Phoning it in

Explains why Jeff Bezos is wearing a black turtleneck: Amazon is expected to launch its own smartphone today. The phone will work primarily as a portal for shopping, including a 3-D camera that will allow users to photograph items at other stores, then buy them on Amazon.

After purchasing an item, the phone will recommend: “Customers who used Sears to try on a swimsuit before buying it from Amazon, also took advantage of Target, Wal-Mart and Nordstrom.

—

Not what we meant by “intel inside”: A German security firm says it has discovered malicious intelligence software preloaded on cheap smartphones made in China that could allow hackers to easily steal data or turn on the phones’ cameras and microphones.

Amazon immediately filed a lawsuit claiming patent infringement.

—

Don’t know much about history: On this day in 1964, President Johnson and Japan’s prime minister spoke by phone, the first call over the trans-Pacific cable.

Sadly, without video-phone technology, Johnson was unable to show the Japanese official the scar from his gall bladder surgery.

—