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Comment by ashconnor | Hacker News Reader

I keep reading how porn is at the forefront of technology, driving innovation and being a real game changer.

Yet HTTP authentication is still the norm, tubes appeared several months after YouTube and porn hasn't migrated to make good use of HTML5.

I think the industry made one good choice with VHS decades ago and has been rewarded with such unjust acclaim ever since.

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You're totally right. I was a freelancer in the adult biz for ~2 years and the level of technological incompetence in the industry is hard to believe. For example, no one is using version control systems, most people hardly know the difference between a CMS and a framework, most still update their websites with FTP, virtual hosting is still a scary beast, cPanel is the norm, they still refer to web apps as "scripts", etc.

Innovation in the porn industry is a complete myth in 2011.

PS: If anyone doubts my claim, I suggest you take a peek here and see the level of discussion (the world's largest adult industry board): http://gfy.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26

they still refer to web apps as "scripts"

I did some work for a local bank a few years ago where they used the same terminology. It was quite the culture shock. It reminded of me going to see movies with my grandparents, who still called them 'pictureshows'.

"no one is using version control systems, most people hardly know the difference between a CMS and a framework, most still update their websites with FTP, virtual hosting is still a scary beast, cPanel is the norm, they still refer to web apps as "scripts""

Wrong. At least where I work. But I do still call web apps "scripts" because 1) I'm old and 2) that's what they are.

From the comments here, most of the developers commenting on the adult industry are being fairly liberal with the term "industry". Sort of like equating the slot machines at the local bar with the casino industry as a whole. Ignore the fact that Apple is adopting business models pioneered in the online adult industry, or that PayPal was years behind what was offered in the adult industry regarding credit card security.

One thing the adult industry can't push on right now is iOS Apps, where most of the action is taking place. But companies like GroupOn, Foursquare, and others are using technology and business models that adult has been using for a long time.

I work at Gamma Entertainment here in Montreal. You're essentially looking at the bottom of the barrel there if you are using GFY as your source. The people that are innovating in the adult industry aren't hanging out on GFY. The programmers are going to and sponsoring local tech conferences, hanging out here on HN, and actually doing really cool stuff. GFY is where you start, when you wannabe part of the adult industry. It's Digg.

If you're dealing with people FTP'ing up their website, using virtual hosts, and cpanel, you aren't dealing with the industry. You're dealing with Joe Blow Local just like in the rest of the main stream world.

What about online payments? I thought the porn industry was (one of) the first to start accepting credit cards online.

I've seen Middle Men and yes there was no options at the time and banks should be have take more notice. But it does read like adult is the driving force for all online commerce and technology.

I think no one is arguing against the adult industry being innovative at some point in history. It just isn't true in 2011.

Considering Apple is adopting business practices perfected by the adult industry, I don't see how it's not.

What ~2011 business practice did Apple adopt from the adult industry?

The new 30% subscription services that Apple deployed this year? Basically, Apple handles delivery, technology, etc. Producers just produce the content and essentially hand off deployment to Apple. The discussion surrounding this new deal from Apple seems to suggest that this is somehow some new thing that Apple is doing. It's not. In the online world, adult has been doing this for some time.

> Yet HTTP authentication is still the norm

No it's not.

> tubes appeared several months after YouTube

The model of YouTube was unique, yes. YouTube, however, wasn't doing anything new from a technology standpoint, however.

> and porn hasn't migrated to make good use of HTML5.

Yes, it has.

Porn, and the industry, and deployed new technologies that were eventually deployed or adapted my main steam companies. PayPal and Apple are two of my favorites.

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