iPorn or iPolite?

So, I have been hearing a ton of news about the outrage that has been exclaimed from the hills by people getting apps from  the Apple App Store they find to be explicit.

A few weeks back it was decided to pull an app that was showing pictures of people, well, women that were topless. The application was made to allow people to download pictures of models, which in some cases are partially or fully nude, sounds like a good time to me. This should be ok since in the 3.0 release of the iPhone software there has been placed, restriction settings you can enable. As well, you are prompted previous to downloading an app that it may contain material for those 17+ years of age. Check these out…

The latest problem was with an app that allowed for people to upload photos of themselves, while others using the application could rate them. This is the same deal as Hot or Not, which was a big success, but in this case people started uploading adult content. The application was pulled because of a 15 year old girl being posted in a picture topless. I am completely behind the prohibition of child pornography, but pull the app completely? I assume it could be handled by taking the photo off the system and tracking down the uploader for legal repercussions. But I just feel like pulling the application was rash and irresponsible to the community. One black sheep doesn't ruin the rest of the herd, right? If Apple wants to follow this behavior, why not just pull any photo sharing application out there. I did a little research to find out what other content was being shown on other photo-sharing applications, so I checked out the first three I came across…interesting what I found.

PhoneZap:

This is an application that allows people to upload pictures of themselves, emulating a life stream of photos from people to people. All photos are made public, in a primary forum. In order to upload pictures to this application you have to sign up with an email and pssward, which is good for making sure people know what they post can be tracked easily. However, I didn't get through the first three pages of this application without seeing pornographic material. Has it been taken off the App Store? No. There is nothing to stop the same problem from happening to this application as well.  See what shows up on the iPhone on the new SITE.

Photoswap:

This application does not require you to sign up for an account to use it. The focus of this application is to be able to directly trade photos with another person via the application. I found that the majority of the photos I got back after sending my first photo was of an obscene nature and most “info” for the user stated “NR”. After doing some looking I found this meant “I do not report".” This is in reference to the Report button, which can be used if the photo is inappropriate. It does contain pornographic material, it is still on the App Store. Check out the website.

 

PhotoKast:

This application allows you to use the application without signing up for anything first. I was able to receive without prompt of adult content completely nude people. In this application there is a way to report as well, but, it contains nudity and it is on the App Store, what gives Apple? This was the best however because, you have to opt in to get the zesty pictures by enabling the category, "Am I Hot? (Women)." Also when downloading this application from the App Store, it was stated that this application could contain adult content.

So, this leads me to the controversy. Is Apple is allowing applications for all or are we, users of the iPhone, being censored because people don't know how to use the tools built into their devices. I guess I'm not surprised, most people don't use more than 20% of the tools or features built into the iPhone regularly.

Another thing that is upsetting to me about pulling applications is that instead of punishing the individual users that are doing wrong, Apple is punishing the responsible users of the application, as well as the developer of the application. I am sure that people that are developing applications for the iPhone have the best intentions in mind. When you make an application you want it to make money, if your not a total moron you will follow the rules in order to make the money you desire, so I don't see evil intentions, why does Apple. I am assuming many people wrote or called Apple to force the application off of the App Store list, but whats the difference between the applications I have tested above and the culprit that has already been removed?

It really comes down to if we should be America, or if we should be China. I think in some circumstances, it would be good to play China. I say this in reference to their heavy filtering of Google.com and other website content. I mean, by all means, lets stop the most populated country in the world from seeing other naked people, its not like they dont see plenty of action behind the curtains, this is only proven by their sheer numbers. Why not just shut off everyone's ability to see adult content on any applications downloaded from the App Store, until you send through a notice stating, “You must allow adult content to download this application.”

WOW, I am phucking brilliant. Apple will have no liability and we can keep the App Store equal for all lifestyles. Apple also stays people centric and saves themselves from being crucified by the people who dont like looking at themselves in the mirror naked.

The adult entertainment industry brings in over a 12 billion a year in revenue, why not extend that to the best app store and phone on the planet? Leave the sheeple that want to complain about seeing boobies censor themselves and not the rest of us, just because they dont know where the button to "turn that off" is.

New Section Added: The TekNation

Just thought I would show some love to all of the peeps out there that are contributing to continued tech, gadget, and electric pr0n. I am adding a new section to my blog, inspired by my buddy Kruzen. This section will provide links to other cool sites, a good ol' fashion web ring, but instead, it will become the TekNation. 

If I find cool deals, excellent content, or just plain cool people that inspire me, they will be added. So to begin, please just take note of the links to the left and have fun surfing amongst the cracked out garden gnome look-alikes as they spew new binary funk on your forehead.

The Land Rover S1 – Bringing rugged back

I have heard a few, “where are the old brick phones anymore,” people I have talked to spouting out about my love for the iPhone when it comes to rugged phones. They tell me that back in the day they didn't have to worry about breaking their phone because it was a tugboat. They wanted an ultra-rugged phone that you could drop a hundred times and not worry about having to drop $400.00 plus, to replace if it did it go south.

Well, for all of you that at one point owned the Nokia 5190, you may have something to look forward to. Land Rover will be coming into the mobile market next year, along with the likes of a Hummer brand phone as well, I dont care for it, because I hate and dispise the Hummer and everything about it. So, you ponder about a phone that you can drop, will be more waterproof than the blackberry and will, in this case, make you look pretty manly talking on your phone. I think I have found just that.

The Land Rover S1 will feature a multitude of features that are great in outdoor and rugged situations. Land Rover has explained that these phones will be aimed at catching the attention of construction workers, outdoorsman, hikers, and bikers. But hey, I wouldn't limit yourself to only them. Currently, I have two phones. I have a BlackJack 2 which I use when I am testing items on the Windows Mobile Platform and then I have my iPhone, which is my main use phone. Considering that my iPhone is at this time worth the $500.00 I spent on it, I would prefer to have a third phone for when I am doing activities that I don't want my iPhone to experience, hence saving myself some money if I break it again…

So, this is why I see a new trend coming.

Lets take a guy named Bob for example. He is an IT Manager and loves to do all of his daily tasks on the iPhone he got last week, because it is the easiest handset on the planet to take care of all of his needs. During Memorial Day weekend Bob, made the mistake of partaking in far to many beers to keep track of his cell phone, got into a hot tub, and drown the poor thing. Awww, Bob is now sad because he has to dish out another $500.00 for an iPhone, because lets be honest, he cant survive without it during the week.

What would he do so this never happens again?

Well, he would buy another phone, for use in different scenarios, of course. Now that we have plateaued somewhat as far as phone features go, and the functionality that they offer, the next step is to make phones that are specialized for certain environments. I would say that having a phone that is functional but ultra-rugged and then a functional but ultra-sleek is something we will see more consumers looking for. In Bobs situation, having two will save him in the long run and will also offer a bit of an escape from time to time because he can using multiple phones. It helps to not feel tied down all the time to a single experience.

So, back to the S1 and its unique features.

• The outer shell is made from a rubber and plastic mixture that is primarily made from old film and plastic bottles. (+1 or the environment)
  • The body is intended to resist damage from extreme (thermal shock) such as salt, fog, humidity, and dust. As well as being waterproof, or “water submersible” as a Sonim rep has commented.
  • The body is so rugged it is said to be able to survive a 1.6 meter drop onto pavement. For those of you without the knowledge of the metric system that is about 5.25 feet high.
• The unit is capable of withstanding 800 pounds of pressure, so if you would  like to run it over with your Honda Civic, it should win.
• It has a temperature threshold from –4 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, which in my case will never see either extreme.
• It will have a IP-67 rating, making it ready for military use and who knows, come Z-Day, I just might have to use it to gouge a zombie brain or two.
• A 2 Megapixel camera with built in flash is onboard
• A 2 GB memory slot
• GPS (It better it looks like a fancy GPS unit)
• An FM Radio
• As well as WAP web browsing using an Opera Browser, kind of blah right there…

This looks like a nice phone and it is the rugged type of phone that a guy like Bob needs to make sure he is not continually going out of pocket for replacement phones. But I do find that more and more people will probably start to have their “outside” phone and the “inside” phone. At least this is my next step.

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