Current Events in June 2014

General Motors is recalling 14,765 model year 2014 Buick LaCrosse vehicles manufactured April 30, 2013, to September 1, 2013.

A wiring splice in the driver's door in the affected vehicles may corrode and break, resulting in the absence of an audible chime to notify the driver if the door is opened while the key is in the ignition.

Additionally, the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) module may stay active for ten minutes allowing the operation of the passenger windows, rear windows, and sunroof.

Without an audible indicator, the driver may not be aware that the door is open while the key is in the ignition, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway. If the passenger windows, rear windows, and sunroof can function when the vehicle is turned off and the driver is not in the vehicle, there is an increased risk of injury if an unsupervised occupant operates the power closures.

GM will notify owners and dealers will inspect the driver door window motor harness, and replace the electrical splice, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. General Motors number for this recall is 14235.

Bellisio Food of Jackson, Ohio, is recalling approximately 12,180 pounds of a Thai Kitchen Chicken Pad Thai frozen entree product.

The product contains soy protein isolate, a known allergen, which is not declared on the product label.

There have been no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

The following product is subject to recall:

• 10-oz. packages, 8 per case of Thai Kitchen Chicken Pad Thai frozen entree with “SELL BY SEP 30 15” date and case code “xxxx09841078” or with “SELL BY OCT 17 15” date and case code “xxxx11541078”

The product was produced on April 8, and April 25, 2014, and bears the establishment number “P-18297” inside the USDA mark of inspection. It was distributed to retail stores nationwide.

Consumers with questions about the recall may call contact 1-800-967-8424.  

Government inflation-watchers are finally figuring out what consumers have known for a while. The cost of living is starting to take off.

The Labor Department this week reported the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.4% in May on a seasonally-adjusted basis. The inflation rate, projected over a 12-month period, was 2.1%.

But drill deeper into the report and you'll learn that food prices at the supermarket are in the forefront of the inflation charge. According to the data the index for food prepared at home rose 0.7%

It cost even more to drive a car and keep the lights on. Because of more expensive gasoline and electricity, the energy index rose 0.9%.

Shut-off notices

In fact, electricity costs have risen so sharply in recent months that nearly 1 million Consolidated Edison customers in the Northeast have faced the threat of having their home energy shut off this year while dealing with some of the nation's highest bills, according to AARP.

How bad is it? In 2005, 722,635 Con Ed customers received shut-off notices from January through April. In 2009, during the Great Recession, the number surged to 840,886.

But instead of getting better, it has continued to get worse. In the first four months of this year, following an especially cold winter, AARP reports 937,973 NYC residents have received "final termination” notices.

“Across the state, the data tells a similar story: New Yorkers are struggling, and falling behind in their utility bills by a whopping $740 million - the highest in at least the last decade,” said Beth Finkel, State Director for AARP in New York State.

What's behind the rate hikes?

Just a couple of years ago cheap, abundant natural gas caused electric utility costs to fall. So what happened?

Energy experts interviewed by The Los Angeles Times recently blame the phase-out of coal and nuclear plants and difficulty in moving natural gas to where it's needed. Natural gas prices have also risen in the last year. The experts say the surge in utility costs is likely permanent.

AARP sees the rise in energy costs as especially hard on seniors. The organization points to a recent survey showing that, for New Yorkers 50 and older, it was harder to pay the electric bill this winter than the mortgage.

"Many customers are on payment plans, paying off prior arrears from bills they could not afford," said Gerald Norlander, Executive Director of New York's Public Utility Law Project(PULP), which compiled the report with AARP. "When new bills jump due to the volatile prices favored by the utility-regulating Public Service Commission, customers fall behind again and miss the due date for their current bill, plus the installment payment on old arrears.”

At that point the utility is allowed to demand all past due amounts, demand late fees, and shut service off as a collection measure.

“This creates impossible situations, hardships and often hazardous conditions when less safe forms of energy are used,” Norlander said.

Child care costs

For younger consumers, child care is another growing cost. In a recent study by Care.com, 75% of U.S. families said they were overwhelmed by the cost of child care.

The study, conducted last month, concluded that families are misinformed about the cost of child care, what's included and what savings options are available to them.

According to the survey, 52% aren't aware they're eligible for child care tax breaks. A nearly equal number of families fail to budget for child care costs.

The survey found average weekly rates for a nanny ranging from $472-$504 depending upon the number of children cared for.

GE Capital Retail Bank, now known as Synchrony Bank, is being ordered to provide an estimated $225 million in relief to consumers harmed by illegal and discriminatory credit card practices.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) said GE Capital must refund $56 million to approximately 638,000 consumers who were subjected to deceptive marketing practices.

GE Capital must also provide an additional $169 million to about 108,000 borrowers excluded from debt relief offers because of their national origin.

It's the federal government’s largest credit card discrimination settlement in history.

“Today’s action will provide $225 million in relief to GE Capital credit card customers who were harmed by deceptive marketing or discrimination,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “We will continue to take action against marketing tactics that trick consumers into buying credit card products they do not want or cannot use. Consumers also deserve to be treated fairly no matter where they live or what language they speak."

GE Capital, which changed its name to Synchrony Bank on June 2, provides store-branded credit cards that are sold to consumers by merchants and retailers across the country.

Deceptive marketing

CFPB examiners identified several deceptive marketing practices used by GE Capital to promote its credit card add-on products. GE Capital offered five different debt cancellation add-on products: “Card Security,” “Account Security,” “Account Security Plus,” “Debt Security,” and “Debt Security Plus.”

GE promoted these products as providing debt cancellation of a certain percent of the consumer’s balance in the event of certain hardships like involuntary unemployment or disability. But the Bureau found that GE Capital’s telemarketers routinely misrepresented these products to consumers, primarily by understating or omitting information about the program's fees.

Discriminatory credit practices

GE Capital had two different promotions that allowed credit card customers with delinquent accounts to settle their balances by paying off a specific portion of their debt but did not extend these offers to any customer who indicated that they preferred to communicate in Spanish or had a mailing address in Puerto Rico, even if the customer met the promotion’s qualifications.

This meant that Hispanic populations were unfairly denied the opportunity to benefit from these promotions. Such discrimination is in direct violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

The graduation season is wrapping up with the high school class of 2014 getting ready to head to college in the fall. Meanwhile, the class of 2015 is getting serious about picking a college – or rather, being picked.

Besides the very real concern of paying for an increasingly expensive education, prospective students must worry about being accepted at the school of their choice. It wasn't always so.

In the 1960s and 1970s there was a move toward what was called “open admissions.” It was a policy found mostly at state-supported colleges and universities and said if you had a high school diploma or GED, you were in.

Perhaps in a case of “ivy-envy,” most state-supported schools now set minimum academic standards that must be met, as well as activities and character traits that go into considering whether a student will be allowed to spend thousands of dollars to attend.

Nerve racking

That can make the next few months a nerve-racking time for students waiting to hear where they will be in the fall of 2015. It can be especially tough for a student who only began to hit her academic stride late in her high school career.

A spotty high school transcript will likely mean rejection letter after rejection letter. Unless, of course, the student chooses to attend a college with an open admissions policy.

Nearly all community colleges have such a policy. If you have a high school diploma or equivalent, they generally will give you a chance. But some four-year colleges still have open admissions policies too.

“There are some advantages to considering admission at an open-enrollment school,” write the editors at College Parent Central. “For some students who had difficulty in high school and do not have the grades appropriate for a more selective admission, an open-enrollment institution is an opportunity to prove that they can successfully undertake college-level work.”

Advantages

In fact, for some students stressed out from the admissions pressures at other schools, applying to an open-enrollment college provides a much-needed safety valve. And there are other potential benefits.

The application process is usually a lot more streamlined and, best of all, the tuition is likely to be less. And while colleges often tout their selective admissions process as promoting diversity, students at open-enrollment schools may in fact be exposed to a wider range of students than those who attend a college with a narrower academic niche.

The New York Times reported in 2012 on changes to the student body after City University of New York dropped its open admissions policy in 2001. Average SAT scores are up but African-American and Hispanic representation among the freshman class has declined.

You still have to apply to get into an open-enrollment college since there might not be enough slots available. And even though you aren't required to submit SAT or ACT test scores, most schools will require you to take a series of placement tests to measure your competency.

But once in, you can't relax. To stay in you have to maintain good academic progress and keep your grades in good standing.

Be selective

Remember, even though these schools are not selective, you should be. Included among open-enrollment schools are for-profit colleges. They tend to be the most expensive and in most cases, their value may be suspect.

CollegeCalc is a website that can help you find an open-enrollment school. Most likely you'll want to look for one in your home state to take advantage of in-state tuition.

California, for example, has 133 open-enrollment colleges – the bulk of them 2-year community colleges. However, some 2-year schools offer limited bachelor's degrees. Colorado Mountain College, for example, is a 2-year institution that currently offers two bachelor's degree programs.

It may be totally unrelated but it seems college costs really began to escalate when state universities dropped their long-standing open admissions policies and began competing for the “best” students.

To compete, they built plus residence halls, elaborate dining facilities and hired the best professors. All of that cost money.

At the risk of severely dating myself I will mention that in the early 1970s my in-state tuition at a state university with open admissions was $147 a semester. Considering the rate of inflation, that translates into into $860 in today's dollars.

But $860 a semester today would be an unheard-of bargain at any college or university. The current in-state tuition at my alma mater is not $860, but $5,280 per semester.

One of the most annoying consumer experiences is switching to a new cell phone network, only to find that it has poor to non-existent coverage in your neighborhood or workplace.

T-Mobile has figured out how to turn that into a marketing advantage, by offering a free 7-day "test drive" of its network on iPhone 5s. The program, in partnership with Apple, kicks off on June 23.

T-Mobile cites research showing that nearly half (46%) of wireless customers say they’ve signed up with a carrier and then wanted to leave, and 1 in 10 have actually left within the first 30 days of making a switch.

“The way this industry forces Americans to buy wireless is completely, utterly broken.  I’m here to tell you there’s a better way,” declared John Legere, T-Mobile CEO and President. “While the carriers ask you to buy blind, the Un-carrier gives you transparency.  Our network kicks ass, and now people can experience for themselves what a data-strong network can do with T-Mobile Test Drive.”

After the 7-day test, T-Mobile says you can drop the iPhone off at a T-Mobile store and owe nothing. Starting Monday, June 23, consumers can sign up at www.t-mobile.com/testdrive

After the seven days, you’ll need to drop off the phone at a T-Mobile store, but you won’t have to put any money down for the test.

Rhapsody unRadio 

T-Mobile is also putting its own stamp on the streaming music market, with "unRadio," a new service produced with Rhapsody

UnRadio supplies streaming music from a catalog of more than 20 million songs, ad-free and, T-Mobile says, free of data plan charges to Simple Choice customers on its 4G LTE network.

In addition, unRadio will be available at a discounted price of $4 per month for other T-Mobile customers. 

“This new music streaming service is so unlike traditional Internet radio, there was only one possible name for it – unRadio,” said Mike Sievert, Chief Marketing Officer for T-Mobile. “We wanted to do something over the top for our customers, so we teamed up with our friends across town at Rhapsody to do what the Un-carrier does so well – turning convention on its head to benefit our customers.”

Rhapsody unRadio will be available initially for iOS and Android and on the Web.  

You really want to get a pet and you have heard that there are some dog and cat breeds that might be hypoallergenic. So whats the best breed?

Stuffed animals make the best hypoallergenic pet. I'm not talking about the kind you hunt -- I'm talking about the kind you buy at the toy store. The reason being there is no pet that is 100% hypoallergenic.

A bald cat -- you have seen the pictures -- the hairless dog, these are not really 100% allergen-free.

In fact, the hypoallergenic pet is one of the biggest myths around, according to Dr. Nabeel Farooqui, an allergist at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. All pets can cause allergy issues in some humans.

They have issues

Dander in pet fur can be an issue but other proteins cause allergic reactions as well.

Do you love those wet sloppy kisses? How about accidents in the house? Cat got your tongue? I hope not because If you are in contact with saliva and urine the proteins in both of those can cause allergic reactions.

It's not all doom and gloom for cat lovers though -- there is a cat allergy cure on the horizon. In March The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reported on a vaccine that had no serious side effects and reduced the skin reaction by 40% with just one injection. I know you are itching to get your hands on it, but be patient. It still requires more testing.

So maybe you already own a pet and know the risks or want to get a pet despite the allergic reaction. Here are some tips that might at least lighten some of the symptoms.

• Start by washing them. That means often. Keep your pet as clean as possible.
• Use a HEPA air filter and vacuum bags to clean the air and filter out irritants a regular vacuum cleaner does not catch.
• Let them run around a great deal outside, since that reduces shedding inside.

Good luck, and have fun with your pet!

It looks like the short-lived era of the plastic “microbead” used in exfoliating skin products is almost over.

This month, Illinois became the first state in the U.S. to ban the use of microbeads in cosmetic items. Four other states currently have similar bills before their legislatures — New York, Minnesota, Ohio and California.

And on June 18, Congressman Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) introduced a piece of legislation which, if passed, would ban microbeads throughout the United States.

The opposition to microbeads stems from the fact that they're notoriously harmful to the environment. They're non-biodegradeable, which means they never break down. They're small enough to slip through filters at wastewater-treatment plants, so they ultimately end up going back into public water supplies, or in lakes and oceans. There, they absorb or become coated with toxins, are ingested by fish and other animals, and thus play a role in concentrating toxins and introducing them into the food chain.

When legislators attempt to ban currently legal products or practices, the companies who make or sell those products usually protest, arguing that such a ban would prove too harmful to their business model or bottom line.

Yet for the most part, that has not been the case with microbeads. Even before any U.S. states had proposed microbead bans, many cosmetic companies including Unilever, Johnson and Johnson, L'Oreal and Colgate/Palmolive had already said they intended to phase microbeads out of their products.

Automakers around the world are keeping a wary eye on the market for electric cars, with Audi the latest reported to be drawing up blueprints for electric sedans and SUVs.

U.S. Consumers have been slow to adapt to battery-powered cars because of their expense and limited range. But the sporty Tesla, although expensive, has been winning fans with its excellent performance and relatively long range.

The Chevrolet Volt has been a slow seller although it has won critical praise for its extended range on-board gas generator and relatively peppy performance. 

Now, with BMW soon to roll out its new "i" electric series and Hyundai delivering hydrogen-powered electric cars in California, there are signs that consumer interest may be picking up as well, leading carmakers to dig out the electric-car plans that may have been stashed in the lower drawer the last few years. 

Audi is the latest carmaker to dust off its plans, according to a Reuters report today. The Volkswagen unit is about to launch its first all-electric car, a battery-powered version of its R8 supercar, due to hit European dealerships in 2015.

The electric R8 is said to have a range of about 280 miles, close to the 311 claimed by Tesla's Model S.

Reuters said Audi also has plans in the works for high-performance electric sedans and SUVs.

Audi and other German automakers have long produced extensive lines of diesel-powered cars but have been slow to get charged up about electric vehicles.  

Diesel cars haven't taken off in the U.S., largely because of the high price of diesel fuel and its relative scarcity at service stations. 

The Electra Glide it's not. That Harley Hog, despite its name, was gas-powered. But Harley-Davidson will be hitting the road with 22 electric bikes next week, touring the country to get consumer reaction.   

The tour – kicking off with a journey down Route 66 – will visit more than 30 Harley-Davidson dealerships by the end of the year. In 2015, the "Project LiveWire Experience" will continue in the U.S. and expand into Canada and Europe.

“America at its best has always been about reinvention,” said Matt Levatich, President and Chief Operating Officer, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “And, like America, Harley-Davidson has reinvented itself many times in our history, with customers leading us every step of the way. Project LiveWire is another exciting, customer-led moment in our history.”

For those who can't imagine a Harley without the traditional earth-shattering roar, company officials say the electric bike offers a "visceral riding experience" with tire-shredding acceleration and an unmistakable new sound.

“The sound is a distinct part of the thrill,” said marketing executive Mark-Hans Richer. “Think fighter jet on an aircraft carrier. Project LiveWire’s unique sound was designed to differentiate it from internal combustion and other electric motorcycles on the market.”

As driving enthusiasts are learning with the Tesla and other electric cars, gas-powered engines don't have a monopoly on speed and performance.

“We offer a no-excuses riding experience in everything we do and we are led by what our customers tell us matters most,” said Richer. “Because electric vehicle technology is evolving rapidly, we are excited to learn more from riders through the Project LiveWire Experience to fully understand the definition of success in this market as the technology continues to evolve.”

No one is promising the prototype bikes will ever see production. Harley execs say that will depend to a large extent on how they're received by consumers on the upcoming tour.

Researchers at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute say they have "unequivocally" shown that the incidence of malignant melanoma in adulthood can be dramatically reduced by the consistent use of sunscreen in infancy and childhood.

According to senior author John L. VandeBerg, Ph.D., the research was driven by the fact that, despite the increasing use of sunscreen in recent decades, the incidence of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, continues to increase dramatically.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 75,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year.

"While sunscreen is highly effective in preventing sunburn, this paradox has led some to question whether sunscreen is effective in preventing melanoma caused by ultraviolet (UV) light," VandeBerg said. "It has been suggested that sunscreen enables people to receive more UV exposure without becoming sunburned, and that increased exposure to UV light has led to an increasing incidence of melanoma."

The question has been unresolved until now, partly because there have been no conclusive experiments using mammals. But VandeBerg said his team's experiments on the gray short-tailed opossum found that applying over-the-counter facial lotion containing SPF15 sunscreen led to a 10-fold reduction in pre-melanotic lesions (known to progress to melanoma), in comparison to infant opossums receiving lotion that did not contain sunscreen.

Cells divide more rapidly

This difference in the development of lesions occurred even when low doses of UV light were applied – so low that they caused no sunburn or even reddening of the skin in the opossums that did not receive sunscreen.

The pre-melanotic lesions did not appear until the infants had become adolescents (equivalent to early teenagers in humans), and prior experiments established that the pre-melanocytic lesions in opossums do not progress to melanomas until the animals are well into adulthood, as typically occurs in humans.

"Based on these results, we speculate that the reason it is particularly important that sunscreens be used consistently in childhood, and especially in infancy, is because skin cells during growth are dividing much more rapidly than in adulthood, and it is during cell division that the cells are most susceptible to UV-induced damage," said VandeBerg.

"Evidence that supports this hypothesis is that melanoma is not induced in adult opossums when their shaved skin is irradiated by UV light in the absence of sunscreen," he added.

The study is published in the latest issue of the scientific journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma.

The number of would-be workers filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits dipped last week.

Government figures show the number of initial filings was down by 6,000 in week ending June 14 -- to a seasonally 312,000. That's slightly better than the 313,00 in the consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com.

Analysts note that over the past several weeks, the initial claims level has fallen from a range of 320,000 – 330,000 to a range of 310,000 – 320,000. That, they say, implies an acceleration in payroll growth and an overall improvement in labor market conditions.

The 4-week moving average, which is less volatile than the weekly figure and considered a more accurate gauge of the labor market, fell 3,750 from the week before -- to 311,750.  

The complete report may befound on the Labor Department website.

General Motors is recalling 61 model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013.

An improper weld on the passenger side front air bag inflator in the affected vehicles may result in the air bag not deploying, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick) or 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14211.

General Motors is recalling 57,512 model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras, and 2015 Chevrolet Tahoes and Suburbans equipped with a base radio and an internal amplifier.

The radios in the affected vehicles may become inoperative and -- as a result -- there would be no audible chime to notify the driver if the door is opened with the key in the ignition or no audible seat belt warning indicating the seat belts were not buckled.

Without an audible indicator, the driver may not be aware that the driver's door is open while the key is in the ignition, increasing the risk of a vehicle rollaway. Additionally, there would be no reminder that the driver's or front seat passenger's seat belt is not buckled, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Chevrolet owners may contact GM's customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GMC owners may contact GM's customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 14315.

Brooks Furniture of Tazewell, Tenn., is recalling about 350 Brooks Furniture glider rockers.

The spindles in the glider base can separate while rocking, posing a fall hazard to the user.

The firm has received 29 reports of the chair’s spindles separating or loosening on the base of the glider rockers. No injuries have been reported.

The recall includes two styles of Brooks Furniture glider rockers: 1529P and 1529V-LM. The 1529P glider rocker has a maple wood frame with blue fabric upholstery. The 1529V-LM glider rocker has a maple wood frame with beige vinyl upholstery and a locking mechanism to disengage the glider.

Both recalled chairs have the style number and manufacture date between 1/1/2011 and 12/31/2012 printed under the chair’s seat. Brooks Furniture is printed on a label attached to the seat cushions.

The rockers, manufactured in the U.S., were sold exclusively through Kaplan Early Learning Co. nationwide from October 2011, to December 2012, for about $390 to $540 depending on style.

Consumers should stop using the glider rocker and contact Brooks Furniture to receive a free replacement base.

Consumers may contact Brooks Furniture at (800) 427-6657 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday, Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET.

Nokia of Sunnyvale, Calif., is recalling about 500 travel charger kits for Nokia Lumia 2520 tablets.

The plastic cover on the charger’s exchangeable plugs can come loose and separate, exposing internal components that pose an electrocution hazard if touched while the plug remains in a live socket.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The recall includes the travel charger kit sold separately for the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet, also called the AC-300 charger accessory kit. The kit includes four different plugs for use in electrical outlets in the U.S., U.K., EU and Australia.

The black plastic chargers measure about 2.75 inches high by 2.3 inches wide. U.S. chargers that were sold with the Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet are not included in the recall.

The chargers, manufactured in China, were sold at AT&T and Verizon Wireless authorized dealers and retailers nationwide and online at att.com and Verizon.com from January 2014, to May 2014, for about $50.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled chargers and contact Nokia for instructions on receiving a full refund from Verizon Wireless or a credit from AT&T for the travel chargers and both will provide a free replacement U.S.-only charger for their Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet.

Consumers may contact Nokia toll-free at (888)665- 4228 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Vita Food Products of Chicago, Ill., is recalling 1,878 pounds of Vita Classic Premium Sliced Smoked Atlantic Salmon.

The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No confirmed illnesses or complaints have been reported to date.

The product was sent to Hannaford stores in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire, H-E-B stores in Texas, and Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina beginning on April 7, 2014.

The packages are vacuum sealed, black in color and bear the Vita logo centered at the bottom. Product from this lot can be identified by a SELL BY AUG 17 2014 date and lot number 00764B, which can be found on the right side on the front of the package. The 4-oz size of this product is the only size subject to this recall.

Consumers who purchased the product with a sell by date and lot number above may request a refund by mailing the product label or a copy of the receipt to Vita Food Products, Inc., Attn: Customer Service, 2222 West Lake Street. Chicago, Illinois 60612.

Consumers may call the company at (800) 989-VITA Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (CT).

With news coverage befitting a space launch in the 1970s, Amazon today launched its first smartphone, dubbed the Fire. It features a 4.7-inch screen, a 13-megapixel camera and unlimited photo storage in the cloud.

And yes, as rumored, it produces 3D images that are sort of like holograms.

But in some very important ways, the Fire is less like a phone and more like the bar code wand the cashier at Best Buy points at the goodies you plop down at check-out time.

Firefly

At the launch event in Seattle, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said the Fire can recognize more than 100 million items -- everything from books and DVDs to the title of a song you're listening to.

“Fire Phone puts everything you love about Amazon in the palm of your hand — instant access to Amazon’s vast content ecosystem and exclusive features like the Mayday button, ASAP, Second Screen, X-Ray, free unlimited photo storage, and more,” said Bezos. “The Firefly button lets you identify printed web and email addresses, phone numbers, QR and bar codes, artwork, and over 100 million items, including songs, movies, TV shows, and products — and take action in seconds.

Needless to say, it takes just a quick press of a virtual button to order or find out more information about whatever it is you've just identified. Amazon calls this feature "Firefly" and obviously is hoping it directs even more e-commerce its way.

Want to restock your larder? Just roam around the kitchen and point at the items you want to replenish. Firefly does the rest. 

Still digesting

Wall Street analysts are still digesting this feature, which comes as something of a bolt from the blue. Like the Kindle, it turns a communications device into a self-contained personal shopper that buys from only one source -- Amazon.

Of course, you can also use the phone to stream movies and TV shows, listen to music, read books or access just about anything else from Amazon Prime and other online libraries. Amazon Prime charges $99 yearly and includes free two-day shipping as well as access to a growing library of video, music and e-books.

But not only with Fire help you gorge on the virtual and physical products that catch your eye, it will also help you keep track of your caloric intake.

Bezos said you can simply use Firefly to point at food and get its nutritional specifications. 

Ships July 25 ... maybe

Fire ships on July 25 and is available exclusively on AT&T. Starting today, customers can pre-order Fire at www.amazon.com/Fire-Phone, www.att.com and in AT&T retail locations nationwide. Fire with 32GB is available for $199 with a two-year contract or with 64GB for$299 with a two-year contract.

The Fire may turn out to be a big seller but contrary to the publicists' boasts that the device is available for orders today, we didn't find that to be the case.

The pre-order page on the Amazon site was not working when we tried it repeatedly. And AT&T was fairly clueless when we tried to add a Fire to our AT&T family plan.