Double jeopardy
Talking of idiots, I wonder if iPhone modding geeks are really wet behind the ears kind of juvenile idiots. I mean you go and buy a product, accept its terms of use from a technology company for sanity’s sake, not from some consumer company whose products you mod and be happy with forever. By accepting feature updates, you’ve willfully signed-up for that painful no-demo-available experience called iScream.
How different is this from music DRM about which Steve Jobs so eloquently fooled everyone into thinking Apple was indeed growing a halo. Apple has demonstrated time and again that it is not a company that tolerates freedom. Rather, it is a “you want something from us, then, you’ve got to play by our rules” kind.
I fail to understand why free as in freedom does not dawn upon consumers to reject products that tend to put a noose around necks and force you to tow a line. Either you do, or you don’t (buy). Buying it and modding is subjective silliness—knowing Apple could knock your wallet and your expensive device in one sync.
Update: This post isn’t complete without this point-home quote from Jon Lech Johansen.
Has Nokia or Sony Ericsson ever bricked or refused service on an unlocked phone? Not that I’ve heard of, and if they did, they would have been quickly sued in several countries where consumer rights are more strongly protected.
Did Sony ever brick PSPs over homebrew software? Did Microsoft ever overwrite someone’s BIOS with garbage because they detected an illegitimate Windows installation?
In light of other things Apple has done lately, such as adding an encrypted hash to the iPod database to lock out non-Apple software and disabling TV-out on the iPod unless the 3rd party accessory you’re using has an Apple authentication chip, it’s evident that Apple is well on its way to become one of the most consumer hostile tech companies.
Everyone who modified an iPhone knew this could happen. Either by direct Apple intervention or as a logical result of a normal iPhone firmware update. The hand full of friends I have that did modified their iPhones, also disabled updates to it. Their devices work just fine.
Apple created the iPhone and has carefully “hand picked” the carriers allowed to have it. The device was created for profit (for both, Apple and the “hand picked” mobile carriers), and I think they are on their rights to do whatever it takes to protect their interests.
Johansen is comparing, in all his examples and references, apples and beans.
Oct 1, 07 at 12:51