Apparently if you buy an iPhone 3G in Japan, the shutter sound when you take pictures can’t be turned off. Now, I know in other camera phones this holds true, but this is, I believe, the first time a country-specific action has been taken to prevent perverts from taking sneaky pictures, for the iPhone at least. So basically, you can turn the phone on silent mode, but it will still make that clicky sound.
My question is, why just Japan? I’m not one to encourage things that make people’s lives less convenient. After all, that click sound is pretty annoying. And what if you were trying to take a picture of a bird or something? That click would no doubt cause you to take a picture of a big blur as the bird is scared away.
But getting back to my point (yes, I have one), I want to know why girls in Japan are getting protection from perverts with iPhones and us gals in the US aren’t? What’s to say someone in a New York subway couldn’t pull the same sort of trick they’re afraid of happening in Japan? I don’t know. A mildly annoying clicking sound each time I take a picture is kind of a small price to pay to ensure some sicko can’t get a picture up my dress. With an iPhone, at least.
[via Gadget Lab at Wired.com]
[Photo by Jeff Epstein]
Are you saying that it doesn’t turn off even on ‘silent’? There’s no option to turn off the sound at the camera setting, but mine doesn’t make a sound when the phone’s on silent.
This feature is only on phones in Japan. When the phone’s on silent in the U.S. or anywhere else for that matter, it won’t make a peep when you take a picture. In Japan, it still makes the shutter sound.
You do know there are plenty of small cameras that don’t make that stupid shutter click when you take a picture don’t you? If you don’t want some perv taking a photo up your skirt, you could always wear a longer skirt. It’s easier than inconveniencing the other 10 billion of us with unnecessary and irritating noises.
The shutter sound may be an inconvenience, but can you imagine what it would feel like to have your privacy invaded like that? And skirt length doesn’t matter if you’re on a flight of stairs or taking an escalator.
“Trying to take a picture of a bird”? Listen, if you’re trying to take a picture of a bird with an iPhone, I can identify a bigger problem right there without the clicking noise. As someone with an iPhone and someone who has a certain amount of experience taking bird photos, we’re not talking about something that’s really practical here. If you’re able to get close enough to a bird that the iPhone could take a halfway decent picture, then a little clicking sound isn’t going to make any difference. It’s hard enough with a 10-megapixel digital SLR with a 300mm lens. Even without the clicking sound, the best you’ll get trying to take a picture of a bird is a blur, anyway–unless the thing is in a cage or something.
In real life, all a mute photo clicking sound is good for is covert photography, and I don’t see that as a good enough excuse. I’m not a huge fan of that noise–I turned it off on the last camera I had where I could turn it off–but I didn’t even notice I couldn’t turn it off on the iPhone. Not important.
Just put your finger over the speaker…problem solved.
This is hilarious!
doesnt get more stupid than this!
I live in Canada and my phone doesn’t have an option to turn off the shutter sound even in silent mode. My only options are 4 different shutter sounds; no off mode for me! It’s an LG the phone isn’t that old either. Very loud and annoying. (however that bird excuse wasn’t that great)
Don’t lose hope boys, Play music on mute and the shutter sound will be gone.
There aren’t features like that to protect girls in the US because we don’t need it as badly. Upskirt photos and sexual harassment in public areas like subways and whatnot are way more widespread than here in the US. The US is also more likely to provide legal protection; there isn’t a large market for illegally taken upskirt pictures because our legislation would take it down. Not to say there aren’t perverts that would try but the problem isn’t the same level of urgency.
I’ve lived in different parts of the US and have never known anyone with a fear of getting upskirt photos taken of them by strangers. If you honestly think you need that kind of protection then you’re doing something wrong.
UpskirtManiac, thanks, your suggestion works.
You can silence the shutter sound in Japan on the iphone and it is SUPER EASY!! First put your iPhone in silent mode. Then before you take a picture turn the sound all the way down using the volume buttons. There now you can be an iSpy.
yea i have the new iphone 4 am i japan and i cant turn off the noise even on silent it sucks when you take pics of anything because people now know what im doing and look like a total tourist
No way.
I have the same problem.. I am a tourist in japan and for example I was riding around in a taxi yesterday and I was snapping pictures and it was quite uncomfortable.. Looking forward to playing music on mute..