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The New iPhone Might Shut Off Next Time You Try to Film the Police in Public

9 points by devy 10y ago

Kinnard 10y ago
Holy shit. How feasible is this tech?
- wyager 10y ago
  Not difficult. It could just be a cheap FIR filter over the output of an IR photodiode. Of course, if Apple actually used it, they would lose a lot of customers (starting with me).
- jlennon 10y ago
  Very feasible, it is how your TV remote works... However, current-gen iPhones have IR filters on their normal (i.e. non-selfie) cameras, so this technology can't be applied through a firmware update. I think it could be made more effective using radio waves.
zepto 10y ago
Basically an evil headline based on just speculation. Clickbait is one thing but this is rumour mongering.
- adrenalinelol 10y ago
  It's really not far-fetched though. If you described the NSA's PRISM program before the Snowden leaks, you were branded a conspiracy theorist. If you claimed the big tech cos were complacent in surveillance on American citizens (hell any citizen at this point) you were once again also stymied in some fashion. Waiting for it to become established fact to then condemn this Orwellian tech would ensure its implementation.
  - zepto 10y ago
    Except that Apple wasn't complicit and has consistently worked to secure citizens against the US government. So your point is?
    - WayneBro 10y ago
      Well, if we're going solely by Apple's behavior towards their customers, then I don't trust them one bit. That's kinda beside the point though because the very simple point here is: If the tech exists, it will be used. Obviously Apple is working against the vast majority of citizens by inventing this tech in the first place because the only use for it is to stop them from doing something that they obviously want to do.
      - zepto 10y ago
        > If the tech exists, it will be used. Well this is probably false. Most patented technologies are not used. In fact most of Apple's patented technologies are not used. You are flat out wrong. > the only use for it is to stop then doing something they obviously want to do This is also clearly wrong. The patent can be used to stop others from implementing this technology. Given that Apple has a celebrated track record of using technology to protect its users from intrusive governments, the likelyhood is that they would use this patent for that purpose.
    - whamlastxmas 10y ago
      >worked to secure citizens against the US government It's probably more accurate to say they work to secure themselves against governments forcing NSLs down their throat. If Apple themselves cannot decrypt a phone, they can tell the FBI to go pound sand when they demand Apple drop everything to decrypt thousands of phones every month.
      - zepto 10y ago
        No it's not more accurate. Since other companies have gone down the route of providing streamlined law enforcement consoles, Apple's choice is clearly not one of convenience but of values.
nell 10y ago
Ideas will be invented and patented. The best option is to get rid of patents entirely. The next best is to have such power in responsible hands. Given recent events and exposés, I'm more comfortable with the patent being in Apple's hands than someone else.
jkelsey 10y ago
This isn't just click-bait, it's irresponsible journalism.
- mcphage 10y ago
  It's not, though. It's taking a technology which is at least being considered, and imagining a use which it could (if developed) very easily be put to. Do I think Apple is going to actually develop this tech? No, it would be a PR nightmare. But given the ease it could be abused if developed, I would like to see a firm statement from Apple describing their intentions with the patent. Understandably, they don't like talking about what they do with the patents they get, but this is one I'd like to see something more explicit.

9 points by devy 10y ago

Kinnard 10y ago

Holy shit. How feasible is this tech?

wyager 10y ago
Not difficult. It could just be a cheap FIR filter over the output of an IR photodiode. Of course, if Apple actually used it, they would lose a lot of customers (starting with me).
jlennon 10y ago
Very feasible, it is how your TV remote works... However, current-gen iPhones have IR filters on their normal (i.e. non-selfie) cameras, so this technology can't be applied through a firmware update. I think it could be made more effective using radio waves.

zepto 10y ago

Basically an evil headline based on just speculation. Clickbait is one thing but this is rumour mongering.

adrenalinelol 10y ago
It's really not far-fetched though. If you described the NSA's PRISM program before the Snowden leaks, you were branded a conspiracy theorist. If you claimed the big tech cos were complacent in surveillance on American citizens (hell any citizen at this point) you were once again also stymied in some fashion. Waiting for it to become established fact to then condemn this Orwellian tech would ensure its implementation.
- zepto 10y ago
  Except that Apple wasn't complicit and has consistently worked to secure citizens against the US government. So your point is?
  - WayneBro 10y ago
    Well, if we're going solely by Apple's behavior towards their customers, then I don't trust them one bit. That's kinda beside the point though because the very simple point here is: If the tech exists, it will be used. Obviously Apple is working against the vast majority of citizens by inventing this tech in the first place because the only use for it is to stop them from doing something that they obviously want to do.
    - zepto 10y ago
      > If the tech exists, it will be used. Well this is probably false. Most patented technologies are not used. In fact most of Apple's patented technologies are not used. You are flat out wrong. > the only use for it is to stop then doing something they obviously want to do This is also clearly wrong. The patent can be used to stop others from implementing this technology. Given that Apple has a celebrated track record of using technology to protect its users from intrusive governments, the likelyhood is that they would use this patent for that purpose.
  - whamlastxmas 10y ago
    >worked to secure citizens against the US government It's probably more accurate to say they work to secure themselves against governments forcing NSLs down their throat. If Apple themselves cannot decrypt a phone, they can tell the FBI to go pound sand when they demand Apple drop everything to decrypt thousands of phones every month.
    - zepto 10y ago
      No it's not more accurate. Since other companies have gone down the route of providing streamlined law enforcement consoles, Apple's choice is clearly not one of convenience but of values.

nell 10y ago

Ideas will be invented and patented. The best option is to get rid of patents entirely. The next best is to have such power in responsible hands. Given recent events and exposés, I'm more comfortable with the patent being in Apple's hands than someone else.

jkelsey 10y ago

This isn't just click-bait, it's irresponsible journalism.

mcphage 10y ago
It's not, though. It's taking a technology which is at least being considered, and imagining a use which it could (if developed) very easily be put to. Do I think Apple is going to actually develop this tech? No, it would be a PR nightmare. But given the ease it could be abused if developed, I would like to see a firm statement from Apple describing their intentions with the patent. Understandably, they don't like talking about what they do with the patents they get, but this is one I'd like to see something more explicit.