Comments on: A game of cat and mouse: The iPhone, Steve Jobs and an army of blind hackers

Jobs says he intends to fight off the independent iPhone developers. The question is: How will Apple try to defeat the hackers: software updates or lawsuits?

[Craig Landrum]

iPhone Hacks

As pointed out in the article, there is a difference between the ability to add
new applications to the iPhone and unlocking the carrier restriction. The
general feeling among all of my fellow programmers can be summarized as:
new apps=good, unlocking carrier=bad. Unlocking the tie-in to AT&T clearly
robs Apple (and AT&T) of revenue they have every right to expect, while
developing new applications is widely viewed as simply fair competition.

I suspect that Apple will come down hard on the tie-in breakers while turning
a blind eye to simply developing new apps that do no harm. The iPhone is a
device that puts a great deal of power in the palm of your hand and while
Apple did a great job with the initial software, they know better than most
companies that it is simply good business to foster the creativity of your user
base.

[elguappo]

Pick and choose what is good and what is evil?

Hi Craig,

I had to ask you this. Adding new Apps is good and unlocking the tie-in is bad? You finished your paragraph by saying...

"Unlocking the tie-in to AT&T clearly
robs Apple (and AT&T) of revenue they have every right to expect, while
developing new applications is widely viewed as simply fair competition."

Its your use of the term "fair competition" that made me post this. You justify adding apps as fair competition but using the phone you own with any carrier you choose is bad? Its very clear that Apple stands to make alot more $$ from the monthly subscription agreement they made with AT&T. If Apple did not cut this deal with AT&T then why would Jobs care what carrier his cool phone is used on? He wants a piece of the carriers pie..greed...Where is the fair competition in allowing us to choose what carrier suits our needs best? Apple and this approach actually stiffles fair competition. This entire deal smells bad.

Sorry Craig. I see how you can choose what is good vrs. bad in this senario as you explained, but in all honesty when a vendor limits a consumers choice this robs the user - you and I - from even considering the competition.

Not too fair if you ask me.

[jrzagar]

Circumvention vs. Authorized Use

Go back and look at Chamberlain v. Skylink and you'll see some wonderful gems:

The Copyright Act authorizes consumers to access the copy of
a protected work that they purchased. If the copy has been
obtained legitimately, then consumers are immune from
circumvention liability under §1201(a)(1).

Copyright holders are not permitted to prohibit consumers from making use of "protected works" that have been obtained legitimately.

Apple's DMCA claims, if they ever raise them, will fail in exactly the same way as Chamberlains' did...

[elguappo]

Choices for all out there

I have used the iPhone and I am not sure what all the buzz is about. You want a phone that does everything an iPhone does and more? Want touch screen? HTC with Windows Mobile or LG Prada. Want wi-fi...please its 2007!

I am flabbergasted at how people buy into Apples marketing so easily. If you want cell phone freedom don't buy the iPhone. It is that easy. Jobs has made it extremely clear that if you want to play with Apple you play by his rules. Want a play list from iTunes on to a Creative MP3 player...can't do it, use an iPod. Want your choice of carriers for your cell phone? Don't buy an iPhone.

It about choices plain and simple. If you want to be lead like a herd of cattle, buy the iPhone. Just stop complaining about its limitations and Jobs predictable reactions.

[bdonohue1]

Another Great Geek Journalist!

Outstanding piece. I am continually amazed by the journalistic skills of members of the geek press like this guy, Declan McCullagh, and Ryan Paul over at Ars. I'm a political blogger, and I can tell you that there is more real journalism in the geek media than you'd find in all the major news networks put together. If you follow tech, you have more informational riches than those of us in the political sphere can dream of.

[rjwill246]

Very well thought through

Despite some people's negative opinions of the iPhone, my friends and I who
have used it for some weeks, would beg to differ about there being a
comparable other phone, like the Prada. This is a portable device with phone
capabilities and in that sense, it is hard to imagine that it won't keep evolving
into the ephemeral Newton that many of us have wanted recreated-- and
about which SJ is more than fully aware.

As for the phone hacks-- very understandable for 3rd party applications, but
as you point out, Apple and their contracted carriers have given up a lot of
concessions in order to carry this phone and they DO have a right to expect to
be protected when it comes to unlocking the phone. Balance that against the
gouging charges for roaming and one runs into a serious conflict of
consumer and carrier interest. Because it is possible to run up a few
thousand dollars in a few days of traveling, carriers should cooperate and
make roaming seamless and with no "tax" to assault the hapless traveler. I
would like to see local rules invoked in the contract apply universally and thus
free the traveler from the extant draconian roaming charges, as well as the
hidden connection fees that EDGE keeps racking up, simply by being "on."
Talk about taking advantage of travelers and business folk!!!

Right now, Apple and its partners have made traveling using the iPhone a
financial hazard unless you have a separate phone and /or SIM card for each
country. That is absurd and ought to be addressed in a near future up-date.