisions because they ignore technical advice. (I wonder if that had any role to play in the BP Oil Spill?)

My point here is that Apple executives knew the iPhone 4 was a shoddy design, but they decided to sell it anyway because they know their customers are idiots who will buy anything with the Apple logo on it.

Add that to the fact that Apple has been rejecting apps sent to them from Google for approval and it really starts to feel like Apple is shooting themselves in the foot. Google's application design department has been designing a variety of apps for SmartPhones, but they've only been approved for use on BlackBerry phones and phones running Android. Apple keeps rejecting their apps because they see Google as competition. Not all their apps are rejected, but any that are seen as a threat certainly are.

If this lack of comraderie and shoddy designs keep up Apple will soon see more customers ditching them for products that give them the full range of applications and the quality they've come to expect.

George Steinbrenner dead, age 80

ENTERTAINMENT - "The Boss" of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner died early this morning at the age of 80. He bought the Yankees in 1973 for $10 million USD and turned it into a $1.6 billion USD empire, winning 7 World Series championships and 11 pennants under his reign.

Steinbrenner's notorious and yet lovable behaviour as the team's owner was the stuff of legend and a fictional version of George Steinbrenner was a regular part of the cast of Seinfeld.

Recommended videos of George Steinbrenner on Seinfeld: Video 1 and Video 2.

World Class Toronto Beaches

CANADA - Looking for a really nice beach? As it turns out Toronto has some of the finest beaches in the world, but the problem is Lake Ontario has an old reputation of being polluted.

These days however that reputation is becoming increasingly old and while it may have been accurate two decades ago Lake Ontario is now one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

They're even recognized by the international Blue Flag program, an eco-label which is awarded to beaches which meet very strict environmental and safety standards, including daily bacteria testing.

Canada's national standard is 200 parts bacteria per 100 mL. The American standard is 235. To qualify in Ontario its 100... which means Ontario beaches are twice as safe as any other beach in Canada or the USA when it comes to bacteria.

To get the blue flag status there also has to be lifeguards on duty and a plethora of safety equipment, first aid equipment and safe drinking fountains. There also has to be no unauthorized camping or driving, no dumping and strict control of dog feces. The beach is required to have environmental education activities, display maps and a beach code of conduct.

In recent years Toronto has been dramatically increasing their safety standards. In 2005 only four of Toronto's 11 beaches received Blue Flags. This year it is up to seven out of eleven.

Ward’s Island Beach
Hanlan’s Point Beach
Kew Balmy Beach
Gibraltar Point Beach
Centre Island Beach
Cherry Beach
Woodbine Beaches

Marie Curtis Park East Beach, Sunnyside, Scarborough’s Bluffer’s Beach Park and Rouge failed to meet the standards. Next year city officials hope Bluffer’s Beach Park will become a Blue Flag.

To score a Blue Flag beaches must be deemed safe for swimming 80% of the time. Toronto Blue Flag beaches are safe 90% of the time and the 10% its considered unsafe its because of weather conditions, ie. a thunderstorm.

Toronto beaches typically have imported sand, very few stones and depending on the time of the week you visit NO CROWDS. An excellent place to work on your tan, build a sand castle or enjoy a swim.

See Also:
The Bikini
Gothic Bikinis and Swimwear
Topless Beaches
Jellyfish Swarms feeding on Polluted Waters

Barefoot bandit captured

POLITICS - American 19-year-old skilled woodsman Colton Harris-Moore (aka "the Barefoot Bandit") was captured by police in the Bahamas off the coast of Florida while trying to escape on a speed boat.

On the run since he escaped from a halfway home in 2008 Colton gained his "Barefoot Bandit" nickname for stealing cars, boats and airplanes while shoeless and barefoot. Living in the Washington state back woods for 2 years Colton Harris-Moore eventually migrated across the country leaving a trail of stolen vehicles behind.

His capture on Sunday has outraged 58,000 fans on Facebook (including many young women and men who aspire to be like him). After his capture he was flown to Nassau where he now faces possible extradition to the United States. His hair looked like he recently got a haircut and he was, of course, barefoot.

The wily woodsman had been eluding police searches in the American north-west for most of two years now, embarrassing Washington state police with their inability to find him. This didn't stop the Bahamanian police however who managed to shoot out the engine of his boat when he was trying to escape.

With no pilot's license or formal training Colton Harris-Moore is already considered a pro at eluding people in the woods. He honed his skills while growing up in the woods of Camano Island in Puget Sound, 50 kilometres north of Seattle.

Supporters say the US military would be smart to hire Colton Harris-Moore as a consultant to help train special forces on eluding capture by enemy forces.

20th Century Fox has already bought the movie rights.