The Inquirer – Wednesday 13 December 2006:
A SYSTEM which will enable network operators to disable the camera function inside mobile handsets has been installed by leading operators in both Europe and North America.
The software is being supplied to both operators and leading telecoms integrators by software house, Mformation. Clients already include Telefonica, Vodafone, T-Mobile, Cingular and Rogers.
Basically, the system can turn off (or turn on) any application which runs inside the handset. This includes the camera function as well as picture messaging (MMS), Bluetooth and WiFi.
One major benefit for an organisation where photos snatched by a cameraphone can be commercially dangerous, is that regular employees will no longer have to surrender their handsets on entering a building.
The mobile network will sense the employee’s location and then temporarily disable the camera’s functionality via an OTA (Over-The-Air) message.
My prediction: The system will be implemented in all digital cameras. Laws will be passed making it illegal to bypass the system. (Actually, it probably already is illegal under the DMCA.) The police will start using this technology. Which means that it’ll essentially be illegal to take pictures of the police in action! Keep those film cameras guys, we’ll need them!
18. Plus if you think the land that is between cities is wasteland, I do feel sorry for you. I grew up in the city, in my opinion, it sucks. I will take the mountains or desert any day.
Sorry to say,
that I have told many persons, that 90% of Tech advances, and Digital design is based on 1 WANT’, security and control.
More money is made ont he security for CD and DVDs then there is profit on the sale. Between encoding security and IRFD at the stores..
Do you really expect any difference from our governments??
If you dropped DVD/CD security you would probably save about $5-7 per product, AT LEAST.
The ages are changing, and small things Pass un-noticed, until its to late.
ECA – as far as the prices go… you are living in a dream world.
Just imagine this: police are about to break some demonstrators’ heads.
A quick call to HS central, and all the cell phones in the immediate camera range, deduced by some simple code identifying locations by e911 information, have their cameras disabled. Zing! No embarrassing shots of some grandmother getting smacked to the ground.
After “first amendment zones” have become so common that no one even cares about them, I have no, NO doubt that the above scenario will happen, and no one will care one whit.
Just imagine this: police are about to break some demonstrators’ heads.
A quick call to HS central, and all the cell phones in the immediate camera range, deduced by some simple code identifying locations by e911 information, have their cameras disabled. Zing! No embarrassing shots of some grandmother getting smacked to the ground.
After “first amendment zones” have become so common that no one even cares about them, I have no, NO doubt that the above scenario will happen, and no one will care.
@#12 The Apple iPhone benfits
My verizon phone is hacked anyways. aGPS is disable, PIX server has been modified to use a free server, the microSD card and bluetooth features have been re-enabled.
#20 and #21 – – 18. OFTLO: I am with Dick on this. I Friggin HATE cell phones, much as I hated the beeper (I know you guys are probably too young to remember those).
The beeper was/is a pretty dumb device. It was essential for the doctor on call, etc., but its biggest advantage was to alert you that someone wanted you to stop what you were doing and go find a phone.
I would never stop what I was doing – just leave a damn message on my answering machine and I’ll call you back before I sit down to watch a VHS tape (if that is what I choose to do).
I understand the convenience factor, I just dont see the need to have an electronic leash / government tracking device 24/7.
You and I both know that in foil hat paranoia is just that… The government is not tracking you. At least I hope the government isn’t tracking me. I’d have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the poor slob who is assigned the task of watching me get up, drive 5 miles to work, sit in a cube for 9 hours, get off work, go get a sandwich, go home, and go to sleep…
It’s only a leash if a) its your job to be accessable or b) you let it be.
To me, a leash restricts my mobility… like a corded land line.
Maybe I’ve been in tech support too long, spent too many hours on the phone, but not having a phone with me gives me a sense of freedom.
Well, like I said… It sure isn’t a necessity… And I’m not likely to get stuck on a mountain pass (I’m not likely to see a mountain) but it is nice to know that I can make contact with police / fire / ambulance / tow truck / hot chick I met on Nerve / dude with the weed / pizza delivery place / John C. Dvorak / your wife / whatever if I need to (and i admit, I don’t need to very often).
You really think not answering your phone or turning it off is a ballsy move. Sheesh.
It isn’t… but it is a lack of them that keeps you from being able to switch it off… if ya know what I’m saying
18. Plus if you think the land that is between cities is wasteland, I do feel sorry for you. I grew up in the city, in my opinion, it sucks. I will take the mountains or desert any day.
I live in Indiana. I hope that will put that to rest…
Frankly, I drive between Seattle and Portland, or Baltimore and Philly, or even Atlanta and DC would be okay… But its just flat and empty out here… and I should be grateful because some folks live in Kansas… An important state… Salt of the Earth people… but what a lonely drive that is…
Like you, I love the mountains and the desert… But I’m trying to get work in Chicago again… I want to live where I can sell my car and go to a Jewish Deli actually run by actual Jews and see John malkovich at the Steppenwolf and where “Now showing in selected cities” means the theater around the corner… I’m an urbanite. I love the feel of concrete under my feel and diesal fumes in the air
OFTLO:A guy just came into my office wearing a cell phone on his ear. You know, the Cyborg thingy. I want to smack him, he is talking to himself and looking at me. Can I smack him now?
But seriously, I read where the govt is able to remotely activate the mic in your cell phone, or someone next to you and listen to your (boring) phone conversations. Yup, read it on CNET.
http://tinyurl.com/ymdnsy
“You and I both know that in foil hat paranoia is just that… The government is not tracking you.”
I’ll just be keeping that tinfoil hat handy, you know, in case I want to use that cell phone, or ONSTAR.
23,
you dont believe me…
try to copy a DVD/CD on your computer WITHOUt those nice hacks.
How about that RFID, thats in almost everything about $10…THINK it grew in the package??
Software encryption is VERY expencive, esp when you RENT it…which most companies DO, as then it becomes a Write-off, AND an extra you can charge for at the same time.
YES, I live in a dream, but Im a realist from HELL. And my dreams are nightmares in reality..
The recording industry is 40 years behind in tech. and you REALLy have to pull teeth to get them to change anything. Wonder WHY they stick with Stereo sound?? they cant figureout HOW to make headphones ANY OTHER WAY…they make music for portability, THEN only make it stereo… THEN they say your friend cant listen as its Against copyright laws…. they dont concern themselves with ANY other format that could Make there sound better. Or be able to put MORE music on a CD. They dont WANT to go to DVD format… they would have to Learn something Different, and buy NEW hardware. they had a FIT going to DAT, but STILL stay’d with STEREO…
And if you REALLY know your audio, you will realize that 5.1 surround is NOT very different from full positional QUAD Stereo from 30 years ago. ANd they STILL dont process music for it.
I understand they wont lower prices, as they can make ALOT of money…
But they DONT see…
drop the prices and they will sell MORE.
drop the prices and you will BREAK the thieves.
Drop the copy protection and SAVE MONEY, and MAKE more profit.
All they need do is drop $5…And they would have a MASS(about 10x) more sales.
THINK about it…
ECA, what hacks do you need to copy a cd? last i checked, there were very few cd’s with copy protection/drm and most of those had been taken off the shelves thanks to fiascos like that from sony.
DVD’s? that’s another matter. There you have lots of copy protection and stuff, but not CD’s
sence I havent bought a recent CD..Last one i checked had a STOP read in the Codec, on my computer.
Fine…
But the point is still, true.
there are only 3-4 costs to Any Album or DVD.
Security.
Distribution. I can make this CHEAP..
Advertising. which costs Way to much.
The real purpose of cellphones is to be able to communicate while not in the wasteland of a city.
What’s needed is a law that penalizes carriers for turning features off. I bouthgt a phone with a camera, they turn the camera off, they owe me cash for the loss of function.
(OFTL – A city is fun to play around in if it’s deserted.
Driving just for the sake of driving is an act unto itself – no defined destination necessary, just a prescribed amount of mileage. Alone in the truck with 400mi. of open freeway in front of you – whohoo!)