"all email should be screened by the government"@Blue_Six: Well, email screening by the gov is centralized control (which is bad because this might lead to dictatorship) while shutter sound is decentralized control (which is not bad since this is called living in a society). You can call it P2P control.

Awax

I think this is overly-intrusive and not commendable at all.

Sure, saying that is inviting people to respond with "upskirt pics are much more intrusive", but that in turn is like saying that just because I could send child pornography vie email, all email should be screened by the government.

The (3G) iPhone's camera isn't all that great anyway, especially not by Japanese standards and this kind of mandating of stupid quirks and features has a completely uncalled for Big Brother vibe to it.

I can just hope for some cellphone maker to capitalize on the otaku-pervert market and release a super silent phone with a fiber-optical swivel camera advanced automatic white balancing and maybe a Bluetooth controlled shutter-release.

Just to tell the other oh-so-morally-inclined makers: "Up yours." Which would be a funny pun at the same time.

Blue_Six

"I really don't see the point of this measure however: the iPhone doesn't have a physical photo button, which really makes extremely difficult to take a clear up-skirt shot."

Sounds like you thought that one through just a little too much.

Gizmo

Of course, any self respecting otaku will have worked out how disable the shutter sound...
[christhis.com]

Riquez

@Dradu: I commend your evil.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

It's ok everyone, don't panic!
I have found the solution for my Japanese friends:

1. Jailbreak your new iPhone 3G
2. SSH into it and navigate to /System/Library/Audio/UISounds/
3. Delete "photoShutter.caf," this is the audio file the iPhone plays when it takes a picture

Mwahahaha

Dradu

Follow-up article: Point n' shoots with full silent usurp iPhone 3G.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

The iPhone actually take the picture when the button i depressed not pressed, so you can hold it get in position of the upskirtness and let go of the button and it'll snap.. Leaves much more time for fleeing.

rawbdee

@Sam_Zebian: Hey just attach some earphone to it. I do it every day in class...

kevman90

wouldnt this just make the pervs buy some other model of phone?!?! or do they still go with it cause of all the iphone porn services???

urbanturban666

@Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy: oh, like the iphone will do video...
(exception-jailbroken iphones)

Sam_Zebian

oh great I never knew this (didn't realize this on my iphone) and now this means that I can't use the iphone's camera in school without it being heard... LAME! (I'm no perv or anything, but sometimes you need to take a pic of something) What's also dumb about the iphone is that even if you out it in silent mode, apps like youtube and everything else will still make sounds through the speakers, not exactly ideal for somebody trying to use their phone in class (i know you're not supposed to, but who can resist browing google reader in a boring class?)

Sam_Zebian

Hit 'em with a Mace.

That'll give the little creeps something else to think about for a while.

strider_mt2k

Can't someone just take a video instead of a picture and do a screen cap?

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Oh, snap! We're screwed... But wait! We can jailbreak it and get rid of that sound. Yay!! Let's celebrate.

.max

It's been a legal requirement for manufacturers of camera phones, that there must be a loud shutter sound. In Korea, this law's been around for, like, 5 years. I'm sure Japan has similar law.

danson

those little speakers are tiny, and I can't even hear them when I have a finger (or some other object) over them, perhaps even taped on. The shuttering sound comes through your headphones when they are plugged in, so, pair of headphones with the speakers snipped off should do the trick as well.

raleel

I say boo the shutter sound, up skirt's are hot!

Hexum

Do you think Apple will approve my new app? It's almost exactly like the built-in camera app, but a little different. Only $.99.

itchytooth

did my computer also make a shutter sound opening up this link? DAMN! With 3300 views and only 17 comments (as of this writing), I'd imagine many of the visitors are here only to read the article and turn their heads away from that picture... of those panties... must.. turn...away..else...labeled...perv. DOH!

zarchitect

@Sam_Zebian: OK, I admit it, I have never even touched an iPhone. I don't know what it can do. All I ask is that when I am booted from Giz for this, you let me walk out to retain some dignity.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

Creative idea for Japanese Market: Womens underwear with large P*nises printed on them and the phrase, "Mine is bigger than yours. Call me. ;) "

Curves

Plug in headphones or a headphone adapter...Problem solved and clandestine panties for all.

As for the lack of a physical shutter button, the picture is taken on "Release" so you can have you finger on the button...wait for it....wait for it....and release for the win. More unsuspecting panties for all.

Sheldon

stokessd

I don't see what the problem is, I take pictures up my wife's skirt all the time and she doesn't mind. I even take pictures of her naked....ooh wait, they're taking pictures of UNSUSPECTING women, well okay that's just messed up!

rhodesman

I thought that feature is rather widely used. At least many of the Nokia phones have camera sounds enabled no matter what you do. I guess manufacturers think it's polite to inform people when someone is taking pictures.

ara

You're picture just got me FIRED.

dagamer34

There was talk of the EU putting this into law at some point. Nokia's cameraphones haven't had the ability to silence the camera for some time.

The EU also has regulations as to the maximum volume a device can output via headphones. We have some fun lawmakers here - it's my damn hearing, if I want to ruin it I will.

sparx104

There's actually a law that phones have to make a shutter sound that can't be turned off, when I lived there it was annoying because taking pictures of people asleep was not always an easy process.

superjap

@dagamer34: No, your wasteful use of expensive apostrophes just got you fired. :D

FredicvsMaximvs

Note to self: remember to pack Utilikilt for trip to Japan.

FredicvsMaximvs

this happens with all phones in Japan I think, at least all the ones I've seen/had... except my HTC one, but the camera is so bad it wouldn't be worth it.

Waka in Japan

@rhodesman: I call BS unless we get proof!

CubFan81

Ah yes, as a pervert I must say that this is a useless idea. They will build it...and they will come.

iCarmen 2.0-Yellow Free Edition!

I think that has been the regular feature for all asian version camera phones for quite a while now.

holysocks