Prediction: After Apple implements this, there will be an unusual spike in Android and other non-iPhone phones sales among 12-25 yr old users with a sharp drop in iPhone sales to the same.
Today the US Patent and Trademark Office approved a patent Apple filed in 2008, which, get this, prevents users from sending or receiving “objectionable” text messages. The patent’s official title? “Text-based communication control for personal communication device” which actually doesn’t use the pretty ridiculous noun/verb “Sexting,” but come on, we all know what they mean.
The “Sexting” patent background info states that the problem it solves is that there is currently “No way to monitor and control text communications to make them user appropriate. For example, users such as children may send or receive messages (intentionally or not) with parentally objectionable language.”
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Ladies and gentlemen this means that Jobs and company have just sealed the deal on a solution to the number one fear of parents across America, kids sending “unauthorized texts.” As it looks like whatever algorithm or control the system is comprised of will basically censor the transmission of R-rated content on iPhones, is this the first sign of the end of “Sexting” as we know it?
You WILL bow to Steve Jobs moral authority. Fuck you Steve … and the technology you rode in on.
This is just another bullet point to sell phones. “parents can block kids from harmful activity”. Or a way to sell phones in China. In eight months this will be on all phones.
So no objectionable language on the Iphone? You won’t be able to tell somebody to go to bleep, or up your bleep?
My guess is it will also block, “I just found a lump in my breast.” and, “I’m breast feeding my baby.” along with, “… if you want a firmer bleep take some Viagra.”
Heck, it might even block, “Charlie, get you bleep to the office NOW or you’re fired!”
While I recognize the usefulness of some of this having the nanny state running people’s lives for them bothers me. I’d rather have people be who they are warts and all.
Settle down, everyone. It’s just gonna be added to parental controls. No biggie.
John Gilmore:
“The Net treats censorship as a defect and routes around it.”
This of course means that Apple will be selling a lot fewer iPods and iPads, and maybe even Macs.
This is pathetic. For one it is basically an additional parental control which is fine with me but it is usless anyway. It would have to learn all the kids slang and try and figure out if it is dirty or not so like another poster said it is just a bullet point. Kids will just say things like put your bannana in my cantalope
Steve big bro Jobs. Some way this will be in court soon.
Surely Conservatives are thrilled to see the nanny government help babysit their kids from showing their hiney to one another..
Just another patent to strengthen the Nazi mind set that apple has always illustrated.
FUCK that!
@#4 and most others seem to think that this is indeed about kids… It is not. This is just another in a series of S.J. decisions showing his obsession with control. In his mind, people should not be allowed to do anything with “his” iPhone/iPad/… that he does not approve of. Sick and delusional man with a lot of power.
So here it is, undisputed – Apple is now the Evil Empire; aka the manifestation of the Nanny State. Sad – but this is how it goes when you think the only one above you is God. His Steveness has put the final nail in the coffin – for me.
Yep, they stole Microsoft’s evil mojo. No one is afraid of Microsoft anymore, they are universally seen as clueless bozos.
Other phones are available.
On the Australian and New Zealand iTunes stores they put F****t in a song that is about homophobia, “Leviticus: Faggot”, they didn’t censor another track, “Deuteronomy: Niggerman”. Strange.
They also put N**i instead of Nazi which really annoys me due to it’s Orwellian symbolism.
The real solution seems simple enough. Allow parents access to an archive of their kids text messages via the web.
I know if I saw something objectionable was being sent that phone would be shut off immediately.
Gee. Maybe the kiddies will have to go back to playing doctor the old fashioned way….???
Still, Jobs is a Nazi freak, and I’ve never bought an Apple Computer product.*
*I have used Quicktime, and have purchased Apple Corp. recordings. But the first one I didn’t pay for and the second is really EMI.
So.. Does this means they will block images with too much pink in them?
#8 I got a new nickname for you: The delusional anal sheeple
#12 Whereas mac are just plain bozos.
#16 That’s racial profiling.
I love the whines. Especially from those who know nothing about the entire process of design and creation right through to marketing and management.
Squawk Box on CNBC put up a very simple graphic on the screen, yesterday morning.
Growth in Corporate Value over the last 5 years:
Apple = 500%
Microsoft = 1%
#18
And that’s relevant to what? Nothing, Ok, moving along now.
wow, some of the lamest comments ever. You people really like to go to extremes don’t you. It’s just a parental permission, like the volume control lock out or the GPS tracker for your kids phone you morons. Everyone’s phone’s won’t be blocking profanity. Then again, most of you probably still live at home and your parents may block your phones since they’re most likely still paying your bills for you. Talk about nanny state……