Upcoming Firmware Will Brick Unlocked iPhones 605
iCry writes "It was rumored last week, and Apple has now confirmed it: 'Apple said today that a firmware update to the iPhone due to be released later this week "will likely result" in SIM-unlocked iPhones turning into very expensive bricks... So what are users of SIM-unlocked iPhones to do? Not run the latest software update, that's for sure. Users can instead pray to the hacking deities — the famed iPhone Dev Team that released the free software unlock, and iPhoneSIMfree, which released a commercial software unlock — to write applications that will undo the unlocks, as it were, if those users want to run the latest iPhone software.'"
How to relock an iPhone (Score:5, Informative)
There are instructions on how to relock an iPhone here [tuaw.com]
It seems a bit involved
Undo the hack (Score:4, Informative)
The solution is to reverse the changes before updating. There is a preliminary guide to doing this at:
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/09/24/how-to-relock-your-iphone-before-the-firmware-update/ [tuaw.com]
Of course, this means that your phone is no longer unlocked.
The other option is to just not upgrade.
Re:I am waiting for a Neo1973 OpenMoko phone (Score:4, Informative)
Thank gods... (Score:4, Informative)
I have a small scratch on my iPhone driving me insane, which is not enough to warrent an exchange.
I will have to explain to my family that they should *not* update the firmware if they want to keep using t-moble, at least until someone else figures out how to unlock the phone. Or I will simply install my backup copy of the current firmware, no harm done and all.
I mean, being able to play a few games while in airplane mode, having free personal ringtones ripped from our own media, using t-mobile, an ebay tracker, an application that uses cellphone triangulation to calculate your location on the map, an AIM client, a digital recorder for lectures and meetings, a quickbooks app, an ebook reader, and a NES emulator; are all worth more to us then having an itunes store on the phone that lets us know what songs are playing in our local starbucks... I mean with the tmobile 'total internet' package (for $19.95 a month), I can use the tmobile hotspot in my local starbucks, for speeds faster then EDGE.... A greater convinence in my mind.
Re:I'm sure this is actionable! (Score:3, Informative)
Which service pack was it that caused windows installations with invalid keys to stop working?
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:3, Informative)
FYI, I'm the GPP.
Sort of. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:5, Informative)
From the iPhone warranty: [apple.com] In other words, swim at your own risk, but don't bitch to us if you get eaten by an alligator; you were told to stay out of the water.
The other option is to simply forgo the update, or re-lock it.
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:1, Informative)
Also, under US law we're allowed to unlock our phones. So where's the not playing fair in that? I think Apple isn't playing fair. Sure go and ahead and lock them, that's one thing. But to go and brick people's phones because they didn't play by Apple's rules, how does that make Apple any better than Microsoft?
They've also been trying to lock down the iPods too. Apple fanboys are going to have to wake up and smell the coffee! Apple isn't this nice and friendly giant, they're as underhanded as Microsoft. It's all about making them money, they don't care about their customers, especially if their customers aren't willing to play their game.
You don't think Apple wouldn't have its own version of WGA if they sold MacOS for generic PCs? They would... They would be just as bad as Microsoft.
The funny thing about Apple is, every time they screw their customers, you find them apologizing for Apple. LOL At least most Microsoft customers can't stand Microsoft.
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What are they to do... (Score:2, Informative)
Thus, the Restore in iTunes won't restore those particular hacks. And it is very possible that the hacked code won't run with new updates to OSX.
Apple isn't doing it on purpose. They are just doing what they planned to do - update OSX with new stuff. Apple is being NICE in warning people about this. Now, yes, I think with some EXTRA, EXPENSIVE WORK Apple could probably release a standalone program that might be able to restore that other code that is being hacked up. But darn it, do they have to? They warned you in advance, they are warning you now, and why do they have to support these hacks, even by undoing them?
Out of the goodness of their hearts, I do believe if this is actually a significant problem that Apple WILL take the time and spend the money to fix this deep hacking to make things back to factory fresh. But it is above and beyond what they need to do , and if they do it, they will do it because Apple is GOOD.
Re:Is that even legal? (Score:3, Informative)
Anybody who sells any new (not after-market) item has a duty to make sure it is fit for sale and a legal responsibility to make good on any faults.
Any warranties you may find in the box are additions to this, which cover failures due to your actions, third parties, or wear and tear (or nothing, in some of the more disreputable cases).
People are sometimes misled by those "no warranty; not even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose" labels on free software. The only reason those work at all is because the software is given away, rather than sold; there's no statutory warranty on a gift.