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Jailbreaking questions

Summary: The fact that jailbreaking has now been made legal raises some interesting questions about Apple and how it will defend the iPhone ecosystem in future.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

The fact that jailbreaking has now been made legal raises some interesting questions about Apple and how it will defend the iPhone ecosystem in future.

See, as things stand at present, Apple plays cat and mouse games with both the hackers behind the jailbreak projects and those who have jailbroken their handsets, with firmware updates traditionally destroying any jailbreak. But now that jailbreaking has been given a legal seal of approval, will Apple change it view of jailbreaking and jailbreakers.

We already know that Apple won't offer support for any damage caused through jailbreaking, which I guess if fair since it's making the product do something that it's not designed to do. But even with that point clarified, it still leaves many other questions:

  • Will Apple continue in its policy of making jailbreaking progressively harder with each update?
  • Will Apple continue to build updates in such a way that undoes existing jailbreaks?
  • Will Apple offer an easier way for iPhone owners to jailbreak?
  • Will Apple now loosen up API restrictions of developers to allow them to add currently prohibited functionality to apps (one of the primary reasons people jailbreak - other than pirated apps - is to get access to apps that provide features that wouldn't be allowed by Apple).

My prediction is that Apple won't make life easier for jailbreakers unless there turns out to be some sort of legal challenge to updates undoing a jailbreak. Until that happens, jailbreaking is going to be a) for the technical b) not something that the mainstream user will be interested in.

Topics: Hardware, Apple, Mobility, Smartphones

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13 comments
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  • Freaking unreal

    Jailbreaking relies on exploits in the iPhone firmware, but in your universe Apple is engaging in a strategy of thwarting jailbreaking by closing the exploits.

    The sign over the door says "agenda." The cubicle to the left is where you check your brain.
    frgough
    Reply Vote

  • DUH! The answers are yes, yes, no, and HELL NO!

    This isn't a matter of Apple saying "Oh well, the Library of Congress says it's OK so we'll just make it easy for everyone to do it." The DMCA was convenient cover, but it was hardly Apple's sole justification. They simply want to control their platform, and they'll do whatever they can to continue that control. That may mean putting more effort into making it harder for Dev-Team to do what they do, or it could be something more significant like incorporating eFuse, or something similar, into their chips. Either way, while you may not have to fear legal action for Jailbreaking your iPhone, I predict that moving forward it's going to be harder, not easier.
    matthew_maurice
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Jailbreaking questions

    Whenyou buy the hardware, it's yours to do with as you please, even using it for target practice, if that's what floats your boat. Obviously, you shouldn't expect Apple to provide support for your mods. If you change it back though, Apple has an ethicle obligation to honor the warranty and provide support while it's in a state that they approve.

    One example: My ISP doesn't provide support for my home LAN, just support for 1 PC connected directly to the cable modem. So, if I'm having connection problems, I remove my router and hook my PC directly to the modem and if it's still a problem, it's my ISP's problem. If it works in that config, then the other problem while my router is hooked up, it's MY problem.

    The only time the iPhone warranty should be voided is if I break the hardware.

    Apple will NOT cooperate with jailbreaking or jailbreakers. They will continue to make jailbreaking difficult.

    However, this might put a whole new spin on Hackintosh PC's and potentially the resurrection of Psystar.
    Software Architect 1982
    Reply Vote

    • "If you change it back though"

      @Digital Video Expert Which is the true beauty of a bootloader. If doesn't like the signature of a firmware you're attempting to install, it goes into recovery mode until you flash it with a conforming one. Don't be surprised if iOS 5 incorporates some kind of system where only pristine Apple OSes can be run by the devices.
      matthew_maurice
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Jailbreaking questions

    It would seem that most jailbreakers will tire and move on to a platform that does not require such nonsense. That's my future plan (at the moment). I can't imagine needing to do this with WP7 or Android just to decide for myself what to load on my hand held computer/phone thing.
    Schoolboy Bob
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Jailbreaking questions

      @Schoolboy Bob Precisely! That's why I think there will be a "brain drain" from the iPhone platform to more open platforms like Android. It's one thing to not get support from the device vendor for your hacks, but quite another to have that vendor actively fighting your efforts. Why subject yourself to that frustration?
      PacoBell
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Jailbreaking questions

    I do not see any reason why Apple will change. It probably is not cost effective for them to make it harder, but there really is no incentive to make it easier. They sell a lot of these to people already.
    If you want to hack your phone, there are alternatives... both the Pre and the Droid are available. Let the folks who are happy with TV dinners continue to buy them. Those of us who like home made food will skip that option.
    nvrtis@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Jailbreaking questions

    I heard this will be at K-Mart in a few days for only $150.

    http://www.augenus.com/indexhome.html/GENTOUCH.html

    I want one!
    wrcousert
    Reply Vote

    • Give it a few years...

      ...and let's see who actually wants an Apple device - let alone wants to spend time jail-breaking it? lol! <img border="0" src="http://www.cnet.com/i/mb/emoticons/happy.gif" alt="happy"> <br><br><b>@wrcousert:</b> Thanks for the link. Interestingly, it seems the Gentouch is not the only generic touchpad on its way to a store near you! In addition to those under development in China, seems other developing nations are entering the fray. According to BBC News, an Indian company, with the help of the Indian Government plans to make & market a similar device for twenty five quid (about 35 bucks)!<br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10740817</a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a><br><br>I guess the good folks @ Apple Computer Inc. feel they have to "make hay while the sun shines" - hence all the restrictive practices. And poor old Steve Jobs is not a well man and no doubt feels his days are numbered anyway, poor fellow. So you cannot blame Apple for its "grab it while you can" business strategy I suppose? But I fear Apple's current prosperity will be short lived.<br><br>Hard fact is we are entering the "second dip" of the worst recession in 80 years. Several key western economies, including the USA, are hopelessly in-the-red and some would argue teetering on the brink of bankruptcy:-<br><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html</a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a><br><br>As Acer's founder observed earlier this year, many of America's IT brands will become irrelevant within 20 years anyway:-<br><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/acer-founder-thinks-american-it-brands-will-be-dead-in-20-years/11340</a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a></a> <br><br>Which begs the question: who will be able to afford all that hard-earned cash for an Apple iPad, when you can buy a device that's good enough, for a fraction of the price? Come to think of it, I wonder who will pay $100 for Mac OSX or Windows operating systems, (other than the very rich and handful of brand-loyal fanbois,) when you can buy a complete, working computer, c/w free operating system and all the software you need, for less than the cost of a proprietary American OS on its own? And the days of average folks paying $500+ for a jazzed-up mobile-phone are certainly drawing to a close!<br><br>Best wishes, G.
      mrgoose
      Reply Vote

  • Of course NOT!

    Jailbreaking takes advantage of security breaches in the iPhone firmware and operating system to accomplish the process.

    When Apple fixes security problems, which everyone wants it to do, including businesses, it will end up automatically breaking current jailbreaking methods, making it harder to jailbreak.

    Over time, the hackers have to find new security problems all the time in order to allow jailbreaking.

    If the iPhone OS and firmware were highly secure, then jailbreaking won't work.

    For example, Motorola encrypts its core OS and firmware. This makes it almost impossible to jailbreak a Motorola Droid phone.

    Perhaps Apple will do the same for the sake of security. This, of course, would quash jailbreaking.
    jameskatt
    Reply Vote

  • Apple may not care but what about AT&T?

    Obviously jailbreaking your iPhone will void the warranty as far as Apple is concerned - and rightfully so. That doesn't make it illegal.

    But it isn't illegal to block your device from accessing AT&T's network, is it? The question is not whether you own the hardware you purchased. The bigger question is what if you jailbreak your phone to be able to stream data from application X on Y's network... you lease that connection and the owning network can remove you if they don't like what you're doing on it. I can almost envision AT&T getting involved to remove certain offenders (jailbreakers) who are "bypassing its rules." Not that I agree, mind you, but I can see it happening!
    sgtgary@...
    Reply Vote

  • Jailbreaking technical?

    Jailbreaking is not for the technically-minded particularly - the original jailbreak by the iphone dev team was a faff but just a question of following a list of instructions step by step. Then GeoHot's was simplicity itself. Took about 2 mins.

    Robin
    pianoman1962
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Jailbreaking questions

    Deal breaker for me,

    I like my iphone 2g, but it is getting old and acting up. I had to jailbreak it to use it on T-mobile, and I really like the extras that I can get when jailbreaking. I personally don't think Apple cares about me as a customer, because they want to retain full control, and they refuse to sell their phones through any other wireless company. AT&T does not work well in my area, and I am not going to move my whole family just so I can get a new phone.

    I am currently out of contract, so I can re-up at any time, but right now I am waiting for a nice Android phone for T-Mobile. The Samsung Galaxy series may be the one.
    littlemas2
    Reply Vote
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