Apple knobble iPhones

[guns1inger]

Apple has released an update that appears to disable iPhones that have been unlocked to work on other networks. Strike another blow for freedom of choice. In a very Microsoft-like side-effect, it appears that the update may also kill some phones that have not been modified.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7017660.stm

[yoda313]

oops!

I guess that is "friendly fire" huh?

[guns1inger]

Of course it is the users fault for daring to question the wisdom of Steve Jobs. He would only chose the best network and the best software, so why would you want to use anything else ?

[edDV]

And this is the same Steve Jobs that boasted that in his early years used blue boxes to scam AT&T long distance even to the extent of calling long distance to the White House, Pentagon and waking the Pope. The blue box was created by Woz but Jobs as usual took credit.

When this kid did something less and legal cracking the iPhone, Jobs reacted like a spoiled child.

Why isn't the press all over this? Jobs must have their "Stay Out of Press Hell Free" card.

[oldandinthe way]

The press carried a warning last week that this was likely to happen. I guess the world didn't wake up screaming so they went ahead and did it.

If you buy a product from a man who cheats his shareholders by backdating options, even when they'd give him anything he asked for, you deserve what you get. Gratifying his ego is what drives his actions. Sooner or later the customer gets screwed.

[DereX888]

Nowadays, Apple is THE Enemy (thats what Jobs would have said if he were 20 nowadays). What a joke.

[FulciLives]

Apple has released an update that appears to disable iPhones that have been unlocked to work on other networks. Strike another blow for freedom of choice. In a very Microsoft-like side-effect, it appears that the update may also kill some phones that have not been modified.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7017660.stm

I head about this on TV but they also mentioned ... and maybe it's in this article link (which I admit I didn't read) ... but the TV mentioned that AT&T changed their "terms of service" so that they can drop anyone that they feel is talking "shit" about them.

That last part is more scary than the first part ... talk about "freedom" or lack thereof.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jman98]

Guys, it's time to drop the paranoid routine, OK? Here's what REALLY happened:

Apple did some testing of it's newest update BEFORE it was released to the public. They tested it on unlocked iPhones just to see what happened. It ruined all of them. Or as it's often put, it "bricked" them, which means it turned them into a brick - made them useless. Apple decided to tell the public ahead of time "Hey, if your phone is unlocked, you better skip this update because it ruined every unlocked phone we tried it on." What reward did Apple get for notifying the public ahead of time? Posts like these all over the internet talking about how "evil Apple" deliberately wrote an update to brick your unlocked iPhone. Folks, if they REALLY wanted to screw you over if your phone is unlocked, don't you think that maybe they wouldn't have warned anybody and just said "Too bad. So sad. Your unlocking violated your warranty, so there's nothing you can do." This is certainly proof positive that no good deed goes unpunished.

For the record, I own ZERO Apple products and am not an Apple fan boy.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Apple ain't that pure in this.

It's analogous to Windows Genuine Advantage. If you are good to Jobs and don't give your iPhone freedom then you can have the new firmware. If, however, you have had the audacity to unlock your phone then you can't have it. But, since your iPhone can't (literally) phone home to prove its locked-down status, you'd better pay attention to the mass media 'coz we ain't gonna tell you otherwise. Legally, they probably have to report this in order to say "we told you so" when legions of Apple die-hards with a very well expressed hacker gene tinker with their own personal property and end up with a brick after applying an update.

Now, of course Apple may be being responsible and customer friendly. But if this was MS there'd be a damn sight more replies in this threaded denouncing the evil empire.

To me, Apple are nothing more than an artsy rebadger of other companies' technology with a powerful marketing arm overseen by an arrogant an thoroughly dreadful hypocrite.

[dphirschler]

This is all deliberate. Jobs has said he would fight the iPhone hacks. And rest assured there will be more updates as more hacks are discovered. See the below quote:

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9037...intsrc=hm_list

At a London Apple retail store where he announced the iPhone's Nov. 9 U.K. debut, Jobs responded to a question about whether Apple would put a stop to the unlocking hacks that have mushroomed recently. "It's a cat-and-mouse game," said Jobs. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."

Also consider that Apple may be bound by their contract with AT&T to fight all hacking attempts.


Darryl

[guns1inger]

There are two types of hacks. One is freeing the phone from the network, the other is to allow non-Apple software to be written and run. Surely the provider contract should affect the ability run software.

[DereX888]

There are two types of hacks. One is freeing the phone from the network, the other is to allow non-Apple software to be written and run. Surely the provider contract should affect the ability run software.

That is wishful thinking.
Why would any company voluntarily give up the control over their product they already have?
I doubt it ever happened in the past, and Im sure it will never happen in the future.
Apple always kept their software and hardware on a tighter leash than Microsoft or IBM (Jobs' enemies -as he call them - for years).
Yet for years Apple is worse than 'the enemies' isn't it? Thats the fact.
so
What made anyone thinking it will be different with iPhone? I don't get it. Since begining of this 'oh so secret project' everyone knew it will be newer version of iPod. Did anyone ever had any chance to install any non-Apple software, even a simplest non-Apple codec, on any iPod in the past many years? NO.
So, when this new iPod with built-in dumbphone came out, what actually made some of you people think it'll be different?
Come on. Wishful thinking, thats all what it is.

[guns1inger]

Microsoft include a browser in Windows, and still allow users to install any other browser they choose, and they get sued for monopolistic practices all around the globe. Apples screws it's customers every which way, and gets awards for innovation, and feted in the press as geniuses.

[oldandinthe way]

Until the ipod Apple was a market failure. Market failures have a lot of leeway in the actions they take to protect their products. Of course it may help guarantee failure.

iPhone is unlikley to duplicate the success of iPod. At the moment they have a tiny share of the mobile phone market, even with their impressive early sales. As such they have a great deal of freedom.

If you decide to become an Apple customer, you have had years of warning as to what Apple's behavior is going to be, and you deserve what you get.

[yoda313]

Microsoft include a browser in Windows, and still allow users to install any other browser they choose, and they get sued for monopolistic practices all around the globe. Apples screws it's customers every which way, and gets awards for innovation, and feted in the press as geniuses.

Excellent point! Where did they ever say you COULDN'T use another browser on Windows????

[DereX888]

Microsoft include a browser in Windows, and still allow users to install any other browser they choose, and they get sued for monopolistic practices all around the globe. Apples screws it's customers every which way, and gets awards for innovation, and feted in the press as geniuses.

Excellent point! Where did they ever say you COULDN'T use another browser on Windows????

Yes, really well said