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London Terror Alert; Watchful Eyes and Security Cameras; Reaching out to Help South Africa's Most Vulnerable Citizens

Aired June 30, 2007 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is the CNN NEWSROOM.
It is Saturday, June 30th, 10:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia, 3:00 p.m. in London, where our top story is this morning.

Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

Our top story this morning, that foiled London terror plot. Do investigators have a security camera image of a suspect in the car bomb terror plot? Well, we have a live report straight ahead on that very issue.

Also...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure our customers are going to be saying for a long time, make sure my shrimp's not from China.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Buyer beware as China objects to the ban on some of its seafood.

We'll have the latest.

Also this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best feeling ever. Yeah, iPhone!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right. So, they're pretty fired up. But, do the Apple iPhones actually live up to all this hype? We're going to find out.

HOLMES: But we are first going to start in London. on alert.

Police right now may be zooming in on a possible suspect. ABC News reports investigators got a clear picture of someone running away from one of two cars rigged to explode. Now the massive manhunt is on.

CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh is outside Scotland Yard for us.

Hello, Alphonso.

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.

As you mentioned, those reports coming from that American news organization, but police here in London are not commenting on the nature of the evidence they've collected in this investigation, other than to say that they feel confident in the evidence that they've collected so far.

Now, those developments come as this country's new prime minister, Gordon Brown, met with his foreign secretary and home secretary today to discuss this ongoing investigation and the developments in this story. Jacqui Smith, the new home secretary here, made a statement once that meeting finished just a little earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACQUI SMITH, BRITISH HOME SECRETARY: We were updated on the police operation, and the prime minister took the opportunity to thank the police and the security services for all their hard work over the last 48 hours.

The prime minister stressed that all parts of government have got to work together to combat the terror threat. I'm satisfied that across government, and with the police and agencies, we're doing all we can to protect the public.

The police are clear that the most important contribution that the public can make is to carry on reporting anything suspicious and to be vigilant, And I'd ask them to do that. But I must stress that we mustn't let the threat of terror stop us from getting on with our lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: And that's what you heard from the home secretary there, less than a week on the job.

The key word, "vigilance". And that's something that's certainly coming through on this big weekend here in London. The Wimbledon Tennis Championship is ongoing. Today is also the Gay Pride march and concert going on this weekend.

And tomorrow, the memorial concert for Diana, princess of Wales, is scheduled to carry on. They want people to keep their eyes and ears opened.

If you want to know how people are feeling here, there are a number of extremes. Just take a look at the newspaper headlines.

In the "Sun" here, taking a look at these two car bombs, the headline, "Saved: Two Bombs Foiled in the West End".

And then perhaps at the other end of the discussion, a question that's on a lot of people's minds, "Where's the Next Bomb?"

But officials here are saying police all across the government agencies are doing everything they can to be sure that people living in this city stay safe -- T.J.

HOLMES: And Alphonso, is anything else being changed besides, of course, they're telling people to keep an eye out? And I understand there's an increased police presence, but is there anything else that people around the city will notice that officials are doing to try to step up security?

VAN MARSH: Well, one of the most obvious signs, as you already mentioned, definitely an increased police presence on the street. Also, people are probably looking towards what many here are already familiar with, CC Television. Some four million cameras around this city monitoring people's moves. A lot of people wondering if those CCTV images will in turn come up with some stronger evidence, helping police find the person or persons who might be responsible for these bomb scares -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Alphonso Van Marsh for us in London.

Thank you so much, Alphonso.

NGUYEN: Well, London is a city with a security camera on just about every corner. And you can check out many of those cameras right from your very own computer.

The site is trafficland.com, and it has links to security cameras all over the city. You can see what's going on in Piccadilly Circus or over at Trafalgar Square. London probably one of the most watched over cities in the world, with a high number of cameras located all around.

HOLMES: Surveillance cameras and eyes of the public, both powerful tools in preventing terrorist attacks.

And CNN's Mary Snow looks at the advantages of both and some lessons the U.S. could learn.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Disaster was skirted in London when an ambulance crew noticed a smoking car and alerted explosive experts.

SMITH: And this latest incident reinforces the need for the public to remain vigilant and to alert -- and alert to the threat that we face at all times.

SNOW: Here in the United States, it was a store clerk who told authorities about a suspicious tape that law enforcement said led them to foil a plot to kill soldiers at Fort Dix in New Jersey. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All I did was pick up the phone and make a call.

SNOW: In 2001, the so-called "shoe bomber" was stopped from blowing up a U.S. airliner after a flight attendant noticed something suspicious.

Security experts say public vigilance is crucial. In New York, for example, people are encouraged if you see something, say something.

But those same experts say it's not just the public side that can make a difference. Surveillance cameras can also play a key role.

CLARK KENT ERVIN, FORMER DHS INSPECTOR GENERAL: London is the most heavily blanketed city in the world with surveillance cameras. We in the United States have only spotty coverage, at best.

SNOW: An estimated four million cameras are watching over Britain. Those cameras helped in the investigation of the 2005 London subway bombing and are now being used to look for clues in this latest foiled plot.

Compare that to New York City, the country's top terror target, which has less than 300 police surveillance cameras installed. The city's police commissioner is pushing for more.

COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY, NYPD: Certainly, cameras have been very helpful in investigations in the U.K.

I'm certainly a supporter of cameras.

SNOW: One roadblock in the United States -- civil liberties groups fighting against installation of too many cameras for fear of a complete loss of privacy. But some security experts point to car bombs like the kind found in London as reasons why it's crucial to strike a balance between civil libertarians and law enforcement.

(on camera): Police surveillance cameras used here in New York are used to fight crime. The NYPD plans to install another 1,000 cameras and license plate readers, but they're still about 18 months away from finishing the job.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And we are going to hear much more from terror expert Clark Kent Ervin on this investigation in London. That is coming up in about 10 minutes.

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Well, funeral services scheduled today for Jessie Davis. She's the pregnant woman who Ohio officials say was killed by her boyfriend, a Canton police officer. Davis was reported missing on June 13th. Her body was found in a northeastern Ohio park after a 10- day search.

NGUYEN: Another young woman was killed last night on a ride called the Mind Scrambler. It happened at an historic amusement park in Rye, which is north of New York City. Police are releasing few details, but a news conference is expected this morning. A 7-year-old girl was killed on the same ride four years ago.

HOLMES: And another amusement park accident to tell you about. This one in Florida. A 13-year-old girl is in intensive care this morning after a mishap on a tea cup ride. Witnesses say the girl leaned her head back while the cups were spinning and hit her head. But investigators still don't know what she hit her head on. The ride is closed down for now.

NGUYEN: Well, if you think the threat of car bombs are only overseas, you better think again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a matter of time before we start having these incidents in our nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: A sobering reality check. That is straight ahead.

HOLMES: Also, millions of security cameras watch Londoners' every move every day. Up next, we'll take a closer look at how that super surveillance can help in a terror plot investigation.

Also, later...

NGUYEN: Exploding watermelons, dummies destroyed. Watch this. Ooh. OK, that could be very painful. And it's is all in the name of fireworks safety.

You don't want that to happen to you. Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, we have some precautions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Keeping an eye on London this morning. Pretty easy to do. The city is covered by security cameras. You can actually see our correspondent, Paula Newton. She's walking around there, the city, and everybody is keeping an eye on them, the watchful eye there of London's finest.

Well, London police hope some of the security footage leads them to the people responsible for those two car bombs.

CNN security analyst Clark Kent Ervin joins us now from Washington.

And good morning to you, sir. Thanks for being here.

We know, yes, it can help in the investigation after the fact, but can these cameras, as many as they have, can they help prevent a bomb or an issue from taking place in the first place?

ERVIN: Absolutely they can, T.J. You know, just knowing that a city is blanketed by cameras and chances are that alert police officers who are monitoring those cameras might see a plot in progress, could serve potentially as a deterrent against terror, which, of course, is the best possible thing.

HOLMES: Now, is this going to be -- we're hearing that there's possibly a good image of somebody running away from that vehicle. Do you think police right now are all over it and they can get to somebody pretty quickly now?

ERVIN: There's no question about that. And we've already seen the utility of these cameras in the plot that took place -- not just the plot, actually. You know, 52 people were killed in London almost exactly two years ago, a subway and bus plot. And those cameras were very, very helpful in tracking down those perpetrators.

And so, yes, there's no question that the authorities in London are all over it right now, as they should be. And this highlights the importance of cameras, and we need more of them in our own country.

HOLMES: OK. Is this next -- our own country is what I want to ask you about. A car bomb in the U.S., God forbid one would ever go off. But is this the next thing we need to be worried about? And if one does take place in a U.S. city, what does that mean about some new era of terrorism that we're going to be ushered into?

ERVIN: Well, that's exactly my fear, T.J. There but for the grace of God go we. It would be very, very easy for terrorists to plant car bombs. And there's very little that can be done to prevent it.

Really, the only thing that can be done is these surveillance cameras, as I say. And also -- and also, very importantly, a vigilant public.

You've heard the London authorities stressing the importance of the public calling attention to suspicious people, suspicious things. That's how this plot was spoiled in both instances. It's critical that the public play a role here.

HOLMES: Now, of course, it's great and good news that someone noticed it. The public helped with their eyes and ears. The bombs didn't go off. That is great.

However, does it make you a little uneasy that we kind of got lucky here? And it wasn't intelligence -- from the intelligence community that a plot was going to take place.

ERVIN: Well, that's exactly right, T.J. Scotland Yard, we heard from London authorities that there was no intelligence indicating this plot. It was only because of luck, these alert citizens calling attention to what happened here it.

So, it just points up the vulnerability of soft targets in the United States -- nightclubs, restaurants, shopping malls, movie theaters. One of the ironies is, the harder we harden airports and seaports, that we all know are major terror targets, the more appealing it seems to be, particularly after this incident, of soft targets in the use of car bombs in the United States.

HOLMES: Finally, like you said there, they said they had no intelligence. I mean, not a hint that something like this was supposed to take place. So how is that possible, first of all, and does that give us any clue as to who might be behind it? Since we don't -- there was no intelligence.

ERVIN: Well, a couple of things. Intelligence really is an art rather than a science. And as art goes, it's an abstract art. It's very, very imprecise, point one.

Two, you know, the best guess is, particularly since there were two bombs involved here, and apparently timed to go off simultaneously, that is a classic al Qaeda trademark. So this was either an al Qaeda-directed group, or more likely an al Qaeda-inspired group. And, of course, that's the worst possible nightmare.

This is a tactic that has been used increasingly in Iraq and shows the importation of this tactic to the West.

HOLMES: All right. CNN security analyst Clark Kent Ervin.

Sir, we appreciate your time. Sure glad we got you for your expertise. Thanks so much.

ERVIN: Thank you, T.J.

NGUYEN: Well, millions of people all around the world live with the threat of car bombs. You just heard Clark Kent Ervin talk about the dangers. And coming up, more on how real this threat really is.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB NAMENG, FOUNDER, SOWETO KLIPTOWN YOUTH FOUNDATION: Nobody is talking to these kids. Nobody is telling them how special they are. Nobody is trying to say to them, let your little light shine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Reaching out to help South Africa's most vulnerable citizens. A CNN hero's struggle, that is straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Making a difference in the life of children and changing a generation. Our CNN Hero this week is a man who is trying to bring hope and prosperity to the slums of South Africa.

He's Bob Nameng.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NAMENG: When I look at children, I see them like flowers. Flowers have got the right to blossom. These kids don't deserve these conditions that they find themselves in, in Kliptown. No proper infrastructure, no good sanitation, no school, no facilities around.

We come from very difficult times. Apartheid time, 3,000 people came together in 1955 in Kliptown which led now to the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which forms the constitution of South Africa.

For me, it's a contradiction because all those things that are written there, I don't see any of them happening in our community. Young people are bored, hanging around doing nothing. Nobody is talking to these kids. Nobody's telling them how special they are. Nobody is trying to say to them, let your little light shine.

My name is Bob Nameng and I'm the founder of Soweto Kliptown Youth Foundation. There's a feeding program where we give our kids meals, three meals a day. There's educational programs where kids are being given access to computer, library, where kids are learning.

This will improve your vocabulary, (INAUDIBLE). So that is good.

What we're doing is community work to help and make a difference in our own community. I'm a ghetto child. I know life in the ghetto. Children live what they see. So if we live a positive life, then we're setting a good example to our children.

If people can know that they own this community, lots of things can start moving in a positive way. I believe one day things are going to be OK because after darkness, there's light.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: If you would like to learn more about Bob Nameng's organization or make a contribution, you'll find all the information that you need at cnn.com/heroes.

What a great job he's doing.

HOLMES: Well, British investigators -- this is another story we're been looking at today -- they're studying surveillance camera video in their search for suspects in the foiled London car bomb plot.

An update on that for you straight ahead.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Also, T.J., all across the Web this morning people talking about that foiled attack. What are papers in the U.K. saying about all this? We're going to take a closer look next from the dot-com desk.

HOLMES: Also, if you're eating fish, shrimp, or other seafood imported from China, it may slightly contaminated.

Details on a U.S. crackdown straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's get you the latest now on the London terror threat investigation.

Police are checking the city's massive network of security cameras for clues. And ABC News reports police may have a clear picture of one suspect.

There's a more visible police presence on the streets today as well. Police trying to soothe any fears Londoners may be having in the wake of the car bomb discoveries.

And the new British home secretary led an emergency meeting of counterterrorism officials just a short while ago. And afterwards, Jacqui Smith said authorities were doing all they can to protect the public.

HOLMES: And Veronica de la Cruz of the dot-com desk is here now to talk to us about it.

We were talking about those surveillance cameras...

(CROSSTALK)

DE LA CRUZ: Yes.

HOLMES: But you've been looking at all kinds of stuff they got.

DE LA CRUZ: Right, CCTV, closed-circuit television. As you know, central London is just blanketed with these security cameras. They were put in as a high tech response to the IRA bombings of the past. Now the average person, T.J., walking around London might show up on these closed-circuit TVs hundreds of times in just one day.

HOLMES: Really?

DE LA CRUZ: Yes. Trafficland.com is a place to go look at these numerous traffic cameras around the city. We're looking at some live pictures right here. The static image does refresh every minute or so. And there is no doubt that London investigators like we've been mentioning have been poring through all of this footage taken by these security cameras, looking for the car bomb vehicles, people who drove them.

Now the Web site. Trafficland.com lets you focus on any area of the city where there is a traffic jam, Piccadilly Circus, maybe, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park. You can also look at images from the United States as well.

I want to get to this. A lot of you out there have sent us e- mails this morning about the situation in London. Here are a couple of them. Marta in Hollywood, Florida, says: "What do we think? Bummer for them. Summer for us. No effect on me at all, and we're growing tired of all this war and fear mongering." That from Marta in Hollywood, Florida.

This from Dawnita Redd, who says: "I'm very concerned to the threats and the possibilities of another disaster on our soil. However, I do not believe if we do not fight terrorists other places, they're coming here. I believe we need more cameras for our security throughout the states and responding police."

This final one, T.J., from Tod Hale in Fredericksburg, Virginia, who says: "As a former Marine and avid student of history, it is clear to me that the ideology and motives driving insurgents, homegrown terrorists, and their like, can only be eliminated via one of two available scenarios: ruthless, oppressing governmental rule or dialogue and compromise. It's time to choose."

And again, you can send us an e-mail at weekends@cnn.com. So some people there saying that they want these security cameras. Other people are saying, you know, it is an invasion of privacy.

HOLMES: You're right. Some folks say whatever you have got to do, just tell me I'm going to be safe and do it. But other folks don't want to be seen hundreds of times, that's interesting, walking down the street in the day.

DE LA CRUZ: In one day.

HOLMES: All right. Veronica De La Cruz, thank you so much.

NGUYEN: Well, the London terror plot raises concerns about the potential for car bombs right here in the U.S. Homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joins us now live from Washington.

And, Jeanne, I have got to ask you, do officials have any evidence pointing to any kind of imminent threat here?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: None. U.S. officials say they know of no credible or specific threat against the United States at this time, but the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued a bulletin to law enforcement, advising state and local authorities on how to recognize and deter an attack with a car or truck bomb.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(EXPLOSION)

MESERVE (voice-over): U.S. law enforcement has been training for what it sees as inevitable. The use of vehicle bombs in the United States.

(EXPLOSION)

KEVIN MILES, FBI BOMB TECHNICIAN: It's just a matter of time before we start having these incidents in our nation. MESERVE: Vehicle bomb tactics and technology are being upgraded almost daily in Iraq with lethal effect. U.S. officials have been particularly concerned with a recent innovation, their combination with deadly chlorine gas. With enemies of the United States honing their skills in Iraq and sharing them over the Internet, experts expected vehicle bombs here long before now.

THOMAS SANDERSON, TERRORISM EXPERT: But I am completely surprised that we have not seen this in the U.S.

MESERVE: This FBI course teaches law enforcement how to extract forensic clues from the scene of a vehicle bomb. But preventing such explosions may be impossible. In response to the London bombs, New York City has taken some additional precautions.

COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE: We have checkpoints that we've instituted -- vehicle checkpoints on bridges, and some located in Manhattan. We're checking parking garages, ask the owners, and we're doing it ourselves to look for suspicious vehicles.

MESERVE: There are some technologies that can scan vehicles, but they are expensive and not widely deployed. And although some efforts are made to keep vehicles away from key buildings and large crowds, the simple fact is trucks and cars are almost everywhere and inspecting them all is impossible. The most effective defense, experts say, is low tech, old-fashioned observation.

SANDERSON: What you have to rely on is the vigilance of the population, the good work of the police and intelligence to prevent this from happening.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MERSERVE: But intelligence is imperfect, and London is the perfect illustration of that. Authorities say they didn't have any inkling about this latest car bomb threat. Back to you.

NGUYEN: Well, that's why you have got to be on the lookout. Everyone has to stay vigilant. Thank you, Jeanne. We appreciate that.

And you do want to stay with CNN for the latest into the terror bomb threat there in London. And be sure to tune in tonight for Christiane Amanpour's in-depth look at threat of terrorism in the U.K. It is called "The War Within." And it airs tonight at 8:00 Eastern only on CNN.

HOLMES: Well, just in time for your Fourth of July barbecue. It's not going to be all burgers and brats. Some folks (INAUDIBLE) on seafood, and we have got some concerns on that over the safety of that seafood that is imported from China.

CNN's Jason Carroll looks at the growing list of problems with Chinese imports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a nationwide alert that once again has brought Chinese imports into question. This time it's seafood. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blocked Chinese shrimp, catfish, eel, basa and dace. Basa is similar to catfish, dace is more like carp. None will be permitted in the United States until the importer can prove it is safe.

DR. DAVID ACHESON, FDA: They have to prove to us that they do not contain certain drugs that we have concern about.

CARROLL: The concerns came when FDA inspectors found imported seafood contaminated with unsafe food additives and antimicrobials, which are used to kill things like bacteria. Ian MacGregor owns a fish market and says he's prepared for the fallout.

IAN MACGREGOR, THE LOBSTER PLACE: This type of thing, there tends to be, I think, significant reactions to it. So I'm sure our customers are going to be saying for a long time, make sure my shrimp's not from China.

CARROLL: And that's not all to be concerned about. The FDA warned people to stop using toothpaste imported from China after tubes tainted with a dangerous chemical were found.

Earlier this month it was Chinese tires and toys that had safety violations. And in March, U.S. pet manufacturers began recalling dog and cat food after animals ate petfood with ingredients imported from China.

Consumer advocacy groups say the FDA needs more inspectors and the authority to do more.

CAROLINE SMITH DEWAAL, CTR. FOR SCIENCE & PUBLIC INTEREST: The FDA needs to have a comprehensive program for insuring the safety of imported foods. And this includes not only checks at the border but also checks in the country of origin.

CARROLL: As for seafood, the FDA says it tested out 5 percent that comes from China. Critics say that number should be much higher, and say there should be one agency overseeing imports.

URVASHI RANGAN, CONSUMER REPORTS: The variety of different products that are imported into this country are inspected by a variety of different agencies. And when it comes to food, there's even more hairsplitting.

CARROLL: For example, the FDA generally handles food, but it's the USDA that handles meats and poultry. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration dealt with those faulty tires from China. As for imported toys, that falls under the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, Chinese officials are calling the U.S. seafood ban unfair. NGUYEN: All right. Folks, the wait is over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Friggin' awesome, dude. I'm so excited. Like waiting since January. Just really awesome right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: He has waited since January, and his words are "friggin' awesome, dude"?

HOLMES: He had all the time to come up with words.

NGUYEN: Yes, he has had plenty of time. But here's the question. Is the iPhone all that and a bag of chips? We're going to find out straight ahead.

HOLMES: Also, a horse is a horse of course or however that goes.

NGUYEN: Unless it's kind of sort of a horse.

HOLMES: Unless it is that. This is a painting project that went bad. It's not. That's a horse of some kind. We'll tell you about it later in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best feeling ever, yes! IPhones!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was it worth it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hell, yes!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If Steve Jobs were here right now, what would you say to him?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Steve, I love you!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You walk in and 200 people are cheering for you. It's hard to feel bad after something like that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You feel like a movie star, don't you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For a little bit, yes, yes.

SPIKE LEE, DIRECTOR: I had to call my wife, Tanya (ph). Speaking from the new iPhone. And she just said, it sounds like you're next door, it is so crystal clear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Can you believe the craze over this? Even celebrities like Spike Lee are giggling with delight over the new iPhone. Fans are lined up for hours, in some cases, days to be the first to buy the pricey new gadget. Apple is calling the phone the most user-friendly smart phone ever. OK. We're going to put that to the test. Is it really that cool? Could it truly live up to all of this hype?

Well, Richard Baguley is the editor-in-chief of wirelessinfo.com. And he joins us from Newton, Massachusetts.

I've got to ask you, did you actually have to stand in line to get the iPhone?

RICHARD BAGULEY, WIRELESSINFO.COM: We did. We had people standing who were standing in line at 3:00 in the morning outside.

NGUYEN: All right. Richard, you have got to tell them who you are. Did you tell them that you were editor-in-chief of wirelessinfo.com. Did you pull rank?

BAGULEY: I tried, but Apple only supplied it to like four people in the world before launch day. We all to queue.

NGUYEN: Really, it didn't work. All right. So I know -- at least I think I know. You've been up all night playing with this new gadget. And tell me, does it live up to the hype?

BAGULEY: It does in many ways. It's a great phone. It's really easy to use. You just turn it on and it just looks great. Some things about it aren't so good, though.

NGUYEN: Like what?

BAGULEY: Well, when you type on this thing, you have a little touch -- the keyboard that pops up on the screen, we have found that's not so great. It's OK if you're typing a short message or something like that, but if you try to do anything longer, it is kind of frustrating.

NGUYEN: Is it because we're so used to actually typing on a keyboard, we want to feel it, we want to feel like those buttons were pushed? And actually sometimes you can type and not have to look at it. With this, you almost have to know where your fingers are going.

BAGULEY: That's very true. With a thing like a BlackBerry, you can just feel your way around the keyboard, with this you have to see where you're going. I think it is one of these things that you'll get used to over time. And I think that's what people have found. But I don't think it is ever going to be as fast as a real physical keyboard.

NGUYEN: All right. And about the signal strength and connection, how is that for the new iPhone?

BAGULEY: Well, we're looking at doing some testing on that very shortly at wirelessinfo.com. So far our tests we've done seem to indicate it is OK. The signal strength seems to be pretty good.

NGUYEN: All right. Can you hold that up for us? Because we've got to take a look at these. We've seen video of it for so long. But there is the actual thing. Let me ask you, honestly, is it worth the $600 price tag that comes with it?

BAGULEY: Well, for a lot of people it really isn't. If all you want to do is make phone calls, then go for one of the free phones that the carriers will get you. But if you want a gadget, then this is a really good gadget. And if you want something that can make phone calls, can show you photos, can browse the Web, then this is a good pick.

NGUYEN: All right. You know, the great thing though is it does have all of those capabilities that you talked about, but we are hearing this morning that there are some snags. And some of them you have mentioned. I want to bring in my colleague, Veronica De La Cruz, because she has been talking to folks on the Web who essentially have said, look, we have got a problem. Mayday, iPhone is not all it says.

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT Richard, hi, Veronica De La Cruz here from the dot-com desk, wanted to just go ahead and read you a quick snippet of one of the e-mails that we have received. AT&T was totally unprepared for the tons of activation issues they're facing. This is just one of many. This is from Stephen Campbell, he says that: "AT&T should have told the world they couldn't handle a lot of people switching over. There should never been a 6:00 launch on a Friday night when no one would be around to help. This should go down in history as one of the worst ideas ever."

So you had no activation issues?

BAGULEY: We got the phones, we took them back to our office and we activated them. We had no problems doing that.

DE LA CRUZ: OK. But you head up a Web site. So have you been reading about this? Have you heard about this?

BAGULEY: We have heard that there have been issues about it. I haven't -- as I said, we didn't have any problems. I think actually, this is not necessarily a bad thing to do. I think the alternative was, if they had people activating them in the stores, people would still be queuing out there now. You know, so allowing you to buy it quickly and take it home and activate it when you want to actually works very well in some ways.

DE LA CRUZ: OK. But let me ask you this. For those folks who are still sitting at home with an iPhone that they can't use.

NGUYEN: Frustrated.

DE LA CRUZ: You can't use it unless it's activated. You can't use any of the other functions, right?

BAGULEY: No, you can't do anything with it until you activate it. So that is an issue.

NGUYEN: Yes. That's a very big issue. After you plop down that $600 and you can't use your phone, how frustrating is that? OK, but, you know, does that really speak to the nature, Richard, of these brand new types of technology? Is that why folks would be smarter just to wait a few months so all these little, you know, bugs are worked out?

BAGULEY: Well, this is the first phone that Apple has launched. There are going to be some issues like this. And I'm sure that they will come out with other ones in the near future which will deal with some of these issues. You know, we have a full review that has gone up at wirelessinfo.com. We've looked at the product extensively. It does very well. But there are certainly some things in there that don't work as well as we would like.

NGUYEN: And very quickly, the best thing about this?

BAGULEY: It's a great way to take your photos, take your videos, take your music with you in a convenient little package and make phone calls.

NGUYEN: And you bought four of them. That's $2,400. But you know what, it is a work expense. So it's all good, right?

BAGULEY: Absolutely, and the boss was paying. So even better.

NGUYEN: Love that. OK. Can you hook me up with one? I'd like one. You could call it work expense.

BAGULEY: I'm sorry. These are all spoken for.

NGUYEN: Oh, darn. All right. Maybe next time. All right. Richard, we appreciate your time today. Have fun with the new iPhone.

BAGULEY: I will. Thank you very much.

HOLMES: You didn't really think you were going to get one?

NGUYEN: I had to try, though, at some point. You know, I'm going to stick to this, and techcrunch.com, it has got that list of all the software you could ever want to download and make it somewhat like an iPhone. I think I'm going to stick to (INAUDIBLE)...

HOLMES: Somewhat like an iPhone.

NGUYEN: You can get there, you just won't actually have it.

DE LA CRUZ: Not only that, you can't type on the thing. You know?

NGUYEN: And that can be annoying.

DE LA CRUZ: And you can only imagine like how hard that screen is. Talk about BlackBerry thumb, we're all going to get iPhone thumb now, you know?

NGUYEN: That's if you can get it activated and actually working.

DE LA CRUZ: Right. NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Veronica.

HOLMES: Thank you, Veronica.

Well, folks, nothing like love in the afternoon. OK. This probably wasn't what you were expecting to see...

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: That's a whole lot of loving going on.

HOLMES: Yes. That's love in stopped traffic. We are talking about the frisky manatees causing quite a stir along a Florida causeway.

NGUYEN: Can we show that on TV? (INAUDIBLE) All right. That, my friends, Gallagher has nothing on our Jeanne Moos, oh no, exploding watermelons, mannequins blown up. All in the name of safety? Yes, stay with the CNN NEWSROOM for all the fireworks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Oh. They didn't play the sound.

HOLMES: They don't have the best part. Well, simulate it for us. What does the guy do?

NGUYEN: Woo! What else does he -- boo-yah! That's what he says.

HOLMES: She's not kidding. There was a guy pretty excited about the walls coming tumbling down here. If you know anything about us here on CNN morning weekends, we love us some implosions. Ongoing series we have here. We try to find the best every week. But this is one we found at the Kodak Park in Rochester, New York, earlier this morning. A lot of noise, all the dust and debris there.

Nobody, of course, got hurt. These things are well supervised. A note for you here as well. Another installment of implosions are us coming up tomorrow. They're going to bring down another building at that Kodak complex tomorrow.

NGUYEN: It is your lucky weekend.

HOLMES: It is. It is. Also, we've got something else four. A pod of manatees to show you. It was kind of a traffic stopper in Melbourne, Florida, the other day. A lot of people thought they were sick or wounded. Oh, to the contrary.

NGUYEN: Oh no.

HOLMES: What were they up to, Betty?

NGUYEN: Well, let me just tell you. You can even say they were feeling a little frisky, huh? A marine biologist at the scene says the animals gather in shallow water this time of year to do, well, what comes natural. Why did they have to do it in shallow water so everyone can see?

HOLMES: Are you -- one of your favorite sayings, they do what they do.

NGUYEN: They are going to make you do what they do.

HOLMES: And also here we have got one more unusual specimen to show you. This animal, you probably haven't seen anything like this in forever actually.

NGUYEN: No, what is that?

HOLMES: It's a horse and a zebra together.

NGUYEN: And you would call that a hebra?

HOLMES: I like hebra.

NGUYEN: A zorse? A zehorse?

HOLMES: Why do you have to have an accent...

(CROSSTALK)

NGUYEN: I don't know. No matter what you call her, she's pretty striking, wouldn't you say? And she's the star attraction at a zoo in Germany.

HOLMES: Yes. The zoo owners are looking for a mate for her. Apparently nobody seems to be attracted to this -- no, just kidding. Just keep her company, actually.

NGUYEN: She's pretty in her own way.

HOLMES: All right. Well, what's not to love about fireworks?

NGUYEN: Well, OK. That is a big reason why you've got to be very, very careful. Fireworks safety for dummies? Literally, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, ahead on CNN this morning, next hour Michael Moore's new movie "Sicko," fact or fiction? Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta weighs in on that.

NGUYEN: And at noon, your money, their plan. Despite promises of reform, many senators remain silent on congressional pork spending.

Well, don't be a dummy when it comes to fireworks. That is the message every year just around the Fourth of July.

HOLMES: And here we are again. And CNN's Jeanne Moos is taking a closer look at the explosive warnings.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are fireworks that make you go, oh. And there are fireworks that make you go, uh- oh. These guests have been making the rounds of all the morning news shows.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How dangerous are these fireworks?

MOOS: For these guys, very.

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, " JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": So if you're a mannequin, be very careful this year.

MOOS: And if you think it's dangerous for mannequins, try being a watermelon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.

MOOS (voice-over): Watermelons and mannequins have the Consumer Product Safety Commission to fear. Every year the commission puts on a demonstration of the damage fireworks can do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I want to warn you this is going to be quite loud.

MOOS: And they do it on the Mall in front of the Washington Monument. It's enough to give an unsuspecting motorist a heart attack.

JULIE VALLESE, CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION: We did observe some Washington tourists taking cover at the base of the Washington Monument.

MOOS: And tourists weren't the only ones startled.

VALLESE: I do have to say that Secret Service agents materialized out of nowhere.

MOOS: The Product Safety Commission goes about through about eight mannequins every year. But these two resisted ignition. Over and over technicians tried to light the sparklers. Last year there were 1,000 real injuries associated with sparklers, but these two didn't seem to want to be added to that total.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm told that we are going to move to number two and come back to the sparklers.

MOOS: Over to the bottle rockets. To show what happens if one ignites in a kid's pocket.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're now going to go back to demonstration number one with the sparklers.

MOOS: Oh, yes?

VALLESE: We had a little problem with the torch. For some reason, it wouldn't stay lit. It was breezy on the Mall.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. I think we're going to abandon the sparklers here.

MOOS: The mannequins were unceremoniously carted away. Dark humor aside, the demonstrations sure made the dangers of fireworks stick in your mind, if you still have a mind.

When a mannequin visited one of the morning shows, he wore a different shirt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my gosh.

MOOS: As for the mannequins who escaped unscathed, eventually they were reinstalled and finally ignited to demonstrate how sparklers can set someone's clothes or hair on fire. On July 4th, let's give the fireworks a hand, but not this kind of hand.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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