Flaws in Apple's Techno Marvels

That on Bethesda Row always appears to be jam-packed with customers—or gawkers—checking out the latest technological marvel. 

That's especially true these days, with the new Apple iPhone 4S and the new iPad both hitting the market. Two dozen or so people were lined up outside the store early Friday morning, March 16, the day the iPad was to be released. 

But all these new gizmos can be more than slightly overwhelming for those of us still struggling with the intricacies of email. 

Whether it's the circular and exasperating answering machines run by many 'public service' companies (like Verizon or Pepco), completely inaccurate driving instructions offered in various global positioning systems in cars or the barrage of useless emails and tweets, there's a definite downside to many of these so-called technological innovations. 

So we found it amusing to read about how some of the latest features on the iPhone 4S that supposedly can answer any question or solve any problem simply don't function as advertised. 

Some of these new features border on the absurd, according to some accounts. 

Take Siri, for example. She's the personal assistant inside the new Apple iPhone who supposedly can answer any question or solve any problem. 

Siri is simply amazing, according to the Apple press releases. She offers directions for drivers, gives advice on where to eat dinner and even takes dictation, which can be tapped into your own text message.

Alas, Siri is far from perfect. In responding to voice commands, she often flunks the simplest of tests. 

Former network news correspondent Don Farmer, for example, asked Siri to phone his wife. "Which wife?" Siri asked.  "Chris Duffy, Maggie Paul or Wes Sargenson?"

When Farmer sought to test Siri's touted multi-lingual capabilities, he said 'Guten Tag' in German to her. "Searching for dog," Siri answered.

Indeed, some of this new technology may not quite be all it's cracked up to be. 

Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that Apple is running into serious problems with fraud in its online applications store, which reportedly is highly vulnerable to hackers around the globe.

This follows on the heels of earlier Times reports on the horrendous working conditions that exist at many of Apple's operations in China. 

Yes, there's a good and bad side to technology. Still, every time we drive past the jam-packed Apple store at Bethesda Row, we tend to think Apple might be a pretty good buy even at $600 or so per share.