Re: Brick Iphones
 

Although I understand why people bought an iPhone and unlocked it (because it is a good phone but they want a different network), and I understand why apple want the phone locked to some specific network (because they get money for it), I really for the life of me cannot understand that when people hear there is an update for those phones, and apple warns that if you unlock your phone the update could brick it, you choose to apply that update.

So yes, apple shouldn't go round bricking peoples phones (especially not deliberately if they did), but if you modify your firmware don't go round applying updates before checking nothing bad will happen.

Re: Brick Iphones
 

YeeHaa! I stuck go-faster-stripes on my Ford.
Then, when I had it serviced, they ripped out the engine.
And disconnected the brakes.
Then claimed I'd put in an 'unauthorised upgrade'!

YEAH!!! :- Way-to-go Apple!!

Re: Brick Iphones
 

lol, classic. Don't you Love it. They still own the product..buying it is just pretty much a different level of renting.
Unauthororized upgrade.
Guess the pretty little linux inside sticker I made for my N800 voids my warranty.

Re: Brick Iphones
 

The implication is that Apple is deliberately destroying these phones. I doubt it. I don't think it is unreasonable to ignore other people's hacks when upgrading a phone. And maybe someone can point out where Apple promised that the iPhone would be freely hackable?

If you want freedom, stay away from Apple.

Re: Brick Iphones
 

And Microsoft, and RedHat, and Sun...... You want freedom build the damn thing yourself.:rolleyes:

Re: Brick Iphones
 

Not a fanboy but Apple is in the clear here. Forget the iPhone for a minute. You install OS X and then because you found the terminal, decided to go changing things in the OS and stuff. Then the next OS Update comes out and in the process overwrites your changes. Is it Apple being malicious? Of course not, Apple isn't responsible for what you did to OS X after they gave it to you. Similarly, if an OS update comes out and breaks current functionality (feature not a bug) then Apple would be on the hook Cause they broke something you paid for.

Now in terms of the iPhone, it's been clear from before day 1: No installing stuff onto the phone. You purchased it "as is". They have no idea what you may or may not have installed on your iPhone after purchase nor, should they care. To expect Apple to test out each and every different third party app while they make an update to the product they sold with a certain expressed limitations, is ridiculous.

To go to the car analogy, since someone brought it up. If you were to purchase a car that required Premium gasoline to run, and you put in disel fuel in it and therefore kill your engine, YOU are responsible. Similarly should you decide to put in an additive in the engine that causes a cylinder to seize, No manufacturer in their right mind would warranty repair that. Similarly should you put on aftermarket parts like say a turbocharger that blows a piston ring. No manufacturer is going to warranty repair that.

So Apple is fully within' it's rights and obligations to provide updates to the iPhone. The user had a choice to update or not to update. If they do not understand the consequences of hacking a device then they shouldn't be hacking a device. Period.

And really I think it's funny that we're talking about this seeing as any Nokia update wipes any apps you've installed and took away a feature we had before.

Re: Brick Iphones
 

No, You own the product, as is. No one forced anyone to make any update at all. You can stop all updates at iTunes. Heck you can download little snitch (on a mac) and stop all internet connections for iTunes, a great way to make sure no updates make it anywhere close to YOUR phone.

Now if you <i>want</i> the latest from Apple, then they got rules. Your phone, your choice.

Re: Brick Iphones
 

so if someone takes apart the update and finds that apple is deliberately killing unlocked phones, will your stance still be the same?

Re: Brick Iphones
 

Better yet, should a company be allowed to do so?

Re: Brick Iphones
 

I'm not an Apple fanboi either, but I personally don't have a problem with what Apple are doing - in fact, I think it was entirely predictable given the lucrative revenue streams that the iPhones represent.

Any hack that permits opting out of future Apple revenue contributions will be defeated with each new firmware release, leaving hacked iPhones with stagnating firmware until someone finds a new solution. Bricking phones may be extreme, but Apple owes the owners of hacked iPhones jack sh1t as the warranties were voided as soon as the devices were tampered with. If anything I think the bricking of devices just shows how p1ssed Apple are that people have hacked the devices - if I was losing $200+ per device I'd probably be hopping mad too!

In the long term, hacked devices may be a good thing for "legitimate" iPhone owners as it's now even more so in Apples interest to bring out insanely great firmware upgrades in an effort to tempt hacked owners to upgrade and get back on the Apple revenue gravy train.

I've never argued the closed nature of the iPhone is a good thing, however I think you either accept it and enjoy the device for what it is, or fight a (most likely) losing battle trying to hack the device as I'm sure Apple will make a far "better" job of closing the iPhone firmware than Sony ever did with the PSP. Bricking hacked devices is testament to that - Sony would never go that far!

And now that a bricked device is a possible future consequence for prospective newbie clueless fckwit "hackers" who need to be spoon-fed single-click solutions from the internet, they may think twice before avoiding to pay the Apple shilling.

Whatever my feelings for Apples motives in bricking hacked iPhones, it doesn't detract from my admiration for the top notch quality devices they have designed and delivered. :)