Apple Planning System for Retail Stores to Update iPhone Software With No Need to Open Box

[bsimpsen]

Why are people surprised that an iPhone can be woken/powered up wirelessly when many (most?) of us have witnessed a fully discharged iPhone spring back to life moments after being placed on a wireless charging stand?

As for the security of Apple's new method, I see no additional vulnerability here. Prior to configuration by the purchaser, an iPhone contains no user data. So, at that point, there is zero user vulnerability. Apple can engage whatever security mechanisms they wish to ensure that updates are only allowed from certified sources, whether on the factory floor or in the retail store. If you don't trust Apple to maintain software security in the retail store, why do you trust it in the factory in China? Why do you trust your iPhone once in the wild, on cellular and wi-fi networks?

I am a little surprised that Apple didn't do this with the first generation wireless charging iPhones. Their inventory management skills are evident, and I've no reason to believe they won't insert in-the-box updates at the appropriate time and place, resulting in a more pleasant customer experience overall. New iPhones will come out of the box sporting a full charge and the latest OS, and will be as just as secure as they ever were.

I think the mistrust displayed in this forum is based on misunderstanding of how things actually work.

 

[Hellokittystampmyfacein]

Nice so when I open the box it’s bricked before I can brick it myself

 

[hagar]

Why not just start the new device on a previous iOS version that has a majority of the bugs fixed.

Because for new iphone models there is no previous stable version.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

Maybe stop releasing four updates a month? You'd still have some customers getting phones without the latest iOS, but it would sure mitigate the problem.

 

[fredn]

Magic

 

[toobravetosave]

Huh…I didn’t know apple actually had any new ideas left

 

[fhall1]

Shocking Apple only thought of this until now, for a trillion dollar company? Powering up a device to update and turn off lol

I'll bet they didn't just think of this now...it's probably been under research in their R&D lab for years.

 

[nt5672]

. . . . .

I think the mistrust displayed in this forum is based on misunderstanding of how things actually work.

Or the reality that Apple's security hype is way over the top compared to Apple's real security capability.

I mean, let's look at all of the silly non-security but severe errors and bugs in Apple's OS and Apps. Come on, you really can believe that their security software is much better? Look at how to took over 6 years to get iCloud working even close to expectations.

Apparently, Apple does not have the infrastructure to support high security software development. Yes, it is better than Apple's competition, but the competition does not really pretend to make secure devices.

 

[NEPOBABY]

So everytime a new update comes out all the iphone inventory has to be taken out and placed on that pad? Many stores have hundreds if not thousands of iPhones in all models, colours and capacities. How many pads per store are needed for this system to be effective? Seems like a nightmare for employees…

Only a small number will be updated on demand. Most phones ship with latest software.

 

[2128506]

So a hacker or a surveillance state can remotely turn on any iPhone and install whatever software?

Lovely. What could possibly go wrong with that?

 

[iLuddite]

That’s gonna bring a whole new meaning to the term ‘hotbox….’

 

[2128506]

I think the mistrust displayed in this forum is based on misunderstanding of how things actually work.

Who said that capability to install a rootkit wirelessly will be absent from the phone with your data?

Apple sells a lot of phones in China, they would provide Xi with whatever key he wants.

 

[ghostface147]

Was not that the case already? My new iPhone 15 came with iOS 17.0.2 out of the box.

Did you get it launch day?

 

[DaveN]

So everytime a new update comes out all the iphone inventory has to be taken out and placed on that pad? Many stores have hundreds if not thousands of iPhones in all models, colours and capacities. How many pads per store are needed for this system to be effective? Seems like a nightmare for employees…

Easy to manage. The box will have the OS version on the label. If it is out of date, the sales person can update the phone prior to delivery. Only the phones sold that day that are out of date need to be updated. Since Apple only keeps minimal stock on hand, not that many need to be updated.

 

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

This tech sounds sketch af

Turn on my device whenever you want and upload software to it?? The operating system of all things???….i guess if it’s in the walled in garden, though it makes sense in that (private) context.

 

[2128506]

Imagine buying iPhone as a gift, putting in under Christmas tree – just to discover, that it was bricked by an update. Christmas miracle!

 

[one more]

Did you get it launch day?

No, I got it on 10.10., so two weeks after iOS 17.0.2 came out. I have just plugged it into coconutBattery, but it shows “Unknown” under Manufacture date, so hard to tell.

 

[CarAnalogy]

It both did and didn’t

You won't know until you open the box!

Fortunately they are likely skipping the poisonous gas canisters for this version of the experiment.

Though I guess if they are remotely powering them on and updating software on them, they can also read an exit code to see if it worked or not.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Instead of buying on launch, try buying the same phone 3 months from now. It will probably still come with 17.0.2 out of the box... and then you'll need to upgrade it to 17.2 or .3 or whatever it is at the time.

Others buying the 14s instead of the 15s now may boot up into iOS 16 because that was the latest available iOS version that existed when they were boxed.

And I can report from personal recent experience that any older model will definitely not come with the latest software, and will fail to upgrade as part of the setup process. It will try, but it won't work. So yes I would love to see them deploy something to update every phone before it ships.

 

[LlamaLarry]

I dunno, I have never gotten a new phone that was totally unusable until I installed an iOS update, so even though I am on comparatively slow Starlink hitting the update when I get home is really no problem. Now, ask me if I mind buying a game, online or physical, and then immediate having to download an update about the same size as what I just installed before I can even play the dang thing - now *that* I hate.

 

[sbuntin]

My first thought exactly. This better be super secure, and disabled if the device has been through first run setup.

I can see state actors using this tech to "update" a target phone by intercepting it mid-shipment to the victim.

 

[I7guy]

I can see state actors using this tech to "update" a target phone by intercepting it mid-shipment to the victim.

Of course there is some small probability that bad actors have already reversed engineered this functionality and now world security is hanging in the balance.

 

[nims]

Innovative lmao!!!! These companies kill me with this word.... Remotely pushing firmware is now innovative? Haven't seen anything innovative since maybe the FaceID. They called iMessage innovative too LOL

 

[Chuckeee]

I think it’s a great idea too bad it’s only for iPhones.

Seems like the first thing that I have to do whenever I get any sort of smart device that has accessible software is to update it. I’m sort of technically savvy so for me this isn’t a big deal. But for other people, my parents, my children, my wife, my neighbors, this seems like an impossible obstacle to overcome.

 

[Cameront9]

Maybe stop releasing four updates a month? You'd still have some customers getting phones without the latest iOS, but it would sure mitigate the problem.

So...should they just ignore massive, device breaking bugs in favor of not pushing out as many updates?