Virgin Mobile Arc wtf?

August 5, 2008 3:29 PM

Does anyone know how to turn off the shutter sound on the Virgin Mobile Arc?
posted by anonymous to Technology (3 answers total)

I know that in Japan, mobile phones are required to make a sound in order to deter voyeurs. This may be a function that's carried over from Japanese models?
posted by dunkadunc at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2008

Not strictly an answer to your question, but the law in many countries requires cameraphones to have that sound so as to protect personal privacy (ie. to stymie pervs). The way to disable it would involve flashing the firmware and all sorts of technical stuff like that, which might not be up your street.
Your phone is a rebranded version of the "UTStarcom Arc CDM-8074". You may be able to find info on how to flash your phone on the Virgin or UTStarcom sections of forums such as these:
http://cellphoneforums.net/
http://www.howardforums.com/
http://forums.mobiledia.com/
but I doubt it.
posted by nowonmai at 5:52 PM on August 5, 2008

My old Sony Ericsson stopped making a shutter sound when you set the phone to the Silent profile, so that might be worth a try. Doesn't work with my new LG Viewty though.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 6:01 PM on August 5, 2008