Apple cautions iPhone users about jailbreaking
(Credit:
Dong Ngo/CNET)
Apple published Thursday a support article cautioning users about jailbreaking the iPhone (as well as other Apple handheld audio devices).
Unlike the company's recent filing to U.S. Copyright Office that suggested that jailbreaking the iPhone might pose a national threat and be the cause of AT&T's unreliable service, the article states that "customers who have installed software that makes these modifications have encountered numerous problems in the operation of their hacked iPhone."
This means that if you get your iPhone jailbroken, for example, you will cause yourself, not others, problems. This is such a relief for me.
The problems that Apple mentioned include:
- Device and application instability: Frequent and unexpected crashes of the device, crashes and freezes of built-in apps and third-party apps, and loss of data
- Unreliable voice and data: Dropped calls, slow or unreliable data connections, and delayed or inaccurate location data
- Disruption of services: Services such as Visual Voice mail, YouTube, Weather, Stocks as well as push-based third party applications have been disrupted or no longer work on the device
- Compromised security: Security compromises have been introduced by the modifications that could allow hackers to steal personal information, damage the device, attack the wireless network, or introduce malicious software or viruses
- Shortened battery life: The hacked software has caused an accelerated battery drain that shortens the operation of an iPhone or iPod Touch on a single battery charge
- Inability to apply future software updates: Some unauthorized modifications have caused damage to the iPhone OS that is not repairable
Personally, I haven't seen much difference in performance as well as other issues with my iPhones (both the 3G and the 3GS) between when they are jailbroken and when they are not. I did notice that my iPhones offer a lot more features when they are jailbroken. For example, my 3G now can also record video, and I can use both phones to store my files (as external storage devices.)
However, if you install many third-party applications made for jailbroken phones, chances are you will run into some badly developed applications that can cause trouble.
Unlike unlocking, jailbreaking is just the modification of the operating system, which is software, and can be always be undone by restoring the device. Unlocking is when you want to have the code of the cell-connection baseband chip altered or fooled by an intermediary SIM card so that the iPhone works with other GSM cell services. (Unlocking, unfortunately, can also most of the time be undone when you upgrade the phone's firmware). While I haven't had any issue with this, either, Apple claims that opens the door (PDF) to many security issues.
Well, there wouldn't be any problems at all, really, if the devices were shipped without being locked down to a carrier or to Apple's App Store. People just want to use their devices the way they want, and they should be able to do so. This is why the Electronic Frontier Foundation has asked regulators (PDF) to basically legalize the jailbreaking practice of the iPhones.
If you own a jailbroken iPhone/IPod, please share your experience with it in the comment section.
Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong.
I personally think the threat of national security is a bunch of bs though..
Thanks to jailbreaking we've been able to tether and have video for the last year on our 3G's. Additionally we can; customize everything, run programs in the background, free ourselves of the need to dock for podcasts, stream just about any tv show, voip over 3G, download large apps without docking, free up memory at will, install apps rejected by the app store (Google Voice for starters), sync up with more than one iTunes library, and the list goes on and on. I have had no problem with calls, rather there is an app in Cydia that allows me to see the callers location and another that actually improves other caller ID issues. Adding these functionalities does nothing noticeable to slow down the 3G with the exception of running more than one program at a time. My 3GS so far hasn't even flinched. If the masses had this added functionality the iPhone would be an even bigger seller than it already is and AT&T would be forced to deal with it.
What if HP and MS got together and said, you have to only use the OS we provide on your laptop and can only add approved applications? The Federal Trade Commission would be on them in a second.
I really get what Apple is trying to do, which is an extension of their go to market for computers. Control the Hardware *and* the software and you control the experience and minimize risk to the brand. The problem is the iPhone is simply too locked down and just like with iTunes, they have created a very profitable and new revenue stream in the App Store and they will not impact it in the slightest.
Quite honestly, I would rather have old, crappy WinMo or Android than Big Brother OS on the iPhone.
i found out video would be enabled on 3gs and not 3g. I was enraged and I'm still ticked at Apple's app store practices and the nutty high price for data. I'll probably get an android phone when my contract is up.
and like tsi26, i'm on tmobile also and have not had any of said problems. also, my data costs me only $6/mo (not full 3g but for $6, edge is plenty fast for me)
..and thats unlimited, tethered edge. :)
1) The iPhone is a computer. Imagine HP or Microsoft "Locking" the computer so you could not add unauthorised software.... oh, and AT&T was the ISP which claimed that unauthorised software was causing problems on their network.
2) You RENT-TO-OWN the device. You agree to pay off the device in installments. When they tell you you cannot operate the machine as you want, that is a problem. Put it this way, Rent-to-own a washer... if they told you Tide can be used, but Downy is bad and should not be used... you would be angry to be told what you cannot do with your washer.
Get a clue.
I know when you buy a car the bank doesn't tell you what you can modify on it.
I know when I bought my computer from dell with leasing dell didn't tell me what I couldn't do with it.
Considering AT&T is guaranteed to get their money once you sign the contract I don't see the problem here.
Stop being such a damn apologist.
The iPhone hardware is yours, but the OS is not. You can make the phone into a paperweight, use it to shim up that odd table leg, or scoop out your catbox if you want, but you *cannot* use it as a phone with the OS that is installed on it. That is Apple's and you will follow their rules and EULA.
the whole article is funny really, since it doesn't seem to have that much truth to it, unreliable voice and data is something that all iPhone users seem to experience way too much of, and as you mentioned the whole thing really supports the case that the EFF is trying to make
i wonder why apple cares so much about this jailbreaking thing suddenly after practically ignoring it for 2 years
As for Android...well, maybe if the Cupcake push hadn't seriously killed Wi-Fi on my G1 I might agree with you. But it did and I don't. Right now it's looking REAL tempting to just pay T-Mo the early termination penalty and bail to Sprint and the Palm Pre.
I can't believe you would say something so shortsighted. Of course, in a fairy tale land where everything was lovely and free that would be nice, but we live in a world where things cost money and companies want to make money. You think AT&T would pay to subsidize your phone if Apple was selling it to any carrier? I think that we'll eventually be able to do that and the few people who actually utilize the options that their devices will have will be able to do it and everyone else will pay more because of it. The companies are still going to make money and if they get an avenue taking away, they'll pass the cost on to the consumer. We shouldn't all have to pay because a few people (even if I'm often one of those few) want to do things with their devices that they weren't built or intended to do.
If somehow there was a way to install Android (or Symbian or even WinMobile) on the iPhone, it'd become much better, IMO.
What makes an iPhone an iPhone *IS* the bloody OS. Despite all of its flaws, Apple's mobile OS is the key to making the iPhone as compelling as it is. Too bad it's been pistol-whipped by locking it to AT&T.
THEFT is "the spirit"??? What the hell is wrong with you people? You wouldn't mind if I hack a few hundred dollar from YOUR bank account, eh?
If you don't think it is theft, it IS legally fraud.
"
Not all iPhone users. You are forgetting those in the UK. We dont have problems over here, as Apple chose the best carrier, 02. AT&T are supposedly the best carrier in the US, but as I have never used any US carrier, I can't comment on their services.
Apple defines itself by providing the 'it just works' ideology into all their products. Sure, they may have a few problems from time to time, but AT&T is outside of apple's hands. For bad connections, you should all look (and winge) to AT&T. Yea, sure, apple signed the contract with them, but that was on the pretense that AT&T was going to improve their networks to handle the capacity. Neither company wants to break their contract with each other, so the situation stays as it is.
As for Apple breaking some functionality on jailbroken iPhones/iTouches, for shame Apple!!
Microsoft has done the same thing in the past with WGA. At least this time, its for adding extra features, not for getting the OS for free.
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by jp999
July 30, 2009 7:24 PM PDT
- i've had my iphone 3g for about 8 months. I had a palm treo 750 with winmo for about 2 years before that. All in all, i have no urge whatsoever for a 3gs (the battery life does sorta suck if you dont kill apps off in the background and the lack of um... multi-tasking (?) abillitys such as multiple apps at once really sucks too).
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (65 Comments)Not that I love winmo, I'm on AT&T now tho, and their data plans suck. I pay 15.00 US a month for just 1500 txt messages (Ok i use it for work -computers email, namely Mr. Nagios!) .. On top of taht, I'm required to pay for a 30.00 US per month data plan. I have the cheapest plan, the "Nationwide 450" and I still pay about 100.00 US per month in all. Now I'm like.. wow. For 2 years? i'm getting super-screwed. FML as they say. I do love some things about the phone - the unit itself is one hell of a gaming platform - my kids clamor for it! (I don't personally, but other apps sure). Anyhow, i think if it someday works here on another carrier i will keep it, but oother than that, i'm outta there as they say come 2/2011! :(