Chris Leckness

Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed. Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update, containing many new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, later this week. Apple strongly discourages users from installing unauthorized unlocking programs on their iPhones. Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty.

Source: Apple press release

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Pocketbrain

That sounds a little ominous. They better be extra careful that they don't make it sound like they have done this on purpose.

KipDynamite

Don't they realize that issuing this kind of perceived threat only provokes more defiance?

CodeBubba

Perhaps - however voiding warranty because users "reverse engineer" a product is common - and Apple has every right to withdraw support from one of their products if it is tampered with. No one can expect Apple (or any other manufacturer) to support a product when you tinker with how it functions. That's just not a fair expectation.

If I built you a gadget and you took it apart and changed how it works I'd say the same thing: you're on your own.

Of course they did this "on purpose" PB ... they have every right to.

-CB

uzziah0

So do people that got their iPhones unlocked need a patch or hack or something to prevent them from getting SW updates that might cause unintentional harm?

ecsk2

I have a feeling at&t pressured this statement, I don't think Apple really sincerly cares if I use my iPhone (I bought from Apple) on at&t or Tmo (which is what I am doing)..

BTW Now we are talking!

Is Apple working on a multi-touch-based Newton successor? - Engadget

AppleInsider | Up next for Apple: the return of the Newton

gjw

Originally Posted by CodeBubba

If I built you a gadget and you took it apart and changed how it works I'd say the same thing: you're on your own.

If we were talking hardware where evidence of tampering was explicit I would agree but we are talking about a software modification.
I would place the burden on Apple to prove that a specific software modification caused the problem and if they couldn't, I would expect Apple, at a minimum, to reflash the device back to out-of-the-box, AT&T locked condition.

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CodeBubba

Originally Posted by gjw

If we were talking hardware where evidence of tampering was explicit I would agree but we are talking about a software modification. I would place the burden on Apple to prove that a specific software modification caused the problem and if they couldn't, I would expect Apple, at a minimum, to reflash the device back to out-of-the-box, AT&T locked condition.

Apple has not provided (to my knowledge) any way for an end-user to trash the firmware running on the device unless it is specifically hacked. Hacking is tampering, period.

I agree, though ... being set up to re-flash a failing device seems reasonable - but not support of the modified code.

-CB :approve:

patrickj

Originally Posted by CodeBubba

I agree, though ... being set up to re-flash a failing device seems reasonable - but not support of the modified code. -CB :approve:

That's pretty much how it is as of this evening. I haven't seen anyone saying their iPhone got 'bricked' by today's firmware update. All the unlocking and 3rd party app installs and mods have just been wiped out by the update. So far, everyone I saw posting on forums said a restore had their phone up and working ...