I had prepared a post regarding the whole issue about Apple’s 1.1.1 firmware – how it’s affecting the developer community, which arguments I thought were reasonable or not, but ultimately I really can’t find anything to pin Apple with. Legally, Apple was within it’s rights in doing whatever they did. In fact I think it was even courteous of them to WARN people with hacked phones that 1.1.1 would probably brick their phone.
Still, I can’t help but share the grief and disappointment of the hacking community, but that disappointment is akin to a person hoping for a favor from someone else for old times sake and not getting it, rather than someone expecting a service as a right.
I’m talking about how Apple started flagging iPhones with hacked basebands in their 1.1.1 update – and denied service of those units. While they have the right to do whatever the hell they wanted to their product, one couldn’t help hoping Apple didn’t do what they just did.
Even if we are the minority, we, the gearheads, the geeks, the nerds; are the people who our friends and family come to and ask for recommendations regarding what gadget would suit them. While we do not represent the overall “market” of Apple, we do like to think that we try our best to make the world a little better by pointing everyone we know (or anyone who looks up to us) to Apple products.I do not mind the 1.1.1 firmware relocking, and deactivating the phone. I do not mind that Apple made it much more difficult to break in. In fact, I wouldn’t mind if Apple made it IMPOSSIBLE to break into with 1.1.1. But I do find it disappointing that the update, while being confirmed to be poorly written, and has a significant percentage of bricking iPhones (regardless if hacked or not) also flags hacked phones – for denial of techincal support.
Again, Apple doesn’t owe us anything, but in the spirit of goodwill and appreciating the developer communities patronizing of their product, one would really like to say “Come on man, at least allow us to bring the units to the shop to have them re-flash it with the proper tools to a virgin state – instead of giving us the cold shoulder.”
Because here’s the thing, the units were working FINE before the update, so it’s NOT a hardware problem. If the process of unlocking the software somehow TOASTED the unit (dunno if that’s possible, but lets just say it did)… that somehow, writing that “illegal” code physically FRIED the hardware. Then by all means, deny the warranty claim – and send the customer home crying. But obviously that’s not the case, and a normal restore should do just that. RESTORE it to a factory fresh, locked, deactivated, now encrypted and locked down state… NOT turn the thing into an unsupported 300-400 dollar paperweight.
I’m not saying it’s unfair, I’m just saying its just harsh to treat the minority that way, when I really would’ve wanted to think that Apple “cared” for the little people.
I write this with no bias. Because we all know that here in our country, the iPhone is not getting support wether it’s hacked or not – since technically it shouldn’t be here [yet] in the first place. I guess I just have a soft spot for people who try to make something better than it currently is, then being “punished” for it.
I hope Apple realizes that this minority of hackers, developers, geeks, nerds, etc. Are the same people that prove that Apple products aren’t just for dummies and idiots. But money talks… and unfortunately, the money is in the majority, and the majority are usually the dummies and idiots – and they are the ones that get all the support.
Now I ask the question again, do you think that’s fair?
NOTE: I just had to add this for the sheer irony of it.
For those of you who aren’t aware, the audio in the background is an actual Apple ad (one of their old powerful ads)… glorifying the people who “think different.” Ironic that those same people nowadays are being marginalized by a company which once nurtured the concept of “thinking differently.”
Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them; because they change things… they push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.
Yeah, sure hahahaha.