“Apple has once again raised the stakes in their continuing cat and mouse game with unlockers by implementing a boot level signature check in iOS 4.2.1 that will cause the device to fail to boot if the baseband firmware is not correct,” TiPb reports.
“If you plan on unlocking your iPhone it is recommended that you hold off on installing 4.2.1 as there is no current method available to maintain an unlockable baseband,” TiPb reports.
More info and links in the full article here.
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Go to Canada – buy an unlocked phone. Problem solved
No problem, just give some time while the hackers alter iOS 4.2.1.
It’s really sickening to see Apple act like this, they used to be all about user freedom. “Rather be a pirate…etc”
Stupid Jobs, what a turd, can’t believe how he’s turned out like this, so “establishment”, such a control freak.
What about being different?
Don’t give me that “it’s the carriers” BS. The carriers allow 3G connect cards and dongles from insecure Windows machines with tons of malware and hacker programs on their networks. And deal with them appropriately if they violate their rules.
A Apple user just wants control over their very own, paid for device, not the dam cell networks.
It’s Jobs. All Jobs. We unleashed a monster.
Apple has every right to maintain control over their product. You can’t modify software on other devices and expect them to work properly and be supported under the original warranty.
@bunches
I think you are pissed because you can have stolen free apps anymore. What you wrote here doesn’t justify anything why you should have the freedom of unlocked phone. Don’t be cheap. Pay and buy apps. Support the developers like me. Or you can simply go to android.
well said MacinScott
Your needs for attention should be directed to your momma. Boards like these are meant for tech news.
@Bunches of Munches:
Why don’t you buy something else if you don’t like the iPhone?
You can’t modify software on other devices and expect them to work properly and be supported under the original warranty.
Duh, OS X is open to users to run whatever program they wish, including 3G cell cards and hacker software and Apple has no trouble updating the underlying operating system.
A OS X user can enter a simple Terminal command and run their screensaver as their desktop (see MacOSXhints for details), but can’t change the desktop picture on their iPhone main screen?
Don’t give me that baloney.
You have to wonder/think that Apple is obligated to their carriers by contract to address things like this. It must be part of the fine print with AT&T, etc, I would think.
@Bunch of crap as usual
Just go away you jerk. You add nothing to MDN forums. Please give me your mailing address and I personally will send your mommy enough to buy you an android if you will just go away. Deal?
@bunches
Now, don’t give me that technical bs. It still doesn’t justify anything. I think you are nothing more than a cheap nerd who is secretly in love with Android os.
All the ” freedom and independence” freeloaders that want to unlock their iOS devices should put their money where their mouths are and be fully so – Apple spends it’s resources to support users that appreciate and need it – they go above and beyond any customer support available for any product in the world, to keep their customers happy and do so at company’s and shareholders expense.
If y’all feel so empowered and righteous in your bootlegging cheapskate and theiving ways – figure out in your teatarded logicjow to eat the cake and have it too. Don’t expect free lunches and wipe your own crap. Apple as Oracle, is aggressively enforcing copyrights, which is critical to nourishing a healthy technology industry and funding innovation.
BoM wants the advantages of the walled garden & the “freedom” to hack it and compromise the security of every bit of data on his phone.
You can get a brand X smart phone on Amazon & hack on it all day for $.01
Talk about clueless people!
This article talks about unlocked iPhones and updating to 4.2.1. It does NOT talk about jailbreaking.
So, B & M:
Why on earth did you hijack the thread to launch a debate (actually, a tirade) on a completely unrelated subject?
At present, unlocking is really a non-issue in the US. It affects only two types of people:
1. Those who want an iPhone on T-Mobile (where an unlocked US model will work, but only on EDGE speeds);
2. Those who’re happy with AT&T, but travel outside the US and want to use their iPhone with local SIMs while there.
The number of these is insignificant, and will likely not change by much.
Oh, and buying an unlocked iPhone in Canada doesn’t help much, since the only way of using it in the US would be to (presumably) sign up with either those Go plans on AT&T (prepaid, no contract), or T-Mobile’s ‘Pay As You Go’. In either case, you are likely going to be paying almost as much as, if not even more than, the regular AT&T plan, which includes a hefty subsidy for the iPhone (making it cost only $200, rather than the full $650 or more).
I can understand why AT&T doesn’t want to allow unlocking of iPhones. The subsidy on the iPhone is almost twice as high as any other phone (smart or dumb). Allowing people to unlock their iPhones, even after the subsidy is paid off, would swiftly move considerable numbers of those phones off AT&T’s network. Today, even the oldest, original model iPhones, are still serving on AT&T in rather great numbers. What is worst about this is, the iPhone is AT&T’s golden egg in more ways than anyone thinks.
The subsidy is presumably paid off after your two-year contract. However, vast majority of iPhones stay on AT&T after they had paid off that subsidy. And they all stay on same rate plans, and these plans include subsidy portion. So, AT&T keeps getting that free money from iPhone owners long after they paid off for their phones. The problem is, these phones have nowhere to go, and AT&T won’t let them leave, because they don’t allow unlocking.
If enough AT&T iPhone customers joined together, they could easily argue that after fulfilling their contract of 2 years, they must be provided unlocking instructions if requested.
The most probable reason why someone might want to unlock an iPhone is so that he can shove it up Bunches of Munches’ ass & hear it ringing in an outhouse serviced by T-Mobile while he tries to excrete the device out.
There is a reason Virgin Mobile can offer unlimited text and data, plus some 300 minutes, for $25 per month (including taxes), and still make profit on it. They don’t have to charge you that subsidy money. You buy the phone at full retail price, you pay $25 month by month. If you don’t use it for a month, you don’t pay. No contract, no subsidy, no complex math to obfuscate the fact that you are overpaying your phone way too much.
If AT&T were to offer similar plan, even for $30 per month, I’d happily ditch my current contract, buy an iPhone at full price and start saving massive amounts of money.
@Bunches
You still here. Why?
Pawn takes cat-napping Bishop. Check.
There are TWO issues:
1. Apple wants an overly healthy margin on the iPhone.
2. Carriers (AT&T) want devices that use a lot of data because they charge through the nose for it.
Because the carriers want to wave a carrot in front of people and present a low initial price, they heavily subsidize the phone. They feel they need to lock down the phone from going to another carrier after the contract is up. In other words, they calculate 3 or 4 years of usage out of every phone they subsidize.
If Apple offered to charge less, I’m sure the carriers would be more “open” to a less restrictive and less expensive contracts.
Don’t be mistaken, a major factor that makes the contracts expensive is Apple, not AT&T.
If I can rake up a grand to buy a MacBook Pro then I think in time I can rake up another grand for an unlocked iphone to go where I want. That is freedom. In the US, we don’t have these freedoms cuz of these panty waving pink yuppie bursturds who can think of nothing else to do in life but sit & stew what legal matter they can make even more prolonged then it should be !!! Unbelievable why we have to put up with this nonsense. ATT sucks as a communications company all the while raking in billions in profit instead of taking half of it and fixing their lame azz network !!!
@Taz
As an AT&T stockholder I am happy they make a lot of money for me. If you think they should be in a charity business why don’t you, genius that you are, become CEO of AT&T and unsuck it.
Apple Pi:
Apple is charging even more from non-US carriers, yet they have much more flexibility in their pricing options. In most developed countries that carry the iPhone, you can get it at full price (some 700EUR – almost $1k!), slightly reduced, moderately reduced, deeply reduced price, or free, depending on the type of voice/data plan you choose and length of contract. You do your math, figure out what’s it worth to you and sign up.
AT&T offers one-size-fits-all subsidy model with a $200 up-front price, regardless of what voice/data plan you purchase. Make no mistake: it is AT&T who makes this expensive; NOT Apple.
“…it is AT&T who makes this expensive; NOT Apple.”
Another thing, those who keep their iPhone and renew their contract (not getting a new iPhone) is still paying for the subsidy which AT&T simply pockets.
So unless you like throwing money away to the assclowns at AT&T, you got to buy the next generation iPhone when your contract expires.
Sad, but true. – metallica
I “bought” my iPhone 4 from my teleco here in Australia and have it on a 2 yr contract. It was locked to the carrier. When I mentioned to my supplier – an official store for my telco that I was going to be travelling abroad, he “unlocked” my phone and my wife’s iPhone 4. After updating to iOS 4.2.1, we have no problems. Oh, what I am paying for my phones? 0$ and I have unlimited calling, texting, video texting, voice mail in country and International and 10 GB a month data (which I never use) All for $100 a month for both phones. And everything still works after the unlock.
Now what’s the problem? Oh, yeah, we don’t have to suffer with AT&T. BUT all of our texts are received upside down here in the land downunder.
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Cheers.