U.S. Government to Explicitly Allow iPhone Jailbreaking

[this is funah]

No. No no no. This is not useful. This is the exact opposite. This is interference. This is the Gov. attempting to remdy something that NEEDS NO CHANGING. If people want to Jailbreak their devices, they assume 100% responsibility for what happens to it when they think they know what they're doing.

Has anyone really gotten to use a Jailbroken device? Those that answered yes, how many can say that the experience was optimal? Are we kidding ourselves here? Anyone can Jailbreak the iPhone if they want. Why should the Gov. come in and say that now Apple has to provide service to the morons that do?

What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?

This is bull. I'm sick of the Gov. sticking their noses and other appendages where they don't belong. It's about f'n time that SOMEONE with real power steps up in regards to this. What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? NONE. 0. Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / Al Gore better do something, before the Gov. regulates rights for what can and can't be on my iPod -- OH WAIT...

+1

anybody who's saying that this whole thing is good, they really dont like apple's way of marketing to begin with

 

[nunes013]

so what is this going to do to att and all the tethering apps? this opens up a whole new problem.

 

[lilo777]

Dark day for Steve Jobs

Come on guys! Not a single word of sympathy for our beloved control freak? Stay strong Steve!

 

[paulypants]

So...

This doesn't change anything, it was never "illegal" to jailbreak a phone and Apple still doesn't need to provide service for or cover under warranty any jailbroken phones. The government cannot force Apple to change its terms and conditions with this measure.

 

[NinjaHERO]

This is bizarre. Will be interesting to see what happens and what apple says.

 

[Shanpdx]

UNLOCK everyone is looking for

but jailbreaking the iPhone gets you there ...

 

[WannaGoMac]

What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?

Uh, there are many fantastic APPs I use from Cydia that Apple doesn't allow because of their random rules. For example, QuickReply type apps which let you respond to texts without switching apps on the iphone. Once you use one, you wonder why the hell hasn't apple added this type of functionality.

 

[dyates0801]

It's not the role of the government to tell you if you're breaking the law or not? Actually it is.

This is to lead into them telling apple how to run their company, wake up america!

So I should be able to play xbox on ps3 or ps3 on wii?

 

[dave420]

Apple made it the role of the government when they said it's illegal to Jailbreak. Complain to Apple first.

I agree. It is the role of the government to decide what is illegal or not. They aren't forcing Apple to allow jailbreaking. They are just saying that it isn't breaking the law.

 

[Dah366]

This makes me proud to be a citizen of the US. I can't help but think apple is slowly loosing its hold and power after the death grip fiasco apple. Its like what Leia said to Tarkin: "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers". I love apple but they need to loosen up a bit when it comes to things like third party applications and I don't know...Flash.

 

[Shanpdx]

Come on guys! Not a single word of sympathy for our beloved control freak? Stay strong Steve!

to be fair, it is not Steve or APPLE it is the telecom operators like ATT, Verizon and T-Mobile.

US is the worst controlled wireless market - compared to other part of the world - if i am not wrong.

 

[shadygrove]

I jailbreak, though I don't mind Apple's policy—to an extent. This isn't a job for the government.

My thoughts exactly. Since when did the government think they have the right to step into how a company handles these kind of procedures. If Apple wants a closed system, they should be able to do so. If user's don't like the fact their warranty is void if they break the software, then don't buy the phone or break the software simple as that.

Let the money dictate what can and can't happen, no some government entity. This is total crap. And I don't think every said it's "illegal" to jailbreak the phone....just that's it's not an approved procedure and will void the warranty and obligation to fix any errors. It's not different than physically opening a new MBP and modifying stuff, the computer defect, and then try to return as if it was Apple's problem. I think people should jailbreak if that's what they want to do, but at the same time they should not expect any official support either.

Anyway I look at it, I still keep coming back to issue of "this is the governments job".

This makes me proud to be a citizen of the US. I can't help but think apple is slowly loosing its hold and power after the death grip fiasco apple. Its like what Leia said to Tarkin: "The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers". I love apple but they need to loosen up a bit when it comes to things like third party applications and I don't know...Flash.

Or another way to look it is, you should buy a device that has the third party applications you want, like Flash. Personally I buy the iPhone because it's restricted and removes all third-party junkware. People should seriously start letting their money dictate what is right, and not the government. It's truly a sad time for people who want true capitalism and a constitution that is actually something to stand behind.

 

[Stink Star]

The only thing that is potentially bad about this is that people who dont really "know" about jailbreaking and how it works and the dangers involved could potentially make their phones run poorly thereby giving the great iphone and ios a bad reputation for being unstable and crash-prone. apple does need to warn users about the dangers and security risks

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

Ha Ha. The DCMA excuse/loophole that Apple used was LAME.

I guess it is ok for me to use a crack to install the newest version of Adobe Photoshop then?

After all, if I buy the disk off CraigsList and the ToS means nothing than it shouldn't be a problem.

Apple will sue and have this overturned. If it was legal (remember this is a regulatory body NOT a judge) than the PayStar case would have turned out differently.

 

[stuffradio]

No. No no no. This is not useful. This is the exact opposite. This is interference. This is the Gov. attempting to remdy something that NEEDS NO CHANGING. If people want to Jailbreak their devices, they assume 100% responsibility for what happens to it when they think they know what they're doing.

Has anyone really gotten to use a Jailbroken device? Those that answered yes, how many can say that the experience was optimal? Are we kidding ourselves here? Anyone can Jailbreak the iPhone if they want. Why should the Gov. come in and say that now Apple has to provide service to the morons that do?

What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?

This is bull. I'm sick of the Gov. sticking their noses and other appendages where they don't belong. It's about f'n time that SOMEONE with real power steps up in regards to this. What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? NONE. 0. Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / Al Gore better do something, before the Gov. regulates rights for what can and can't be on my iPod -- OH WAIT...

1. I only use it to make my iPhone 3G act like a 3GS until I receive my iPhone 4.

2. FaceTime... people will want to use FaceTime over 3G, so they will jailbreak.

3. In Canada we don't pay for tethering.

4. Apple made it the role of the government by making it "illegal" to jailbreak. Apple cannot be the Judge, Juror and executioner.

"What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? "

This cannot be further from the truth. Go learn about Government and electronics for a while before replying to any of my points.

Go wet your tongue on this and then do further research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#United_States

 

[Shanpdx]

The only thing that is potentially bad about this is that people who dont really "know" about jailbreaking and how it works and the dangers involved could potentially make their phones run poorly thereby giving the great iphone and ios a bad reputation for being unstable and crash-prone. apple does need to warn users about the dangers and security risks

there are more dangers and security risks in your PC and Mac than a iPhone.

 

[Smaugg]

Good news. Better news would be if locking devices to a single carrier were made illegal in the first place. Italy for example is one jurisdiction were carriers can't play the SIM-lock game with consumers.

 

[NetScheduler]

This isn't right. As an Apple fanboy, I don't want to be able to think for myself. Only Steve can tell us what we want and need!!

All this is going to do is make the iPhone a Porno Phone like the Android phones. Oh Booo Hoooo!!!!!

 

[ModestForumName]

Dude... in your signature you have that Androids are the Mathew of smartphones... i cant help but laugh out loud to that but explain to me why i mean its funny but i dont even know why im laughing at it lol.

simple analogy Matthew McConaughey is to acting as Android is to Phone OS. Utterly terrible and begging for Euthanasia

 

[Karnivore]

I am not sure I understand the reason for celebration. Jailbreaking was never "illegal" to begin with. No one, to the best of my knowledge, was ever persecuted for jailbreaking their phone. As far as warranty coverage, I do not see anything in this ruling that would require Apple to honor warranty contracts for jailbroken phones.

All in all sounds like a total hogwash and a waste of taxpayers money. Then again, what else is new

 

[fleshman03]

This not the role of gov.

Was it the role of government to tell people they cannot modify their own devices?

 

[stelriah]

I'm glad the government got involved. It's about time they did something useful.

yeah, and the government should control the weather and should make people eat right. the government's job is security, not making sure you're happy. how about you learn some discipline?

 

[paul4339]

"... The government is making that legal under new rules announced Monday ..."

I wasn't aware that it was it illegal to jailbreak your phone. It just violates your agreement with Apple .. it's Apple choice whether to support you or not once the contract has been violated.

not really sure what these "new government rules" really do... is it just re-enforcing this??


P.

 

[Soliber]

No. No no no. This is not useful. This is the exact opposite. This is interference. This is the Gov. attempting to remdy something that NEEDS NO CHANGING. If people want to Jailbreak their devices, they assume 100% responsibility for what happens to it when they think they know what they're doing.

Has anyone really gotten to use a Jailbroken device? Those that answered yes, how many can say that the experience was optimal? Are we kidding ourselves here? Anyone can Jailbreak the iPhone if they want. Why should the Gov. come in and say that now Apple has to provide service to the morons that do?

What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?

This is bull. I'm sick of the Gov. sticking their noses and other appendages where they don't belong. It's about f'n time that SOMEONE with real power steps up in regards to this. What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? NONE. 0. Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / Al Gore better do something, before the Gov. regulates rights for what can and can't be on my iPod -- OH WAIT...

Ow for ***** sake, it's the government, you elect it, why shouldn't it be allowed to meddle in things? What else should the government do? Play poker all night and smoke cigars?
Seriously, I sometimes just do not understand Americans... If you're so hung up on not having anyone control your life, by all means, find a quiet little spot on a deserted island and call it home.
Frankly, I can think of at least one thing that is left to gain from this: being able to jailbreak so that you can install an sms delivery report app.
From what I read, apparently AT&T does not have any such service available, which is probably why Apple never bothered to support it in iOS. But that doesn't mean the rest of the world is not willing to have it, because our providers do support it. Granted, it's the only reason I (would) jailbreak, but this is different for everyone.
Oh and btw, calling jailbreakers morons is quite rude. Go ask your mother for some manners.

 

[tylersdad]

Jailbreaking doesn't have to have anything to do with piracy or copyright protection. This legalisation is so that people can run code from other sources. If I had an iPad then chances are I would jailbreak it. Not to run pirate copies of software but to run apps that aren't allowed in the App Store - specifically ScummVM.

Although I have not jailbroken my phone, another reason to jailbreak: I want a different "you've got mail" sound than the 2 other iPhone's in the house. Anytime we hear the "bong" each of the 3 of us gets up to get their phone to see who has mail. Very frustrating.