Schiller on iPhone Unlocks and Incompatibility

[dethl]

This has nothing to do with proactively disabling a phone that is unlocked or hacked.

Not according to your boss - ol' Stevie

From: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,137330-c,iphone/article.html

It's a cat-and-mouse game," said Jobs. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."

Ever since Steve Jobs has said no 3rd party apps I have been against the iPhone. This will continue so until Apple decides to stop being so damn greedy with their cell phones. People paid full price for them - let them do with it as they please and DON'T do anything, accidental or purposely, that will break their ability to do as such.

 

[gwangung]

I love seeing Apple, the company that lived in an impenetrable castle for so many years behind proprietary hardware and software, having to fend of the wolves (i.e. hackers) now that they're on the Intel platform - with hacked versions of OS X running on AMDs and non-Apple Intels - and breaking into the cell phone market - where I reckon there's people who've been hacking and unlocking for so long and do it so well that they could out-program the entire Apple iPhone Development team combined. It's such a change of pace...

In any case, this is a losing battle Apple is fighting. Especially now that the initial unlock has been released, I bet it takes no longer than 48 hours for the iPhone hacking community to break any subsequent updates.

I think you're under the naive impression they CARE.

Hell of a lot easier to do what the hell you want and not worry than to go out deliberately and break a third party hack.

 

[NewtypeCJ]

In any case, this is a losing battle Apple is fighting. Especially now that the initial unlock has been released, I bet it takes no longer than 48 hours for the iPhone hacking community to break any subsequent updates.

Then why's it been a week-plus and the iPod Touch isn't hacked? If the Touch and the iPhone are such similar devices, I think the hacking community will need more than 48 hours to crack this one.

 

[happydude]

So does "other carriers" include unlocking to use the iPhone with your existing AT&T SIM cards? (This would be for those who don't want to start a new 2-year plan with a data plan, while sacrificing visual voicemail.)

sure, you knew the contract. you unlocked it, broke the contract, live with it, man. that's all i'm saying here. i hate the fact that in the u.s. the telecommunications industry (of which apple is now a part) has such a hold on congress they can force a monopoly, squash competitor development (i.e. look at japan's current line of cell phones and their abilities compared to ours), and lock you into contracts just to be able to use a phone that is legally yours and force you to use your phone the way they dictate it must be so. in this land of corporations first, ceo's are kings and we are forced loyalists. be that as it may be, thems the rules. i wholeheartedly support getting around those rules, but at the same time, apple can legally and ethically (in the u.s. market, anyway) put out an update that [oops] bricks unlocked iphones. part of the risk. civil disobedience sometimes lands you in the hotspot. thems the rules, thems the risks.

 

[towlieban]

Do Not Try To Relock Your Phone

A word of advice to all, do not try to relock your phone. There is a chance that what happened to me will happen to you. After I relocked, I got an error that the SIM card isn't valid and the only thing you can do is make an emergency call. I found that you can use an activation tool called independence which will let you do everything but make an actual phone call.

I would not recommend this procedure to anyone.

 

[polishmacuser]

i just cant believe this is happening because of steve and at&t i cant use my iphone in europe bastards i love steve and all but cmon on people. America sucks when it comes to this europe has like every phone unlocked why cant the iphone be unlocked damn it.

 

[polishmacuser]

A word of advice to all, do not try to relock your phone. There is a chance that what happened to me will happen to you. After I relocked, I got an error that the SIM card isn't valid and the only thing you can do is make an emergency call. I found that you can use an activation tool called independence which will let you do everything but make an actual phone call.

I would not recommend this procedure to anyone.

dude thanks i was about to try it im really outraged well at least halo 3 comes out tomorrow lol

 

[strurtle]

p.s. if microsoft came up with a phone zune and you unlocked it to use whatever carrier you wanted, do you really think gates or whoever would go out and say, "by the way, you might want to restore your icrapcoloredphonezune back to factory settings because we're about to release an update that might render it as useful as a brick." common, you've gotta be kidding me. apple cares, they understand someone bought an iphone but didn't want the contract, but that person is an apple customer first and they're taking care of all them.

You know, M$ pulled a surprise with the xbox 360 when it had its spring update. No warning at all. Just the ban hammer getting thrown to people who updated the dvd's firmware with a hacked one.

Apple has warned the iphone community. Their ban hammer is coming!!

However, just don't upgrade the firmware until someone has figured out a way around it. Also, once that team figures it out, give them a donation for their time and effort.

 

[happydude]

However, just don't upgrade the firmware until someone has figured out a way around it. Also, once that team figures it out, give them a donation for their time and effort.

well put, sturtle.

but, as i've mentioned before, don't be surprised when the next update looks like it might hurtcha. but ya, donate to the smart folks figurin all this out so they can turn around and figure out the next one. cat and mouse. steve's secretly gotta be lovin it.

 

[synth3tik]

oK Please listen

The SIM unlock hacks alter the firmware of your iPhone, this is the heart and soul of your phone.

You knew what you were doing and if you didn't, well then here is a great lesson in technology for you.

Also, if Apple wanted to sabotage your iPhone, I doubt they would release a public warning.

 

[Fast Shadow]

A word of advice to all, do not try to relock your phone. There is a chance that what happened to me will happen to you. After I relocked, I got an error that the SIM card isn't valid and the only thing you can do is make an emergency call. I found that you can use an activation tool called independence which will let you do everything but make an actual phone call.

I would not recommend this procedure to anyone.

Did you remove your SIM from the phone before attempting to re-lock it?

 

[peestandingup]

Phil Schiller is full of it. Jobs probably made him take the wrap for this.

 

[3282872]

Then why's it been a week-plus and the iPod Touch isn't hacked? If the Touch and the iPhone are such similar devices, I think the hacking community will need more than 48 hours to crack this one.

Apples and oranges. The iPod Touch isn't a PHONE device restricted to a specific carrier, so who needs to unlock it? There isn't a need.

You think?

I bet it went more like this: created iPhone update, unlocked some of their iPhones, it worked perfectly, tweaked update, tried it again on unlocked iPhones, worked perfectly, tweaked again a few more times, tried it on unlocked iPhones, crash, BINGO! we have a release candidate!

Exactly. It explains why there was a delay in releasing the 1.1.1 firmware update for the iPhone, Apple needed time to address unlocked iPhones before releasing it (while it hasn't been a problem - yet - for the U.K.).

 

[Unspeaked]

Also, if Apple wanted to sabotage your iPhone, I doubt they would release a public warning.

I suppose you've never heard of this thing called "a threat" before, huh?

 

[Peace]

Apples and oranges. The iPod Touch isn't a PHONE device restricted to a specific carrier, so who needs to unlock it? There isn't a need.



Exactly. It explains why there was a delay in releasing the 1.1.1 firmware update for the iPhone, Apple needed time to address unlocked iPhones before releasing it (while it hasn't been a problem - yet - for the U.K.).

I'm probably dumb on this one but I wasn't aware the update was delayed.Could you please provide a link to where Apple stated when the 1.1.1 update was coming out?

 

[btallada9870]

I'm pretty sure I've heard this before, but I don't know anything about it. Isn't it illegal to have a phone locked? Or at least not letting the user have the option to unlock it?

 

[Matthé]

I'm pretty sure I've heard this before, but I don't know anything about it. Isn't it illegal to have a phone locked? Or at least not letting the user have the option to unlock it?

In Belgium it is very illegal to sell a locked phone - very curious if apple will actually sell the phone here. Somehow I think we'll be skipped.
Other countries such as the Netherlands apply a limited time locked to carrier policy only (contract of 2 years would be fine but afterwards you would be free).

 

[ebouwman]

In Belgium it is very illegal to sell a locked phone - very curious if apple will actually sell the phone here. Somehow I think we'll be skipped.
Other countries such as the Netherlands apply a limited time locked to carrier policy only (contract of 2 years would be fine but afterwards you would be free).

It would be nice to have policies like this in more countries (except that it keeps the iPhone away) because the best phones allways come to the worst networks.

It's a little silly that apple makes you spend so much money on a product and then TELLS you wich network you get, imagine that you went out and bought a DVD but then you find out you need to have a Sony DVD machine to play it?

 

[CiscoGuru&aMac]

Play It Safe...

I think it's a safe bet to play it safe here all the way around.

Most of this thread has been focused on the "What if's" regarding the update and SIM Relocking due to the explicit "Warning". I think if you have even "Spoof activated" your iPhone using iNdependence (Jailbreak), you should also play it safe and perform a software restore of 1.0.2.

Remember, even spoof activation costs Apple money as they don't get their AT&T cut. Don't be surprised that if you Jailbreaked your iPhone, you end up with a brick as well. I don't think this warning explicitly applies to SIM unlocking. If you read between the lines, I have a feeling this is going to jack a lot of iPhones with various mods.

SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND even those who simply "Jailbreak'd" their iPhones for spoof activation, SSH/SFTP, interface hacks, etc simply perform a 1.0.2 factory restore until we know more about the 1.1.1 firmware. If those with Jailbreak'd iPhones don't get bricked when 1.1.1 comes out, then you can simply return to using 1.0.2 having the piece of mind that you will be able to update to 1.1.1 and still use your iPhone.

Obviously Jailbreak is probably going to get disabled in 1.1.1, however, what scares me more is that if your iPhone has already been Jailbroken and even returned to Jail, if you don't do a factory restore, will you even be able to upgrade to 1.1.1 at all? I think a few days of pain with this is more than worth it to find out. I would rather have an operational iPhone that can be updated to 1.1.1 and wait for whatever new version of iNdependence that comes out that allows spoof activation in 1.1.1. It's constant roulette, even so, the next update may hose your iPhone. At least until my Verizon plan expires this December, knowing the 411 on 1.1.1 is crucial to me.

The statement orginally released by Apple was a VERY COOL way of saying, we understand, we know what you did, you're a customer, just make sure you're straight before the update. I think this was insanely cool of Apple. They know they got hacked, but business being business, they have to do something about it and they are giving those in the proverbial "Know" a chance to play it straight before your iPhone is "Bricked".

 

[towlieban]

Fast Shadow,

I didn't remove the sim but the tutorial i followed came straight from the people who created the unlocker and I have discussed this problem with them. They told me that it has happened to some but not all people and as of now, there is nothing you can do. At best, you can hacktivate your phone so you can use all of the features of the phone except making calls because it wont recognize the sim card any more. I really can't stress enough to others to not take the chance because the phone is essentially useless if you can make calls. And keep in mind, I'm using an official AT&T activated sim card

 

[Matthé]

It would be nice to have policies like this in more countries (except that it keeps the iPhone away) because the best phones allways come to the worst networks.

It's a little silly that apple makes you spend so much money on a product and then TELLS you wich network you get, imagine that you went out and bought a DVD but then you find out you need to have a Sony DVD machine to play it?

the downside is we always pay full price for a phone - never get a carrier reduction because this also is illegal
one doesn't go without the other

 

[strurtle]

It would be nice to have policies like this in more countries (except that it keeps the iPhone away) because the best phones allways come to the worst networks.

It's a little silly that apple makes you spend so much money on a product and then TELLS you wich network you get, imagine that you went out and bought a DVD but then you find out you need to have a Sony DVD machine to play it?

$300 - $400 is not bad for a phone that is branded with the logo.
This is part of the mobile phone industry. Which here in the U.S., carriers have exclusive phones. Verizon (bell atlantic), at&t (cingular), and tmobile (voicestream) have been doing this for years.

Example, the Motorola Q phone. It's an exclusive for verizon. Price: $350 with 2 year contract.

 

[KopThat]

I have 2 phones on their way from the US to Oz, and I'm gonna be a naughty boy and unlock them.

We probably wont get the iPhone legally for another 6 months, with a 3G version at least 12 months away, so there have been a flood of phones heading down under.

So if you don't update the new firmware, you will miss out on the iTunes mobile, I have never actually been that desperate where I really really needed to buy a song, or download a tv show (we don't even get this yet!)

There will pioneers in the hacking world that will undo anything that apple does, there may be some iBricks along the way, but it will be service as normal sooner or later

 

[weckart]

I'm probably dumb on this one but I wasn't aware the update was delayed.Could you please provide a link to where Apple stated when the 1.1.1 update was coming out?

They did not have to. The iPhones at the UK launch already had that firmware revision installed and working correctly (iTunes store - whoopee!!!!1111!!) as you can read from various reports, including this site.

You can count down the delay from then. What else was there left to "test"?

 

[tiger02]

It would be nice to have policies like this in more countries (except that it keeps the iPhone away) because the best phones allways come to the worst networks.

It's a little silly that apple makes you spend so much money on a product and then TELLS you wich network you get, imagine that you went out and bought a DVD but then you find out you need to have a Sony DVD machine to play it?

Or to put it another way, imagine that you went out and bought a DVD but then you find out you need to live in the USA and have a USA specific DVD machine to play it?