Owners of unlocked iPhones hosed by software update
Well, you can't say they didn't warn you.
Apple released an update for the iPhone on Thursday that brings the Wi-Fi Music Store to the device, as well as several security fixes and enhanced features. But, as expected, it also turns iPhones that were unlocked to run on cellular networks other than AT&T's into little more than emergency call boxes.
Macworld reported two iPhones in its office with SIM (subscriber identity module) hacks did not work after the update was installed. A message prompted the phone's owner to install "an unlocked and valid SIM card" before the phone could be completely activated. It's almost like the phone was in the same pre-activation limbo stage that frustrated many iPhone users waiting for activation the first weekend the device went on sale.
Gizmodo is reporting that both the original SIM cards as well as new SIM cards from AT&T won't work in iPhones that had been activated with the original SIM card, then unlocked from the network. That could present a huge problem for iPhone owners who thought they could get around the reactivation process by getting a new AT&T SIM card.
Other reports are trickling in of similar experiences. It appears that those who downloaded the "jailbreaking" software application that lets you install third-party software aren't running into the same problems if they are still using AT&T's network. However, they are reporting that their third-party applications have vanished upon reactivation.
Did you hack your iPhone, and have you had similar problems after installing the latest update? Let us know.
Apple gave hacked iPhone owners another warning that they might have trouble with the latest software update, and many did.
(Credit: Apple)
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Internet search, including Google, Yahoo, online advertising, and portals, as well as the evolution of mobile computing. He has written about traditional PC companies, chip manufacturers, and mobile computers, spending the last three years covering Apple. E-mail Tom.
For the record, I like both Apple & Microsoft products, but I find it interesting that there's so little outcry when Apple "patches" something that breaks it for a lot of folks.
Just sayin'
On the other? Nope - at least in the US, if a cell/mobile device is locked to a contract, you agreed to that contract when you bought the item. If you step outside the bounds of that contract, you do so at your own risk.
If Apple sold unlocked phones and an update bricked it, then yes, Apple would be at fault and would/should be fully liable.
Does that answer your question?
/P
it's users. It's amusing if anything.
Second, Apple and AT&T clearly stated from the get go that cracking the
iPhone to use on other networks was at the user's risk and most likely
would be problematic down the road.
Third, Apple again gave ample warning about consequences of the
impending update just a few days before it's release. This was an
opportunity for smart hackers to avoid any immediate problems. I won't be
surprised if someone discovers a temporary workaround, but either way
hackers where warned more than once.
Fourth, Apple did not 'brick' iPhones hacked to run third-party software.
Instead the installed extras where wiped from the device. They could have
disabled those as well if they wanted.
This move does not compare with Microsoft disabling Quicktime or Real
Player in an effort to boost it's own substandard media technology. One of
many covert moves that ultimately landed them in court on both sides of
the pond.
iPhone owner
folks."
You really think "lots of folks" SIM-unlocked their iPhones?
Compared to the numbers of folks who didn't do this, I'll bet it's
a very small percentage. I'd be shocked to hear that it was even
1,000 people out of the 1,000,000 or so that have been sold.
Less than one percent who decided to take a chance that (cross
fingers) Apple doesn't add features that are incompatible with a
hack. Yeah, sure.
Exactly where did Apple fail you in this process, dude? Did the
sales guy whisper to you that, um, you *might* be able to screw
with a complex piece of electronic gear and that there'd be no
risk to it far into the foggy future, updates 'n all?
Geez!
I had to have and iPhone to get rid of the palm pilot, phone and iPod, but I am considering giving someone $500 more dollars to replace the OS completely!
software. But I'm sure there are already hackers working on the
latest 'update'. This is one thing that I have hated about all
crApple products since day 1. They are entirely too proprietary
in thier software applications and this translates into living in
the world created by Apple or not at all.
Personally I won't buy an iPhone for these reasons or until thier
network capabilties excel beyond all others. Sorry Apple...no
sale here!
violates the license agreement you agreed to and knowingly risk
the future use of this device even after being warned by the
manufacturer then you deserve what you get. And sympathy is
not forthcoming, from me anyway. This almost qualifies for a
Darwin Award.
Anyone honestly not see this coming?
THe iPhone is the finest cellphone and music player I've ever had
the good fortune to use. The others are not even close.
ranks. Go buy a Linux phone.
Microsoft is deactivating Xbox 360s from using XBL, but you can still play games (offline) on it--they aren't killing the consoles, just the online activity.
This update kills the entire iPhone, period...tell me where Apple is so much different or better of a company? I missed that part.
(more than those actually creating them) seem so eager to find
someone to blame for their lack of responsibility.
great user experience. It wasn't as though Apple lied to you
about the situation or didn't warn you.
You thought you could get away with pulling a fast one. You
weren't as smart as you thought you were.
Get this through your brain: Apple isn't Wintel. Stop treating it as
thought it were.
agreements with AT&T and now European companies for
exclusive use. Apple didn't invent this phenomenon. In my area I
had to go to Cingular to get the Treo I wanted and the Black
razor my wife wanted.
Apple has made it abundantly clear that they will do everything
in their power to stop their iPhones from being hacked.
"Owners of unlocked iPhones hosed by software update,"
No duh.
iPhone on? Sprint? Verizon? They are both CDMA2000. AT&T
is the only large GSM network in the US. If you are getting GSM
through another carrier they are probably getting it from AT&T
and their data plan probably costs more.
2) Have you hacked your Xbox lately? Microsoft goes to
extraordinary lengths to make sure you can't do anything out of
the ordinary with their consumer electronics. You can install
Linux on an iPod but not your Xbox.
For a carrier (like AT&T) to have initial exclusive access to a
particular phone (like the iPhone) is standard business practice
(see Treo 650, LG Chocolate, etc). Nearly all of the high demand
phones start out that way.
Wrong. T-Mobile USA is GSM.
In my region, T-Mobile is #1 in J.D. Power wireless customer statisfaction ratings. AT&T is tied for last place.
I don't remember hearing massive public outcry when Microsoft
would not allow users who hacked their Xboxes on to the Xbox
Live Servers.
If you are going to hack hardware and/or software, you need to
be ready to face the consequences. None of this is anybody's
fault except for those who decided it would be a good idea to
hack their iPhones. If you're going to play with the big boys and
hack your devices, you need to act like a big boy when your
device stops working. Whining about something that you caused
is nothing more than self pity.
Get over it.
T Mobile is GSM, any one with mediocre intelligence is aware of this fact.
As for Linux on an X Box... my god man, where have you been living for the last few years? If you want, I can teach you how to use Google or Yahoo to search for things like "XBOX LINUX" and help you understand the results. It may come as a shock to you, but people have been doing this for quite some time.
frequencies. They came to the party late and had to buy what
bit of the spectrum they still could. As a result their service can
be spotty, especially indoors. If they have wonderful awards for
customer service, it isn't because they have beaten the laws of
physics. I read they were looking to offer WiFi phone service in
hot spots? Doesn't that say something about their network
quality?
Microsoft has a HUGE interest in locking down the Xbox. They
are selling consoles at a loss to try and recoup their investment
in the game sales. If you are modding it and playing all your
games for free, or running Apache on your new Xbox instead of
buying and playing (but especially buying) MS games, how
excited are they going to be about that? If they aren't any good
at locking it down that's just one more problem for them.
I notice nobody decided to take me to task on carriers with
exclusive rights to popular phones. Maybe because it is
undeniably true. The question becomes, why should it be such
a big deal if Apple makes an effort to maintain that exclusivity?
For the record, I don't like the idea of a locked iPhone. I think
the European countries that require phones to be sold unlocked
are doing the right thing. Trouble is that here in the US we have
incompatible, expensive to build and maintain, networks
fighting it out. Competition is good, but competition with open
standards is better. For the US, unfortunately, the skunk is
already out of the bag.
Second of all - If you did "sidegrade" your iPhone, you should have been smart enough to realize that Apple's products all check into the mothership at some point, and at that point you'd be hosed...
No sympathy. If you want flexibility, you know where to get it, and that certainly isn't with Apple.
When does Apple get the monopoly suit slapped against them?
dictionary and look up the word "monopoly".
the iPhone, buy another model of phone/PDA
You guys are such elitist pigs who think you are smarter than every one else.
Do you really think every Mac user starts tinkering and tweaking their system? Do you really think Windows and Linux users are incapable of tweaking and tinkering?
From our perspective you guys are blind and clueless and will buy anything with an Apple logo branded on it. You don't expect anything, you could care less just as long as it's made by Apple.
Think about it, how quick was WGA hacked on Windows? There are so many hacked warez versions of XP out there, from the minimalistic installs that are 150mb to DVD iso's that contain every version of XP or Vista plus all the included updates.
So get off your high horse, Mac users do not corner the market on tweaking, tinkering or hacking...
My 6133 is running on T-Mobile, which is not as big as at&t, but it's not small either; I believe they're #4, and they're 1900 MHz GSM throughout the US.
T-Mo also has a huge presence overseas, being a unit of Deutsche Telekom in Germany, and they're GSM out there too.
Mobile network...or just to prove it could be done. You turned
your iPhone into a brick when you applied the update that Apple
warned would turn an unlocked phone into a paperweight.
And you're surprised and unhappy?
You bought a device with a 2 year commitment to ATT that you
agreed to. That's legal and common. It's NOT a monopoly issue
as someone quesitoned earlier....
Why complain? Apple and ATT have delivered what was
promised and contracted to.
Sure, you own the phone, but you have no right to use it without Apple's permission... which they have shown they can and will take away from you.
Got a third party app? Not anymore- Apple decided for you that you don't have the right to have it.
Want to use another network or believe in freedom of choice? Sorry, not with Apple.
Apple is in control here, not you. Do not adjust your iPhone. They control the vertital. They control the horizontal. This is....
The iPhone Zone.
Welcome to the digital world of multi-vendor contracts.
No TMobile on your iPhone, no backing up your DVDs, no playing certain videos on your Vista machine without a drm compliant monitor.
You don't have to like it, but for now, you've got to expect it.
gang of Apple fans aren't up in arms over this. Neither Apple nor
AT&T violated their agreements or contracts. The users who
hacked their phones <did> violate their contracts. If their
iPhones are now bricks they have no one to blame but
themselves. They were warned every step of the way and chose
to hack the phone anyway.
This isn't about Apple being a monopoly, or keeping people
from making choices. Most major new phones get exclusive
contracts with specific carriers. Apple isn't the first or the last to
do this. The people who are whining now are a bunch of
petulant, self-indulgent crybabies who feel they have the right
to have everything the way they want it -regardless of the
legality or ethics of the situation. "I want an iPhone and I want it
on T-Mobile, so I should have that!" -Who cares about things
like patents, copyrights, contracts, or license agreements. The
only thing that matters is what <they> want.
Maybe if we give them milk and cookies and have them take a
nice nap they'll wake up in a better mood...
...but it depends on your definition of 'own' doesn't it? My definition clearly excludes the iPhone. --which is why I will simply _not_ buy one.
Open Moko/ Gphone FTW.
anyway-- 1%?
OOOOOH, 1 percent of iPhone buyers are disgruntled. I'm sure
Apple is distraught. It must be quaking in its boots.
Meanwhile, over 85% of iPhone buyers are satisfied or very
satisfied with their purchase. Guess who Apple cares about? You
hackers or them?
I expect that three to four million iphones will be sold over the
Christmas quarter. I'd guess Apple can do without your support.
We can do without your whining.
knowing damn good and well it has restrictions AND THE IDIOTS
BUY IT WITH THE HOPE OF GETTING AROUND IT then whine and
talk about evil Apple when something goes wrong.
There is a point of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY much akin to
putting money in a slot machine knowing full well you MAY lose
it! And then, just because the bad Casino is a big corporation
you want your money back? GET REAL
Apple has no liability to IDIOTS who bought the phone hoping
to hack it morally or legally! YOU KNEW WHAT THE DEAL WAS
WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE PHONE MORONS!
And if you couldn't afford the AT&T exclusive program to
activate it and keep it activated, you couldn't afford the phone to
begin with!
People who buy high performance cars have to pay for premium
gas. It's just the reality. And you don't go whining to a car
company when you bought it KNOWING IT WOULD COST MORE
TO RUN IT!
I'm sick of whining little ninnies who want things to always be
their way, in their favor with no regard for the consequences if
THEY CHOOSE to do something outside of the manufacturer's
requirements.
IF YOU THINK IT WAS WRONG FOR APPLE TO REQUIRE AT&T
ACTIVATION....DON'T BUY THE PHONE TO BEGIN WITH YOU
IDIOT!
You did not suddenly wake up and find "EUREKA"....my phone
doesn't work.
YOU WERE TOLD!
NOW LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICES AND
QUIT WHINING TO THE REST OF US WHO UNDERSTOOD THE
DEAL AND DID IT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING!
WHAT A BUNCH OF SISSIES!
EVERYONE KNEW THE RULES WHEN THEY BOUGHT THE PHONE!
ONLY IDIOTS WHO TRIED TO BREAK THEM HOSED THEMSELVES!
NO SYMPATHY....NO MERCY!
If they had read Apple's software license agreement for the
iPhone, they would have known that. Of course, everyone would
have had to click on the "I agree" button so they did legally say
they agree to the terms and conditions...
What's amusing to me is that people still updated their phone
even with the BOLD line that says modifications to the iPhone
software will result in the iPhone becoming "PERMANENTLY
INOPERABLE."
So, the second fault occurred when once more blindly pushing a
button (in this case the "Next" one).
I've been hacking every kind of box you can image since the PDP-11 and I purchased my iPhone with the expectation of using it as is.
Why? A couple of reasons. The primary being best describe by Tim O'Reilly when he writes:
"Apple's insistence on controlling the user experience really does pay off, versus the fragmented, siloed experience of most phone applications -- with the phone manufacturer, the carrier, and the app developer all hobbled by the business firewalls of the carrier's making.
Is the iPhone my perfect device? Nope. I won't be happy until I can sync my To Do's.
But if today's uber update proved anything to me, it's that Steve & Co. apparently built in a pretty good software upgrade path. So I'm expecting more wanted features to flow through iTunes in the future.
In the meantime, perhaps all the modder's out there should listen to the manufacturer rather than to each other. It appears Apple knows what they are doing - whether we like it or not.
http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/09/i_love_my_iphon.html
Really Whats the difference!
- You broke it, you own it
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by zanely
September 27, 2007 5:54 PM PDT
- What moron would hack a company's software and then try to apply a standard version update to the code they just screwed up? doh!
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Reply to this comment
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- an idiot would update after hacking
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by bvdon
September 27, 2007 10:01 PM PDT
- Only an idiot would hack a phone, then try to update the
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Showing 1 of 3 pages (216 Comments)software.... and a liberal idiot would then whine about it and
threaten lawsuits. Conservatives would just take their lumps and
buy another phone.
Me? I let the suckers figure it out for a year or so, then I buy a
phone when they are cheap and all the cool tricks are stable.