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Apple Disables Egyptian iPhones' GPS
floydman writes "Apparently the Egyptian government is paranoid about its community using GPS devices, to the degree that it demanded Apple remove any GPS functionality from its iPhone 3G.
They claim that 'GPS functionality should be limited to military purposes.' Egyptian blogger Ahmed Gabr brought this issue up in another article, and talks about how this does not make sense, since Google maps and the like can be used. I also happen to know for a fact that most of the modern cars in Egypt have built-in GPS systems."
Can't they just look around and figure out which pyramids they are standing between and go from there?
"I don't have to think. I only have to do it. The results are always perfect, but that's old news." - Meat Puppets
grab your iphone.. fire up urban spoon...
shake...
Choices are sand, sand, sand...
Hmmm.... I think we'll have sand today.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
and they're afraid to say what it is that they're afraid of.
Interesting.
I'm sure it has something to do with the Pyramids and geo-caching. :)
I think the answer is armed kids in knock-off Versace.
I always thought that camels have built in GPS.
"The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
don't be ridiculous, iPhone can't send MMS!
If the above is the case, it's a pretty dumb approach, since a GPS-enabled iPhone could just be smuggled in.
Besides, there's no way Apple would allow that software into the app store.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
Preamble: English is not my native language
"Let's also assume you were smart enough to bring along a sat phone for emergencies (like this one)"
How can that be misinterpreted to read that he meant the iPhone was a satellite phone?
Simple substitution:
"Let's also assume you were smart enough to bring along a sat phone for emergencies (like the iPhone)"
Ahhh, so the iPhone is an emergency! Err, wait.
If he wanted things to read like the iPhone was a satellite phone, he'd write:
"Let's also assume you were smart enough to bring along a sat phone (like the iPhone) for emergencies"
However, if you unsubstitute that:
"Let's also assume you were smart enough to bring along a sat phone (like this one) for emergencies"
Then you'd have to scan around for what "like this one" would be referring to.. his post doesn't refer to any specific phone at all.. if this wasn't slashdot with its auto-domain-appendage bits, I would move my mouse over the "like this one" expecting to find it linking to a satellite phone.. I would not assume he meant the iPhone.
Going back to the original line, however, "like this one" easily finds context in "your car broke down and you're in the middle of the desert."
That's not to say the original phrasing can't be improved...
"But let's imagine your car broke down and you're in the middle of the desert. Let's also assume you were smart enough to bring along a sat phone for such emergencies."
But to think he meant the iPhone was an example of a satellite phone? hm.
Aha. And that falls under "most new cars" how, exactly? Would you like a side of fail with that?
Tut. Tut. Tut.
Whose our sun god?
Ra! Ra! Ra!
Thank you, I'll be here all week.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Besides, there's no way Apple would allow that software into the app store.
Why, does Apple already offer an official iBomb app?
their nefarious plot is most transparent. by banning GPS the Egyptian government clearly means to induce a perpetually lost state in the population. this in turn would emasculate the entire civilian male population by forcing them to ask the military for directions, in essence surrendering every shred of their manhood to the Egyptian government in the ultimate act of sexual submission. the government, meanwhile, would have their throbbing virility cemented by their exclusive control of GPS technology--their GPS antennas standing fully erect, thrusting skyward as a potent symbol of their dominance over their now gelded population.
oh, such cruel tyranny. if only they'd gotten the G1 instead...
Damn! And me with no mod points...
You deal with tourists at a regular base or are otherwise experienced in dealing with stupid people?
The second one.