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Media (Apple) Media Entertainment

No Porn for You, iPod 247

TheBrutalTruth writes "Wired has an article explaining why pornographers are staying away from the Video IPod. From the article: 'When it comes to the iPod, Fayling said there are few rewards and many risks. Fayling emphasized the pitfalls of combining a device designed for younger audiences with content they are prohibited from viewing. "There's already a public perception that we (in the industry) are preying on youth," he said. "Without safeguards you open yourself up to more scrutiny from government and parents' groups.'"
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No Porn for You, iPod

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  • by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:30AM (#13903632)
    Operates with one hand!
    Sponges right off!

    The iPod that is.
  • by cicatrix1 ( 123440 ) <cicatrix1&gmail,com> on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:31AM (#13903637) Homepage
    to say... "yeah right".
  • Black sheep (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Crouty ( 912387 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:31AM (#13903638)
    Bad publicity has never stopped the black sheep of the industry. If any small company sees profit there, it will pornify any device.

    I Couldn't care less.

    • iPod pr0n (Score:4, Insightful)

      by lastberserker ( 465707 ) <babanov@ea[ ]link.net ['rth' in gap]> on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:54AM (#13903708) Homepage Journal
      Bad publicity has never stopped the black sheep of the industry. If any small company sees profit there, it will pornify any device.

      Agreed. And in the true spirit of the platform they will call it iPorn or iPr0n or something...

    • Re:Black sheep (Score:5, Insightful)

      by jrockway ( 229604 ) * <jon-nospam@jrock.us> on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:39AM (#13903811) Homepage Journal
      if I were a porn producer, I would just distribute my movies as H.264-encoded mov files and let the user do what he wants with it. H.264 plays under every OS now and it downloads cleanly to the iPod, so this sounds like a good solution. They're not specifically targeting the iPod (not that I see a problem here), but they're not standing in the way of people who want pr0n on their iPod. Plus it works under linux, which is more than you can say for the low-quality wmv and rm that seems to be the "industry standard" now.

      I, for some reason, don't see much interest in having porn on your iPod, though. I show my iPod to people all the time, and I wouldn't want them uncovering my pr0n stash! (Plus, when do you need porn and don't have a real computer or magazine around?)
      • The internal chip is supposed to be able to decode H.264 at VGA resolution, but Apple only claims it is able to play 480x480 videos, though scaled down, of course. But at least the software to recode video for the iPod's native resolution is readily available.
      • Re:Black sheep (Score:2, Informative)

        Plus it works under linux, which is more than you can say for the low-quality wmv and rm that seems to be the "industry standard" now.

        Mplayer will play any format you throw at it (like mkv and other weird stuff as well as wmv and rm), the only thing I have problems with is Quicktime subtitles.

        Try it!
      • Re:Black sheep (Score:2, Interesting)

        by ronanbear ( 924575 )
        If I were a porn producer I'd add a soundtrack to a few explicit sex scenes and start selling them as adult music videos.
      • H.264 plays under every OS now and it downloads cleanly to the iPod, so this sounds like a good solution.

        Except that H.264 requires a pretty beefy CPU. My 600mhz ibook can't play the 320x240 stuff on iTMS. It just shows the first frame and plays the audio.. while taking up 100% cpu. No problems playing divx and mpegs at full frame rate.
      • Exactly. They'll just distribute the vids in iPod friendly format and let the buyers/users/pirates do whatever they want with them.
  • by Anita Coney ( 648748 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:33AM (#13903641) Homepage
    Why would young people ever want to view porn?! They're young enough to actually get laid. Why fantasize about what you can actually do?!
  • by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:33AM (#13903644)
    What sort of iPod accessories would porn on the iPod spawn?
  • ftom the article... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Fëanáro ( 130986 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:34AM (#13903650)
    In February, a man was arrested in Schenectady, New York, for viewing an adult movie in his vehicle. Also this year, Tennessee outlawed the display of obscene movies from a car. The City Council in Flint, Michigan, passed a measure imposing a $500 fine upon drivers who play pornographic movies in their cars.

    WTF? there is a rule specifically against watching PORN in a CAR?
    Is this a rampant problem? Why would anyone need a rule against that?

    (I presume this is not about watching movies while driving)

  • Wait a tick... (Score:5, Informative)

    by axonal ( 732578 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:35AM (#13903654)
    Isn't there porn for PSP? I would see the PSP targeting a younger audience more than the iPod would.
  • OMG! (Score:2, Funny)

    by c0l0 ( 826165 )
    After all those years of canalizing internet geekdom and posting-efforts of nerds all around the world, don't you find it somewhat shocking that there's no "pr0n"-Section on /.?!
  • by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:37AM (#13903658)
    Last week, povPod.com started offering several downloadable videos "shot from the male porn star's point of view."

    hah, now, THAT's a first person shooter.
  • by ErikZ ( 55491 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:39AM (#13903665)

    Create porn blocking flag for ipod and sell it. Make one hojillion dollars.
  • Privacy (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Bios_Hakr ( 68586 ) <xptical@gmEEEail.com minus threevowels> on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:53AM (#13903704)
    Here's what I don't get: who would watch porn on an iPod? First, you need privacy for porn. A group can be interesting; but it's usually just awkward. Next, you need semi-hands free operation. I guess you could prop you iPod agianst something...

    I guess if you just have to jack off in the bathroom at work or you can't make it 4 stops on the subway, then go for it. But the other 99.98% of us will just delay our jacking till we get home.
    • Re:Privacy (Score:3, Funny)

      by JamesTRexx ( 675890 )
      A group can be interesting

      Which would give a new meaning to the term "flash mob".
    • Re:Privacy (Score:3, Funny)

      by Trogre ( 513942 )
      What about the other 90% of us blokes who HAVE NO NEED for porn or 'jacking'?

      • Re:Privacy (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Bios_Hakr ( 68586 )
        While I can't point out any real data, I'd be willing to bet that just about every mas has jacked off. Most probably do it at least once a week.
        • While I can't point out any real data, I'd be willing to bet that just about every mas has jacked off. Most probably do it at least once a week.

          You know, that's a sexist remark. Women masterbate too. And, of course, there is a distinct population that actually has managed to never conciously masterbate.

          But upon reaching a socially acceptable age to begin fornication, the practice dies off quickly. Most humans pair off with a sexual partner in a religious/legal relationship, allowing them easy access to s
          • Re:Privacy (Score:3, Funny)

            by Lucractius ( 649116 )
            three words about relationships providing easy access to sexual satisfaction

            "Not tonight honey"
          • Re:Privacy (Score:2, Informative)

            But upon reaching a socially acceptable age to begin fornication, the practice dies off quickly. Most humans pair off with a sexual partner in a religious/legal relationship, allowing them easy access to sexual satisfaction that is all but univerally preferred to masterbation.

            AHahhahahahahaha! You've obviously never been married.

      • You mean the other "0.9%", presumably...

        Seriously. If you're naive enough to thing it's 90% you seriously need to take a look at the sales numbers for the porn industry.

        This article is quite enlightening [msn.com], and as a bonus it summarises some of the research debunking the myth that porn contributes to violence.

        You're the one that belongs to the freaky minority - deal with it.

    • The people who would watch porn (with or without jacking off) are probably the same people who expose themselves in public. Some people are just overly-exhibitionist and depraved.

      In the case of iPod-porn, it might go even further. Imagine a "Jackass" show or people who just like to disturb others in general, watching porn in public. As it is, some people like to talk about sex or other socially taboo-ish topics very openly, for the express purpose of disturbing those around them. I wouldn't be surprised if
    • Possibly someone travelling for a few days away from home without a laptop. Having a portable device doesn't imply people will use it in publican iPod or laptop is a clear theft risk, anyway.
    • I'm not sure which is worse ... the fact you thought this all the way out ... or the fact that you thought it all the way out and were then noted as insightful ...
  • Censorship? (Score:4, Informative)

    by SonicBlue ( 921984 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:54AM (#13903710) Homepage
    Ah, come on now, sex sells. And, anyway, why would you sell a product that's not letting the customer use it for whatever they want? As soon as the product leaves the company, the company has nothing to do with what it's used for. Censorship is always worse than the content being censored. Just like with everything else, there is a way of getting around it -- there's a guide on how to convert pornographic material so it can still be put on iPods [diveintomark.org]. I wish companies put their money on improving the features rather than to stop the customers from using it for whatever they want.

    Soon monitors will be banned because they're used to view porn.
  • by putko ( 753330 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:55AM (#13903715) Homepage Journal
    A review of the porn business [jewishquarterly.org] quickly reveals a pattern: some greedy guy (conincidentally enough, he's almost always a Jew) spots an opportunity to make a killing selling something a bit beyond the Pale.

    First it was "dirty books" and black and white softcore photos -- much later hardcore, gangbangs, bukkake and goatse style stuff. The guy starts making money -- and voila, porn is everywhere and he's filthy rich.

    If nobody steps up to the plate, I'm going to make it happen. I will be the Reuben Sturman of the iPod, damnit!
  • by Stormtrooper386 ( 926833 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @04:56AM (#13903716)
    ... the screen is to small and frankly do you really want porn on the move, personally I listen to music in public, it's less likely to get me arrested.
  • No piPod ..
  • Quote (Score:5, Interesting)

    by ceeam ( 39911 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:03AM (#13903728)
    As someone said: "America is a strange country, you cannot have a breast shown on TV there unless it has been cut off". (Sorry, it's a re-translation).
  • by badzilla ( 50355 ) <ultrak3wlNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:07AM (#13903737)
    I don't have an iPod, with or without video, but how is it you need special pay-per porn movies? Couldn't you just download regular free porn movies and load them on? Movies or TV shows work great on mobile phones (have to convert them to .3GP format first) so why not iPod?
  • by TheSloth2001ca ( 893282 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:18AM (#13903766) Homepage
    2.5 inches just aint enough for me
  • Lazy Journalism (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Erik K. Veland ( 574016 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:25AM (#13903779) Homepage
    They've talked to exactly 1 (one) company distributing adult films. Wow! And of how many exactly? Actually several have jumped on already - a mere week after the new iPod was shipped to users! This is a non-story of tabloid bullshit, but I would expect no less of Slashdot than to rehash it I'm sorry to say :(
    • but I would expect no less of Slashdot than to rehash it

      It is a bit more precise to say "Zonk" (or l'il Zonky, as his fans call him) than Slashdot. L'il Zonky has a habit of taking PR pieces, old news and generally unimportant crap and putting it up on Slashdot. Some of the other editors are quite good.

      I recommend you keep Z.I.N.S in mind -- "Zonk is not Slashdot."
  • by Jack Earl ( 913275 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:26AM (#13903782) Homepage
    I believe jeff Goldblum said, "Porn will find a way."

    A few scenes later and he is in the back of a jeep with a busted leg driving away from a raging vagina monster.

  • Way to police yourself. It's your responsibility.
  • Again, Steve kicks all your asses. Values baby.
  • First off... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by rampant mac ( 561036 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:44AM (#13903819)
    "Fayling emphasized the pitfalls of combining a device designed for younger audiences with content they are prohibited from viewing."

    Let me be the first to say it, but... Get the FUCK outta here! This coming from the industry that exploits the 18 to 21 year old genre?

    Yeah, right....

  • Damn (Score:5, Funny)

    by Orionetheus ( 914838 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @05:51AM (#13903832) Homepage
    Introducing the all new iPorn. Wank Different.
  • If you read the article, you'll find these guys [povpod.com], who have "point of view" porn. Their concept sounds good -- the format of the porn is meant to correspond to the type of experience you'll have while masturbating with your iPod -- or maybe that's just the kind of orn you get when you make a cheapo porn movie with one guy holding a camera, for the duration of the whole flick.

    The stuff is free, so download away. I'm sure the pornographers will appreciate the Slashdot market knowing about their fine product -
  • But those are often the best porn movies!
  • Conflicting reports (Score:5, Interesting)

    by radmongoose ( 596591 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @06:52AM (#13903935)

    It was interesting to read this article after just last night hearing a short news blurb on my local CBS affiliate about the porn industry is "embracing" the new iPod with man on the street interviews with people who don't like the idea of having the "guy sitting next to them in class looking at porn," and overarching implications that parents should be alarmed and ready to take up arms to defend their kids' innocence.

    Other perspectives:
    Pornographers embracing iPod [nwsource.com]
    Will iPod Be Eye for Porn? [macnewsworld.com]
    Harness iPod's dollar power -- porn on the go [sfgate.com]
    How do you know Apple's new device will succeed? iPod Porn [oreilly.com]
    Apple iPod delivers "iPorno" revolution [macworld.co.uk]

  • I seem to think that its the opposite. Although they may market the iPod as device for young, cool people, very few young people have them. This especially holds true for the more expensive units such as the video iPod. Not a lot of parents are willing to shell out $300 so their kids can listen to music. I know I never had anything that extravagant as a kid. Most people I see with iPods are 20+. More kids have TVs and DVD players in their rooms. That doesn't stop them from producing porn on DVD.
    • Re:Kids have iPods? (Score:2, Informative)

      by JasonEngel ( 757582 )
      Although they may market the iPod as device for young, cool people, very few young people have them.

      What rock have you been living under? My wife works at a high school, and on several occasions last year I was there during the school day between classes. As a very rough estimate, I'd say at least a quarter of the kids had the telltale white cords dangling from their ears while walking in the hallway.

      And who says their parents are buying these for them? While a lot of kids probably get them as gifts

    • I dunno. At my brother's highschool, every other kid has an iPod.
  • by SmallFurryCreature ( 593017 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @09:29AM (#13904255) Journal
    I went to buy a pornPod the moment I learned they now support pictures. I winked at the girl behind the counter and asked her to sell me a model fit for my person. She sold me a nano. :(
  • by pstreck ( 558593 ) * on Saturday October 29, 2005 @09:45AM (#13904311)
    "Without safeguards you open yourself up to more scrutiny from government and parents' groups."
    And can someone please explain me to how an opaque plastic bag sitting behind the 7-11's counter is an adequate safegaurd? I mean personally I could care less if you want porn on you xyz device or not, but content control of digital pornography has been handled very well throughout the Internet boom, so why should it be any different for the iPod
    --end rant
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • iCandy (Score:3, Informative)

    by Ranger ( 1783 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @11:23AM (#13904633) Homepage
    You mean these iPorn adverts aren't real? iPorn Portable HDD [wastednetwork.com]iPod/iPorn [whiteysweb.com]. Boy, that'll disappoint a lot of slashdotters.
  • So what if the industry stays away from it? One of iPod/vPod/ITMS strengths is in 'x-casting', whether it be audio/video or what have you. That will make it more of an amateur review platform, make it very low quality with very realistic views, and make it immensly more popular then anything the bigwigs have to offer just for the sake of it being somewhat "underground." Not to mention the vPod-casts in this arena that I've found so far are *free*, with RSS Feeds to keep me posted as to when it's been upd
  • Guilt by Proxy? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Bones3D_mac ( 324952 ) on Saturday October 29, 2005 @01:07PM (#13905009)
    Let's say for a second that this guy is right in regards to his fears of "preying upon children" and whatnot. Now that iPod Video exists, does this mean all porno sites dealing in content playable in Quicktime now risk being accused of making their content readily available to minors in an iPod-compatible format?

    I would not be surprised if someone at Microsoft is spreading the FUD on this one to scare the industry into converting their offerings entirely to Windows Media format. Porno will ultimately decide which media format will remain on top... everything else is simply along for the ride.
  • Pfft (Score:2, Informative)

    by Archon-X ( 264195 )
    What can I say:
    Here are two to start it off

    http://www.povpod.com/main.php [povpod.com]
    http://www.ipodporn.com/ [ipodporn.com]

    The article is full of rubbish.

    Just like PSP porn, I'm sure this will fill its niche nicely.

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