The eye of Apple is watching, issuing takedowns

It's beginning to look as though Apple's kinda-sorta "hands off" approach to iPhone hackers turns a bit more "hands on" when it comes to the iPod touch. According to reports, a hacker named "Martyn" had gotten a broken touch, which he was planning to dump the NAND data from so that efforts to create 3rd party applications for the device could be sped up. Apparently, while uploading the data to a private folder on his site, his ISP showed up on the scene and killed the transfer... all at the request of Apple, who (rightfully so) let them know that sharing the code was a copyright infringement. Of course, the interesting news here is that Apple seems to be very actively monitoring channels where all this warranty-voiding software manipulation is being planned and discussed. So next time you're going to reverse engineer one of its products -- keep it quiet.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 4:49PM]

I would be pretty pissed at my parents for not letting me open my presents whenever I damn well pleased if I paid $600 for them.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 4:36PM]

It is interesting that so many people think "hackers" and those of us who visit websites like this are the norm. Most people don't give a rat's ass about Mac rumors, whether they can load 3rd party apps on their iPod touch/iPhone or if it plays doom :) The "average" consumer uses a product in the way in which it comes out of the box. They don't mod it or hack it or crack open the case to add a chip that lets them copy games to their xbox. We are a small minority and we need to recognize that Apple, nor hardly any other company, will bow down to our demands because honestly we don't pay their rent. The "average" consumer does.

Apple is a company and it wants to make money. DEAL WITH IT.

They are not evil and they put out a great product.

If you don't like their business practices, please go buy from someone else.

[DewWhatNaugh xbl Posted Sep 26th 2007 4:52PM]

AMEN! Brother Joel

[Camerondotca Posted Sep 26th 2007 4:57PM]

Umm... how is this a sign of them being adverse to anything but people posting their source code to the the web?

[Andrew F Posted Sep 26th 2007 5:38PM]

+10 for the irony of that image.

[peestandingup Posted Sep 26th 2007 5:55PM]

Big Brother = Apple

Oh, how things have changed since 1984.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 5:56PM]

So who wants to 'shop the eye of Sauron into an Apple logo?

[Solipsism Posted Sep 26th 2007 7:31PM]

it is done: http://media.ubaz.net/images/appleeye.jpg

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 9:30PM]

I lol'd. That wins.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 5:59PM]

*looks at wishlist*
*cross out iPhone*
*adds Meizu M8*
At least they will let me do what I want with the device.

[carbonize Posted Sep 26th 2007 6:47PM]

Makes you wonder if Echelon is not run on Macs.

And here was me thinking it was 2007 and not 1984.

[bruckwine Posted Sep 26th 2007 7:03PM]

Bad apples all around lol! I'm sure they did this so that they can have full control esp as it seems they plan to make big bucks witht he wireless iTunes - a larger revenue source than the percentage from AT&T no doubt!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 7:26PM]

seriously, what's the stick that apple has up its ass?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 8:19PM]

Gee, I've never seen Apple get THIS much attention before; makes me feel all tingley on the inside.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 9:03PM]

Please Apple, take a look at the PSP scene. Homebrew has such a huge potiential to make a product better.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2007 9:23PM]

The above article is true. And the reason Apple is so protective over their firmware because they will be using the same code on the next device they plan on releasing. dun dun dun.. a PDA. Once the code is posted on the internet, private or not, it takes one leak and its all over. Then a competitor can come along and beat them to the punch. I understand their reasoning, but don't like the similarities of Microsoft that they are showing. Using press to fear people away from modifying the devices and sending in their lawyers to scare away the people calling their bullshit. Shit... Is Steve Jobs our president's brother???

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 27th 2007 3:59AM]

Picture unrelated.