Apple thwarts perverted Japanese iPhone 3G users with loud camera “click”
By Will Park on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 6:51 PM PST In Announcements, Apple, Devices, Softbank, iPhone, iPhone OS
It seems that the threat of the iPhone’s camera being used to take surreptitious “upskirt” and “downblouse” pictures of unsuspecting Japanese women was significant enough that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) decided to force the Japanese iPhone 3G’s camera emit a loud shutter “click” whenever a photo is taken, even when the iPhone 3G is set to “silent” mode.
Apparently, there are enough of these perverted Japanese iPhone owners out there that Apple found it necessary to force their Japanese iPhone 3G units to emit the sometimes useful, but mostly annoying, shutter click. The feature is unique to Japanese iPhones, and combined with warning signs, should help skirt-wearing members of the fairer sex avoid exploitation.
And, Apple apparently isn’t alone in their pervert-thwarting practices. Cameraphones are reportedly offered in Japan with similarly loud shutter clicks, with some cameras that even say “cheese” upon shutter actuation.
It isn’t clear, however, if the iPhone 3G jailbreak could open the door to sexual deviants in Japan disabling the upskirt-preventing shutter click.
[Via: CultOfMac]
Hahah that is quite funny. Seems to be a good thing – upskirt shots are slack!
Nice looking blog, btw.
There is a Japanese law that requires all mobile phones with cameras to play an audio sound when a photo is taken. Yes, a sound must be played even when the phone is in Silent mode.
Of course Apple isn’t the only company that is required to have their device play a sound when a photo is taken. All devices with cameras, whether they be made by Nokia, Sharp, Panasonic, Motorola, and Apple too must have an audio sound played when a photo is taken in order for the device to be allowed to be sold in Japan.
The reason as was pointed out in the article, is to prevent people having their photo taken without the person knowing.
It is interesting phenomenon…
They will use anything…
Here is one PSP story.
http://www.pspfanboy.com/2008/05/29/psp-used-in-unsavory-upskirt-shots/
My Samsung G810 can take silent pictures