It appears Apple were telling the truth...

[wideawakewesley]

The BBC is reporting that unlocked Apple iPhone's are indeed getting bricked by the latest updates.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7017660.stm

[electricalburn]

figures... i dont blame them. if they have the means to why not

[vkzawa]

figures... i dont blame them. if they have the means to why not

It's gotta be pressure from AT&T. Apple only benefits from people unlocking their phones. First off they are selling more phones because people are buying them to use on other networks (and they make more off the hardware than the small % they get back from AT&T). Secondly, they get this boost in sales without having to offer support for it, since all unlocking voids your warranty.

The idea of unlocked iPhones becoming bricked is pretty ridiculous though since its just software and no hardware modifications are necessary.

Oh well, I'm happy with my modded iPhone on the AT&T network here in Los Angeles. I just won't update it to the latest v1.1.1 until I know I continue to use my 3rd party apps.
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[masherscf]

It's gotta be pressure from AT&T. Apple only benefits from people unlocking their phones.

This isn't true if ATT is sharing fees with Apple. Their share of phone charges is potentially more than the loss in iPhone sales.

[glugory]

It's gotta be pressure from AT&T.

Typical fanboy response.

Crappy iPod Touch screens? Not Apple's fault! It's the Chinese manufacturer!
Forcing you to purchase a song twice to use it as a ringtone? Not Apple's fault! It's the RIAA!

Seriously, the typical Apple fanboy's capacity to continually pass the buck is nothing short of phenomenal. You guys gotta realize that all of this stuff is within the sphere of their control. They do it to screw you over and make more money, just like every other big corporation. They're not your friend, they're not the good guys, and they're not your savior. They're here to make money by screwing you as much as they can.

[phatlip12]

Typical fanboy response.

Crappy iPod Touch screens? Not Apple's fault! It's the Chinese manufacturer!
Forcing you to purchase a song twice to use it as a ringtone? Not Apple's fault! It's the RIAA!

Seriously, the typical Apple fanboy's capacity to continually pass the buck is nothing short of phenomenal. You guys gotta realize that all of this stuff is within the sphere of their control. They do it to screw you over and make more money, just like every other big corporation. They're not your friend, they're not the good guys, and they're not your savior. They're here to make money by screwing you as much as they can.

This thread = troll bait?

What's wrong in what he said? He brings a valid point, is Apple doing this due to pressure from AT&T? It's a possibility. The iPhone is exclusive to the AT&T network, purchasing an iPhone puts money in AT&Ts pockets each and every month (or at least it's supposed to...hence this thread). People using the iPhone on different networks looses the exclusiveness of the deal- AT&T looses money.

[masherscf]

This thread = troll bait?

What's wrong in what he said? He brings a valid point, is Apple doing this due to pressure from AT&T? It's a possibility. The iPhone is exclusive to the AT&T network, purchasing an iPhone puts money in AT&Ts pockets each and every month (or at least it's supposed to...hence this thread). People using the iPhone on different networks looses the exclusiveness of the deal- AT&T looses money.

Phatip... master of the obvious. Of course, AT&T wants to keep the iPhone exclusive. Why else would they be kicking back a fraction of their fees to Apple? This is money in the bank for Apple. Think about it, why would Apple enter into such an exclusive contract to begin with unless their getting a kick back. Wouldn't they sell more phones if they opened the thing up to any carrier? Besides, what does AT&T have to pressure Apple unless some cash payment is involved. I suppose AT&T could sue Apple for breaching their agreement by not supporting the exclusivity of AT&T. But, since unlocking phones isn't illegal. I think a judge would not rule in AT&T's favor. Why should Apple be libel for not stopping people from doing things legal with their own hardware? No theres a issue of cash payments involved.

Breaking peoples phones is a win-win for both Apple and AT&T.

[iccanui]

So is this modded iphones too ? i got app tapp installed, but im still on AT&T.

[datafeaster]

fanboy, no. hold onto your hats: business is business. . .
Apple advised against hacking it as well. G-d forbid there's a device that's _not_ hack-able. rtfm.

[logant]

Personally I don't think that Apple is bricking peoples iPhones for 3rd party apps, maybe not even unlocks. I just think when they were adding stuff to the firmware they didn't care whether or not it bricked your unloced iPhone, they weren't going to remove features just so peoples hacked iphones would work. I mean at least they gave a warning, not only on their site but around Apple stores.

[iccanui]

fanboy, no. hold onto your hats: business is business. . .
Apple advised against hacking it as well. G-d forbid there's a device that's _not_ hack-able. rtfm.


everything is hackable.

[glugory]

Even Leo (the massive Apple fanboy that he is) thinks this is bullshit: http://leoville.com/blog/2007/09/29/1037/

C'mon guys, get it into your heads. Apple is screwing you for no damn good reason.

[vkzawa]

So is this modded iphones too ? i got app tapp installed, but im still on AT&T.

So far iPhones just modded with apps and no carrier unlock aren't being bricked. You will just lose all your apps and go back to stock.
None of the jailbreak apps are working either so you can't get your programs or custom graphics back after the 1.1.1 update.

So YOU could update to 1.1.1 if you want, but I would wait until the dev/hackers figure out how to install apps on 1.1.1.

Typical fanboy response.

...They do it to screw you over and make more money, just like every other big corporation...

No doubt they're like every other big corp.
Was my response really that fanboy-ish? I was tryin' to be unbiased in my opinion. I'm looking at it from Apple's POV and whats most profitable to them. Do you really think they are getting enough money from AT&T to say that if they weren't exclusive they still wouldn't be making more off hardware sales. Obviously right now they are under contract so theres not much they can do at this point, but do they have to active stop users from using different networks? Would they benefit more from letting users buy their phones with the intent to use them on other networks or by cutting those users off for the sake of the AT&T exclusivity contract.

...C'mon guys, get it into your heads. Apple is screwing you for no damn good reason.

That's what I'm sayin'. There is no reason the be screwing us other than outside pressure. Breaking phones doesn't make them more money unless AT&T is giving them money above and beyond the agreed rate already in the exclusivity contract.

...Breaking peoples phones is a win-win for both Apple and AT&T.

How so? Ya AT&T loves it, but unless its either written in the contract that 'Apple must actively stop people from illegally modding/unlocking their phones' or an extra cash bonus from AT&T to Apple, I don't see how Apple wins.
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I'm not arguing with my mind set in stone, I'm open minded. By all means, convince me otherwise, show me the 'light'.
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[glugory]

Oh wow, now even Microsoft is doing a better job at customer service than Apple.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/zune/firstgen-zune-getting-all-the-new-features-this-is-how-you-treat-your-customers-306422.php

HA! I'm doubly happy because:
1. This makes Apple look stupid.
2. I bought a Zune for dirt cheap about a month ago. Win.