Apple Modifies Boot ROM on Revised iPhone 3GS Models to Hinder Jailbreaking

[Tacitus]

I find this deeply disturbing

I think you'll find many apps build in links to Pinch Media. All this is unknown to the end user but it can and, I believe sometimes does, transmit all the details of how many times you use the app, when and where you use it assuming you have location services enabled, together with details of your phone (IMEI etc) which means it can be traced back to you, since it requires these details to register the phone.

Frankly I'm amazed how little publicity has been given to this, since it really is Big Brother stuff, that makes tracking cookies and the like look trivial. I wonder how far anyone would get with an iPhone app similar to Little Snitch, that blocked unwanted connections.

Here in the UK, I tried to get the Observer's John Naughton interested in all this, but I've not seen anything in his column.

 

[rlreif]

locked to your sim?

step 1: remove sim card

thats the only step, genius.

ok genius... try it.

take a sim out of an att phone (not an iphone) and put it in an iphone... do it... this debate isnt a matter of opinion... it either works or it doesnt... i have tried it, i know what i am talking about do you?

 

[mosx]

Apple need to realize that once money changes hands the device is MINE. They absolutely cannot tell me what I can or cannot do with that device. Why? Because I paid for it. I gave them the set amount of money they asked for it and as a result I fully own that device.

They can try to say "you're licensing the software", but thats BS too. Once money changes hands that software is MINE. I own it. I do not own a "license", I OWN it.

So Apple, if you want people to stop jailbreaking, you need to finally realize that people OWN these devices and you need to stop attempting to control everything in ways that make Microsoft look innocent.

 

[aristotle]

The people in this thread saying "good" are just flat out wrong.

Not everyone uses jailbreaking to pirate software. personally, I use it to make life easier - Adding a calendar to my home screen, theming my springboard, making my connections easier to control, allowing me to run programs in the background, etc..

There are a lot of amazing uses for jailbreaking and its sad to see that a few idiots are going to destroy it by stealing software.

You just contradicted yourself. None of that makes things easier to maintain. It just makes it more customizable for your tastes. I speak as someone who used to jailbreak and someone who even released a few springboard themes back in the day for the iPod Touch.

I don't have a jailbroken device right now because there are some serious performance and stability issues with jailbroken devices. I prefer to keep my iPhone 3GS performing at peak efficiency.

 

[rlreif]

You just contradicted yourself. None of that makes things easier to maintain. It just makes it more customizable for your tastes. I speak as someone who used to jailbreak and someone who even released a few springboard themes back in the day for the iPod Touch.

I don't have a jailbroken device right now because there are some serious performance and stability issues with jailbroken devices. I prefer to keep my iPhone 3GS performing at peak efficiency.

and that is YOUR choice
doesnt mean i shouldnt also get to choose

 

[samcraig]

older than you

ATT wants you to be on an iphone plan, yes you can break it in half and go into a store and get a new one (for $20) but it still wont work in an iphone unless you sign up for an iphone plan and a 2 year contract (which would be pointless... why pay for an iphone plan when you get no benefit of a subsidy)

Older than me? I doubt it. But that's not the point. You're raving like a lunatic.

You stated earlier that you cannot sell your iPhone unless it's jailbroken.

I said that's false. That it just limits your marketplace. No one is prohibiting you from selling your iPhone.

In this post quoted about you agree with me. Someone can buy your iPhone and sign up with ATT and use your iPhone.

So how am I wrong?

Exactly.

 

[ghostface147]

And this BS crap apple is pulling is the exact reason why Android will pass them up in market share.

The iPhone lack of customization is it going to be its downfall. Everyone one else is catching up in interface so that will be a level field. The other apps stores are taking off and will get to the point of having the same number of useful apps. Lets face it saying there are 1000 GOOD apps in the app store is being VERY generous the rest are crap.

This is just one more thing in a growing list of reason of why the iPhone will in the end fall apart.

Wrong. The iPhone will not fall apart. It is a very well received phone and will have it's fanboys for years to come. They will always come back for the latest and greatest. Will Android take over a bigger market share? Of course they will. More phones on more carriers always equal better market share. Will they dominate and destroy and send the iPhone into the hellhole where the RAZR exists today? No. I do wish my phone was customizable in many more aspects, but I don't care. It serves me fine with it's minor limitations, just like every other phone has theirs. Hell the Pre can't even format HTML e-mails. I am also so glad to know that you went out and counted 1000 apps that you and yourself only consider good. Your good app mentality applies to everything software based. Does the Wii have a high number of good software programs (isn't an app just software anyways)? What about the 360 or PS3 or even the PC? They all have their fair share of garbage apps/software. Bottom line, the two particular platforms you are talking will co-exist for years to come, at least until the end of the world in 2012.

 

[Kristenn]

If people want to hack stuff... good for them. I personally don't like the idea of people doing it. It almost... kinda bothers me... mainly when it come to pirating stuff. Kind of like how I never hack my PSP. Because anyone who hacks PSP is going to do it to pirate games and run EMU on it. Not that EMU is bad though. I have a EMU of NES on my computer. But lets face it... all those games are old... Nintendo doesn't get money for those consoles or games sold anymore.

Its only a matter of time before something like this could happen to the Hackintosh group... I think anyway. I don't know anyone who hackintoshes but I guess there are some here who do. I just always thought if Apple doesn't have a computer for you... don't buy one. I have a friend that loves apple but didn't buy a iPhone because she doesn't like AT&T. So instead of jailbreaking she just did another thing and got a different phone.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

Maybe if Apple opened up the iPhone platform to more customization and stopped with their double standard App policies they wouldn't need to do this.

 

[aristotle]

and that is YOUR choice
doesnt mean i shouldnt also get to choose

Did you stop to consider that you are trusting "pirates and hackers" with your personal information when you jailbreak? I was willing to jailbreak my iPod touch because it did not contain any sensitive information but I would be wary of jailbreaking my iPhone because it will contain some sensitive information that I would not want to risk getting into the wrong hands. How do you know that they did not include a trojan in the jailbreak that collects passwords and other personal information in the "background"?

 

[RazHyena]

I don't think I could tolerate this ludicrous amount of "iControlYou." Apple really needs to knock it off and at least let people install their own applications.

My brother is ditching his iPhone this Friday and going with some other smart phone. He's receiving only like 75% of all his incoming calls, the rest don't get through and his callers just leave a voice mail. Fail, Fail, FAIL.

 

[gibbz]

Maybe if Apple opened up the iPhone platform to more customization and stopped with their double standard App policies they wouldn't need to do this.

Why would they open it up? So people on this thread could then bitch about how many bugs there were, battery life, instability, blah blah? Apple keeps a closed ecosystem for good reason.

 

[optophobia]

You just contradicted yourself. None of that makes things easier to maintain. It just makes it more customizable for your tastes. I speak as someone who used to jailbreak and someone who even released a few springboard themes back in the day for the iPod Touch.

I don't have a jailbroken device right now because there are some serious performance and stability issues with jailbroken devices. I prefer to keep my iPhone 3GS performing at peak efficiency.

That us YOUR personal preference. You obviously don't like to listen to Pandora while reading your email.
I find my performance issues to be perfect with my JB device.
I also like to disable pinch media et al from spying on me, using the google voice app... The list goes on.

 

[RazHyena]

Why would they open it up? So people on this thread could then bitch about how many bugs there were, battery life, instability, blah blah? Apple keeps a closed ecosystem for good reason.

No, so they can customize their phones.

 

[rlreif]

Older than me? I doubt it. But that's not the point. You're raving like a lunatic.

You stated earlier that you cannot sell your iPhone unless it's jailbroken.

I said that's false. That it just limits your marketplace. No one is prohibiting you from selling your iPhone.

In this post quoted about you agree with me. Someone can buy your iPhone and sign up with ATT and use your iPhone.

So how am I wrong?

Exactly.

ah... whos the name caller now?


anyways, why would anybody buy a used phone then go sign up for an iphone plan at att, and not benefit from the subsidy?

you are right, nobody is 'preventing' me from selling my phone that can not be jailbroken and unlocked... in the same way that nobody is preventing me from selling dog ****... it just has no value... apple by preventing unlocking is removing any value, thereby preventing me from selling it...
why are you so against me being able to sell something of value?
what is in it for you?
is it just blind fan boyism?
why do you argue for corporations taking away value of something that is yours? would you support toyota somehow preventing you from selling your car by making sure it doesnt run?

 

[rlreif]

Did you stop to consider that you are trusting "pirates and hackers" with your personal information when you jailbreak? I was willing to jailbreak my iPod touch because it did not contain any sensitive information but I would be wary of jailbreaking my iPhone because it will contain some sensitive information that I would not want to risk getting into the wrong hands. How do you know that they did not include a trojan in the jailbreak that collects passwords and other personal information in the "background"?

i guess i dont
but i do know that without jailbreaking i have no way of blocking this ad company from seeing every aspect of what is inside of my phone... so i guess the choice is do i trust the jailbreak community or corporate america more?

 

[gibbz]

No, so they can customize their phones.

That doesn't make sense. I was responding to someone who said Apple should open the platform up so they wouldn't have to take the measures re: the Boot ROM.

I rhetorically asked why APPLE would do this because it would only lead to the majority of people then bitching about how many problems there are and being unable to single out the offender. I know why people here want it to be open. From Apple's perspective, the closed system makes much more sense.

 

[ghostface147]

Maybe if Apple opened up the iPhone platform to more customization and stopped with their double standard App policies they wouldn't need to do this.

Doubt it. It's human nature to try to get around things. Hence the hackintosh crowd, ECM modules for cars, overclockers, EZ tag violators, pirates and most importantly, politicians. It's just curiosity.

 

[samcraig]

ah... whos the name caller now?


anyways, why would anybody buy a used phone then go sign up for an iphone plan at att, and not benefit from the subsidy?

you are right, nobody is 'preventing' me from selling my phone that can not be jailbroken and unlocked... in the same way that nobody is preventing me from selling dog ****... it just has no value... apple by preventing unlocking is removing any value, thereby preventing me from selling it...
why are you so against me being able to sell something of value?
what is in it for you?
is it just blind fan boyism?
why do you argue for corporations taking away value of something that is yours? would you support toyota somehow preventing you from selling your car by making sure it doesnt run?

I didn't name call. I described your behavior. You are raving like a lunatic. I didn't call YOU a lunatic.

"anyways, why would anybody buy a used phone then go sign up for an iphone plan at att, and not benefit from the subsidy?"

As I said at the very beginning (I see it's YOU who needs to learn how to read). They are not preventing you from selling the iPhone. The iPhone is not locked to your sim.

You ask why someone would buy an iPhone from you instead of AT&T if they still have to sign up for a plan (and not use an subsidy?)

a) they aren't eligible for an upgrade and want a new(er) iPhone now
b) they don't want to pay full price for a new phone and instead want to save some money and get a used phone.

You aren't happy with the VALUE of the resale value by not being able to jailbreak. That is VERY DIFFERENT than being prohibited to do so.

The phone you bought (say $199) with a subsidy can't be sold for 599 on ebay because it's locked to ATT. So instead you'll have to sell it for $199 or less. Because that's fair market value for YOUR PHONE.

You are so tied up in trying to be right you can't see the incredible flaw in your logic and reasoning.

the rest of your babbling makes no sense either because again - no one is stopping your device from working in someone else's hands nor are they prohibiting you from selling it to them.

 

[bruinsrme]

Did you stop to consider that you are trusting "pirates and hackers" with your personal information when you jailbreak? I was willing to jailbreak my iPod touch because it did not contain any sensitive information but I would be wary of jailbreaking my iPhone because it will contain some sensitive information that I would not want to risk getting into the wrong hands. How do you know that they did not include a trojan in the jailbreak that collects passwords and other personal information in the "background"?

did you ever stop and consider that when people go out to dinner and pay with a credit card they are trusting, in most cases, a perfect stranger with their credit card number?
Did you ever stop and consider when someone pays a bill through the mail system you are trusting many people with your bank account information, address and in a lot of cases phone number.
My God what is worse a trojan on a phone or identity theft.
I haven't heard of a trojan on jailbroken phones but I have heard of the SMS trojan affecting all iphones (firmware update 3.0.1) and a lot of identity theft.

Quick Marsha don the helmets and protective suits something might happen!!!

 

[bytethese]

source?
evidence?
baseless?

Date on the threads is 2007?
Was that hard to see on the page?
I've done it myself?

 

[rlreif]

I didn't name call. I described your behavior. You are raving like a lunatic. I didn't call YOU a lunatic.

"anyways, why would anybody buy a used phone then go sign up for an iphone plan at att, and not benefit from the subsidy?"

As I said at the very beginning (I see it's YOU who needs to learn how to read). They are not preventing you from selling the iPhone. The iPhone is not locked to your sim.

You ask why someone would buy an iPhone from you instead of AT&T if they still have to sign up for a plan (and not use an subsidy?)

a) they aren't eligible for an upgrade and want a new(er) iPhone now
b) they don't want to pay full price for a new phone and instead want to save some money and get a used phone.

You aren't happy with the VALUE of the resale value by not being able to jailbreak. That is VERY DIFFERENT than being prohibited to do so.

The phone you bought (say $199) with a subsidy can't be sold for 599 on ebay because it's locked to ATT. So instead you'll have to sell it for $199 or less. Because that's fair market value for YOUR PHONE.

You are so tied up in trying to be right you can't see the incredible flaw in your logic and reasoning.

the rest of your babbling makes no sense either because again - no one is stopping your device from working in someone else's hands nor are they prohibiting you from selling it to them.

you are impossible to deal with
you dont know me, but you keep saying "You aren't happy with the VALUE of the resale value by not being able to jailbreak. That is VERY DIFFERENT than being prohibited to do so."

i have said over and over that that isnt the case... you are wrong about the sim cards being interchangable but nobody is going to convince you of that... facts dont matter to you, as you are just a corporate cheerleader... i was right initially when i called you a troll

so i am done talking to you... I should know better than to feed a troll

 

[rlreif]

Date on the threads is 2007?
Was that hard to see on the page?
I've done it myself?

so show me a more up to date thread
put your money where your mouth is

 

[Darth.Titan]

ok genius... try it.

take a sim out of an att phone (not an iphone) and put it in an iphone... do it... this debate isnt a matter of opinion... it either works or it doesnt... i have tried it, i know what i am talking about do you?

Seriously, give it up. You are wrong. You can put an ATT SIM from another phone into the iPhone without jailbreaking. I've done it, my brother has done it, and I have a couple of friends with ATT contracts who bought secondhand (locked) iPhones who just swapped in their SIMs. I even bought an ATT GoPhone for temporary use and pulled its SIM and put it in my iPhone. No problems.

Yes, eventually ATT will notice and try to switch you to an iPhone plan but the fact remains that one ATT SIM is the same as any other and they're interchangeable.

You do not need to jailbreak to sell your iPhone if your buyer uses ATT.

Before you ask, no I cannot provide screenshots, video, documentation, etc. and I'm not sure you'd accept it if I could. Several others besides myself have tried to tell you that you're mistaken. You might consider re-checking your facts.

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/the-iphone-3g-works-with-any-att-sim/

 

[bytethese]

so show me a more up to date thread
put your money where your mouth is

Why should I? You linked it.