iPhones by Apple & 3rd Party Software?

Should you or anyone else be allowed to load 3rd party software onto an iPhone without the current updates rendering your phone useless?

The new name for a useless iPhone has been coined, iBrick.

If you buy a $500 cell phone should you have the right to Hack it too?

I have had a Treo, Blackberry and many other phones over the years and they all allow 3rd party software without penalties. Why Apple punishing its customers?

Isn't this like Microsoft saying that if you buy our product and/or software you have to use only our products and updates in the future and cannot add anything else or your OS will lock up?


New York Times and iBricks



[edit on 1-10-2007 by Realtruth]

reply to post by Realtruth


Funny how you make it about 3rd party software... cause that's not what it's about.
It's about those poor sods who can't wait it out and just HAVE TO have an iPhone right here right now and then get it unlocked so it works through other phone companies and in fx. Europe where the phone hasn't been released yet.

The new update targets specificly those iPhones that are being used on networks outside that exclusive agreement that Apple has with a single network in the US, and will have with a single network in the UK... which will be the company called O2...

So... it's about stopping people buying unlocked iPhones, in order to protect a signed deal Apple has with a network.

Originally posted by flice
The new update targets specificly those iPhones that are being used on networks outside that exclusive agreement that Apple has with a single network in the US, and will have with a single network in the UK... which will be the company called O2...

So... it's about stopping people buying unlocked iPhones, in order to protect a signed deal Apple has with a network.

That my friend is called a "Monopoly" and it is against the law here in the USA, unfortunately it has to always end up in court to determine if that is the actual case, but if someone buys a phone and wants to use it on a different network and the phone will work on a different network than that is their right.

I can assure you this issue will end up in court very shortly.

Originally posted by Realtruth

Isn't this like Microsoft saying that if you buy our product and/or software you have to use only our products and updates in the future and cannot add anything else or your OS will lock up?

It's exactly that way. I've researched this extensively and come to the conclusion that the whole AT&T thing is just a red-herring to distract from the real issue -- Apple doesn't want third party software developers to create apps for the iPhone. Just like Microsoft doesn't want open source developers to flourish.

Here, have a read. The parallels are striking.

Apple Warns Hacking iPhone May Harm It

Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals


Apple has definitely gone to the Dark Side.

That my friend is called a "Monopoly" and it is against the law here in the USA, unfortunately it has to always end up in court to determine if that is the actual case, but if someone buys a phone and wants to use it on a different network and the phone will work on a different network than that is their right.

It won't end up in court. Both Apple and the people who unlock their phones are within their legal rights. It will just be a big PR mess for Apple, as this news spreads like wildfire through the Blogosphere.