iPhone bricking: I blame AT&T
Maybe Steve isn't in charge, after all?
(Credit: James Martin/CNET News.com)After a while with my newly dehacked iPhone, I'm left with Tap Tap Revolution withdrawal, many fewer icons and a loss of some of the features I had come to appreciate from my iPhone.
Could you say I'm bitter? Perhaps. But what may surprise you is that I've had a bit of a change of heart. (In my pre-update post), I told you that if Apple decided to brick iPhones and disrupt hacks, it will have single-handedly destroyed its ability to maintain its post as the world's most influential tech company.
But after analyzing the update that actually came out, I don't blame Apple anymore. Instead, I blame AT&T for forcing Apple to do something that it has never done before and effectively become the bad guy while AT&T laughs its way to the bank.
Shame on you, AT&T.
iPhone bricks
What would have driven Apple to brick iPhones? Some may say that an unlocked iPhone running on a T-Mobile network means significant losses in revenue, but I think that argument is a bit flimsy.
Historically speaking, Apple is a hardware company, and it's in the business of selling as many computers, iPods, Apple TVs and iPhones as possible. Wouldn't an unlocked iPhone allow the company to sell more hardware? And if so, couldn't it be said that this hardware company would benefit the most from hardware sales?
An unlocked iPhone means more hardware sales because T-Mobile customers and people from all over the world could pick one up at an Apple store, bring it home, and put it on any GSM carrier.
Now, I'm not naive enough to believe that Apple doesn't enjoy earning revenue from AT&T plans, and chances are, the company's best-case scenario would involve an unlocked iPhone that, whenever it's attached to a network, that carrier would pay Apple a portion of the monthly fees it collects from iPhone customers. But alas, this isn't the perfect world, and Apple isn't that lucky.
But if it was Apple that decided to brick iPhones and render them useless on any carrier, what's the business use of this decision? Not only would it lose the possibility of further hardware sales, because bricked iPhone customers would surely not buy another Apple product, but it would also mean lost AT&T revenue because the customers can't get back onto the service. As a CEO of a company, would you condone this tactic?
Let's not forget that Steve Jobs is one of the most intelligent CEOs in this industry. Not only does he know how to coax incredible deals out of unsuspecting companies, but he also understands what the customers want. Did iPhone owners want bricked iPhones and hacks thrown away? Did Apple want to lose revenue by bricking the devices? Of course not.
iPhone hacking
If you think back at all of the decisions made by Steve Jobs over the past few years, you would be hard-pressed to come up with a poor decision that ostracized a significant group of Apple customers. And although a large group of iPhone owners probably didn't hack their iPhones, the people who did are the vocal minority that tells the world about experiences with hacking.
Sometimes those people come in the form of the family tech guru, and sometimes they come in the form of journalists. Either way, iPhone hackers are probably the most vocal. So why would Steve Jobs annoy that group? Did he do it intentionally? I can't believe that he did.
Perhaps the most convincing evidence that AT&T may be wielding more influence over Apple than originally thought is Apple's own admission that hacking the iPhone would not be supported or reprimanded. Then, just a few weeks later, the upgrade is released, and the very action of hacking that most Apple folks were claiming was fine turned out to break rules.
But it goes far beyond remarks made by Apple representatives. If we take an objective look at the Apple TV, I think it's safe to say the device is one of the most hackable and customizable devices Apple has ever released. In a matter of days after its release, the Apple TV was being modified into an entirely new product.
Where was the Apple outcry then? Why didn't a software update destroy our ability to hack the Apple TV in any way we saw fit? Apple didn't bother with Apple TV hackers for one simple reason--Apple doesn't care about hacking. But with the iPhone, it had a partner to consider--a partner that, in my opinion, doesn't have the slightest clue about what's good for the customer and that was calling on Apple to do something. Unfortunately, Apple did.
If one were to take an objective look at the past month, it's quite plain to see that it's not Apple running the iPhone's future, it's AT&T and that contract Apple signed with the company. Are we supposed to assume that Apple would make this many blunders out of the blue?
Apple is smart, and AT&T isn't. The past few iPhone moves were certainly not intelligent. If you ask me, a zebra can't change its stripes.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
Apple shot itself in the foot with the AT&T lock. I do blame Apple. After all it's not the AT&T phone that's making headlines. AT&T is lucky to exist as a name since it's demise.
This is the new thing that companys are doing. Microsoft did it with the Xbox 360. They also did it with Vista removing all of the things we were used to with XP. Also Apple also has its own music format that can only be used on the IPOD. Wouldn't they make more money if they gave you a choice so you can put itunes music on any device. They are probably getting a nice cut of money from AT&T. What do they get from a hacked phone nothing.
Then again it could be ego's. People hacked the phone in less that a week, apple says we are smarter than you. Take this update.
the culprit looking back at you. If you hacked your phone and it turned into a
brick it was because you did a "STUPID" thing. To not see software upgrades
bricking your hacked phone is an amazing testament to your intelligence. Now
go cry on someone else's shoulder because I've heard enough of your crybaby
whimpering BS. Grow up and accept the responsibility for your actions. You did
this to yourself. You bought it, you broke it, end of discussion.
Percentages of averages run 10% for most things (like 10% of the population is left handed or gay or some such thing like that)
So out of One Million people who bought iPhones (according to a news report I just heard... 1 million phones in 3 months)
So based on 1,000,000 on average only 100,000 people hacked the iphone for software and geek stuff. Out of those maybe 10% hacked the phone away from AT&T... so that runs about 10,000 people.
Out of those who are complaining 10% would be about 1,000 people in the United States are really complaining very loudly. They knew what they were doing. They read the contract. They knew 6 months prior to release the phone was AT&T Exclusive and like early adopters, to hack it could mean some bumps in the road.
So for the 900,000 of us iPhone users who didn't hack our phones I say... grow up, take responsibility for your actions and realize that only 3 months has passed since the phone came out. It is an incredible piece of machinery. Easy to use (you can be a power user within an hour...try that with a smart phone) Allow AT&T to be your carrier... as more and more people sign up AT&T will be forced to become a better phone company (though my experience with them has been nothing but great) Then put all the program hacks you can on it. The rumor is (yes, a rumor) that once they lock down the AT&T hack then the 3rd party aps will be allowed with no problems at all.
So stop being a pain in the butt to us all. Accept the one thing 'the carrier' for the benefit of getting all those thousands of great 3rd parties.
number would be significantly less. Much like how many people overclocked
their CPU. While it's not hard, and has potential benefits, people just don't do it.
I understand that's not a direct analogy, but it works for me. The point is, I agree
with you. And who in the WORLD would think that AT&T would allow Apple to
let the iPhone be used on other carriers. I don't feel bad for the bricks at all.
Apple does need to open up the iPhone to 3rd party with direct hardware access
though. That's just stupid.
- Apple Fan boys blame anything and anyone but Apple
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by wzone
October 15, 2007 5:53 PM PDT
- It is fun to see Apple fan boys not able to handle the simple fact that Apple is first a Corporation interested in your money as anyone else.
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Reply to this comment
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(7 Comments)Apple signed a contract with AT&T top share profits on the income earned by AT&T through calls made on the iPhone. Thats right Apple gets a cut of the money you pay AT&T every month. This is the first of its kind contract by a cell phone company and assures Apple more money than it can earn selling phone. Now look at the picture again. If you were AT&T and you were shelling out money to keep the iPhone exclusive to AT&T and every kid on the block was unlocking it, you would race all the lawyers you can get to Apples door.
And if Apple really was the Fan boy loving company that cares more about its customers it should have told AT&T you can keep the money we like our customers better, but instead decides to buckle and brick the unlocked phones
Sorry guys, There no other way to put it. Apple put you in this spot.
And before you start screaming Troll. I own a bunch of Apple products including multiple iPods, but thankfully stayed away from the iPhone, atleast for now.