Apple iPhone relocked and frozen
Reuben Lee | Oct 01, 2007
The iPhone unlocking saga continues with Apple, as promised earlier, delivering its first blow to iPhone hackers by releasing its latest software update. When installed, this will freeze the iPhone completely. Yes, you read it right. The iPhone will become a brick (read permanently inoperable) if you update your unlocked phone with the latest software from the Cupertino company.
Many of those who did not heed the warning sure learned painfully last Friday when their iPhones were disabled after the software update. When Apple first issued the warning early last week, iPhone hackers advised users with unlocked iPhones to wait before installing the new software updates, promising a fix by this week. So far, we've come across one iPhone fix which will unlock all of a bricked iPhone's functionalities, save for the cellular service.
The good news is, with the recent price cuts, the iPhone is a lot cheaper to replace. So do you think Apple has gone too far this time by rendering the iPhone completely useless, instead of just relocking it and removing the illegal apps? Share your thoughts here with other readers if you've found ways to get around this issue.
Talkback
albertleepw says...
From hardware business viewpoint, there is not much money Apple can earn by sharing with Telco company. It is by expanding the wi-fi music store concept to everyone's hand, the handheld mobile (iPhone) or portable (iPod Touch) + "S" Coffee ... that will help grap more market share, increase their growth, at least, starting from home land-USA. In Spore, there is no Apple On-line Music Purchase yet (in most AP), so hack or no hack is not "THE CONCERN" for Apple. But rather is the "Hacking Activities" that Apple will have to min. the risk that one-fine-day, some wise guys eventually hack the Apple DRM for their music store download. That will be really bad. This is simplest - Apple product is so "ICON" stuffs, being wow, being cool and being/knowing hacking around, that make everyone talks about it. Only few are really paying huge money to buy an hack version now. (almost 4x the us price ) I am very sure no one will agree iPhone is better phone compare with Nokia, SE or even PDA Phone in same price range, but the iPhone Icon is the coolest, and apple does know their marketing. I am one the those who read a lot, browse a lot, and waiting for an offical launch for S'pore. Afterall, I use it as iPod more that a Phone!
Oct 01, 2007 22:25
From hardware business viewpoint, there is not much money Apple can earn by sharing with Telco company. It is by expanding the wi-fi music store concept to everyone's hand, the handheld mobile (iPhone) or portable (iPod Touch) + "S" Coffee ... that will help grap more market share, increase their growth, at least, starting from home land-USA. In Spore, there is no Apple On-line Music Purchase yet (in most AP), so hack or no hack is not "THE CONCERN" for Apple. But rather is the "Hacking Activities" that Apple will have to min. the risk that one-fine-day, some wise guys eventually hack the Apple DRM for their music store download. That will be really bad. This is simplest - Apple product is so "ICON" stuffs, being wow, being cool and being/knowing hacking around, that make everyone talks about it. Only few are really paying huge money to buy an hack version now. (almost 4x the us price ) I am very sure no one will agree iPhone is better phone compare with Nokia, SE or even PDA Phone in same price range, but the iPhone Icon is the coolest, and apple does know their marketing. I am one the those who read a lot, browse a lot, and waiting for an offical launch for S'pore. Afterall, I use it as iPod more that a Phone!
Oct 01, 2007 22:25
diagnostix says...
People can be really dumb. When Apple tells you that a new update will 'lock' your phone, they're telling you 'NOT TO UPDATE'!!! I have to hand it to Jobs...I bet he knew the iphones will be hacked, and was counting on it. Screw those exclusive deals with major telcos, he wants handsets to be sold, so why limit to them? After all, they bother to tell everyone that the NEW update will LOCK the phones. They could easily just kept quiet and let the world find out the hard way.
Oct 02, 2007 11:26
People can be really dumb. When Apple tells you that a new update will 'lock' your phone, they're telling you 'NOT TO UPDATE'!!! I have to hand it to Jobs...I bet he knew the iphones will be hacked, and was counting on it. Screw those exclusive deals with major telcos, he wants handsets to be sold, so why limit to them? After all, they bother to tell everyone that the NEW update will LOCK the phones. They could easily just kept quiet and let the world find out the hard way.
Oct 02, 2007 11:26
gisext says...
iPhone hype is getting too much and that's the way to sell consumer products. Any restirctions couses more exitements? For sure iPhone will be made available in India being one of the largest users of cell phone and growing the poulation. So hackers will continue to chase something we know that's not made usable. And Iphone makers please listen to this just dont waste your and dear (GOD) users energy.
Oct 03, 2007 12:47
iPhone hype is getting too much and that's the way to sell consumer products. Any restirctions couses more exitements? For sure iPhone will be made available in India being one of the largest users of cell phone and growing the poulation. So hackers will continue to chase something we know that's not made usable. And Iphone makers please listen to this just dont waste your and dear (GOD) users energy.
Oct 03, 2007 12:47
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yeoweelee
I wonder why there are people just bother to waste their time, creating news about this time wasting thing.. just wait till there is a proper and supported version for your local time...
Oct 01, 2007 18:31