The Great iPhone Hack, round 3
Two weeks to the day after Apple's iPhone software update wiped third-party applications from the device and disabled unlocked phones, the hackers have struck back.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog posted details of the iPhone Dev Team's latest effort, which once again opens the iPhone up to third-party applications and the ability to use it on any other GSM network than AT&T's. This appears to be a more substantial effort than the one posted earlier in the evening that exploits a vulnerability in a TIFF image file; you can bet that one will be patched fairly quickly.
The latest hack allows iPhone users who have already installed the OS X 1.1.1 update to revert their iPhones to the previous 1.0.2 update, "jailbreak" it for third-party applications, and then somehow update back to the 1.1.1 version without the cell door slamming shut. TUAW and iPhone Atlas have tested the latest hack and have declared that it works, assuming you have a certain amount of knowledge of the iPhone's command line interface.
We're not posting links to the actual files you'll need to make this happen, but if you're an enterprising fellow with access to the Internet, I doubt you'll have too much trouble. I downloaded the files, and in a readme file accompanying the patches and guide you'd need to jailbreak your iPhone, the iPhone Dev Team (or NerveGas, Pumpkin, Edgan, drudge, dinopio and asap18) actually posted a disclaimer: "The iPhone Dev Team disclaims any liability of damage to your iPhone as a result of following these instructions. While the instructions listed here are believed to be safe and accurate, there is always a possibility that your iPhone could be permanently damaged." Can you really sue somebody for providing you with a hack that damages your iPhone, even though you're violating your service agreement to install that hack?
Anyway, if you unlocked your iPhone and then installed the 1.1.1 update only to be left with a pretty paperweight, the iPhone Dev Team says their update won't fix your problem. However, the iPhoneSIMFree folks announced Thursday morning that as a result of the iPhone Dev Team's work, they're now able to not only unlock 1.1.1 iPhones but they are also able to unbrick those unlocked iPhones that fell silent after installing the update.
Where's Harold Lederman when you need him? Now that the iPhone hackers have figured out how to get past the latest update, which many thought was much more difficult to crack than the original software, the third round goes to them. I'll score it 10-9, but Apple's still in the lead going into the fourth round, by virtue of the 10-8 second round in which they knocked iPhone hackers to the canvas by disabling the unlocked iPhones. The first round, of course, went to the hackers.
So what has Apple got up its sleeve? With Leopard's release around the corner, many are starting to wonder if Apple might start to tire of this fight and figure out a way to let third-party application development onto the iPhone. It's pretty clear that Apple will be unable to completely fend off an army of determined hackers forever, but I think it is trying to find a way to allow third-party application development without letting people unlock their iPhones just yet.
In the meantime, if you really, really want third-party applications on your iPhone, understand that you might be forfeiting your right to future technical support. Those who previously hacked the iPhone were able to restore the factory settings before bringing it in for service, but it's not clear whether that's still an option with this latest update.
As you said, Apple will surely fix the security hole, and re-brick all the un-bricked phones. Then hackers will figure out a way around that, and Apple will fix that hole, and then we'll start over for the fourth time. Meanwhile, how many people will continue to line up to download and install the hack, get bit by Apple, rinse, and repeat? How many times will they suffer through the process before they give up and stick with the delivered phone on the approved network?
A computer without third-party apps isn't going to do as well as one with third-party apps. But cell phone users aren't going to put up with losing their phone each time there's a patch. All Apple has to do is make sure each patch (or even every third patch) has some new must-have feature, and they win.
The thing is once you get it working don't update it until there is an updated hack.
APPLE OPEN IPHONE NOW!
transmission, something breaks, and Toyota/Pontiac/etc. won't
fix it for free because I voided the warranty? Of course not...(any
sensible person anyhow)
If I buy a TV, and open it up, changing the brightness controls
so that it's brighter than the manufacturers default limits,
should the TV manufacturer honor the warranty and replace the
TV? Of course not.
These are all items that are designed with quality in mind, things
that give people value over the long run. The reason companies
have warranty policies is because they can't guarantee that your
impulsiveness to play mr. gadget-improver won't break their
product. In the few years I've used Apple products, I've come to
realize they have the same mindset. There's a reason they put
their warranty policies into effect, to ensure you have a quality
product that lasts.
One of the greatest advantages of the iPhone is that with a
simple firmware upgrade, the entire phone can become a new
product. The reason people wanted the phone so bad that lines
formed like crack addicts (even among the anything-but-Apple
fanbase) is not because it was advertised as an open phone, but
a great phone. I think it lived up to every facet and claim they
made. Will an SDK be released an Apple allow native programs to
be released, I'm sure they will. Should they do it now, probably
not. Apple has a few things up their sleeves they want to pull out
before that happens. Also, with hackers persistent as they are, it
does give Apple a chance to further secure the phone. The last
thing I want is some 3rd party developer to code a program that
in the background sends all my information to that programmer,
nor do I want a program that crashes/bricks my phone on a
whim.
Apple has a great product. It is your choice to void the warranty
and hack the phone, it is not any company's responsibilty to fix
the problems YOU create.
One last analogy. If I buy a dinner entree from a restaurant and
decide for the heck of it I want to add cyanide to the plate
because I think it tastes better, is it the restaurant's fault that
their plate killed me? If you answer yes to that question, please
take a lesson in logic and common sense, because your life is
going to be horrible without it.
However, if anyone can give me a compelling reason to move forward, I'll listen.
Anyone? Anyone?
But once you BUY a device, you should have a choice of how you choose to use it.
By the way, once you OWN your own phone, you can negotiate with the cell carriers for cheaper rates.
In 5 years this will become a moot point, your handset will work on WI-FI, and WI-FI will be everywhere. The cell-phone business model is going the way of the dinosaur.
I have an iPhone now. I don't see anyone being outraged over the fact that T-Mobile is the exclusive carrier of the Sidekick. I don't see lawsuits being filed for other companies that have exclusive phones... It's all stupid.
company like atnt... they pretty much lost me as a customer...
I'll just wait for something that is connected to a network that you
can make phone calls on...
The fact that hacking it away from Atnt domination is so popular
oughta tell Apple something...
- only AT&T by name
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by clsmithj
October 14, 2007 3:16 AM PDT
- I really dislike AT&T just cause I know its really the crap cell phone service Cingular renamed since the SBC buyout.
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