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NetShare Unlikely to Return to U.S. App Store
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If "tethering" is against the ToS, but unlimited transfer TO the phone is fine, as is unlimited transfer to/from your computer. So it seems to me that all you need to do is create a buffer program in the device itself, so not a "proxy" in technical terms. That uses a portion of the device memory to cache pages/data locally (on the phone) and the pipes them over to the phone via a secondary program. Kind of like a money launderer, takes in dirty money, and channels through other pipelines to get clean money from the other side, only the process needed is bidirectional. So really, the iPhone needs a "push" internet program that resides only in the phone, the phone acting as an intermediary, and only passes the data to the computer after "washing" it (and vice versa).
I base this on the idea that "tethering" would be defined as the phone passing computer data packets onto the internet. If the packets never show anything other than iPhone data markers, there would be no way for ATT to determine that the packets are being "washed" and converted.
Perhaps, this is the better method, simply add in the function of rewriting the packet "fingerprint" to match that of the iPhone through the proxy program.
I base this on the idea that "tethering" would be defined as the phone passing computer data packets onto the internet. If the packets never show anything other than iPhone data markers, there would be no way for ATT to determine that the packets are being "washed" and converted.
Perhaps, this is the better method, simply add in the function of rewriting the packet "fingerprint" to match that of the iPhone through the proxy program.
it's not a big deal, simply buy a cheap phone with 3G like a samsung sync or LG CU515 and use that when you need to tether. just swap the sim back and forth.
the pawnshops are full of cheap 3G phones for less than $40
the pawnshops are full of cheap 3G phones for less than $40
As interesting an idea as this is, whether or not the packets come from the iPhone or the computer itself, it does not address the problem of excessive usage. Though you may have signed up for an unlimited data plan, in reality, you signed up for an "unlimited within reason plan." That means, that sure, you could browse from your computer within reason, but in reality, large downloads, video and flash is still most likely to attract attention.
Wow, that is very disappointing news..
Fortunately I was able to pick this up the 2nd time it got posted on the App store.
I've used it a handful of times, nothing major just browsed a few webpages. I really haven't had a use for it just yet. If I ever should need it, it's comforting to know I have the option to use it..
Fortunately I was able to pick this up the 2nd time it got posted on the App store.
I've used it a handful of times, nothing major just browsed a few webpages. I really haven't had a use for it just yet. If I ever should need it, it's comforting to know I have the option to use it..
This kind of crap is the exact reason why people jailbreak. When companies get heavy handed and try to control what one can or can't do with their own device, the hackers will always follow and provide the people what they want/need. There are many people, including myself, who will gladly pay for these types of apps so we can use our phone the way we see fit. But rather than that, we are forced into the underground by the company's own policies.
I was reading another thread weeks ago and it raised an issue similar to this. All you own is the physical device. The silicon, plastic, gold, steel, aluminum, etc. that makes up the iPhone. That is what you own. You do not own the operating software, the app, the rights to bandwidth, the network the phone functions on. That is the property of Apple, the developer, and ATT or the respective network provider. When you signed a contract with them, you agreed to be bound by the network provider. If you do not like that, you can sever your contract, and leave ATT or the authorized provider where you live.
Apple's prerogative. They have any and all right to do things to applications in the app store. If that removes it from your phone, tough cookies. You shouldn't have attempted to violate your contract with your service provider.
Snagged it the second time it went up
First - I think MacRumors is fantastic in its coverage of the availability of this application. Without it, I would have missed the second opportunity to purchase Netshare.
Second - My flight was delayed today. I used the tutorial that someone posted here on Macrumors on how to get this app setup (I had saved it to a word doc on my laptop). I spent 2 hours stranded in the airport with 3G wireless access to the internet. It was fantastic.
It's a joke that AT&T is too greedy to let this application (or an official one from Apple) be distributed.
First - I think MacRumors is fantastic in its coverage of the availability of this application. Without it, I would have missed the second opportunity to purchase Netshare.
Second - My flight was delayed today. I used the tutorial that someone posted here on Macrumors on how to get this app setup (I had saved it to a word doc on my laptop). I spent 2 hours stranded in the airport with 3G wireless access to the internet. It was fantastic.
It's a joke that AT&T is too greedy to let this application (or an official one from Apple) be distributed.
Originally I was not going to jail-break my iPhone. I was going to be satisfied with the App store and keep everything normal.
This disappointing, greedy move by AT&T to force Apple to do this is causing me to re-think that.
I'm so sick of the consumer getting screwed over by cell companies.
This disappointing, greedy move by AT&T to force Apple to do this is causing me to re-think that.
I'm so sick of the consumer getting screwed over by cell companies.
Could this be because Apple are working on their own better tethering app? Has anyone considered that the app was pulled because it makes the iPhone hot, and possibly overheat and Apple do not want to deal with warranty repairs?
Tethering is legal. Don't AT&T offer a tethering plan for ALL smartphones? Is it too much to ask to be able to tether with a phone that has a tethering plan?
IF it really is the murky area of tethering and terms of service legality, then we can expect Netshare to be back in many countries. It only needs to be in one country, then everyone can easily make an international account (google it), then download the magical ability to do what almost all not-iPhones can. I'm pretty sure Optus don't care if I tether to plow through my 700MB as quickly as possible.
As I said though, if USA was one of the only countries where tethering was an issue, then Netshare would not have been pulled from everywhere. I'm sure Apple would love there massive 30% profit from every sale. Of course, I could be wrong and the only reason it is pulled from all stores is that Apple want to check one country at a time to make sure it complies with terms of service.
Tethering is legal. Don't AT&T offer a tethering plan for ALL smartphones? Is it too much to ask to be able to tether with a phone that has a tethering plan?
IF it really is the murky area of tethering and terms of service legality, then we can expect Netshare to be back in many countries. It only needs to be in one country, then everyone can easily make an international account (google it), then download the magical ability to do what almost all not-iPhones can. I'm pretty sure Optus don't care if I tether to plow through my 700MB as quickly as possible.
As I said though, if USA was one of the only countries where tethering was an issue, then Netshare would not have been pulled from everywhere. I'm sure Apple would love there massive 30% profit from every sale. Of course, I could be wrong and the only reason it is pulled from all stores is that Apple want to check one country at a time to make sure it complies with terms of service.
so essentially, Netshare is blacklisted.
So what does that mean?
The way I see it, Apple is in charge of what apps are used and you can't use third party apps.
So now Netshare is a third party app so the next time it syncs it shouldn't work when you try to reinstall it right?
Other wise it would be fairly easy to circumvent the whole "Apple is protecting users with the App Store because there are some bad apps" thing
What am I missing here?
So what does that mean?
The way I see it, Apple is in charge of what apps are used and you can't use third party apps.
So now Netshare is a third party app so the next time it syncs it shouldn't work when you try to reinstall it right?
Other wise it would be fairly easy to circumvent the whole "Apple is protecting users with the App Store because there are some bad apps" thing
What am I missing here?
My Mogul 6800 running WMWiFiRouter got hotter than the iphone(my iphone even with the screen brightness nearly all the way up doesn't get that hot and certainly doesn't malfunction) and battery life was no better on the Mogul,actually probably about a third less surfing time.But, even when the iphone is plugged into the wall the battery eventually runs out completely,I think we're due for an update.And you dead on about Apple preparing future tethering apps in my view,but they'll still need companies like NetShare.
Okay fair enough. I haven't been lucky enough to use it, so I can't comment on the heat, just throwing it up there. Also, another possibility is that Apple's solution is coming very soon, and they don't want the bitching of "I just paid for something worse!" - of course this is me being very optimistic. 
I don't give a rat's ass about AT&T. I am a Fido customer in Canada and an Apple iTMS customer. I purchased Netshare in good faith and I want to see it back with any pending patches in the Canadian iTMS store. It is none of AT&T's business what happens in other markets.
I am paying 30 bucks per month for 6GB data and this is not in violation of the terms and conditions of Fido in Canada.
I am paying 30 bucks per month for 6GB data and this is not in violation of the terms and conditions of Fido in Canada.
If Apple puts the application up there and takes customers' money, it certainly is not their prerogative to take it back without refund. How does that seem even remotely okay for a company to do? It's one thing if we're talking about a jailbroken-only app, but this was Apple-sanctioned. I'm sure that most of those who purchased NetShare did so because they trusted Apple, not because they were attempting to violate their contract.
It hasn't disappeared from my phone, though. If it's happening to some but not others, that's a little strange.
Maybe I'm missing the point here, but why does Apple or ATT need to allow tethering? In my mind there is one, and one use to tethering. To browse the internet on a full fledged browser and not have to use a crappy, half-baked mobile browser. With the iPhone, you have a full browser at your finger tips. I've used others, and obviously, I use a computer, but by far, MobileSafari is the best browser I have ever seen on a phone. If you want to use a cellular data network on your computer, why bother buying a 200 dollar phone? Just buy one of those attachable network cards all the major players have and pay for their plans.
Pple might put something out soon in certain places where they gaurantee extra money for att-a watered down version ie you pay your carrier!Okay fair enough. I haven't been lucky enough to use it, so I can't comment on the heat, just throwing it up there. Also, another possibility is that Apple's solution is coming very soon, and they don't want the bitching of "I just paid for something worse!" - of course this is me being very optimistic.
Transferring files, browsing web sites that require flash, etc., writing long e-mails, accessing private networks that require desktop software, video conferencing, online document collaboration. Stuff like that, I'd imagine.
You can use your phone to tether to multiple computers rather than a card that will fit some devices and not others,plus netshare was only $10 to buy and may be free to use and no extra two year contract plus you'll almost always have it on you so you can hook up to a friends laptop unexpectedly withought carrying anything extra around.