iPhone update re-locking handsets, disabling 3rd-party apps?

So as the first iPhone owners update their phones to firmware 1.1.1, we're getting reports in that not only do third-party applications no longer work, but a post-update reactivation requires a genuine AT&T SIM. In other words, it looks like Apple may have just disabled thousands of unlocked phones around the world. Stay tuned for more as we test this ourselves...

[Drakin @ Sep 27th 2007 2:49PM]

Weird....Gizmodo just posted that it was a Bluff.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/pr-bluff/apples-iphone-bricking-is-a-bluff-303459.php

[Drakin @ Sep 27th 2007 2:50PM]

Sorry I just noticed that this was not related to the firmware release.

My mistake.

[John @ Sep 27th 2007 5:11PM]

Comment unrelated; I just wanted a top spot.

I'd like to comment about how people who read engadget, who are tech savvy "power users", and who look for extra functionality in their products are NOT Apple's target audience. The iPhone was obviously designed for the average person with a minimum of little or no experience with technology. For every person here on Engadget who respects high functionality and heavy 3rd party support, there were 10 seventeen year-old girls going "Daddy! I want that now!" when they saw the iPhone commercial for the first time.

In perspective, the tech subculture is only a subgroup, so pretending like Apple will make "millions of dollars in sales" targeting to a different group is ridiculous.

[Totalfixation @ Sep 27th 2007 5:19PM]

sorry to reply to this but i think apple just added new text message alerts.

[JS @ Sep 27th 2007 7:06PM]

Starting any comment with "Comment unrelated; I just wanted a top spot" already completely discredits the comment...

just thought you might want to know

[JJV @ Sep 29th 2007 6:19PM]

does anyone know if the hardware hacks still work????

[Mr Angry @ Sep 27th 2007 2:50PM]

Hahaha owned.

Why should legitimate iPhone subscribers have to suffer the fact that other people want to screw the system. I want them to invest in developing the product I paid for and use according to the rules, so it's great they are cutting the people who always think they are entitled to more than was offered.

[Rob @ Sep 27th 2007 2:57PM]

Screw what system? They bought the phone outright. It's not like they are stealing something... It's obvious the noise is coming from the AT&T camp worried about losing the ability to force people in to an AT&T contract because of the popularity of the iPhone.

[CoolTri @ Sep 27th 2007 3:13PM]

I don't think its a sence of entitlement that drive these people. The fact is there are hundred of thousands of people that extremely intelligent and talented who know what they (and to an extent other people) want and how to make it. Major cooperations are just not keeping up with that demand because they don't think that those ideals are profitable due to the amount of people that would use it or they want to make money off of it themselves.

Why stop progress because it doesn't line Jobs pocket with Diamonds.

Always remember you own what you buy and should never be told what to do with it. Its a Bunch of Money hungry CEO that are telling you what to do with you life. You like it? not me.

[doctorSpoc @ Sep 27th 2007 3:29PM]

@ CoolTri

ok, but then don't expect Apple to jump through flaming hoops to support you... if Apple does an update then you are on your own... don't come back crying to Apple... you figure it out. that sounds fair to me.

[newgalactic @ Sep 27th 2007 3:42PM]

This was not a case of lack of support, this was targeted sabotage. While it might be hard to prove it in court, it's exactly that to anyone who knows how the iPhone's software and firmware operates. It would have been easy to not break all unlocked and Jailbreaked phones, but that's not the route Apple decided to take. They are making a clear message that they do not appreciate 3rd party developers, a stance not taken by Palm and other PDA manufacturers. While they have every right to act this way, I will NOT be buying two iPhones for my wife and I this Christmas.

[jack.givens @ Sep 27th 2007 4:06PM]

I do not expect Apple to support 3rd party apps. But after paying $600 I do think I should be able to use my phone the way I want and need to. Much of the technology that Apple uses is developed by the same Open Source people they are slapping around.

[Fraunhofer Plug @ Sep 27th 2007 4:19PM]

It's shortsighted posters like newgalactic that don't see the forest for the trees.

Sorry to repeat myself:

You guys still think this is about restricting third-party development?

They are a million times more concerned with competitors figuring out how to properly integrate iTunes and purchased media into non-Apple hardware.

No SDK until they've built it, and an iron gauntlet around their own proprietary code.

Oh evil "new" Apple. Seriously, when was Apple as progressive about information dissemination as you guys remember?

Keep your eyes on the ball people, you're looking in the wrong direction at shit that doesn't exist.

--

But let me add this addendum, these updates have yet to "brick" an iPhone, as far as an intelligent assessment of the situation can attest to. The SIMs that didn't work originally with the iPhone no longer work. A brick is a non-functioning device. This is an update guys, targeted toward shoring up holes in the software and possibly for creating a proper baseline so the APIs are not moving targets down the road. So seriously, take a chill pill, hack the phone with another developer's software. They are in bed with AT&T whether you like it or not. Enjoy the extended capabilities, but don't bitch about your inability to have your cake and eat it too.

[Raykell @ Sep 27th 2007 4:31PM]

Dude.... that comment sounded.. SO ... I dunno .. COMMUNIST lol.. Sorry, i dont mean to Offend. but Geeks are all over the PLANET NOT only in the US and certain European countries. The fact that companies do these DUMB things (like not allow ANY country to buy off itunes etc) does not mean to say that we dont WANT to do it legaly, but the doors are CLOSED, so hey.. HACK the world :D. If we were given the LEGAL option, believe me, I would be one of the FIRST on the list of going by the rules

[Diceburna @ Sep 27th 2007 4:56PM]

Unbelieveable....u can't be serious

[Constable Odo @ Sep 27th 2007 6:03PM]

A man walks into a Home Depot and asks one of the customer service reps, "Excuse me, but could you tell me where you keep the unlocked iPhones?" The customer service rep says, "Where the heck do you think they'd be? There's a whole stack of those iPhones in the masonry section right next to the rest of the BRICKS." Haaaaha.

[newgalactic @ Sep 27th 2007 6:14PM]

Fraunhofer Plug @ Sep 27th 2007 4:19PM

"It's shortsighted posters like newgalactic that don't see the forest for the trees."

What does any of that stuff have to do with 3rd party apps or my choice in PDA's? Why should any of us spend time trying to understand things from Apples point of view? I'm concerned with one point of view, mine. There are other PDA's that allow 3rd party apps. And what do I have to do with Apples decision to make the iTunes store the way it is. I don't care if other manufacturers are trying to play iTunes tracks on their players, and how Apple has to now protect it's exclusive business model. It's not my concern at all. I didn't decide for Apple to tether their songs to their hardware and I'm not going to spend time taking it into consideration when purchasing a PDA. Your "Forest for the Trees" argument is basically saying that I should make decisions from Apples point of view, and that's just ridiculous. It's also very off-topic from my only point, that there's a huge difference between "jumping through hoops to support 3rd party development" and "actively sabotaging all 3rd party apps and unlocks".

Fraunhofer, keep following around all the Apple talk, trying to deduce their motivations for the things they do. It obviously seems to give you a thrill that you might somehow have insight into their decision making process. For me, I'm not going to bother. I'm going to try to find the best PDA for my needs, and a company that doesn't discourage open development.

[nr2134 @ Sep 27th 2007 6:47PM]

You just won the complete idiot award. I guess you would be cool if you bought a car and they told you that you can only drive 55 and pump gas @ and only Shell because it will void your warranty. I guess you also prefer taking it without any lubrication.

[Mr Angry @ Sep 27th 2007 6:57PM]

I'm not quite sure what 'taking it without any lubrication' means in respect to this thread, although I'm confident you can expand on your experiences on this very matter with great first-hand detail.

I imagine owning a car that could reach 55mph, would be your life goal, judging from the few words you managed to scrawl down here.

I'd like to refer you to the first line of my original post, it's relevant to this reply, thanks.

[halfeatenfish @ Sep 27th 2007 7:13PM]

I'm not sure what people were expecting. Look at the size of the download... 150+ MB. In all likelihood, they COMPLETELY rewrote the firmware to the phone. Do you really think that after a firmware rewrite that any firmware hacks would survive???

And I don't think they are purposely doing anything. I think they're just saying "Look people, our update is going to steamroll in some new firmware. We're not going to spend time testing and whatnot to make sure your hacks will survive."

[saintchuck @ Sep 27th 2007 10:37PM]

If the car manufacturer told you ahead of time that you couldn't drive over 55mph and had to use Shell gas but you bought it anyway thinking you didn't have to obey their rules, then it is your own fault for buying the car.

In other words,

You were warned. You didn't listen. You suffer the consequences.

I am no fan of Apples policies but I understand the possible consequences so choose not to buy an iPhone. I don't go around bitching and whining about Apples policies, I just buy a different phone.

[Harbinger @ Sep 28th 2007 1:12AM]

"It would have been easy to not break all unlocked and Jailbreaked phones, but that's not the route Apple decided to take. They are making a clear message that they do not appreciate 3rd party developers, a stance not taken by Palm and other PDA manufacturers."

Dude, in what part of the "SDK is currently Web 2.0" announcement did you decide Apple was anti-third party support? The point is being an apologist for Apple and understanding they rushed a product and placed rules you chose not to comply with are not the same thing. It's a technical assessment to try and understand, even-handedly that the SDK is just not developed at this point. If that's something you can't live with in a PDA (and how you confused the iPhone for one if you did your research is beyond me) then you're probably on the right track to getting what you want.

The codebase will change until they are satisfied with APIs they can maintain for developers to work against. If they don't decide to release those they haven't said anything that should confuse a consumer into thinking this is an open platform.

So, enjoy the Blackberry or Palm-based device as you clearly purchased the cutting edge thinking it's called that for entirely different reasons.

[Panq @ Sep 28th 2007 1:45AM]

halfeatenfish @ Sep 27th 2007 7:13PM
"I'm not sure what people were expecting. Look at the size of the download... 150+ MB. In all likelihood, they COMPLETELY rewrote the firmware to the phone. Do you really think that after a firmware rewrite that any firmware hacks would survive???"

150MB isn't that significant an update for something like an iPhone. The cut-down OSX that iPhones run on is what, 700MB? That's roughly 20% of the size of the OS install. That's about the equivalent of a 2-3MB update for my '04 model iPaq (Windows Mobile 2003), yet the only update I've installed was 23.3MB.

Actually, the subject of iPhones came up earlier today, and someone mentioned how Apple is going to cripple any unlocked iPhones. But they're not actively going out and deactivating them remotely or anything. These updates aren't mandatory, are they?

[ModMan @ Sep 28th 2007 6:07PM]

Mr. Angry, you're a pissed off, unhappy person. How does someone who unlocks their OWN phone affect you? Why do you care? How, exactly does this cause you to "suffer?' You're an iPhone nazi!- policing technology and advancement to make everything "fair and equal" for the lowest common denominator -you. Everyone who unlocked their phone knows that they voided their warranty, and accept this before they mod it. But your taking such glee and happiness from this shows the kind of communist you obviously are. How does someone unlocking their own iPhone affect Apple's ability to develop their own products - "that you paid for and use according to the rules?" Good for you, Mr. Angry, you win the "tech nazi of the year award" for your tireless work of making everyone play by "the rules." When are you going to get started making the world fair for everyone while you're at it? People who unlocked their phones paid for them too, so again, how does this affect you? And what does a sense of entitlement have to do with anything? We aren't motivated by any sense of entitlement. Just because you're not smart enough to do it, doesn't mean I can't. In fact, I did, and you know what? I'll find a way to unlock it again! People will always take things apart to see how they work, and mod/make improvements - it's human nature. I'm not angry with Apple either. They're doing what's in their best interest -also human nature. Should Apple punish us? Oh yea, they already did -they voided my warranty! People who get satisfaction from seeing others unhappiness or distress suck as human beings. I sincerely question your "human" nature. Unhappiness and misery for all! Now go ahead, Mr. Angry, get started trying to diminish my comment... did I forget a period? mispell a word? I know I didn't to use a semicolon where one was needed. You're still a pissed off person though, and in your book, that should make me happy.

[Mr Angry @ Sep 28th 2007 6:15PM]

What a twat...

We play this game at work where we try and get points by invoking responses from idiots on internet forums by posting. For you to reply a whole day later is hilarious, you type like you don't take a breath. You've really topped off my score today, you've got us in tears here.

I don't care what you think buddy, or what you do with your iPhone, you can jam it up your ass for all I care. Also the word you are looking for is hubris, try at least using the correct term if you want to scrap with the big boys. Just get a life mongman.

[ModMan @ Sep 28th 2007 9:59PM]

And yet, you still reply... a day later... Does this fill some void in your pathetic little life? Go back to your cubicle and pout. I must be close to the truth about you, you seem even more pissed off.

[Mr Angry @ Sep 28th 2007 10:07PM]

Engadget Email me with fan mail when tossers like you reply.

Way to go on the come back! That's 10 points for a personal attack, great stuff! I can't blame you for replying that time as you did get your ass handed to you pretty badly there, so no doubt you are licking your wounds.

Hope the iPhone isn't to uncomfortable. If you really want to play, please have something interesting to contribute. It just looks like you logged on to engadget after crying overnight that your bricked iPhone won't let you call your shrink.

[chris @ Sep 30th 2007 3:50PM]

damn, you got a lot of rise out of a lot of people by posting that.

i was just wondering, what are the legitimate iphone owners suffering from? A severe case of idiocy? - to drop this crazy sum of cash on a piece of white plastic is ridiculously stupid.

Chris

[E71 @ Sep 27th 2007 2:50PM]

And that's why the smart folk go with WM6/Blackberry/Palm phones.

[Drakin @ Sep 27th 2007 2:54PM]

Agreed.

At least BB/WM phones are actually Smart phone's and not phones with a Fischer Price interface.

[ItGuy @ Sep 27th 2007 2:57PM]

While I do have a Treo 650 and it works well, only an idiot would buy a WM anything. BB I can see as they are the best for e-mail.

But, Windows Mobile? Come on - all the BS associated with Windows in the palm of your hand? No thanks.

[Jon @ Sep 27th 2007 2:57PM]

I might just loss at sarcasm, but I can't get my BB to do anything cool.

[Drakin @ Sep 27th 2007 3:00PM]

@itguy

You must not be an itguy. Because if you were you would know how well WM works with CRM and Office Live Communicator.

/an IT Guy
//A Network Admin guy.

[bruckwine @ Sep 27th 2007 3:04PM]

So true...until the iPhone is well and truly unlocked w/o the need for updates (which i'm sure will always come with a "you must update or else etc" and the obligatory relock0 I'l stick with my open 3rd-party filled Palm treo.

[Ipaq3115 @ Sep 27th 2007 3:17PM]

I with you wm6 is the best...

Go HTC Kaiser!!!!!!

[ItGuy @ Sep 27th 2007 3:33PM]

Yes, I am an IT guy. Luckilly the company I work for is smart and does not use Exchange or any other MS based CRM.

We need reliability and scalability, something Windows does not provide.

[Gian Constantine @ Sep 27th 2007 4:05PM]

Spare me. I've had a couple of Blackberrys and a Treo. The iPhone has proven better than both in practical usage. Don't get me wrong; there were some neat apps for the Blackberry and Treo. I thought it was kind of cool to be able to SSH into my gear at the office while sitting around at the airport, but let's be honest. All of the document editing and terminal access amounted to very little use, and was in no way very practical. To be truly productive on the go, all you really need is email, a web browser, and a phone (I cannot stress this last one enough). If you need to be more productive than is possible with those three features, then you really need to find a desk and open up your laptop.

Get over it. The iPhone keyboard has proven it is better than the Treo and Blackberry keyboards, and this is coming from someone who used to curse the tiny keys of the Treo. The iPhone web browser is far superior. And email on the iPhone is a dream compared to breaking out that damned stylus. I'll have to give on the Blackberry. The scroll wheel was nice and made it easy, but really that was the only upside in comparison.

If the update broke unlocked phones, so what? The individual, technically, broke the EULA. I'm no saint, but I don't cry when a company works to protect their contracts. While I know little of AT&T's specific contract with Apple, I have worked on similar contracts between a service provider and a vendor. Each side is compelled to take reasonable steps in enforcing any exclusivity written into the contract. The law and ethics are on the side of Apple, in this case, not the end-user.

This all might be a bummer for purchasers who unlocked their iPhone, but that doesn't make Apple the bad guy.

Gian

[John @ Sep 27th 2007 4:09PM]

A) tl;dr
B) I like having an actual keyboard to type on

You can make all the claims you want about the iPhone keyboard being good - I wouldn't doubt that it's the best touchscreen keyboard - but tactile response is far more useful for me. Smaller screen, sure, but I can type faster with actual buttons.

[Gian Constantine @ Sep 27th 2007 4:21PM]

@John

And, I would have agreed with you up until about five days in. You need to have one for a couple of days, but once you're used to it, it is so much better. I know where you're coming from. Telling you is rather empty. It really is one of those things you have to experience for yourself. I needed a new iPod, wanted one with video (since it's related to my work), and the price drop made it an easy decision. Easily, it is the best smart phone I have ever owned. Sure, I'd like a little more. A few interesting games for diversion, instead of just movies, music, and web, would be nice, but I'm sure it'll be along soon, and it's not a high priority for me.

I cannot stress enough how well the keyboard works. I almost feel like it learned my habits to make my typing better. I cannot say the same for the Blackberry or the Treo.

Gian

[Gregory Pierce @ Sep 27th 2007 5:31PM]

Wow, I can't believe I saw someone with Palm OS attacking someone with Windows Mobile. They are both such terrible options that comparing the two is pretty much pointless.

[diatonic @ Sep 27th 2007 4:57PM]

iPhone best smart phone? It can't even copy/paste.

No thanks.

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=iphone

[Gian Constantine @ Sep 27th 2007 5:56PM]

@diatonic

Again, when the hell do you ever need to copy and paste? An email address? A website? A phone number? Geez, man, the phone recognizes all of those for me. What do I need copy and paste for?

I get the impression a lot of iPhone bashers are just pissed off at having spent nearly the price of an iPhone on a subpar phone just prior to the release of the iPhone. The E70 isn't a bad phone, dude, but it does not compare to the iPhone.

Gian

[E71 @ Sep 27th 2007 8:02PM]

@Gian

Too bad you'll be browsing the net at turtle speed whilst I'm cruising on my Class 8 HSDPA/Class 6 HSUPA HTC Kaiser.

What's that? Where's the GPS? The secondary camera for video calls? The ability to freely load many 3rd party apps that add extra functionality?... I don't know where they are. I guess Mr Jobs forgot to put those in.

I know, I'll just play around with the ultra cool touch-screen keyboard, because working on the go is for suckers.

[Jan @ Sep 27th 2007 2:52PM]

Here's an updated guide to unlock your iPhone, it has a step in which you choose the 1.0.2 firmware to prevent it from updating to 1.1.1

http://coolblog.profit42.com/2007/09/27/unlock-your-iphone-using-the-latest-anysim/

[Tk @ Sep 27th 2007 5:30PM]

It's not that difficult- if you don't want to keep using all your customizations, don't update your phone. Simple. If you're content to keep playing within the walled garden, as I am, update away. Everyone wants to have their cake and eat it too.

[phil @ Sep 27th 2007 3:41PM]

Simplicity of the interface has never been an enemy to the technology fan. Isn't that the overall goal, afterall? To have as many practical features as possible without confusing the overall consumer?

[illured @ Sep 27th 2007 3:05PM]

I have to disagree. While I'm not a big fan of Windows, for business applications WM6 beats BB. I receive both my personal and corporate e-mail on my WM6, including the attachments that I can review while on the move. It is also extremely friendly to 3rd party applications, so I was able to customize my phone to suit my actual needs as opposed to my needs as imagined by some fruity company.

As I see it, I get everything iPhone has plus everything BB has except for the industrial design of the phone itself. But there are several models in the pipeline that will fix that part too.

I understand that people who do not need advanced functionality may prefer an iPhone as it makes "party" functionality more easily accessible, but for a frequently travfeling business professional it's not a suitable device.

Just my thoughts...

[Tekel @ Sep 27th 2007 2:57PM]

And again Apple stabs the heart of those who love it.

[Rob @ Sep 27th 2007 2:57PM]

My phone is a brick

[Drakin @ Sep 27th 2007 3:01PM]

Owned!