6 ms·

Apple needs to do more for parents

17 points by ssclafani 16y ago

wccrawford 16y ago
Show them the money. Those features are undeveloped because they aren't valued enough. If more people wanted and used them, they'd develop them better. Here's my favorite quote from the comments: "Simple solution, don't let your kids get their grubby paws on your phone. I have none of these issues as my kids are not allowed to touch my phone. They have their own electronic toys and iDevices to play with." Yes, that's right, the best way to prevent kids from destroying expensive things is to not hand them to them. There are devices designed for children that have these protections and more.
- albemuth 16y ago
  I don't have kids of my own, but with my nephews (3, 9) it was very fun and interesting to show them the new toy and watch them learn how to use it. Sure I've had to wipe some serious smudges off of it but I'm sure people with children have that same feeling. One of the reasons I bought an iPod Touch was so I could share it and not worry as much as with my phone.
- capstone 16y ago
  Huh? The solution to missing features is to stop using the product? My 18-months old is getting really good at several puzzles on my old iPhone. He also deletes apps constantly, because there is no lock mechanism/parental controls. The fact that the iPhone is exclusively his to play with is irrelevant, as is its price. "Show them the money" is equally irrelevant. By definition, you cannot measure how much consumers value something that's not there. I'd love to show Apple my money but I can't magically pay for a non-offered feature.
  - Synaesthesia 16y ago
    Settings -> General -> Restrictions. My pleasure ;)
    - capstone 16y ago
      Thanks, I wasn't aware of those options. Still, that's only a small subset of parental controls that are needed.
- joezydeco 16y ago
  Kids are smarter than that. They know the dumbed down wrapped-in-rubber VTech camera doesn't take pictures or work like your camera. They know that Fisher-Price fake iPhone doesn't play Angry Birds. They see adults playing with the better devices all day long and they want to do the same. How can you blame them?
Synaesthesia 16y ago
Reminded of a story a friend told me: her little daughter saw her dragging icons to the trash on her Mac (OS9). When she came back again, all her applications and documents had been thoroughly deleted! Anyway on the iPhone, deleting apps can be restricted in the settings. Buying apps can be restricted. Your phone can have a passlock. As wccrawford says, the best way is just to keep it away from your little kids, or monitor them closely.
- capstone 16y ago
  Something tells me you don't have kids, or they are mostly taken care of by your significant other, or you've simply never explored the possibilities. Keeping kids away from electronics can rob them of wonderful developmental opportunities. My 18-months old can't speak or dress himself but he is getting very good at several challenging iPhone apps that involve assembling shapes, matching tiles from memory, mixing music, etc. Likewise, constant monitoring of your little ones is neither realistic nor desirable, especially when there is a simple solution at the technology level. We don't get all worked up about door locks - why the negative attitude towards e-locks for children?
  - Synaesthesia 16y ago
    No, but I let my little nephews play with my iPod Touch all the time. They love it. I still think it should be monitored, because I don't like children getting addicted to video games, plus I find I need to guide them. As mentioned, you can block App deletion, and even if an App is deleted, you can easily restore (sure you lose data, but it's not a huge loss). I find little kids stay away from things they don't understand, like Mail, the browser, settings etc. They usually push the home button when they see the "grown-up" stuff, and want the games. The one big issue is deleting photos. Apple should let you undo that, or maybe lock it.
    - capstone 16y ago
      It should be monitored, because I don't like children getting addicted to video games. Exactly. Instead of a blanket "keep your kids away from electronics", why not add parental controls where kids have access to educational apps but not videogames?
Flemlord 16y ago
Plus, there are many apps our 1-yr old uses, but if she pushes the wrong button it enters a settings mode or something where she can't get back to the main app.
- capstone 16y ago
  Which apps can you recommend?
Uhhrrr 16y ago
Similar to a 'first-world' problem, this is a 'dumbass' problem. Should you give a child an easy-to-use device which contains all of your data? There is a simple and clear answer to this. Parental lock is irrelevant. If it becomes simpler for the average parent it will only become simpler for the average child to defeat. Add in the fact that the device is breakable, and it becomes all the clearer. I don't know - perhaps Scoble's children are angels who never break things. Do you think?
jhancock 16y ago
My son just received an iPod Touch for his 6th birthday. Problem solved!! He can do whatever he wants with it and sync it to our family iMac using his own account. All I need do is be a bit careful about handing the 'iTouch' back to him right after I made a purchase for him.
soulclap 16y ago
At least the kids can't buy anything involving naked girls on the app store. Not sure if daddy is still a fan of this 'feature' late at night though.
Cadsby 16y ago
iPad's and iPhone's are not made for small children. People are being a little silly in demanding that Apple child proof their luxury brand gizmos. Your child will not lose IQ points if he doesn't have a shiny iOS device to play with. Give him a book or puzzle to do like the rest of us had growing up. I promise you he'll turn out just fine.

17 points by ssclafani 16y ago

Show them the money. Those features are undeveloped because they aren't valued enough. If more people wanted and used them, they'd develop them better. Here's my favorite quote from the comments: "Simple solution, don't let your kids get their grubby paws on your phone. I have none of these issues as my kids are not allowed to touch my phone. They have their own electronic toys and iDevices to play with." Yes, that's right, the best way to prevent kids from destroying expensive things is to not hand them to them. There are devices designed for children that have these protections and more.

albemuth 16y ago
I don't have kids of my own, but with my nephews (3, 9) it was very fun and interesting to show them the new toy and watch them learn how to use it. Sure I've had to wipe some serious smudges off of it but I'm sure people with children have that same feeling. One of the reasons I bought an iPod Touch was so I could share it and not worry as much as with my phone.
capstone 16y ago
Huh? The solution to missing features is to stop using the product? My 18-months old is getting really good at several puzzles on my old iPhone. He also deletes apps constantly, because there is no lock mechanism/parental controls. The fact that the iPhone is exclusively his to play with is irrelevant, as is its price. "Show them the money" is equally irrelevant. By definition, you cannot measure how much consumers value something that's not there. I'd love to show Apple my money but I can't magically pay for a non-offered feature.
- Synaesthesia 16y ago
  Settings -> General -> Restrictions. My pleasure ;)
  - capstone 16y ago
    Thanks, I wasn't aware of those options. Still, that's only a small subset of parental controls that are needed.
joezydeco 16y ago
Kids are smarter than that. They know the dumbed down wrapped-in-rubber VTech camera doesn't take pictures or work like your camera. They know that Fisher-Price fake iPhone doesn't play Angry Birds. They see adults playing with the better devices all day long and they want to do the same. How can you blame them?

Synaesthesia 16y ago

Reminded of a story a friend told me: her little daughter saw her dragging icons to the trash on her Mac (OS9). When she came back again, all her applications and documents had been thoroughly deleted! Anyway on the iPhone, deleting apps can be restricted in the settings. Buying apps can be restricted. Your phone can have a passlock. As wccrawford says, the best way is just to keep it away from your little kids, or monitor them closely.

capstone 16y ago
Something tells me you don't have kids, or they are mostly taken care of by your significant other, or you've simply never explored the possibilities. Keeping kids away from electronics can rob them of wonderful developmental opportunities. My 18-months old can't speak or dress himself but he is getting very good at several challenging iPhone apps that involve assembling shapes, matching tiles from memory, mixing music, etc. Likewise, constant monitoring of your little ones is neither realistic nor desirable, especially when there is a simple solution at the technology level. We don't get all worked up about door locks - why the negative attitude towards e-locks for children?
- Synaesthesia 16y ago
  No, but I let my little nephews play with my iPod Touch all the time. They love it. I still think it should be monitored, because I don't like children getting addicted to video games, plus I find I need to guide them. As mentioned, you can block App deletion, and even if an App is deleted, you can easily restore (sure you lose data, but it's not a huge loss). I find little kids stay away from things they don't understand, like Mail, the browser, settings etc. They usually push the home button when they see the "grown-up" stuff, and want the games. The one big issue is deleting photos. Apple should let you undo that, or maybe lock it.
  - capstone 16y ago
    It should be monitored, because I don't like children getting addicted to video games. Exactly. Instead of a blanket "keep your kids away from electronics", why not add parental controls where kids have access to educational apps but not videogames?

Flemlord 16y ago

Plus, there are many apps our 1-yr old uses, but if she pushes the wrong button it enters a settings mode or something where she can't get back to the main app.

capstone 16y ago
Which apps can you recommend?

Uhhrrr 16y ago

Similar to a 'first-world' problem, this is a 'dumbass' problem. Should you give a child an easy-to-use device which contains all of your data? There is a simple and clear answer to this. Parental lock is irrelevant. If it becomes simpler for the average parent it will only become simpler for the average child to defeat. Add in the fact that the device is breakable, and it becomes all the clearer. I don't know - perhaps Scoble's children are angels who never break things. Do you think?

jhancock 16y ago

My son just received an iPod Touch for his 6th birthday. Problem solved!! He can do whatever he wants with it and sync it to our family iMac using his own account. All I need do is be a bit careful about handing the 'iTouch' back to him right after I made a purchase for him.

soulclap 16y ago

At least the kids can't buy anything involving naked girls on the app store. Not sure if daddy is still a fan of this 'feature' late at night though.

Cadsby 16y ago

iPad's and iPhone's are not made for small children. People are being a little silly in demanding that Apple child proof their luxury brand gizmos. Your child will not lose IQ points if he doesn't have a shiny iOS device to play with. Give him a book or puzzle to do like the rest of us had growing up. I promise you he'll turn out just fine.