Briefly: Offender Locator returns; 8GB iPhone 3GS sighting denied
Offender Locator back in App Store
After it was removed last week for legal reasons, the iPhone application Offender Locator has returned to the App Store with appropriate modifications to make it acceptable. The new version of the software does not include California sex offender data, as it is illegal in the state for anyone to profit from the distribution of such publicly available information.
Originally released in June, the software from ThinAir Wireless has regularly existed among the top 10 paid App Store offerings. But because of the legal complications in California, it was banished last week. This weekend, the $0.99 application returned, and immediately reclaimed its place among the top 10.
The software allows users to see nearby registered offenders based on the phone's current location or by manually entering an address. The program then pulled up a map with pinpoints for each nearby offender. The locations were each selectable, giving users access to the person's picture, a physical description, and information on what crime they were convicted of.
Another reference to 8GB iPhone 3GS, denied
Numerous outlets have reported more evidence of an 8GB iPhone 3GS based on information on the Web site for Canadian wireless carrier Rogers, but it has since been disputed by the company.
In a note to Gizmodo, Rogers confirmed that the listing for an 8GB iPhone 3GS was a "formatting error."
However, last week it was alleged that an internal document from Rogers stated that the company is "aiming to reduce" the inventory of the 8GB iPhone 3G, in anticipation of the replacement iPhone 3GS model.
At WWDC in June, when Apple unveiled the new iPhone 3GS, the handset maker dropped the price of the 8GB iPhone 3G to $99. The 16GB iPhone 3GS sells for $199 while the 32GB model retails for $299.
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After it was removed last week for legal reasons, the iPhone application Offender Locator has returned to the App Store with appropriate modifications to make it acceptable. The new version of the software does not include California sex offender data, as it is illegal in the state for anyone to profit from the distribution of such publicly available information.
So, Apple was right. Again.
Its too bad they have to join in the Predator Panic fray. I guess they'll keep it up until a few dozen people get killed first by crazed vigilantes using the app to target people.
Stephen Marshall, the man who murdered two registrants in Maine, used a wireless service to locate his victims and plot their brutal murders. A registrant holding his baby son is shot to death. Over 200 registrants shot to death. Forty percent of registrants and an equal number of family members have experienced vigilante violence as a result of over-saturation of the public registry coupled with abuse of the information contained within. The truth is, such information should be regulated, as these stories consistently show the public abuses the information rather than use the info wisely. These apps do not educate the public as to the truth about *ex offenders. FACT: most *ex crimes are committed by someone NOT on the list and most often by someone the victim knows. FACT: Most registrants never re-offend IN SPITE of the law. If you want more truth, go to www.oncefallen.com
I'm unsure about how the laws work regarding distributes, but wouldn't the company who made the product and is selling it to Apple be the ones who would get in trouble with the CA law, and not Apple? Or is distributing a known illegal software also punishable by law?
I'm trying to figure out, was this Apple trying to protect someone else, or just themselves?
This could just be me, but I don't think that it's the price of the iPhone that's killing it for some people... it's the extra $30 a month for the data plan. Lower the monthly data plan, not the cost of the iPhone. That's one of the main reasons why it took me 2 years to finally break down and get one.
What is really annoying are the smackers criticizing Apple for initially taking it down. As usual, those basement-dwelling, wannabe-know-it-all, Anarchists shot from this hip accusing Apple with everything censorship to downright conspiracy.
I live in California and I have to deal with Megan's Law issues. Even I wondered how they can charge for this app using data that is not allowed to be profited from. Apple had to play by the legal guidelines and did the right thing. The amount of detective work that the folks running the App store have to go through to make sure applets behave is simply staggering. I'm surprised they are able to do what they can do considering the vast array of different apps covering so many different areas.
For future reference, when Apple finds it necessary to take an up down refrain from shooting your mouth off with ridiculous nonsense until you get your facts in order. Those people really take away from the criticisms that are valid and based on educated facts in these threads.
I would bet money that this particular thread will have certain folks conveniently quiet that shot off about this issue in a prior thread.
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