"Earlier this month, Apple applied to patent a system that could switch off a smartphone's camera if it senses the user is trying to record a live event."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/13814378

Apple, it seems, are trying to become as controlling as Herr Hitler.

I am sure my comment will piss someone off - apologies in advance.  Surprisingly, back in the 90's I was an evangelist for Apple until they released a machine where the basic spec didn't even run the then current browser (Netscape 4 if I remember correctly).

I have to admit that the form-factor for most of the Apple products in recent years have been very good, and the user interfaces have are intuitive enough that most could figure out how to use the gadgets just by playing with them. 

Yet, I never understood the market reach of their products when they can cost more than 3x the competition and they all seem to have a black-box environment.  Where MS doesn't like people to look under the hood, Apple seems to want to hide where the hood is located and threaten its' users with criminal action if their try to tweak their products in any way.

In many ways I think of Apple products as the opposite of Linux, everything is closed, everything is made for you to use without question, without the will to modify, and everything needs to be from the official product/software line to be compatible.

Having a patent and actually doing anything with it are different beasties though.

QuoteHaving a patent and actually doing anything with it are different beasties though.

Of course - and clearly planning a robbery is very different from actually stealing from someone.
.. but would you trust the guy who planned a robbery to look after any of your money?

Hmmm hear your argument.

They are all the same. Trust Android or MS any more?

They would all fuck us over given the chance.

Of course I trust Android more than Apple - Android 2.3 source code is available for inspection.

I don't trust any business to do anything that is not in their own interest, so the more their stuff can be inspected, the better.

Apple are the most secretive and closed of all the evil overlords at the moment, hence are top of my shit list.

It is a bit disturbing. I own the phone yet it may have a built in nanny that I have no control over.  And what if it is wrong, what happens if it shuts down by mistake while I'm filming my kid* walking up to get her diploma at graduation?



*Hypothetical kid only. Real kid not included.

>while I'm filming my kid

Or you are at a protest and the authorities use the technology to shut off all the cameras before they take action.

Quote from: ukgimp on June 19, 2011, 06:32:04 PM

They are all the same. Trust Android or MS any more?

They would all f### us over given the chance.

I think that says it all. 

The great thing about technology has always been that those at the top of the pile seem to get knocked off.  I thought it would happen more quickly as time went on, but it seems as the years go by the more trusting the 'consumer population *' seem to be to let it happen.

*the general consumer, those happy to think adverts are real and spend money for the next big thing that brings no real benefit - Oh god, too much fathers day whisky **.  Now, get to bed kids.

** Google wants me to spell whisky 'whiskey'. 

I always think of Adam Buxton's ipad briefing when I think of apple these days - http://youtu.be/jbHF63b7g50