There have been three important additions to my household over the past few weeks. The first was an iPad — my first Apple product since 1981. Deal posted some of my thoughts about it here. After incorporating this incredible device into my work and personal routine, my verdict still stands: It’s a game-changer in so many respects and the best invention since the printing press. I love it.
The second and third additions are two girls, ages 6 years and 7 months, who are now our foster children. They’re amazing. The simple complexity of childhood development is unfolding before me every day. Dinner is now at 5 pm. There are more hair accoutrements than I can possibly identify on my sink. I hail diapers with Velcro as the second best invention since the iPad. My verdict on the girls: They’re game-changers themselves and the best thing to happen to me in 20 years. I love them.
Both girls took to the iPad like… well, like two girls to an iPad. The 7 month old is mesmerized by the AlphaBaby app and giggles non-stop while patting the screen. Her older sister prefers Toy Story (by the way, even if you don’t have kids, this is a must-have app) and JamPad. But, as we all know, there are fewer good apps than bad, and the Internet is itself full of exploitive trash.
Orthodox. Faithful. Free.
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So, imagine my (pleasant) surprise when I ran across Steve Jobs’ stated commitment to keeping pornography off the iPad (read about Zoe’s post regarding similar commitment regarding the iPhone here). This was highlighted by a testy email exchange between Jobs and Ryan Tate of Gawker.com.
Mr. Jobs was defending Apple’s “crusade of to keep pornography off its products.” Mr. Tate differed and sent an email saying, “I don’t want ‘freedom from porn.’ Porn is just fine! And I think my wife would agree.” (I believe Mr. Tate spent the night on the couch, but that’s just a hunch.)
Retorted Jobs, “You might care more about porn when you have kids.”
Sam Diaz, senior editor of ZDNET summarizes:
“Clearly opposed to pornography, Jobs surely realizes he can’t make it go away completely. But he doesn’t have to contribute to the spreading of it — especially in a place where children often shop using a technology that many parents still don’t understand well enough to police.”
Color me impressed. I had a lot of opinions about Apple and Steve Jobs. None of them came even close to “anti-pornography advocates.” In my opinion, Apple is living the values Google is trying (and failing) to follow. There are many reasons to love Apple…. here’s yet another.
And, we’re not the only ones who love this thing… iPom meets iPad.