“Don’t say you weren’t warned. After cautioning customers earlier this week that unlocked iPhones may be disabled when installing future Apple software updates, the company on Thursday made good on its warning,” Jim Dalrymple reports for Macworld.
“Two iPhones in the Macworld offices that had the SIM hacks applied to them were disabled after installing iPhone Update 1.1.1,” Dalrymple reports.
According to Dalrymple, users “could not navigate through the iPhone’s menu” and “the ‘Slide for Emergency’ slider is the only thing available after installing the update. This allows customers to make emergency calls only.”
More in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “NeverFade” for the heads up.]
yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss thats the way apple should be…making sure they are loyal to their partners.
first comment
Why would anyone install the update after being warned?
ROFL!
You idiots were warned!
Wlecome to iBrick guys.
Hows it feel throwing $300 down the toilet?
MacWorld article is very terse. I don’t have an iPhone, but it seems to me that the phone is looking for an AT&T;SIMM. The article doesn’t say whether they attempted to start up the device with the original AT&T;SIMM. It might be possible that the phone was showing the error message after seeing a non-AT&T;SIMM card and refusing to go any further.
Even if it’s not the case, this was a risk people were bound to take when updating the phone after unlocking it.
According to other reports, it seems that those with phones hacked with third-party apps were just restored to the original state, without any third-party apps. This implies that the user will just have to re-hack it and re-install third party apps.
Let’s give it a day or two to find out what’s happening with the unlock issue.
Just like microsoft its loyal to their partners… upppppss! i forgot that Microsoft betrayed each of its partners…
Even if the hacked iphones havent got the new updated installed there will be a time in the future whereby you HAVE to have the latest update to use iTunes.
That has happened with the ipod many times when iTunes has a major update.
So theres no avoiding it im affraid, if you are one of the idiots who have hacked your iphone then welcome to never being able to update your iphone software because you are in fear of it breaking your hacked brick.
If Apple does a major update to iTunes you aint gonna be able to use your iphone anyway if its hacked.
GJ Apple – legimate iphone users have nothing to worry about.
@Predrag:
in the comments, an owner of one of the “bricked” iPhones confirmed he was using the original AT&T;SIMM card.
Apple is the new Microsoft… I’m a longtime user and Mac-Buyer, but there are a few strange things going on. Don’t let Apple jerk you around!!
HA HA HA!
“Apple is the new Microsoft… I’m a longtime user and Mac-Buyer, but there are a few strange things going on. Don’t let Apple jerk you around!!”
yeah!
i mean you bought something that requires a contract, and promises new software by updates, and then you were warned about hacking it, and then again, and then warned about updates, but you did it again anyway…
how DARE Apple not make a special patch for you just because you are dumber than a clod of dirt!
down with elitist Mac snobs! down with people who expect you to be able to understand basic logic or have language skills! cavemen need iPhones too!
I am amused by the negative reactions to Apple protecting its partnership with AT&T;. People bought an iPhone KNOWING this was the deal, and now act like Apple is the new Microsoft because it won’t let THEM do what THEY want with a phone THEY knew was with AT&T;. Classic. Just classic. When the hell did Mac users become so GOD DAMN whiney? Are these Windows converts? If so, go the hell back, would you?
Thank You Uncle Steve!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
let the class-action lawsuits begin.
It’s not possible at the moment to just re-hack a locked iPhone. As I understand it, the first step of the hack was to put the 1.0.2 firmware and then the unlocking process begins. If you now restore to factory settings you will get firmware 1.1.1 and no unlock exists for that firmware yet. So bottomline, freeze any update to your phone till further notice. Also just don;t update iTunes either (though getting older windows versions of iTunes is not difficult)
> Apple is the new Microsoft
Nonsense. This is Apple being like it has always been. It’s not any different than Apple actively preventing Mac OS X from working on generic Intel PCs. If you want to use Mac OS X, you have to buy a Mac. If you want to use an iPhone, you have to use it with AT&T;service. If you don’t want to buy a Mac, use Windows or Linux. If you don’t want AT&T;service, get another mobile phone.
If Apple did nothing to stop unlocking of iPhones now, it would be too late. And it would probably be in violation of its contract with AT&T;. Also, if Apple did not enforce exclusivity now, it would not be able to command the current huge advantage in negotiating terms with its international iPhone service partners.
In fact, this is an example of Apple being the antithesis of Microsoft. If it was Microsoft, this situation would not have occurred, because Microsoft would have licensed the iPhone UI technology to every taker. Microsoft does not care about user experience. Apple maintains strict control of user experience. As technology becomes more complex, that control is exactly WHY Macs, iPods, and iPhones have been so successful lately.
I actually had a very scary moment with an _unhacked_ iPhone: plugged it in, said update, and it threw an error on the update, which bricked the phone. Fortunately after a few reset attempts (during which I got more and more freaked out), it finally went on and did the update. It’s restoring the files to the phone now.
Whew!
I agree with Tyk… The deal was very clear upfront and you cannot blame Apple. I’m not used to whiney Apple users and I’m also wondering if all the noise is coming from Windows/iPhone user or recent converts.
I’m with Tyk. The terms of the iPhone MORE than clearly stated the requirement of an AT&T;account activation. As soon as I read from initial installers of this update that it triggered a re-activation with AT&T;I knew the hacked iPhones were in trouble.
Tinker at your own risk people.
Hmm. I actually think Apple doesn’t really care about people unlocking their phones.. Sure, they don’t want to support any bad software, but I think they really don’t mind if people hack their phones. I believe that’s why they ‘warned’ everyone days ahead of time that their update might break some of the hacked phones.. They do at least have to pretend they’re being supportive of their partnership with AT&T;, but in the end, I think they were basically telling people to unhack their phones before they update them.. Then you can hack them again.
Yup, you guys and gals were warned.
So don’t come in complain to me because your hacked iPhone won’t work.
You guys do know what the word “brick” in reference to electronic devices means right?
Because it doesn’t seem like many of you do. Like, at all.
When a device is “bricked”, Apple or otherwise. That device is dead, done for, no longer usable. Not amount of hacking or fiddling or tweaking or updating or flashing or restoring or re-imaging or anything will bring it to life. Nothing. It is useless, essentially it is has died. And useless as a…….you guessed it – brick!
Now I admit I haven’t read every forum, or webpage, or blog post since Apple released today’s update, but of the ones I have read (which includes a 19 page forum thread over at MacRumors) no one had had their iPhone “bricked” due to this update. In other words Apple did not intentionally kill anyone’s iPhone because they “hacked” or “modded” their iPhone.
Are phones that were unlocked before the update no longer unlocked after the update was applied? Yes
Are people who were happily running unauthorized 3rd party apps before the update no longer running unauthorized 3rd party apps after the update? Yes, in fact I am one of them (I was well aware I would be giving up installer.app once I updated, and did so with no hesitation).
Are either of these two groups of people (of which I am a part) in possession of $600 (or less depending on model and when you bought) “bricks”? Nope. We all have fully functioning iPhones in terms of Apple prescribed use. No bricks. I no longer have Tap Tap Revolution on my iPhone but it still works. No bricks here. And people who had an unlocked iPhone, still have a fully functioning iPhone (that is once they pop in an approved AT&T;SIM and activate an account with the same). No bricks there either.
So do everyone a favor, stop sounding like the idiot commenters on sites like Engadget. Learn exactly what they mean before you start throwing out terms you read on some other techie website. K?
It’s not hard to do, I am sure you can all handle it.
Oh and throwing an “i” in front of any word you can think of is neither witty nor an acceptable excuse to haphazardly apply random terms to things that they don’t belong to.
@Brian
I think Apple is less caring about 3rd party software hacks, but as ken1w stated, Apple has obligations to AT&T;to maintain their exclusivity.
I’m not whining, I am here in Mexico , and need an unlocked iPhone (or want to keep one real bad). I know the deal, I will not update the software, until the simfree guys figure out what to do. I guess will have to relock, up date then simm free again. Yes , its a hassle, but I get tired of hearing people in the States, preaching , if you don’t want ATT, don’t buy one,
I am sure the VAST majority of us “dumber than a clod of dirt!” iPhone unlockers, do not have access to ATT, or an iPhone option in our Country any time soon, like our friends in Canada, \
so f**K off
If we choose to do what we can to have access to the iPhone, we should be admired as diehard Apple fanatics who will risk $400.00 for it, (hell, I spend that in a Saturday night)
and I guess I am wrong in having someone buy Leopard for me in the States, instead of waiting till it gets here in 2008, and by the way, you don’t like glossy screen’s??, come on down , all we have are the old matte iMacs, even the 17″ one, for $1,600usd
@I wonder
Those who had UNLOCKED their iPhones from AT&T;have, after the update, had their iPhones go to an emergency state where all they can do is use the phone to dial 911. It’s unclear if they can re-activate if they use an AT&T;SIM card, but we’ll know soon enough.
Those who have HACKED but not UNLOCKED their iPhones have, as you said, just lost the added apps and changes.
My guess is that most of the hostile whineys are probably newcomers from the Linux/Open source world. Most of them walk around with just that mindset.
Everyone needs to remember that Apple gets a chunk of EVERY iPhone service contract from AT&T;…. THAT is why they don’t want you jumping ship with “their” iPhone. That was the deal breaker for Verizon.
So, in essence you are stealing from Apple… at least in Apple’s eyes.
The Dude abides.
Apple sux ass whenit comes to the iPhone and you cool-aid drinkers are as bad. Don’t get me wrong. i absolutely love my Mac and OSX but as far as iPhone. Screw em. They should never have sold the damn thing linked to ATT only and then charge full price. They want to charge full price then the phone should be unlocked. Go buy another phone where you are linked to service plan and the carrier subsidizes the cost of phone. Pay full price for phone and you can use it on multiple carriers. Also ATT isn’t everywhere in the Ol’ USofA. Many people have to rely on other smaller carriers etc. for cell service and they are locked out of even being able to buy an iPhone. Try living somewher in the upper midwest like N. Dakota etc. and you’ll see. Apple and ATT are showing greed. So when the imitations come out and they will. I might buy one of them. Apple makes good stuff but the phone industry isn’t the PC industry. Nokia, Samsung, etc. are also good companies. They can take a good idea (iPhone) and run with it. Apple should have made it as universally usable as possible and sold even more units and at the initial price. So yes, the iPhone is cool on its own part, but Apple isn’t because of the way it was marketed.
That’s cool cause 911 operators got nothing else better to do.
I’ll bet that none of the original people who figured out how to hack thier iPhones are surprised or worried. They live for this kind of thing, now they get to start all over figure out what Apple did and get their phones working again.
Now most the other people who just copied what the OG’s did are all pissed because their phones won’t work and now they have to relie on the OG’s to get their iPhones working, hopefully again.
If your going to hack get used to it, ask the OG’s if they didn’t expect this kind of thing to happen, I bet they say yes. The OG’s want the challenge and now everyone else is in way over their heads.
Most of us are just users if you decide you want to hack you have to jump in with both feet and spend the reat of your life learning, tinkering, programming, Hardware, electronics ETC…
I’m sure you will get your phones up and running again but now you have to decide which way you want to go. Use what you bought or mod it and restore it and mod it and restore it cause that will never end for you if thats the route you decide to take.
Now man up and accept responsibility for what you did. there are no free rides and you know it.
Mark,
It stands to reason that if in fact you can make any calls at all, emergency or otherwise, the iPhone still functions. Therefore, based on the slang definition of “brick” brought about in the tech world, the iPhone is not “bricked”.
From DoubleTongueed.com
“brick – . (generally) to fail; (of an electronic device) to be rendered useless. “
http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/brick/
You may think so, but technically speaking even only being able to dial 911 is not in and of itself “useless”.
As others have stated, it is in Apple’s best financial interest for consumers to activate their iPhone with AT&T;, as they collect a monthly fee from AT&T;for every iPhone user on their network. So do you think Apple intentionally “bricked”/broke/killed/destroyed the iPhones of people who tried to get around the system? Or do you think perhaps they just released some lines of code to bring these rogue users back in line? This is a logic question, its answer is pretty simple and straight forward. Not even mentioning that the idea that Apple would release code to let phones dial 911 but NOT be later put on AT&T;network seems ridiculously asinine and considering Apple’s ability to turn a profit and garner some revenue on just about EVRYTHING is highly doubtful.
Which brings me back to my original point. The iPhones in question are not useless or broken and therefore not “bricks” or “iBricks” (for the truly witty among you, BTW – Engadget called and they are worried sick wondering when you are coming back).
That was, and still is, the point I was trying to make.
I’d love to be that kid that got a car for his unlocked iphone. Talk about a good deal.
“They should never have sold the damn thing linked to ATT only and then charge full price. They want to charge full price then the phone should be unlocked.”
I hope you were smart enough to not buy the iPhone. Apple made their bed and must now lay in it. They will do so happily making millions of dollars. (How much do you make?)
“They should never have sold the damn thing linked to ATT only and then charge full price. They want to charge full price then the phone should be unlocked.”
I hope you were smart enough to not buy the iPhone. Apple made their bed and must now lay in it. They will do so happily making millions of dollars. (How much do you make?)
“I am sure the VAST majority of us “dumber than a clod of dirt!” iPhone unlockers, do not have access to ATT, or an iPhone option in our Country any time soon, like our friends in Canada, \
so f**K off”
i was going to say that since you are smart enough not to run the update after being warned several times, then the message i wrote wasn’t to you, therefore you are not that dumb….
then i realized that you would know that if you could read, so maybe you still are.
so f**K off back at ya.
@Apple is not a religion
I’m with you, Sister!
I welded my iPhone to an anvil because I wanted a phone AND an anchor (Who doesn’t?!).
Now Apple won’t support my iPhone under warranty.
WTF?! Apple IS the new Microsoft!
$(r3w apple,
do us a favor. don’t buy an iphone; it’ll disappoint you forever. you may own a Mac, but you don’t understand Apple at all, so let me fill you in:
Apple set out to change the cell industry, not just sell a neat phone. They wanted to do away with subsidies which distort what’s really happening, and drive the brand and intrinsic value of phones to zero (See RAZR as prime example and Motorola as an example of what happens to a company). They wanted the handset maker (themselves) to have the direct connection to the customer through changing phone distribution, service activation, and phone servicing, and through keeping their name and not the carrier’s name on the phone. (After all the carrier didn’t make the phone.) They wanted to change the mindset of phones as throwaway devices by continually adding functionality through software updates. They wanted to end the leverage carriers had over handset makers – where the carriers dictated what capabilities and services could be on the handset. They wanted to innovate within the carrier’s infrastructure, both in activation and in services like Visual Voicemail. For that continual innovation, they wanted to change how the handset makers get paid – from an upfront lump sum to a monthly revenue stream.
Do you think they could’ve even come to market without at least one partner?. Nope. Do you think if they had two partners (AT&T;and T-mobile), that either one would’ve agreed to all these changes? Nope.
Magic Word: economics, as that’s what this is all about for Apple.
@John –
I had the same reaction. I got an error message while the iPhone was updating itself, and had to go through a few extra clicks to restore the phone and re-sync all the music and whatnot. Not a terrible outcome, but not a pleasant one. Since my phone is factory-fresh (I’m not one of those tech weens that feels the need to hack a perfectly wonderful device), not sure what set off the error, but gotta admit the iPhones/iTunes software handled the problem with Apple’s usual aplomb. Even in turmoil, Apple’s software engineers triumph!
@i wonder
Thanks, I get your point.
But MacWorld also reports that they are unable to reactivate their UNLOCKED and updated iPhones, even with a valid AT&T;SIM card. So there is something wrong such that it can’t recognize a SIM to provide service.
So yes, it’s not a total brick, but close to it.
“All in all, it’s just a
nother brick that won’t call”
“We’re gonna need some
medication”
-Pink Zune
Umm… excuse me!
As an AAPL stockholder and Apple user, I am offended by your sorry attempt to justify the violation of an agreement that you voluntarily made when you purchased your iPhone. I truly hope you weren’t serious when you asked for admiration as a “diehard Apple fanatic”? You weren’t really serious… were you?
And please… don’t whine to me about the unavailability of the iPhone to you in Mexico. I am a US citizen who works abroad and would love a fully functioning iPhone for my work and pleasure with any service provider. It’s just not an option that I should expect.
You shouldn’t have to wait long to get one in Mexico.
I’m sure an innovative Mexican company will step up to the plate. It will become obvious how willing they are to invest in talented resources and risk shareholder’s money. It’s only a matter of time before they see the light and develop a competitive product which will be released WORLDWIDE and unbound by ANY restrictions. I’m sure that this will be a product that meets all your desires. But please…. don’t hold your breath waiting!
Suck it up! Buy an iPhone and abide by the agreement of the sale, or don’t. There are really only 2 options. You have created the 3rd.
Now would be a good time to sell all your AT&T;and iPhone shares. Before they sell them for you and give the money back to the shareholders like they should have done years ago.
Look. Apple wants their stuff to run properly. So make a phone and contact every carrier and make sure they upgrade to carry their signal (GSM) have it capable to run visual voice mail, and every other feature ATT/Cingular agreed to supply them with is nonsensical.
We all have macs because we want stuff to run properly and efficiently. Apple wants their iPhone to work properly. I live in a Rural area and accept the fact that I can’t have an iPhone because I do not live in a city where the capabilities are avalable. I also work for a phone company who runs CDMA.
This s u c k s. Apple had the capacity to make more money by selling locked and unlocked versions at different prices. It was not going to be 1 million in 74 days, was going to be much more.
That’s why the Treo with Windows Mobile is much more better than the iPhone. You may use it with any carrier and you may install any 3rd party app. Sorry, but its the truth. I know the iPhone is beautiful, the best UI and useless.
They’ve blown away my ringtone. My one little ringtone that is MY intellectual property and not theirs or any one else’s for that matter. Apple won’t let me use my own sound on my device.
F&&(K Apple.
They wanna act like Mircosoft, then we should look at them as nothing more than another crappy ass monopoly caring more about their ruddy profits than providing good products.
@ummm. excuse me,
“Suck it up! Buy an iPhone and abide by the agreement of the sale”
As an AAPL stockholder (since 2001) and Apple user (1st Mac 512 , 1984), I am offended by your sorry attempt to tell me what to do with my money.
If I choose to purchase an iPhone (which I did), (in our house we have 4 Macs, 3 iPods, and an AppleTV, so I consider myself some what of an Apple fanatic) with full knowledge that it might be a cat and mouse game, so be it
My 1st post, was that I do not see people on here “Whining ” about their unlocked iPhone being messed up by an update,
I do not think we are of that much of a difference in views, I say, to any one who buys and unlocks
Suck it up! and live with the small hassle of owning something remarkable,
I am happy with my unlocked iPhone so far. Won’t update until there’s a hack for it. Currently using 3rd party apps by the installer app. Anyway can buy songs from my MacBook Pro, don’t need the update.
iPhones were bricked to protect Jobs enforcer OJ Simpson from being affected by Jobs’ RDF, which is being delivered directly to the brains of Apple minions via iPhone-viewed YouTube videos.
It’ll all be in my new lawsuit next week.
Helter Skelter. It’s coming down fast.
Namaste,
JLR
FCI WIlliamsburg
I am a Mac writes: “Apple had the capacity to make more money by selling locked and unlocked versions at different prices. It was not going to be 1 million in 74 days, was going to be much more.”
Do you have an economical analysis that shows this?
Apple set out to accomplish a lot more than just sell lots of phones. In your short-sightedness, you haven’t even noticed that they’ve changed the cellular/mobile industry for the long-term. That’s the main reason that they had to sign up with just one carrier, and can’t sell an unlocked version. See my earlier response for more (7:37PM)
I am a Mac writes: “Apple had the capacity to make more money by selling locked and unlocked versions at different prices. It was not going to be 1 million in 74 days, was going to be much more.”
Do you have an analysis that shows this?
Apple set out to accomplish a lot more than just sell lots of phones. In your short-sightedness, you haven’t even noticed that they’ve changed the cellular/mobile industry for the long-term. That’s the main reason that they had to sign up with just one carrier, and can’t sell an unlocked version. See my earlier response for more (7:37PM)
@anonymous
See you are not whining, and I am in full agreement with you and doing the same
Sorry for the double post. Safari froze the first time around.
As I stated, I am NOT going to buy an iPhone so if it is a favor to you then so be it. I agree with the concept of which you speak. My problem is that they didn’t do as you say. I Do think they could have sold an unlocked phone and been VERY successful. By creating a phone that works with every carrier they could have affected every carrier. For example, if I decided I wanted one I could just use it with my service plan I already have. Now how does Verizon and Sprint etc. compete with iPhone. They subsidize even more. And what happens in two years with this upgradeable non throw away device when the service contract expires and you don’t want to stay with AT&T;. Will apple allow you, the person who shelled out several hundred dollars to take it to another carrier. So far it looks like the answer is NO. So this device does becomes an expensive throw away device (as far as cell service) if you won’t stick with AT&T;. At least the RAZR you mentioned is subsidized and you won’t be out so much $$$. If Apple really wanted to shake up the cellular market they could have continued to sell it for $600 and let the buyer use it where ever the hell they wanted. So, my statement stands. They want to lock you to AT&T;then it shouldn’t be so damned expensive even after the price drop.
Just when my stock looked like it was taking off…
That cinches it, I’m not buying an iPhone (wasn’t going to anyway, just being dramatic).
I’m wondering how liable they will be if its shown this release was designed to brick those phones. It is not illegal to unlock phones and it is illegal to destroy someones property on purpose.
Apple is really becoming a major corporate asshole.
come one hackers, back to work! Better to be a pirate than to be a navy
$(r3w apple,
No, you’re wrong. Here’s why: Nokia, the dominant handset maker, previously created a really nice phone and has tried to sell it unlocked outside of any carrier. Result: They haven’t change anything, and are still groveling at the feet of the carriers regarding what capabilities are in phones. Even big Nokia, with its long-standing relationships with carriers, has had no influence over the cellular data rates, or the use of wifi, or the walled garden. Activation is still with the carrier. No carrier wants to help them with distribution of the phone.
Because of Apple’s entry into the market, Nokia is going to keep trying by introducing Ovi as a way to break the carriers’ walled gardens and get close to the customer, but most mobile industry observers are saying it’s going to be really tough for them to straddle the line.
As for subsidies, Daniel Eran at RoughlyDrafted.com has already shown how the total price you pay – phone plus 2-year service contract with unlimited data – is still less for iPhone/att than for other smartphones+carrier’s plans. Which goes to show how easy it is for subsidies to be used to fool the consumer, and destroy the handset’s brand (see Carl Howe at Blackfriarsinc.com/blog). It doesn’t matter that other carriers might be willing to subsidize more, Apple doesn’t just want a one-time payment from the carrier for a phone, they want a revenue stream and all the other changes.
As of now, we don’t know what agreement Apple has with AT&T;, and whether there are any service or performance clauses in it. So what happens after 2 years is unknown. But I’m sure the iPhone will still sell pretty well at eBay after 2 years, and the $16.67 a month that the iPhone cost will have been worth it.
Ha Ha. Apple have publicly screwed themselves again. How many times is that in the last 60 days?
So what happens when Apple decides to “brick” your computer because you’ve added Handbrake or Mac The Ripper or Pacifist? Maybe, the new Software Update in Leopard will update all your software, not just Apple’s and what if it scans for all the software and content that The Machine thinks you shouldn’t have? Isn’t that what just occurred?
You Eloi will eventually learn.
But didn’t Apple send the disarming fatboy to tell the masses that Apple wouldn’t disable iPhones intentionally? What’d they just do?
MDN says they “disabled as promised”. Roundboy said they wouldn’t do disable phones intentionally. Somebody’s lying.
“Ha Ha. Apple have publicly screwed themselves again. How many times is that in the last 60 days?”
really?
if you think john q public gives a damn about hacked (“hackers do things to phones?” he says “are they terrorists?”) iPhones, you are clueless. the typical iPhone user and target for Apple to sell to doesn’t know, and doesn’t care.
they just want to know when they can get out of their contracts so they can get in line to buy one.
what is this, slashdot? do you really think the average person even knows this is happening? you are dreaming….
sorry to point out to “hotinplaya”, yes – you ARE dumber than a clod of dirt. Thanks for clearing that point for all of the readers.
@Curious,
When Apple introduced the iPhone, they made clear what you could do with it both by saying so and by putting it in writing. They’ve never said any such thing about the Mac. By the way, has your curiosity even led you to determine the difference between an item that is a general-purpose computer, and one that is not?
Has it led you to determine the meaning of “intentionally”?
Man, some people on this site are just so dense.
@clod of dirt
What did I say, that makes me dumber than a clod of dirt?
I simply stated
I love Apple products
I wanted an iPhone
They are not available in Mexico, so ATT is not a choice, if the iPhone was available here, I would gladly sign up with one of the two GSM providers
I purchased one in the States
I had it unlocked
I will not do the update , until the SIMM FREE guys figure it out
I did so at my own risk,
I am willing to play the cat and mouse game (quote from Jobs)
maybe, my english was not correct, lets see you make a post in spanish
usted pedazo de mierda
EVERYONE WARNED YOU!!!! WHY DIDN’T YOU LISTEN?
To all you suckers out there, I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m sure the Dev Team Will come up with something soon… but frankly, my sympathy is overwhelmed by my gloating.
You see, I didn’t perform the 1.1.1. FW update and I am happy to report that my iPhone is functioning very well. Everyone told you that updating your Unlocked iPhone was akin to putting your thumb up a rottweiler’s bum. Were you surprised when you got bit?
So to recap….
Apple warned you.
Steve Jobs warned you.
The Dev Team warned you.
The disclaimer when you bought the iPhone warned you.
Sympathy Zero, Gloating 10!
Sent from my iPhone
PS.
(Thought I would post this pre-emptive defensive-strike before all you suckers bashed me)
I am using the iPhone in Canada, with Rogers. Rogers in the only GSM carrier in Canada capable of handling iPhone. Rogers is also rumored to be in talks with Apple as “the” carrier. When iPhone does come to Canada I will update/relock/whatever… and then I will sit by the campfire and reminisce over the time that thousands of suckers locked their phones and sent the iPhone community into a general panic. Then I will laugh and laugh and maybe even take pictures on my iPhone and post them here.
May the Dev Team save your soul… or at the very least, your iPhone.
Subsidized?! Do you honestly believe that it is something free and that you do not have to pay it to your telephone company? Tell me immediatly the name of the company that throws money to the customer like that…
There is no such a thing as a free lunch. You will end up paying it sooner or later.
Idiots really think that they get free phones when they sign a contract… Yeesshh…
Be American and speak Spanish.
“Be American and speak Spanish.”
Be Finnish and switch sides all the time. I’d be embarrassed to even admit I was from Finland. Wouldn’t you be better off to pretend you were from some other Scandinavian country?
“what is this, slashdot? do you really think the average person even knows this is happening? “
The average customer will read media headlines and watch TV news segments which says Apple disables iPhones when customers do things with them that Apple doesn’t like.
Apple’s point in doing this is to try to stop people unlocking iPhones or loading 3rd party apps on them so they’re actively spreading the FUD as widely as they can.
If people live in a cave with no external media contact they might not hear about this.
Well, I’m glad to see there seem to be a lot of people who aren’t whiners commenting on this. I’ve reached a point in my life (otherwise known as ‘getting old’) where I don’t have to try and hack my way through every product I own.
I do get why others do it though. It’s fun to experiment with technology. I think the kind of hacking we were seeing on the iPhone is the kind that inspires people to learn and take good risks that lead to innovation…not the kind that bring down whole networks or rip off people. There is a difference and Apple should note that.
So, while I agree with those who say everyone was warned, I also hope Apple makes it easy to reverse the ‘ibrick’ process either via a software restore or a visit to an Apple retail store.
Reading comments from loyal Apple users in forums always amazes me. What a bunch of sheep you are. They sell you music and force you to use one service; they sell you a phone and force you to use one service; and you praise them for it, and defend Apple against people who point out that this is in fact more monopolistic behaviour than Microsoft exhibit. The only difference is that Apple doesn’t have the market share — and lord help us if they did: Apple would be MUCH worse than Redmond in terms of monopolistic practices — and is, in any market in which they have control.
And yet all you people just bend over and grab your ankles and wait for Steve to come get you again.
Fortunately, here in Europe, we seem to be in the process of cooking Apple’s goose. Add in Amazon’s entry into the music market, and you’ve got a less than rosy future for Apple.
What makes people think that Apple is obligated to program around half-arsed hacks? Simply maintianing or improving their own code is enough to break the fragile hacks.
As I see it, Apple isn’t relocking or bricking unlocked iPhones on purpose, its that the hacks are not compatible at the code level with the changes Apple is making.
Apple isn’t required to make sure their code works with code modified by a third party. I don’t understand why people are getting pissy and claiming monopolistic actions by Apple when the exact same thing will happen if you have hacked the internals of OS X — it’s very possible an update could break it in a very bad way.
@ mark… forced to use one music service? Amazon works fine with the iPod, thanks. Troll?
This is such an elegant, gorgeous, solution when you look at it as that – a solution to a problem. Apple is relying on its ability to deliver exclusive access to the Apple brand – the hallmark of excellence in design – to attract a very lucrative, ground-breaking deal from a carrier in every country worldwide. Apple was, of course, confident that they could deliver exclusivity. And I will bet that the contracts signed by the carriers have big damages clauses if Apple is unable to deliver on the exclusivity promise.
Apple were certain that they could. They are being extraordinarily open about it. They intend TO DELIVER THE PRODUCT OVER THE NEXT 2 YEARS which means that the purchaser of an iPhone is buying a promise of 2 years of continual improvement in functionality, reliability, performance etc.
They have installed all the hacks. They know what changes are required in the Mac O/S on the iPhone to disable the hacks. The old hacks won’t work – new ones will be needed. But the life of a hack will always be very short. A waste of time for the hackers in fact. A couple of weeks of unlocked iPhone use and then weeks of nonuse until a new hack can be developed and implemented, for the couple of weeks it takes Apple to change the code to eliminate it.
Some updates will include new features. Sexy new features which no iPhone owner will want to be without. Anyone who has turned off updates will miss out on these features. They will have v1 of a product which will be delivered over 2 years, remember…
And, as someone else pointed out, it will not work with iTunes after a while. And, hey, could Apple have inserted a time bomb in the code – which requires continual updates to stop it closing down the iPhone. Perhaps it will display a message:
software update required – connect to iTunes within 21 days.
software update required – connect to iTunes within 20 days.
software update required – connect to iTunes within 19 days.
software update required – connect to iTunes within 18 days.
…
The key here is the delivery over two years. Apple can make hacking the iPhone a complete waste of time. The hackers will give up after a few cycles…
Apple have engineered a very elegant, legitimate, ethical solution to those who would set out to undermine the worth of the Apple trademark.
The value of Apple is enormous. If everyone has Apple then having Apple means nothing.
Therefore to HAVE the value of Apple, means to have EXCLUSIVITY
Apple has earned the right to charge a premium for access to its brand. Apple stands for all that is good. Good design. Good marketing. Good advertising. Good everything really. We all know AT&T;aren’t perfect, but I’m sure Apple thought of that too…
I wonder if the Apple/carrier contract includes stiff penalties for underperformance in key sectors, like coverage, uptime, dropout rate. I should imagine Apple will have insisted on an “Apple” quality service for any carrier expecting to have exclusive access to the Apple brand.
EXPECT AT&T;’s SERVICE TO IMPROVE…
@ mark
Apple succeeds because it LIMITS customer choice. That corporate philosophy doesn’t make ALL customer happy, but overall, limiting customer choice improves customer satisfaction. That’s why Apple limits the number of Mac and iPods models.
A customer walks into an Apple Store, and without much knowledge and assistance, he or she can pick the right model to buy. There is less anxiety about making the wrong choice because the decision is an easy one. If there is too much choice (an confusion), the customer will often choose not to make a decision, which means an unhappy customer and a lost sale. And after buying the Mac or iPod, there is less chance of buyer’s remorse from thinking they made the wrong choice. We are talking about the typical non-techy non-fanboy customer here (the people who make up most of Apple’s current customer base), not Linux guru or the guy who reads MDN every day and can name all the cats used to designate the Mac OS X releases.
The iPhone is the same way. For every market, there is (and will be) one wireless service provider. Apple maintains control of the user experience and enforces exclusivity. In exchange, Apple receives royalty payments from the wireless service providers. That’s the way it works. For most of Apple’s customers, that’s perfectly fine because they just want the iPhone to work and be cool. It’s Apple’s philosophy of limiting customer choice to increase customer satisfaction that make it all possible.
Apple cannot employ “monopolistic behaviour ” because it does not have a monopoly. The only monopoly that Apple appears to have these days is a monopoly on “coolness.”
There are technical differences that are important to the full operation of the iPhone system. The carrier has to modify their network to utilize the iPhone features that DIFFERENTIATE this phone from others.
So they have to have partnership agreements… Because Apple wants the iPhone to function differently from other phones.
How the hell is this hard ti understand???
That really cool random access to voicemail feature is dependent upon carrier mods. Unlocked phones would have less features. Apple doesn’t want that.
Is that greedy??? No, dear grade school economists… Apple prides itself in a complete and seamless experience.
If they sold their stuff to just anybody under any circumstances, they couldn’t produce the user experience they want to.
This user experience is what differentiates the iPhone from other mobiles.
You idiots didn’t think that the iPhone was just all skin deep eye candy did you????
Idiots
@$(r32 apple,
Less profit for apple if apple went your WAY since no profit from the carriers. How would that shake up the cellular market if apple just agree with their model. Apple changing the cellular business model and making profit.
After two-years…. the consumer doesn’t like AT&T;… the only other carrier would be T-mobile which aren’t very good as a whole.
As for the RAZR…. it is cheap material…..you get what you paid for. when the RAZR came out… it was high price for what functionalities… it had.
…that people should talk about litigating against the company they got the software hack from not Apple.
The headline should read “Apple assrapes iPhone customers again, MDN fanboys report that they enjoyed it.”
I should have seen this coming, but why is everyone trying to unlock the Iphone anyway? It has no new features from any other phones and it has an operating system from apple. Couldn’t you just buy a better phone that is cheaper and does the same things without restricting you with apple and at&t;? As this has shown, if you unlocked the iphone, you were free from at&t;, but not from apple.