http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/ Engadget Comments for Apple patent hopes to make your devices theft-proof http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 7:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 7:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
If anything, it's apple evidently patenting an existing product - iAlertU has been doing this on new MacBooks and MacBook Pros since 2006.

It's actually a pretty good idea, and an interesting repurposing of technology that was implemented in the systems for an entirely different reason (HDD Shock Protection, IIRC)

I'm not sure about b-m's comments up there, but this is cool, and although I don't think it should be patentable by Apple at this point, it would make a welcome addition to OS X.]]>May 18th 2007 7:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 7:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 7:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 7:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
Remember when car alarms came out? Instead of it being a skill to break in and steal cars, now thugs simply rob people at gunpoint for them.

What the iPhone security software should do is have more controls with sensitivity level, like a lockout timer and/or unusual phone number calls feature.

This way people can change their security so it's not the same for each iPhone where thieves can simply change tactics.

To beat a theif requires hiring one and Apple hasn't realized that yet.]]>May 18th 2007 8:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
This is like DRM for GBH.

I appreciate the sentiment, but not the implementation if the only devices that can incorporate the safety measures are Apple products. This should have been a multilateral filing between a majority of manufacturers, no?

Capitalising on public safety just doesn't sit well with me.]]>May 18th 2007 8:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
Plus a savvy crook will still most likely be able to use their own computer to erase and start from scratch with the device, so it's not a deterrent from being robbed.

I'm not an Apple Fanboy but I also want to point out that this is how the economy functions: A company devotes R&D resources to come up with a technology. They patent the technology and use it for their intended devices. The company recoups the R&D cost and then licenses the technology to other companies, we all benefit. ]]>May 18th 2007 10:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
Plus, Apple can then make more money. ]]>May 18th 2007 8:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
Preferably there is a time delayed feature so it goes off in the person's pocket. Loosing one of your nads could definitely be a deterrent from stealing an iPod again. :-D]]>May 18th 2007 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 10:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 11:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 11:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/May 18th 2007 12:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.orbicule.com/theftsensor/]]>May 18th 2007 12:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/that way spikes stab the thieves hand when they touch it]]>May 18th 2007 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/
Update itunes-
When a customer connects their ipod to itunes for the first time, they're given the option to register the ipod to their itunes account for theft-deterance. Anytime an ipod is connected to a computer for the first time, itunes checks the serial number with Apple's servers.

If the user's iPod is stolen, or even missing, the user can login to their account and report the iPod as stolen. The next time that iPod is connected to any new PC, red lights go off at Apple's servers, an email is sent to the user, the iPod is locked down and the offending PC's IP address is logged to possibly trace the iPod. The offender (probably an innocent consumer who bought the item on ebay) might have the option of mailing the ipod to an Apple address in addition to identifying the thief's buyer ID to avoid legal action. Ebay could then be notified of the ID and his account would be considered for a shutdown. The contact information provided to Paypal could be used to identify the thief and refund the user. Once the iPod was received by Apple, it would be mailed to the user's account address (preventing the offender from learning the user's address).

Obviously some criminal mastermind could devise a tedious iTunes hack and be working through a proxy server or the like, but this would certainly deter the common thug from stealing iPods for their own use or selling them off to unwitting consumers. The serial number can't be formatted or erased by normal means. Making a stolen iPod resellable would be a massive operation, requiring the development of hacked firmware and probably some soldering. While it wouldn't ensure the return of every iPod, it would be a cheap means to greatly reduce the appeal of iPod theft in the first place. Privacy concerns might be an issue, but only thieves need to worry.

Certainly, it's much more effective than the "check for stealing motions" plan, which would only be useful during a mugging with a struggle.]]>May 18th 2007 6:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/18/apple-patent-hopes-to-make-your-devices-theft-proof/Jun 14th 2007 1:46PM