17 June 2011 | Author: C. Tate
Filming a concert or sporting event on your iPhone may soon be impossible as Apple may currently be developing software to stop users from doing so.
According to a patent filed some time ago, the smart phone will trigger an infrared sensor installed at the venue and in turn instruct the phone to shut down its camera. The paperwork, filed by the company 18 months ago, was found out and publicised by the Times.
The patent is entitled "Systems and methods for receiving data with a camera designed to detect images based on visible light."
Other functions on the phone, such as texting and calling, will still work, with only the camera being put out of action while users get their groove on. This move could actually be popular with certain members of the concert-going public, who may find their view of the stage obscured by a sea of glowing mobile phone screens.
The Daily Mail believes there's more to this than just civic-mindedness, however: "The real reason Apple is developing the technology is to placate broadcasters upset that members of the public are posting footage of events on websites including YouTube when they have bought the exclusive rights."
As many of these firms sell recordings of events, such as Glastonbury or the FA Cup, they don't like having potential customers seeing the event on YouTube instead.
Apple could also stand to gain from helping broadcasters and record companies, with more favourable terms offered when negotiating to get more music on iTunes. They could also potentially create another revenue stream by charging iPhone users to be able to film live events.
Apple patent to stop iPhone users filming live events revealed
Filming a concert or sporting event on your iPhone may soon be impossible as Apple may currently be developing software to stop users from doing so. According to a patent filed some time ago, the smart phone will trigger an infrared sensor installed at the venue and in turn instruct the phone to shut down its camera. The paperwork, filed by the company 18 months ago, was found out and publicised by the Times.
The patent is entitled "Systems and methods for receiving data with a camera designed to detect images based on visible light."
Other functions on the phone, such as texting and calling, will still work, with only the camera being put out of action while users get their groove on. This move could actually be popular with certain members of the concert-going public, who may find their view of the stage obscured by a sea of glowing mobile phone screens.
The Daily Mail believes there's more to this than just civic-mindedness, however: "The real reason Apple is developing the technology is to placate broadcasters upset that members of the public are posting footage of events on websites including YouTube when they have bought the exclusive rights."
As many of these firms sell recordings of events, such as Glastonbury or the FA Cup, they don't like having potential customers seeing the event on YouTube instead.
Apple could also stand to gain from helping broadcasters and record companies, with more favourable terms offered when negotiating to get more music on iTunes. They could also potentially create another revenue stream by charging iPhone users to be able to film live events.
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