The new iPhone4 hits New Zealand this coming Friday...

Image via CrunchBase

 HITTING NZ: The new iPhone4 will be available in NZ from this coming Friday...



 Apple's new iPhone 4 goes on sale in New Zealand on Friday but prospective buyers are being kept in the dark where to purchase it.



The iphone will go on sale at selected Apple retailers and on the online Apple store on Friday but Apple refuses to say name the retailers.



A worker at Harvey Norman in Manukau City said staff would not be told whether they would stock the iPhone 4 until Friday morning and said the same policy of secrecy was applied to the launch of the iPad last week.



"It drives us crazy sometimes," she said.



The iPhone is expected to have a recommended retail price starting from $1099.



Apple has sold more than three million of the smartphones since it was launched a month ago in France, Britain, Germany, Japan and the United States.



Apple last week began doling out iPhone 4 bumpers to address concerns that touching certain parts of the handset chokes telecom signal strength.



In true Apple style, free bumpers were made available through an application that could be downloaded to iPhones from the Cupertino, California-company's online iTunes shop.



The gadget-maker is hoping a $US29 ($39) rubber-and-plastic case will put an end to the debate over the antenna on what Apple chief executive Steve Jobs calls "perhaps the best product we've ever made".



Apple said at its website that the bumper, which fits around the sides of the phone, will be free to all buyers of the iPhone 4 through to the end of September.

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An 89 year old apple cider, perhaps...

Image via Wikipedia

An 89 year old apple cider perhaps...


New Zealand appears to have won an 89 year old battle to export apples to Australia, after leaked reports suggest the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has found in favour of New Zealand in the long standing battle of orchardists on both sides of the Tasman. The ban should be overturned in the near future, but an appeal by Australia can't be counted out.



For 89 years Australia orchardists have incorrectly claimed and maintained that New Zealand apples would endanger the Australian domestic apple market with the risk of fireblight disease. I have never read of any proof being offered from Australian interests.



New Zealand exports apples to the huge American market and to other countries. There has never been any suggestion of fireblight being connected with Kiwi exports of apples.



An Australian resident, Sam Bradley, suggests Kiwi competition would teach Australian orchardists to farm more efficiently. New Zealand apples would continue to be effectively examined for any diseases, as they are done globally at present.



Another Australian who was rather disappointed with the variety and quality of NZ fruit, considering the best quality is exported, loved the yummy NZ apples, especially the Royal Gala variety, also a favourite of mine.

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