Upcoming Firmware Will Brick Unlocked iPhones

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.'"

Well...

[zantolak]

At least it's a stylish brick!

Build a very expensive house?

[leuk_he]

in SIM-unlocked iPhones turning into very expensive bricks... So what are users of SIM-unlocked iPhones to do?

Bricks have uses too. You can build houses from them. Very expensive houses. But bricks are bricks after all.

That is the question

[djupedal]

To brick or not to brick...

Thats What You Get...

[flyneye]

Thats what you get for giving Mac any of your hard earned money,a suckerpunch.Remember although you bought it ,it belongs to Steeev Jobs.
If he says no,you better listen.After all he is richer,smarter and better than you.Think Different.

Re:Build a very expensive house?

[somersault]

And at least your house won't scratch easily

Re:Well...

[Anonymous Coward]

a stylish brick!

That's what people say about Steve Jobs too.... oh, hang on, "brick". I thought you said.... ah, nevermind.

(Side note: captcha is "contempt". Hmm.)

Re:Is that even legal?

[putzin]

No, Microsoft had the option to not purchase made illegal and immoral quite a while ago. Apple is just riding the coat tails. In summer 2008, I believe it also becomes illegal not to use AT&T for all services including face to face visits with friends and family. In 2009, not only will it be illegal to smoke, but also to not use Apple and AT&T HW, SW, and services for everything you do (I hear the iToilet touch flush will be amazing). All this for the low cost of 40% of your yearly salary or $30K, whichever is greater.

Apple release more details

[Slashcrap]

Apparently the phone won't be disabled immediately. It will first make a call to the nearest AT&T NSA approved logging center, where the phone number will be recorded and your address details passed on to Apple.

Then the phone will disable itself.

Shortly after, you will meet with a mysterious accident.

Apple users that we interviewed were of the opinion that while this was a good first step, it didn't really go quite far enough. "Ideally I'd like to see the offender's family murdered in the streets as well. It's really the only way to teach the proper respect for Apple's products and business strategy.", said one person who was soon copied by all the others in an attempt to show their individuality.

An Apple spokesman who we contacted offered the following statement, "LOL, Windows, LOL!".

Bricked iPhone still useful...

[walt-sjc]

Or do you mean because it renders unlocked phones useless?

Even bricked iPhones have a use... You can always blend it. [willitblend.com]

Re:Statutory rights?

[DustyShadow]

Unfortunately, statutes are used to take away our rights in the U.S.

Re:And so...

[the.Ceph]

mac: Hi, I'm a mac.
pc: And I'm a PC
mac: Hey PC did you know my software is made by a bunch of dicks?
pc: So is mine, everyone knows that.
mac: Yeah but my hardware is made by a bunch of dicks too...
pc: oh... wait is that a good thing?
mac: Poor PC, not for you, but with the new iFanboy I can break hundreds of dollars of electronics and they don't even mind.
pc: That's pretty spiffy, I wish I could do that :-(

Re:Well...

[damn_registrars]

Imagine a beowulf cluster of those!

I guess that would probably be called a wall, yes?

Re:Is that even legal?

[TigerPlish]

Is that even legal?

Jobs, in his best Palpatine voice: "I will make it legal!"

Re:And so...

[cyberworm]

I'd opt not to buy the kick in the balls and instead punch you in the face. ;)

Re:Is that even legal?

[l0cust]

Oh come on. Morality always depends upon the players involved in any particular situation.

Shooting at another person [Bad]
Shooting at a terrorist [Not Bad]
Lusting after underage girls [Bad]
They are Olsen Twins [...]
Shooting at a fluffy bunny [Bad]
Shooting at the fluffy bunny from 'The Holy Grail' [Awesome]

Re:Is that even legal?

[dave420]

That's fair enough, but when it breaks, asking Apple to fix it for free is the unfair bit. If I decide to use a Dell PowerEdge server as a grated cheese dispenser, should Dell give me a new one when the new Mozarella-E bus I installed starts to smell delicious?

Re:Is that even legal?

[Richy_T]

Your car analogy is faulty. I hope it came with a warranty.

Rich

Re:Is that even legal?

[eebra82]

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.

I hereby promise that once the alligator has eaten me, I will no longer bitch to you.