Apple Issues Warning on iPhone Unlocking

[vanmacguy]

The only reason the statement was released by Apple was to cover themselves. I'm sure that in testing the upcoming patch, Apple discovered at least some of the iPhone hack methods were incompatable with the patch causing the phones to be unuseable.

That's what it reads like to me (from the article):

There are a number of unlocking software programs on the Internet, and, at least two of them, iUnlock and Anysim, can cause the iPhone to stop working once its software is updated, Schiller said.

Cheers.

 

[Skystar]

I plan to bypass activation once I get my iPhone since I'll mainly use it for its WiFi features and NOT unlocking it (will eventually use att prepaid). This update shouldnt be a problem for me, correct?

It shouldnt be a problem, but apple will probably make it a PITA to bypass activation as well.

 

[PDE]

If what you did to your iPhone results in an iPhone unready to receive the update, including any firmware adjustments, they will probably just not apply the update when you connect iPhone to computer. That would seem the prudent program for them to follow, and it hardly seems like grounds for a lawsuit. They do have an obligation to follow their contract with ATT and try to protect it from third party breach.

All they're doing is saying hey, here's the requirement for updating your iPhone. What's different in that, from any zillion other updates one has tried to apply to a computer? Nothing. The update program pokes around and announces "This update cannot be applied to this computer" and you click ok because that's all there is to click on and then you investigate other options, like ALTERING your setup to meet their requirements for the update you wanted to apply.

Exactly: a message saying that the update cannot be completed because of unauthorised modifications - that's enough. No need to brick anything.

 

[compuguy1088]

The kicker in the press release was this statement by apple:

Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty.

Which interpreted in a way means that unlocking and 3rd party apps will void the warranty. Luckally there is a way to reverse the unlock...

 

[sthpark7791]

Why don't you just get a Touch ?

You'll have to wait and see how much has changed as they may make it so that activating and jailbreaking are different.

- I was thinking about it but I really like the apps available for the iPhone. Plus, it was either the 4GB iPhone or 8GB touch.

- Alright. I'll just bypass it when I get it and not update until further news. thanks

 

[willybNL]

Next step for Apple to take is to program the next iPhone update in INTERCAL...

Ow well... there goes my iPhone this year (no iPhone in the Kingdom of the Netherlands still ).

 

[Leemo]

Jesus - stop the whining.

It's Apple's product, if they want to protect their revenue stream with AT&T (and of course the European networks in the coming months) then they're quite within their rights to do so. You bought an iPhone knowing what the basic conditions were. No-one forced you to buy the damn thing.

It's Apple's software you're messing with, if they want to go and change the section of code which is currently letting you unlock the phone then they can do so - there's no legal recourse to this as you're clearly breaking the software terms of use.

You unlock, you take that chance. Please stop moaning about it - know the implications or leave the hacks well alone.

I'm not saying that people shouldn't unlock their phones, that's clearly their choice - but throwing a hissy fit because Apple are plugging these 'holes' is ridiculous.

Please grow up and grow some bollocks. Apple are a business, a company. They're not there to pander to your wishes and desires, as much as people on here seem to expect them to.

'New Microsoft' my arse.

-Leemo

 

[Virgil-TB2]

No offense, and not to single this post out, but I can't believe the stupidity of someone who unlocks their iPhone. It just takes a bad deal with AT&T and makes it worse. There is no speed increase, and no "deal" to be had on charges. It will cost a great deal more to use on any other network even if it works.

The only person who has any valid, sensible reason to unlock their iPhone is someone who lives in a country that doesn't even have the iPhone yet but wants one. If you want an iPhone that bad, that you are willing to pay 600 bucks for and then possibly brick it, well then your what used to be called a "dilettante" and you deserve whatever you get.

I can't figure out why anybody even cares about this or feels bad for people who have done it. It makes no sense to do it for the most part, and those that *can* do it are basically rich, 1st world consumers that no one should feel sorry for at all.

Worst of all are those that think they have a "right" to force Apple to support their hacks. Last I checked, if I design a product, you can refuse to buy it, but you have no right to tell me how I should design it.

bunch of whiny babies if you ask me.

 

[stadidas]

iTunes asks you if you want to download any new software updates. All you have to do is hit no and you can keep restoring to the old software until a hack for the new one comes out. Simple.

 

[maestrokev]

I'm surprised at all the complaining about this. Apple likes tight control over their products - remember they're the people who make the hardware and the OS and don't license out?

The iPhone is also a 1st generation product and you should expect updates and changes. There's no law that says you have to update with any new Apple supplied features, but there's also no law that says Apple needs to walk on eggshells around any hacks out there.

Good grief! It's not like Apple didn't warn you that you can only get the iPhone in certain countries and certain carriers. It's a business people, not a charity!

 

[peestandingup]

You assume this is intentional...

No, I said "IF they intentionally" break people's iPhones, then I'm gone. We may never know, but with these kind of statements, it seems that they will DEF do it, so in that regard, its intentional because they are warning us as they are planning on it.

I dont wanna be part of a company that does these sorta things to its customers. Its just down right dirty. If they dont wanna support it, thats fine. But dont break people's equipment for Pete's sake.

 

[NewtypeCJ]

Reminds me in some ways of people who have modded/hacked Xbox 360s who find themselves permanently banned off of the Xbox Live service. You use the device in a way not authorized by the manufacturer, don't be surprised if at some point you're not able to take advantage of official, updated features.

With stories of people going into Apple Stores looking to buy 200 phones to unlock and resell to European "relatives," I can't say I'm surprised at the possible repercussions this will have on unlockers. While most of the people on this board are looking at it for personal reasons, I can't help but think any bricking is aimed at those who are setting up businesses based around selling unlocked phones. A few opportunists ruining it for everyone.

I'm interested in seeing what the real-world application of the update will do -- if it will actually brick phones and/or make it impossible to hack and install 3rd party apps onto.

 

[matticus008]

If apple is bricking phones because they're unlocked (which is legal), I smell a class action lawsuit a-brewing.

Stating what as a cause of action?

They're not "bricking" phones by fixing the vulnerabilities in the software that allow a hacked version of the firmware to defeat the lock. They're serving their customers and shareholders. The firmware updates don't have to honor the back door exploits that made hacking attempts possible.

All they're restricted from doing is suing you for breaking the lock. They don't have to leave the lock broken, and certainly shareholders, customers, regulators, and the public in general would expect them to close exploits.

Sounds to me like they are going to use the excuse that they were fixing a vulnerability and patch the unlocking hack.

They are fixing a vulnerability. It's not an excuse if it's the truth. The exploits they close may well facilitate the unlocking, but they're also security vulnerabilities. It's a mixed bag--a software exploit is what has enabled the "jailbreak" but a company must fix those exploits.

The hackers will have to come up with another way, is all. It'll happen, and people will just have to wait. If they didn't want the inconvenience of delaying their updates, they should have just signed up with the AT&T service that would have skipped the issue entirely.

You can legally unlock your phone and if Apple came swooping in and bricked all those phones, well ****, throw my name into the hat for that lawsuit!

Your phone stays nice and unlocked if you don't update the firmware. You simply can't expect new firmware to play nice with the attempts of hackers. It makes no sense, logically or legally.

You can unlock the phone. If they relocked it without a software update, which is inconceivable, you'd have a case. If the phones were unlocked by input of valid unlock codes, that would certainly be legally problematic. This is not the method of unlocking the iPhone though, and you are therefore afforded no such protection.

We DONT have to support Apple's or AT&T's business plan, and if they insist that unlocking is wrong, a class-action lawsuit is on the cards, folks.

File away. It's not going anywhere. There is no law requiring that phones be sold unlocked or that manufacturers or carriers support the unlocking. It doesn't even make sense that there are people here honestly saying "they should leave software vulnerabilities open because they make my life easier." There's nothing illegal with selling locked phones. It's arguably a stupid business model, but this attitude that you can sue just for not liking something has got to stop somewhere.

 

[DeathChill]

No one is pissed at Apple for fixing the bugs that allow unlocking, people are pissed because Apple is saying that the update causes the unlocked phones to break.

Now, I don't see how the update could cause unlocked phones to break. It seems like it would have to be intentional as a firmware update and baseband update would just overwrite the unlock.

 

[Peace]

No, I said "IF they intentionally" break people's iPhones, then I'm gone. We may never know, but with these kind of statements, it seems that they will DEF do it, so in that regard, its intentional because they are warning us as they are planning on it.

I dont wanna be part of a company that does these sorta things to its customers. Its just down right dirty. If they dont wanna support it, thats fine. But dont break people's equipment for Pete's sake.

Did you ever consider Apple was trying to be nice to you with the warning?

 

[blackcrayon]

Why don't you just get a Touch ?

it's been said quite a bit but...
• bluetooth (however disabled it may be)
• camera
• non-crippled apple apps
• 3rd party app support (not yet available for the touch)
• SPEAKER (no need to cram earbuds into your neighbor to play him a youtube clip)
• microphone for voice notes (remember there were voice note features on the previous 3 ipods, so it's not like no one wants that feature)
• slightly longer battery life
• possibility of "calling 911 with your ipod" if you're ever in serious danger
• possibility of EDGE/phone if you decide you actually want them months down the road

of that list, only the 3rd party app support seems to have any chance of changing. Of course, if apple refreshes the iphone software and locks it up as hard as the Touch, that would "change the whole game..."

 

[PDE]

One way Apple could solve ALL Of this is to require that everybody who buys an iphone also signs up for ATT in the store. But Apple doesn't want to do that because it would mean losing out on a lot of sales they're making now. It really would cut back on people using unlocked phones, no?

 

[ajhill]

I just don't get it

As an Apple user for over 20 years I just don't get the whole "right" to be free to unlock an iPhone.

Apple and ATT have spent an enormous amount of money to bring to market a great phone service that is light years ahead of what we had. Now (even though they agreed to terms of use of the product when they activated the iPhone) people think they have the right to modify the phone and expect Apple to fully support the modified iPhone? If someone significantly modifies any other product do the users expect the original manufacturer to support repairs on a modified product?

This whole issue of the "right" to be able to unlock and iPhone and abuse the people who brought the product to market seems like the rantings of a bunch of spoiled children. Yes, the iPhone is expensive. But to use it you have to agree to the terms that Apple and ATT have set forth. If you can't abide by them, go get yourself a Rim or Palm phone.

In this post internet culture people seem to think they have the "right" to do whatever they want. Legal or not.

The old carnies had it right when they barked out at carnivals: "You pays your money, you take your chances!"

As a iPhone user who appreciates what Apple is doing, I say more power to Apple. Let them go after those who would abuse the trust that they agreed to when they signed up for the service.

 

[MonkeyClaw]

Did you ever consider Apple was trying to be nice to you with the warning?

That would make too much sense remember?

 

[overcast]

No one is pissed at Apple for fixing the bugs that allow unlocking, people are pissed because Apple is saying that the update causes the unlocked phones to break.

Now, I don't see how the update could cause unlocked phones to break. It seems like it would have to be intentional as a firmware update and baseband update would just overwrite the unlock.

Are you kidding? So say I have 2 pieces of software on a device. Software A is dependent on Software B and vice versa to operate properly. I hack Software B and the device company updates Software A that is incompatible with your hacked Software B and it causes the device to fail.

GET IT YET?

 

[MacNut]

After reading this love fest I feel like chiming in now. What does the user agreement say about moding the iPhone.

Oh wait nobody ever reads that.

 

[cstromme]

This is going to be really interesting when they launch over here. By law they're obliged to have a way to unlock the phone in the UK.

I still don't believe they're actually going to brick phones though, I think they're just making sure that people know that it could happen if they have an unlocked phone. With all the different unlock hacks out there now the chances something goes wrong with the new modem software is certainly there.

 

[PDE]

As an Apple user for over 20 years I just don't get the whole "right" to be free to unlock an iPhone.

Apple and ATT have spent an enormous amount of money to bring to market a great phone service that is light years ahead of what we had. Now (even though they agreed to terms of use of the product when they activated the iPhone) people think they have the right to modify the phone and expect Apple to fully support the modified iPhone? If someone significantly modifies any other product do the users expect the original manufacturer to support repairs on a modified product?

This whole issue of the "right" to be able to unlock and iPhone and abuse the people who brought the product to market seems like the rantings of a bunch of spoiled children. Yes, the iPhone is expensive. But to use it you have to agree to the terms that Apple and ATT have set forth. If you can't abide by them, go get yourself a Rim or Palm phone.

In this post internet culture people seem to think they have the "right" to do whatever they want. Legal or not.

The old carnies had it right when they barked out at carnivals: "You pays your money, you take your chances!"

As a iPhone user who appreciates what Apple is doing, I say more power to Apple. Let them go after those who would abuse the trust that they agreed to when they signed up for the service.

I never SIGNED up for any service. I went in to the Apple Store, bought an iphone for the asking price, and walked out. Just like most people who have unlocked phones, they didn't buy them from ATT. If Apple would just require activation in the store, most of these issues would be settled.

 

[0098386]

Quick, do a camera shake!

Too much drama in here.

You bought an iPhone with a contract and all that, with agreements that said ¨don't be silly and break this warranty¨. But you did. And now you're the ones angry? Why on earth did you buy one in the first place?

Now to get my number transfered to o2.

 

[maestrokev]

That would make too much sense remember?

Yeah, people here love conspiracies and threats of lawsuits