NYPD iPhone flyer
Not too long ago TTAG had a short piece on Apple’s patent of a tech that would allow the government or police to block transmission of information, including video and photographs. Now comes a story out of NYC that the NYPD (your tax dollars at work) have been stopping people and asking them to upgrade to iOS7, handing out leaflets with more information (click photo above for larger version). The reason they’re recommending the upgrade is enhanced security measures to prevent the reuse of stolen phones, but is that the only reason? We report, you deride. [h/t: Jeremy S.] . . .

A new (to Florida) gun rights group is attempting to empower Orlando homeowners to protect their neighborhoods by providing them with free shotguns and gun training. An offshoot of a successful Texas organization, the Armed Citizen Project of Florida left flyers on doorsteps throughout the Sunshine Gardens neighborhood (not mine, sadly) seeking volunteers. After being founded in Tampa about six months ago, the group has yet to actually distribute any firearms, but is in the process of contacting gun shops and NRA instructors willing to donate shotguns and training.

An update on the recent (and ongoing) Springfield Armory XDs recall. Reader Eric S. writes: “Now these FLAME DELETED are saying they don’t even have a fix yet, they initially said the fix was to insert a roll pin into the grip safety. But of course they told all their customers to send their guns in already, mine has been sitting there for a month and they haven’t even done anything. At this rate it will be months before I get it back. I called them up and demanded my gun back and they refuse to send it back without the fix (that they don’t have yet). I told them it’s my property, not theirs and I want it back or I’ll report it stolen. They still refuse and say to talk to their lawyers. What a bunch of bs, I’ll never buy a Springfield again.” Springfield’s statement on the matter, from their FAQ:

We originally estimated a 30-day turn-around time, but it has unfortunately taken longer to develop and identify an upgrade solution. Please know that we are continuing to test potential upgrade solutions at this time and we have been doing so since we became aware of this issue. This testing is nearing completion and we will post any new updates as soon as we have identified a final upgrade solution. We will post our next update no later than Friday, October 4, and we will communicate immediately if a final solution is identified prior to that date. We wish that we could provide you with a specific return date at this time, but we are unfortunately unable to do so. Upgrades will be completed on a “first come / first served” basis.

Map of Military Rifle Preferences WorldwideThis map highlights the gun preferences of the world’s militaries. Click the image (or here) for the really big version. If some of the names are unfamiliar to you, The Blaze has a pile of photos to expand your knowledge. Gizmodo notes that the weapons of similar families are grouped by color.

And finally, this week on Dugan’s Tool Shed, Agent Ashley talks about the STEN MK III. Bonus points* if you can identify everything that doesn’t belong in the “completely broken down” photo. (Video contains a small amount of likely NSFW language, unless you work someplace really cool.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9lbCqVM_Q
*Points have no cash value and can be redeemed for precisely nothing.

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31 COMMENTS

  1. Oh for the love of god. Just because a company has a software patent on something doesn’t mean it’s implemented in their products. It means someone at the company came up with an idea and decided that they better patent it before someone else comes up with the same idea. iOS7 DOES have several major improvements to deter phone theft by making it impossible to reuse a stolen phone. Phone theft is a pretty big crime these days, so it would make sense for the NYPD to publicize these features so theft rates can go down!

    • Yeah, they can’t be used when stolen. They can’t be used when purchased legitimately, either, because they made the default desktop look so freaking bright and colorful, it would make a blind gay man yell, “OH DEAR CHRIST!”

    • This entire problem could be avoided very very easily. All phones have unique identifiers. All that needs to be done is for carriers to blacklist any phone reported stolen, thereby making them useless bricks.

      But why would they do that when it screws you into buying another phone and the criminal gets to sell it to someone who will be their next customer?

      • As far as I know, the identifier to which you are referring is on the SIMM card, which is removable and replaceable.

        • Actually, the SIM card contains the IMSI which is tied to the user account, while the phone (or tablet) does in fact have an IMEI or MEID which is unique to that device and cannot be changed. Companies are able to blacklist the IMEI of the device, but usually you have to provide that number to your carrier and/or law enforcement to get them to do this. Here is a link on how to ascertain this number for your device, it’s something everyone should know and keep filed as proof of ownership, just like the serial numbers of your guns. http://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-IMEI-Number-on-a-Mobile-Phone

        • IMEIs are overwriteable, just like serial number. It’s illegal to do so, and of course a lot of Asian and other carriers do not honor the IMEI blacklist.

    • I really doubt that IOS7 will result in phone theft rates going down. Yes, the phone is unusable to the thief – but only after it’s stolen. They’re not going to grab the phone, see it’s running IOS7, and then give it back. Eventually, maybe, word will get around that stolen iPhones have no value, but that’s going to take a long time, no matter how many upgrades the NYPD encourages.

      Either way, it’s great to see that there’s no more crime in New York City, such that the police have time to do Apple’s work for them. I knew Mayor Mikey’s gun-free, crime-free Utopia would kick in sooner or later, in spite of all you naysayers!

  2. I am so glad I decided not to get an XDS. I will stick with my 100% Croatian, 100% reliable, and 100% awesome XDM

  3. With respect to the corny Apple suggestion

    This is a topic for ArsTechnica….They will, if something is fishy, do a good job of reporting on it. Here on TTAG it is just heresay

  4. Springfield never said the fix was to place a roll pin in the grip safety, they said that they would use that to visually identify pistols that had been upgraded. Big difference.

    • Exactly. Sticking a roll pin through a block of metal was not the fix, and that was pretty obvious. But I have to say, there website did imply in its wording this was the fix. Without carefully looking at the placement of the roll pin you might not realize that.

      All that aside, I am disappointed with Springfield on this one. Thank god I still have my XD – which is the whole reason I got the XD-S, for the same ergonomics.

      • That’s good to know, thanks. I don’t own an XDs, so I didn’t read the material as closely as I might have if I did, but I was also under the impression the the roll pin was (at least part of) the fix. Regardless of that particular point, though, when they rolled out the recall, they certainly did make it sound as if they already had the fix worked out, and just had to apply it.

  5. OK, that carnik con stuff is hilarious. Seeing all those “sten” parts made me giggle remembering a joke I played on a sig armorers class.
    Good stuff Matt.

  6. You can’t hardly call a gun “stolen” when you voluntarily returned it. And they need not, and should not, return it if they consider it a safety hazard. If the gun owner doesn’t like this, he should, as they recommended, contact their lawyer. He should not use his own lawyer because I doubt he’d find a lawyer to take the case.

    • If I voluntarily loaned my property to someone and then they refused to give it back, would you call that stolen? I would. The crux of the matter is that they have his property. Either they return said property or pay him for the property. Continuing to retain the property against the wishes over the owner constitutes theft in my book.

      • No. To steal is to take someone’s property without their permission. They didn’t take it, it was given to them. This this is a civil issue if an issue at all, and not a criminal issue. The remedy is not jail for theft, which would be absurd.

        Additionally, if the gun is defective and not repaired, then they have a legal responsibility to not return it. If they can’t find a fix for it, I have no doubt it will be destroyed.

    • You only left out one little problem, Skyler…the hard-earned money that he paid for it.

      Tom

      • Sure. They need to fix it in a reasonable time or give him some money for the value of the gun. But it’s not stolen.

  7. So, Springfield issues a recall to fix a defect that reportedly affected only one gun, and after receiving back everyone’s newly purchased XDS, we find out they do not even have a real fix yet. And when asked to send the firearm back, they tell the customer to speak to a lawyer. I will never buy another Springfield firearm again.

    • I never planned on buying a Springfield in the the first place, but this does kind of make it final.

Comments are closed.