Thread: Apple investing in Camera Phone "Kill Switch"

My hubby has been talking about something similar for years now. I guess there are similar things out there that let you "kill" cellphones period.
Whenever we go to a restaurant with annoying cellphone talkers, he laughs and says he should buy one of those devices

Originally Posted by Xei

And in any case; if they do implement some kind of oppressive technology, just buy a different phone.

If? When.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

You're right, the only real threat is if they develop unilateral technology that disables all camera phones.

That could only happen if it was enforced by law (all phones must have a kill switch), and I very much doubt that will happen.

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

My hubby has been talking about something similar for years now. I guess there are similar things out there that let you "kill" cellphones period.
Whenever we go to a restaurant with annoying cellphone talkers, he laughs and says he should buy one of those devices

That's something different, a cellphone jammer. They just interfere with the communication between the cellphone and the towers. Though you could theoretically kill all cellphones (and all other electronic equipment) in a place with an EMP, but that would be very illegal. And very expensive.

Originally Posted by khh

If? When.


That could only happen if it was enforced by law (all phones must have a kill switch), and I very much doubt that will happen.


That's something different, a cellphone jammer. They just interfere with the communication between the cellphone and the towers. Though you could theoretically kill all cellphones (and all other electronic equipment) in a place with an EMP, but that would be very illegal. And very expensive.

How many companies make camera phones? I mean I know no is barred from making camera phones but there's only 3 major companies people go through. If they act in solidarity, it becomes legislation through the act of barring the population from alternatives.

So you don't need to pass a law, the government can just harass each company within the triopoly into doing it themselves. That's how they went after wikileaks.

Besides there's no law that says you can't film a police officer but they enforce one anyways.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

How many companies make camera phones? I mean I know no is barred from making camera phones but there's only 3 major companies people go through. If they act in solidarity, it becomes legislation through the act of barring the population from alternatives.

Quite a few. Apple, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson at least. (Not ordered by size). Do you really think they'd all jump at Apples idea? There would always be a demand for phones without this kill-switch, and and there would be someone wanting to profit of that demand.

Originally Posted by Omnis Dei

So you don't need to pass a law, the government can just harass each company within the triopoly into doing it themselves. That's how they went after wikileaks.

Besides there's no law that says you can't film a police officer but they enforce one anyways.

If the government wanted it, they could just pass a law. As long as they didn't, someone would fight back.

Originally Posted by khh

Quite a few. Apple, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson at least. (Not ordered by size). Do you really think they'd all jump at Apples idea? There would always be a demand for phones without this kill-switch, and and there would be someone wanting to profit of that demand.


If the government wanted it, they could just pass a law. As long as they didn't, someone would fight back.

Your first point is a valid assumption, people probably would pay more money for a phone without a kill switch and the market will continue to exist as long as people know about it.

But with the ensuing PR mess, you might see a lot more of these and a lot less without. As farr as "they could just pass a law" goes, that's rather naive. If they did, they would sneak it into some other legislation instead of passing it outright.