A spokesman for the iPhone Dev Team, the group that developed the iPhone unlock has issued a statement condemning Apple and promising a tool in the next week which will restore your iPhone to a factory-fresh state. The unlock, he writes, made the iPhone free and useful world-wide, not just in certain countries. The text of the statement, with modifications for grammar and spelling, follows after the break.
9/25 Statement from the iPhone unlockers
Based on download numbers, the iPhone Dev Team believes that, worldwide, several hundred thousand people have unlocked their iPhones. That number continues growing every day. The removal of the lock, a bug, was a major step forward in the iPhone development. It made the iPhone free and useful to anyone, not only to those in certain countries.
Apple now announces that the next firmware update, expected later this week, will possibly break the handset of all of us free users in the World. It speaks of "damage" done to the firmware and "unauthorized access" to our own property, The removal of those firmware problems, which were built in in favor for AT&T, does not cause "damage" as they want to make us believe.
We will provide you with a tool in the next week which will be able to recover your nck counter and seczones and even enables you to restore your phone to a Factory-like state.
In the meantime we advise you not to update your free iPhone with the upcoming firmware (1.1.1). Wait for the next version to be fixed to work properly with your carrier and not break your phone.
Q&A from Gizmodo.com:
Does unlocking software cause "irreparable damage" to the iPhone?
No, it doesn't. The only thing that the anySim software does is modify part of the firmware so it's not limited to use only AT&T SIM cards. Modify is not "damaging." It just means that specific values in the seczone have been replaced by others. Technically, according to the Dev Team:
"It modifies the firmware to accept any given nck to open the phone for any carrier. This causes the phone to write a bogus values into the seczone as an unlock token."
This means that values can be written and changed back to their original state easily, just as easily as they were originally changed to allow the unlock.
Could Apple have been able to upgrade iPhones without the likely possibility of bricking the iPhone? (According to Apple, their firmware will likely and "permanently" make the device "inoperable.")
Yes, it could have been done. As someone in the Dev Team core puts it:
"Apple has multiple ways of upgrading the [firmware of the] baseband [radio chip] without committing a 500,000-phone massacre.
First, they can issue a secpack [security pack] for everything in the firmware. They could simply issue one of these to restore the value if a regular token is not detected, thus rewriting this part to its original state. This process would most likely defeat any unlock available, Dev Team or iPhone Sim Free, without bricking the iPhone in any way.
New firmware updates could also employ new firmware which closes the loophole that allows the use of a secpack for other operations. They could make this method of updating even resistant to tampering or abuse for a unlock. The possibilities are there."
So yes, as you can see, Apple could do the described operation, changing the values back to its original state then forcing a restore to factory of the whole firmware.
Is the total bricking a real possibility?
It's not clear if Apple will finally brick or not the iPhone in the next update. Or what they mean with "permanently inoperable." The Dev Team speculates that "it won't be a true bricking at all. The firmware would probably roll back to a default state similar to its state after manufacturing. This state is indicated by a lost IMEI number, which results in the iPhone being unusable with any network."
In fact, this is what you will get if you flash a retail firmware in any phone that has been previously updated.
But is this problem permanent?
No, it's not. The problem is not permanent and can be reverted, as the Dev Team points out:
"Currently this state is easy to fix, but future [hardware] updates will just close the flashing flaw and let you alone with your factory-like phone."
After the bricking, can Apple provide a way to revert iPhones to factory status and re-lock iPhones, patching them so the current unlock solution can't be applied?
Yes, definitely. See above. If the iPhone Dev Team hackers can do it, working with no documentation, Apple engineers can do exactly the same.
Will the iPhone Dev Team revert the iPhone to its original state
Yes, they have said before they are working on this and they have code already written to do so.
This code, however, won't unlock the iPhone again, it'll just revert it to factory state. New unlocking software may come soon thereafter. There's more information on this, but we can't use it in this article yet.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Comparison: Firmware 1.0.2 vs Firmware 1.1.1
Apple just released a new Firmware update (version 1.1.1) which will re-lock the iPhone and erase all third party applications.
CAUTION: DO NOT UPDATE YOUR IPHONE WITH THIS NEW FIRMWARE VERSION!
Here is a comparison chart from Gizmodo. Basically this update will cripple your iPhone, only one noteworthy new feature has been introduced: Wifi iTunes Music Store compatibility! Now you can purchase Music from ANYWHERE (within the U.S. boundaries). Great!
CAUTION: DO NOT UPDATE YOUR IPHONE WITH THIS NEW FIRMWARE VERSION!
Here is a comparison chart from Gizmodo. Basically this update will cripple your iPhone, only one noteworthy new feature has been introduced: Wifi iTunes Music Store compatibility! Now you can purchase Music from ANYWHERE (within the U.S. boundaries). Great!
Friday, September 28, 2007
iPhones arrived in India & shipped!
Dear all,
Finally the news everybody was waiting for:
Today morning the iPhones arrived in India, today afternoon we shipped our first units & we had some hand to hand delivery in Delhi already!
Guys, this Phone gives you a completely new experience! It compares to nothing else! It's so well done! It took me 10 minutes to sync all my stuff to it, all my contacts, music, all my bookmarks etc. I immediately added my most important contacts into favourites. It's a very powerful way to make calls to people to whom you talk very frequently. Simply tap their name and you can talk to them, meanwhile you can check out Google maps, browse the web, write Emails, or do anything else the iPhone can do. It's multitasking. I can talk on speakerphone while making a photo and sending it through Email simultanuously, through Airtels gprs/edge network or through available Wifi networks, without interupting the conversation. To set up edge was a breeze (on Airtel), simply put: airtelgprs.com into the APN field, leave username and password fields blank and that's all, you're online! To join wifi networks simply tap on the Network which is available. It's that easy. SMS is wonderful. No bulky user interfaces, everything is smooth, easy to the eyes. You don't need to remember almost anything because everything on the iPhone is very intuitive. Forget about user manuals. This is the ultimate Phone. Ok, ok, enough praise. Here are some photos (click on it for larger view):
Get yours now at www.iphonenirvana.net.
Finally the news everybody was waiting for:
Today morning the iPhones arrived in India, today afternoon we shipped our first units & we had some hand to hand delivery in Delhi already!
Guys, this Phone gives you a completely new experience! It compares to nothing else! It's so well done! It took me 10 minutes to sync all my stuff to it, all my contacts, music, all my bookmarks etc. I immediately added my most important contacts into favourites. It's a very powerful way to make calls to people to whom you talk very frequently. Simply tap their name and you can talk to them, meanwhile you can check out Google maps, browse the web, write Emails, or do anything else the iPhone can do. It's multitasking. I can talk on speakerphone while making a photo and sending it through Email simultanuously, through Airtels gprs/edge network or through available Wifi networks, without interupting the conversation. To set up edge was a breeze (on Airtel), simply put: airtelgprs.com into the APN field, leave username and password fields blank and that's all, you're online! To join wifi networks simply tap on the Network which is available. It's that easy. SMS is wonderful. No bulky user interfaces, everything is smooth, easy to the eyes. You don't need to remember almost anything because everything on the iPhone is very intuitive. Forget about user manuals. This is the ultimate Phone. Ok, ok, enough praise. Here are some photos (click on it for larger view):
Get yours now at www.iphonenirvana.net.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
MaCNN: Apple can’t stop iPhone hacking
I always find it funny when people think a company can do anything it wants with a device it sells. Sure, it may be able to wield significant control and sometimes it even owns your device through an implied contract endorsed when you open the packaging, but it still doesn’t stop people from doing what they want with the products they spend money on.
More often than not, you’ll find that a product that stinks won’t be hacked at all because, well, it stinks. But for a product like the iPhone, it will be hacked — a lot. And if Apple actually thinks it can stop hacking the device, I’ve got some news for them — you can do whatever you want and pull out all the stops, but with millions of people looking to hack just one device, they’ll always find a workaround.
I’ve always found it amazing that companies, after doing business for such a long time, still don’t understand that if the consumer wants to get something out the device, she will probably be able to do it. Regardless of the locks a company puts on a device, workarounds will always be readily available for someone looking for it.
Apple doesn’t have a chance of stopping people from hacking iPhones. With so many in the wild and people already enjoying hacks on their own, how can the company just walk in and tell them to stop, or else? It can’t and it shouldn’t — or else.
More often than not, you’ll find that a product that stinks won’t be hacked at all because, well, it stinks. But for a product like the iPhone, it will be hacked — a lot. And if Apple actually thinks it can stop hacking the device, I’ve got some news for them — you can do whatever you want and pull out all the stops, but with millions of people looking to hack just one device, they’ll always find a workaround.
I’ve always found it amazing that companies, after doing business for such a long time, still don’t understand that if the consumer wants to get something out the device, she will probably be able to do it. Regardless of the locks a company puts on a device, workarounds will always be readily available for someone looking for it.
Apple doesn’t have a chance of stopping people from hacking iPhones. With so many in the wild and people already enjoying hacks on their own, how can the company just walk in and tell them to stop, or else? It can’t and it shouldn’t — or else.
Update On Delivery Status & Apple's Change In Policy
Ok guys, you cannot imagine what we went through the last days to get the iPhone to you. We won't go into details now. All we can say is that we were extremely lucky to have been able to purchase iPhones in bulk, because Apple has stopped bulk purchases starting from yesterday (see below). They have also taken strong measures to avoid that the iPhone is being sold outside the U.S. (see below).
Where Is My iPhone Now?
The iPhones have landed in Frankfurt 60 minutes ago (Lufthansa). They will be on it's way to India tomorrow.
Those who have already payed will get their unit shipped on Friday, 28. September.
We did everything possible to bring the iPhones to you on time and we are sorry for any delays, we understand that you cannot wait anymore. Still if anyone wishes to cancel his order at this point, it is fine with us, but since we are forced to increase our sales price due to Apple's new sales policy we won't be able to offer you at the old rate ( Rs 27990,—) again.
Apple's New Sales Policy
Yesterday Apple has officially changed it's sales policy for the iPhone. Starting from yesterday a person is allowed to buy only 5 iPhones, once. This means that he will not be able to buy more units after say 1 week (like we did in the past weeks). Also Apple will check the ID to make sure that you are legal U.S. resident. Foreigners are not allowed to buy iPhones anymore (Sorry for all those Russians who lined up next to me in the Apple store).
Apple does not want the iPhone to be sold outside the U.S.. At this point it will be extremely difficult to get more units. We will try but probably we will not be able to bring in such quantities anymore. So yes, we are sitting on a Gold mine right now. And as it is in business if something becomes so rare the sales price naturally increases. We have put a lot of energy into this operation but with the hope to have a continuous supply of iPhones. Again, we will bring more iPhones but in much smaller quantities.
Due to this circumstance the new sales price of the iPhone has increased to Rs 32990,—. That's still way below our competitors who are selling locked versions for higher prices.
UPDATE: Below the link to Apple's sales policy change, it is originally in spanish, so the english translation is not very good, but the contents can be understood:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=es_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.faq-mac.com%2fnoticias%2fnode%2f25873
We personally went to the Apple store on Tuesday to get some more iPhones and they refused to sell us more units, arguing that one person can maximally purchase 5 iPhones once since Apple has now changed it's sales policy. Also they asked us many questions, wether we would be using the iPhone outside the U.S., etc.
Where Is My iPhone Now?
The iPhones have landed in Frankfurt 60 minutes ago (Lufthansa). They will be on it's way to India tomorrow.
Those who have already payed will get their unit shipped on Friday, 28. September.
We did everything possible to bring the iPhones to you on time and we are sorry for any delays, we understand that you cannot wait anymore. Still if anyone wishes to cancel his order at this point, it is fine with us, but since we are forced to increase our sales price due to Apple's new sales policy we won't be able to offer you at the old rate ( Rs 27990,—) again.
Apple's New Sales Policy
Yesterday Apple has officially changed it's sales policy for the iPhone. Starting from yesterday a person is allowed to buy only 5 iPhones, once. This means that he will not be able to buy more units after say 1 week (like we did in the past weeks). Also Apple will check the ID to make sure that you are legal U.S. resident. Foreigners are not allowed to buy iPhones anymore (Sorry for all those Russians who lined up next to me in the Apple store).
Apple does not want the iPhone to be sold outside the U.S.. At this point it will be extremely difficult to get more units. We will try but probably we will not be able to bring in such quantities anymore. So yes, we are sitting on a Gold mine right now. And as it is in business if something becomes so rare the sales price naturally increases. We have put a lot of energy into this operation but with the hope to have a continuous supply of iPhones. Again, we will bring more iPhones but in much smaller quantities.
Due to this circumstance the new sales price of the iPhone has increased to Rs 32990,—. That's still way below our competitors who are selling locked versions for higher prices.
UPDATE: Below the link to Apple's sales policy change, it is originally in spanish, so the english translation is not very good, but the contents can be understood:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=es_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.faq-mac.com%2fnoticias%2fnode%2f25873
We personally went to the Apple store on Tuesday to get some more iPhones and they refused to sell us more units, arguing that one person can maximally purchase 5 iPhones once since Apple has now changed it's sales policy. Also they asked us many questions, wether we would be using the iPhone outside the U.S., etc.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Computerworld.com: HTC Touch vs. iPhone vs. Nokia N95
Let's cut to the bottom line: In terms of usability, iPhone blew away its two competitors. Its overall score in the usability tests was 4.6 out of 5. The HTC Touch was a distant second at 3.4, and the Nokia N95 scored 3.2.
"Testers were [typically] about twice as fast doing specific tasks on the iPhone, which is pretty remarkable," Thornton said.
Note: LG declined to participate in these tests. It's understandable why.
Full test results
News.com: The Steve Jobs master plan: iPhone hacking
When Steve Jobs and company first envisaged the iPhone, a few things surely came to mind. First, Apple wanted a phone with an appealing design and advanced functionality. In essence, the company wanted a device that was nothing like its predecessors. And while it achieved this feat, Apple was still in need of a carrier. It went to Verizon and others, but it was AT&T that was able to offer it what it wanted: revenue sharing on activations and service plans. Basically, Apple was able to sell the device, make a profit and even capitalize on the iPhone's popularity through AT&T service plans.
And while some may claim the iPhone's real bread and butter is in the AT&T service plans, I disagree. To say that Apple has too much to lose in allowing iPhones to be hacked is a severe misconception.
The rationale for that viewpoint seems to make sense: Apple is getting a cut of every service plan, and with millions of users, the revenue benefits are nothing to scoff at. But what it loses sight of is Apple's real intention.
Steve and his gateway device.
(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET News.com)
AT&T is a means to an end. Apple wanted to make a splash in the cell phone business and needed a carrier to do so. The revenue generated from plans is a bonus and was only possible because of the significant leverage Apple wielded before the iPhone's release. The iPhone is not the be-all, end-all of Apple devices--it's a gateway.
More than anything else, Apple is a hardware manufacturer and it relies upon the sales of its core businesses: computers, iPods and multimedia equipment. The iPhone is just another piece of the Apple domination puzzle. Much like the revenue generated from iTunes purchases, the revenue gained from AT&T service plans is a nominal amount when compared to the future benefits of iPhone (and Apple) saturation.
When Apple entered the cell phone market, it had to prove itself. But it was able to negotiate the best cell phone deal in history for one reason: its prior success with the iPod. If there was no such thing as an iPod, would Macs be gaining market share? Would the Apple TV have ever come out? Would Apple be as popular as it is today? No. Much like the iPhone, the iPod was a gateway device that helped catapult the company into other businesses and more beneficial enterprises.
Was it Steve Jobs plan all along?
Prior to its release, the iPhone was being hailed as a landmark device which, unlike most other GSM phones, was locked down to one carrier. After all, it made sense: Apple entered into an exclusivity deal with AT&T (albeit begrudgingly) and was forced to make the device as "unhackable" as possible. But as we all know, nothing is unhackable.
Steve Jobs did his part--he locked the iPhone down quite well and kept saying that he was all for AT&T. He even talked up the fact that the BlackBerry does quite well on AT&T's service just to maintain the iPhone's significant buzz.
But Steve Jobs is not a dumb man. He knew that by making the iPhone exclusive, he was losing out on a significant market of people both home and abroad and his vision for the future of Apple included those that were left out. But alas, the exclusivity deal wasn't that hard to swallow. He, like all of us, knew that people would immediately start to hack the iPhone and unlock it for use on T-Mobile and other services abroad. And once that happened, the benefits could far outweigh the costs of such a hack.
Unlocking a cell phone is neither illegal nor in any direct violation of laws. Apple can't stop anyone from unlocking a cell phone, and to be honest, I don't think it really cares. Apple is playing this recent iPhone unlocking news perfectly. If it overreacted and stopped the hack, it could stymie its future revenue gains, but if it endorses such a maneuver, it effectively leaves AT&T out to dry. Isn't it ironic that AT&T lawyers went knocking on the doors of the hackers while Apple lawyers sipped tea at home?
With a new unlocking procedure in place, the iPhone will become as ubiquitous overseas as it is in the U.S. In a matter of days after the best iPhone unlock is released, we will witness a flurry of sales that will create a watershed moment for Apple.
Here's my prediction: the iPhone unlock will be simple enough for both casual and hard-core users alike to use their new device anywhere. From there, those who are not yet Apple fans will realize the ease of use that comes with Apple products and they will pick up either an iPod--if the iPhone's isn't enough--or a Mac, if it is. Much like the iPod, the iPhone will prove to be a substantial long-term revenue-getter for Apple that will far exceed the lost revenue from the AT&T contract. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Mac notebook and desktop sales exploded in the next quarter because of this unlock.
Lest we forget, Apple is a company that thrives on hardware sales. Its main business model is to develop appealing products and release them to the public in a way that will make consumers want more Apple devices. Think of how many Apple products there are and consider how many of these products are specifically designed to complement each other. The iPhone is no different--it welcomes us all to the world of Mac OS X--albeit in a stripped-down way--and makes everyone wonder about the benefits of owning other Apple products. In essence, it puts Apple into another realm of our subconscious.
Steve Jobs is probably one of the most intelligent and forward-thinking CEOs who has ever graced the tech industry. Jobs understood that AT&T service plans were a disposable by-product of iPhone sales and realized that the iPhone was just another piece in the puzzle of Apple's complete domination of this industry.
Apple anticipated consumers' next move and did so in a way that would make any businessperson proud. The iPhone was never meant to be a standalone product, it was designed to make Apple the most complete technology company in the world. And with an unlocked iPhone, this could very well become a reality.
And while some may claim the iPhone's real bread and butter is in the AT&T service plans, I disagree. To say that Apple has too much to lose in allowing iPhones to be hacked is a severe misconception.
The rationale for that viewpoint seems to make sense: Apple is getting a cut of every service plan, and with millions of users, the revenue benefits are nothing to scoff at. But what it loses sight of is Apple's real intention.
Steve and his gateway device.
(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET News.com)
AT&T is a means to an end. Apple wanted to make a splash in the cell phone business and needed a carrier to do so. The revenue generated from plans is a bonus and was only possible because of the significant leverage Apple wielded before the iPhone's release. The iPhone is not the be-all, end-all of Apple devices--it's a gateway.
More than anything else, Apple is a hardware manufacturer and it relies upon the sales of its core businesses: computers, iPods and multimedia equipment. The iPhone is just another piece of the Apple domination puzzle. Much like the revenue generated from iTunes purchases, the revenue gained from AT&T service plans is a nominal amount when compared to the future benefits of iPhone (and Apple) saturation.
When Apple entered the cell phone market, it had to prove itself. But it was able to negotiate the best cell phone deal in history for one reason: its prior success with the iPod. If there was no such thing as an iPod, would Macs be gaining market share? Would the Apple TV have ever come out? Would Apple be as popular as it is today? No. Much like the iPhone, the iPod was a gateway device that helped catapult the company into other businesses and more beneficial enterprises.
Was it Steve Jobs plan all along?
Prior to its release, the iPhone was being hailed as a landmark device which, unlike most other GSM phones, was locked down to one carrier. After all, it made sense: Apple entered into an exclusivity deal with AT&T (albeit begrudgingly) and was forced to make the device as "unhackable" as possible. But as we all know, nothing is unhackable.
Steve Jobs did his part--he locked the iPhone down quite well and kept saying that he was all for AT&T. He even talked up the fact that the BlackBerry does quite well on AT&T's service just to maintain the iPhone's significant buzz.
But Steve Jobs is not a dumb man. He knew that by making the iPhone exclusive, he was losing out on a significant market of people both home and abroad and his vision for the future of Apple included those that were left out. But alas, the exclusivity deal wasn't that hard to swallow. He, like all of us, knew that people would immediately start to hack the iPhone and unlock it for use on T-Mobile and other services abroad. And once that happened, the benefits could far outweigh the costs of such a hack.
Unlocking a cell phone is neither illegal nor in any direct violation of laws. Apple can't stop anyone from unlocking a cell phone, and to be honest, I don't think it really cares. Apple is playing this recent iPhone unlocking news perfectly. If it overreacted and stopped the hack, it could stymie its future revenue gains, but if it endorses such a maneuver, it effectively leaves AT&T out to dry. Isn't it ironic that AT&T lawyers went knocking on the doors of the hackers while Apple lawyers sipped tea at home?
With a new unlocking procedure in place, the iPhone will become as ubiquitous overseas as it is in the U.S. In a matter of days after the best iPhone unlock is released, we will witness a flurry of sales that will create a watershed moment for Apple.
Here's my prediction: the iPhone unlock will be simple enough for both casual and hard-core users alike to use their new device anywhere. From there, those who are not yet Apple fans will realize the ease of use that comes with Apple products and they will pick up either an iPod--if the iPhone's isn't enough--or a Mac, if it is. Much like the iPod, the iPhone will prove to be a substantial long-term revenue-getter for Apple that will far exceed the lost revenue from the AT&T contract. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Mac notebook and desktop sales exploded in the next quarter because of this unlock.
Lest we forget, Apple is a company that thrives on hardware sales. Its main business model is to develop appealing products and release them to the public in a way that will make consumers want more Apple devices. Think of how many Apple products there are and consider how many of these products are specifically designed to complement each other. The iPhone is no different--it welcomes us all to the world of Mac OS X--albeit in a stripped-down way--and makes everyone wonder about the benefits of owning other Apple products. In essence, it puts Apple into another realm of our subconscious.
Steve Jobs is probably one of the most intelligent and forward-thinking CEOs who has ever graced the tech industry. Jobs understood that AT&T service plans were a disposable by-product of iPhone sales and realized that the iPhone was just another piece in the puzzle of Apple's complete domination of this industry.
Apple anticipated consumers' next move and did so in a way that would make any businessperson proud. The iPhone was never meant to be a standalone product, it was designed to make Apple the most complete technology company in the world. And with an unlocked iPhone, this could very well become a reality.
Computerworld.com: Jobs says Apple will fight iPhone unlocking hacks
At a London Apple retail store where he announced the iPhone's Nov. 9 U.K. debut, Jobs responded to a question about whether Apple would put a stop to the unlocking hacks that have mushroomed recently. "It's a cat-and-mouse game," said Jobs. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."
Engadget: Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?
Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?
No!
Really?
Well, no, but...
I knew it.
Look, there are a lot of legal issues surrounding unlocking, but the most applicable law in the US is everyone's favorite piece of legislation, the DMCA. Just like any other piece of code, the iPhone's firmware is protected by the Copyright Act, and circumventing the access controls in place to get at that code is a violation of the DMCA. However, the Copyright Office issued six exemptions to the DMCA last year, one of which allows consumers to unlock their cellphones "for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."
That's great! What's the "but?"
There are a lot of "buts," actually. For example, it's most likely not legal to unlock iPhones and sell them on eBay, because your "sole purpose" wouldn't be to connect to a cell network -- it would be to profit from the sale of unlocked phones. TracFone has been suing resellers that unlock its phones and getting settlements, even though this exemption exists. So you might want to put those dreams of being the exclusive iPhone supplier to the Saudi royal family to bed -- for now.
Well, that's not so bad.
There's more. Just because Apple and AT&T can't sue you for violating the DMCA, there's nothing saying they can't sue you under some other law. Remember, all the ruling says is that cellphone firmware isn't protected under the DMCA when you unlock to lawfully connect to a wireless network. That's a pretty narrow rule, and it's most certainly not the same as a rule saying it's legal to unlock your cellphone.
Wow, lame.
Still more. Under the DMCA, the Copyright Office is allowed to make these exemptions, but they only last for three years. Since the unlocking rule was published in November of last year, that means it'll expire in November of 2009. Of course, we'll probably be on the third generation of the iPhone by then, but it still doesn't bode well for that unlocking business you were about to start.
Wait, I thought you said this was legal?
Well, the truth of the matter is that unlocking your iPhone probably isn't going to get you in any trouble, as long you're only doing it for your personal benefit. If that's what you intend to do, go right ahead. Just be aware of the risks, and keep in mind that you've probably hosed your warranty, and that Apple might well stop supporting your phone.
Since when has Engadget cared about warranties?
(Whistles, walks away.)
No!
Really?
Well, no, but...
I knew it.
Look, there are a lot of legal issues surrounding unlocking, but the most applicable law in the US is everyone's favorite piece of legislation, the DMCA. Just like any other piece of code, the iPhone's firmware is protected by the Copyright Act, and circumventing the access controls in place to get at that code is a violation of the DMCA. However, the Copyright Office issued six exemptions to the DMCA last year, one of which allows consumers to unlock their cellphones "for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."
That's great! What's the "but?"
There are a lot of "buts," actually. For example, it's most likely not legal to unlock iPhones and sell them on eBay, because your "sole purpose" wouldn't be to connect to a cell network -- it would be to profit from the sale of unlocked phones. TracFone has been suing resellers that unlock its phones and getting settlements, even though this exemption exists. So you might want to put those dreams of being the exclusive iPhone supplier to the Saudi royal family to bed -- for now.
Well, that's not so bad.
There's more. Just because Apple and AT&T can't sue you for violating the DMCA, there's nothing saying they can't sue you under some other law. Remember, all the ruling says is that cellphone firmware isn't protected under the DMCA when you unlock to lawfully connect to a wireless network. That's a pretty narrow rule, and it's most certainly not the same as a rule saying it's legal to unlock your cellphone.
Wow, lame.
Still more. Under the DMCA, the Copyright Office is allowed to make these exemptions, but they only last for three years. Since the unlocking rule was published in November of last year, that means it'll expire in November of 2009. Of course, we'll probably be on the third generation of the iPhone by then, but it still doesn't bode well for that unlocking business you were about to start.
Wait, I thought you said this was legal?
Well, the truth of the matter is that unlocking your iPhone probably isn't going to get you in any trouble, as long you're only doing it for your personal benefit. If that's what you intend to do, go right ahead. Just be aware of the risks, and keep in mind that you've probably hosed your warranty, and that Apple might well stop supporting your phone.
Since when has Engadget cared about warranties?
(Whistles, walks away.)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Rediff Shopping: iPhone for Rs 79990,— (Rs 59990,— after discount)
Great deal, you save Rs 20000,—
Buy from www.iphonenirvana.net and you save another 32000 Rs
Your total savings: Rs 52000,—
Monday, September 17, 2007
25. September: iPhone Arrival Date in India Confirmed!
We have a confirmed arrival date: 25. September! The long waiting is soon to find an end!
We received some substantial orders and inquires and therefore decided to bring a total of 40 iPhones. This week our supplier will unlock all the iPhones so that they are ready once they arrive in India. We will test each iPhone by inserting 2 different SIM cards before shipping it to you.
We know that every day which passes makes it harder to wait, but we think that the iPhone is worth the wait.
Your iPhone Nirvana Team
We received some substantial orders and inquires and therefore decided to bring a total of 40 iPhones. This week our supplier will unlock all the iPhones so that they are ready once they arrive in India. We will test each iPhone by inserting 2 different SIM cards before shipping it to you.
We know that every day which passes makes it harder to wait, but we think that the iPhone is worth the wait.
Your iPhone Nirvana Team
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Steve, it's your karma!
1971: That is Steve Jobs (founder of Apple Computer Inc.) on the left, but the most startling thing in this picture (besides Woz's 'do) is that young Jobs is playing with a piece of contralband called the "Blue Box."In 1971 Steve 'Woz' Wozniak designed a device called the 'Blue Box'. It allowed -- of course illegal -- phone calls free of charge by faking the signals used by AT&T (Apple's exclusive Network Provider for the iPhone in the U.S.). His friend Steve Jobs instantly realized that there must be a huge market for something that useful. He bought the parts for $40, Woz built the boxes and Jobs sold them to his fellow students at the University of California in Berkeley for $150. To demonstrate the 'product' to some students, Woz once posed as Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and called the Vatican. Allegedly he played his role so well that they told him the pope was sleeping but if he requested they would awake him. Woz got nervous and hung up.
The Wozniak/Jobs blue boxes were perfected and the business partnership between Jobs and Wozniak was born with Jobs working with Wozniak to sell the blue-boxes. They had some success and decided to begin working on a personal computer. Jobs sold his Volkswagen, Wozniak sold his HP scientific calculator, together raising $1,300 to fund their startup - the rest is history.2007:
Apple did it's best (apparently) to keep the iPhone locked to AT&T, but shortly after introducing the iPhone it has been succesfully unlocked. Apple hasn't taken an official stance on this issue perhaps because of this little bit of history.
Unlocked iPhone on Ebay.in for Rs 54.999,—
Get two from www.iphonenirvana.net for the same amount! Locked Version is on Auction on Ebay.in, current bid at 21.200,— (6 days to go), but beware, unlocking the iPhone is still a tricky affair. Unlocking Service is also offered for around 6000 Rs.
UPDATE: Apparently somebody was crazy enough to purchase the iPhone for Rs 54.999,—. It's not listed anymore! More iPhone Auctions are popping up as well!
UPDATE: Apparently somebody was crazy enough to purchase the iPhone for Rs 54.999,—. It's not listed anymore! More iPhone Auctions are popping up as well!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
[Video] iPhone on Hutch Network in India!
Thanks to iphonedelhi for posting a Video on YouTube. This Video proves that the unlocked iPhone works in India on Hutch GSM Network! It also shows that other features work as well.
www.iphonenirvana.net
www.iphonenirvana.net
[Photos] 10 iPhones ready to fly to India
The first 10 iPhones are ready for departure. Yes, 10 iPhones is a very small quantity to start with. But we have not had much feedback until now so we will start small. Depending on how much feedback & pre-orders we receive, my Supplier can still purchase more iPhones.
If everything goes as planned we will receive our iPhones on the 20. September here, insert our SIM and post a Video online to prove that it works on Airtel and Hutch, because SEEING = BELIEVING. Be one of the first to receive your iPhone, don't pay 1000 USD to some Singapore reseller (www.iphone-singapore.com) who is going to mail it to you from outside India, which means that you will have to pay a good amount of custom fees, duties and probably you will have to bribe some corrupt official too. Don't end up paying 1500 USD.
If everything goes as planned we will receive our iPhones on the 20. September here, insert our SIM and post a Video online to prove that it works on Airtel and Hutch, because SEEING = BELIEVING. Be one of the first to receive your iPhone, don't pay 1000 USD to some Singapore reseller (www.iphone-singapore.com) who is going to mail it to you from outside India, which means that you will have to pay a good amount of custom fees, duties and probably you will have to bribe some corrupt official too. Don't end up paying 1500 USD.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
First unlocked iPhones on its way to India!
Apple iPhone 8GB (100% unlocked) to land in India on 20. September, 2007! Limited stock. Pre-order your iPhone now, shipping date is 22. September, 2007.
Visit www.iphonenirvana.net for more details. Also check out the FAQ Section.
Sounds like a scam? No it isn't! I was just on Skype Video with my supplier in the U.S. and he was able to completely unlock the iPhone, he inserted his T-Mobile SIM in-front of my eyes and I gave him a call! All features work as advertised (except visual voice mail, which is an AT&T Network specific feature). As soon as I get the iPhone here in India I am going to make a Video showing how it works on Airtel and Hutch Networks and post it on www.iphonenirvana.net.
Visit www.iphonenirvana.net for more details. Also check out the FAQ Section.
Sounds like a scam? No it isn't! I was just on Skype Video with my supplier in the U.S. and he was able to completely unlock the iPhone, he inserted his T-Mobile SIM in-front of my eyes and I gave him a call! All features work as advertised (except visual voice mail, which is an AT&T Network specific feature). As soon as I get the iPhone here in India I am going to make a Video showing how it works on Airtel and Hutch Networks and post it on www.iphonenirvana.net.
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