Impending iPhone update

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spazz

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#16126 25-Sep-2007 22:40

May brick our nice new toys..

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/09/24/apple-iphone-unlockers-will-end-up-with-ibricks/

I know, you can always simply refrain from updating your software, but wouldn't that be a pity..

I sorta understand why Apple has to do this, and in doing so keep AT&T happy, but it still doesn't make it any more palatable..

Thoughts?

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Biddle Corp

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#88106 25-Sep-2007 22:46

It was something that was inevitable and yet people seem totally surprised by it!

spazz

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#88108 25-Sep-2007 22:51

But why go to all that trouble to piss people off? Why stop people brandishing Apple products all over the world? Why alienate the very group of people (read: fanboys/girls) who saved you from the brink of extinction? I just don't get it, it seems very un-Apple.

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STI

239 posts

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#88113 25-Sep-2007 23:32

I think Apple is just trying to scare people. I mean think of the number of law suits against Apple if they actually brick all unlocked iphones. After all it's perfectly legal to unlock phones. Anyway it's only a matter of time before someone figure out how to install the update without bricking (writing to baseband).

sbiddle

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#88120 26-Sep-2007 06:50

STI: I think Apple is just trying to scare people. I mean think of the number of law suits against Apple if they actually brick all unlocked iphones. After all it's perfectly legal to unlock phones. Anyway it's only a matter of time before someone figure out how to install the update without bricking (writing to baseband).

I agree that it's a veru stupid PR move and could potentially cause a lot of harm to the company.

On the other hand unlocking handsets may not be illegal but it's still not possible to buy an iPhone without somebody having to sign a 24 month AT&T contract somewhere along the line. It sounds very much like both Apple & AT&T thought the iPhone SIM protection would never be cracked, it just goes to show how they (like many other companies out there) completely fail to understand the h8x0r market. Locking something down is just an invitation for thousands of people around the world, many of whom will be smarter than your own engineers and programmers, to find a way around it. It happened with the DVD, it happened with HD-DVD and Bluray, it's happened with iTunes AAC and it's happened numerous times with MS's Fairplay. If you build it people will hack it.

geekiegeek

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#88122 26-Sep-2007 07:38

STI: I think Apple is just trying to scare people. I mean think of the number of law suits against Apple if they actually brick all unlocked iphones. After all it's perfectly legal to unlock phones. Anyway it's only a matter of time before someone figure out how to install the update without bricking (writing to baseband).

It is wrong to say that it is perfectly legal to unlock an iPhone. According to apple this is a breach of their software licence. also unlocking phones in general is technically illegal - it just hasnt been tested in a court of law yet. This could end up being that test case.

lduncan

189 posts

Master Geek

#88195 26-Sep-2007 16:29

geekiegeek:
STI: I think Apple is just trying to scare people. I mean think of the number of law suits against Apple if they actually brick all unlocked iphones. After all it's perfectly legal to unlock phones. Anyway it's only a matter of time before someone figure out how to install the update without bricking (writing to baseband).

It is wrong to say that it is perfectly legal to unlock an iPhone. According to apple this is a breach of their software licence. also unlocking phones in general is technically illegal - it just hasnt been tested in a court of law yet. This could end up being that test case.

It's a tricky area. I believe there are specific exemptions to copyright law in the states which allow an individual, to copy, reverse, and modify otherwise copyrighted code for the specific purpose of unlocking a mobile phone. This does not extend to business offering the service.

I for one would not like to be the one testing that here however.

I think this warning is more a case of Apple saying one thing and doing another. They obviously won't go out of their way to accommodate the unlocks, but at the same time don't seem to won't go out of their way to disable them either (after all, what's the point, it's hard to make a truly secure system, it's just a matter of how long it takes to find the door). Seems like they're just giving people a stark reminder that what they are doing is not supported by them under warranty, or their EULA.

That's one of the reasons they locked it down to start with. Limit their official support, know that there will be thousands of people willing to give up support to get one. It makes some sense, as after all it's their first foray into what is a completely foreign market for them. I think they've ruffled a few feathers too!

I just hope they complete their SMS implementation with the firmware update.

cokemaster

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#88199 26-Sep-2007 17:07

Simple solution:
Don't update your iphone. Its kinda like people complaining that new windows service packs break activation cracks.

Or if you haven't purchased one yet:

Purchase one when it gets released in New Zealand
-or-
Don't purchase one. Buy another phone. I have. Life goes on.

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lduncan

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Master Geek

#88200 26-Sep-2007 17:20

Or if you haven't purchased one yet:

Purchase one when it gets released in New Zealand

Unfortunately I don't see that happening anytime soon.

nzbnw

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#88217 26-Sep-2007 21:20

lduncan:Unfortunately I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I agree. For this to happen, either Vodafone would have to upgrade their network to EDGE from GPRS, or wait for Telecom to release their EDGE network in late 2008. In either case one could also ask given the size of the New Zealand market, does Apple really care about New Zealand? My guess it not really.

There is always the possibility of a Trans-Tasman deal through, i.e. AAPT - Telecom, Telstra - TelstraClear, Vodafone Aus - Vodafone NZ, or even Telstra - Telecom (+AAPT & TelstraClear).

But still unlikely.

nzbnw

STI

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#88229 26-Sep-2007 23:50

Found this post on Engadget about legal issues associated with unlocking phones;

Know Your Rights: Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?

jdbob

43 posts

Geek

#88288 27-Sep-2007 11:19

sbiddle: On the other hand unlocking handsets may not be illegal but it's still not possible to buy an iPhone without somebody having to sign a 24 month AT&T contract somewhere along the line.

Not true. If you buy directly from Apple you don't need to have anything to do with AT&T.

destined

45 posts

Geek

#88300 27-Sep-2007 12:43

What I really think Apple is saying in this, is we do not take responsibility if the phone should be rendered inoperable due to it being unlocked. Apple always develops to a fixed target - for Mac OS X, or the iPhone. If you change the target, it may not work. This is the reason why people complain about Windows - it has to support such a broad target there are likely to be issues, and this is why Apple hasn't, and won't release Mac OS X to run on non-Apple hardware.

I think most of the hackers have the right idea of returning the phone to original state and unlocking again, as it will provide a cleaner slate to work from long term.