Apple Issues Warning on iPhone Unlocking

[dukebound85]

When you do a restore you are restoring to a previous dmg stored on your computer.Apple will be updating the firmware also.The firmware resides on the iPhone.

ok but couldnt you get the original firmware and change it back?

 

[BigJohno]

Hmm was about unlock my phone today. maybe Ill wait.

 

[DMann]

relocking software

A restore doesn't reverse the unlock. The unlock changes the modem firmware I believe... but regardless, it is restore resistant.

arn

Someone will inevitably come up with a fix for this..... eventually.

 

[twoodcc]

thats crazy, can we get our updates now?

yeah, for real.

as long as apptapp doesn't do this, i'm fine with it. i still use at&t

 

[bdj21ya]

Makes sense. AT&T would have to have been morons not to demand some sort of clause that Apple will use their best efforts to prevent unlocking.

 

[pilotError]

I call Bull!

I seriously doubt you could brick your iPhone due to a sim unlock, especially a software unlock.

Now where's that soldering iron

 

[arn]

To Clarify,

This warning refers to SIM Unlocking your iPhone so you can use another network (T-Mobile, European networks).

It doesn't appear to refer to installing 3rd party apps, ringtones etc...

arn

 

[DMann]

firmware

ok but couldnt you get the original firmware and change it back?

One would imagine so.

 

[daa709]

What if you're only sim unlocking to the same carrier it's meant to be on (o2 for uk, at&t for us etc)?

 

[pyramid6]

It is possible the next update changes things that make it incompatible with an unlocked phone. If the unlock messes with the modem firmware, you maybe out of luck. My guess is they just don't want to have to fix/support unlocked phones.

P6

 

[cowm007]

I didn't realize people will be updating their unlocked phones to the latest iPhone firmware when it comes out. It's not restore resistant if the modem firmware gets updated so I would assume best case scenario, you get an iPhone with the latest firmware but no unlock.

I seriously hope this means that the damage is because of "natural causes" and not some active code that bricks unlocked phones out of spite.

 

[ogee]

ok but couldnt you get the original firmware and change it back?

Not if Apple remove it from the server, so make sure you have a local copy of the restore software I guess......

 

[Daremo]

It's because you're NOT just changing the software. Unlocking changes the firmware on the modem. The potential danger has always been known, people shouldn't act so surprised.

 

[vanmacguy]

A restore doesn't reverse the unlock. The unlock changes the modem firmware I believe... but regardless, it is restore resistant.

arn

People here are saying different though?

Cheers.

 

[DMann]

unlocked phones

It is possible the next update changes things that make it incompatible with an unlocked phone. If the unlock messes with the modem firmware, you maybe out of luck. My guess is they just don't want to have to fix/support unlocked phones.

P6

Out of the loop now, are we?

 

[sterno74]

So the question that begs to be asked, is Apple doing this intentionally or is it just an inevitable part of the software update process??

Regardless, I guess this just means that anyone with a hacked iPhone won't be installing Apple updates.

The other possibility here is that it's neither, and that Apple is just spreading some FUD to discourage people from doing this. If Apple comes out and says you can't do it, people will ignore them and perhaps take offense. But if Apple comes out and says you'll mess up your phone, it prevents many from trying it and accomplishes apple's goal without the PR problems.

 

[Daremo]

People here are saying different though?

Cheers.

That's hacking, not unlocking. It's a HUGE difference.

 

[AJ Muni]

Someone will inevitably come up with a fix for this..... eventually.

Exactly. As the days pass, the dev team and hackers are learning more and more about the interior of the iphone. I"m 100% confident they'll notice the differences in the updates, and inform us. If your smart enough, you obviously don't install these updates if you have an unlocked iphone. You just wait for gizmodo and/or engadget to do the dirty work.

 

[ct-scan]

ok but couldnt you get the original firmware and change it back?

Yes, if you already have the firmware files you can do that with the jailbreak procedure...and maybe with iFuntastic (not sure though).

 

[Wayfarer]

Good riddance, I say.

 

[DMann]

Ushackling vs. Unlocking

That's hacking, not unlocking. It's a HUGE difference.

Perhaps this similarity in terminology has many hackers in a tizzy. I don't believe that unshackling is synonymous with unlocking.

 

[TimmyDee]

I have a feeling that there will be a hack to this new firmware -- it'll just take time. The hackers even have a way to get your modem's firmware back to its original state in case you tried unlocking and screwed it up the first time. So even if Apple's firmware update locks out the old modem firmware hacks, someone could just rehack the modem firmware back to factory specs and install the update. Sure the phone would relock to AT&T, but I would be willing to be that the new update would be hacked eventually.

 

[Eric Lewis]

ok

in like 4 days after

there will be a new iUnlock app..that will work...so it doesnt matter

 

[arn]

People here are saying different though?

Cheers.

That post refers to installing 3rd party apps. Not SIM Unlocking it.

3rd party apps, "hacking" the iPhone => Restore and you're back to normal
SIM Unlocking => Restore and you still have an unlocked iPhone

 

[pixlnet]

It's just a warning. They didn't say it will brick your phone....just that it could and they won't support it. I just hope the update brings more than iTS.