Earlier this week Apple warned its customers that a update was going to render some modified handsets “permanently inoperable”.
How sweet. Well, it was true. iPhones are bricked. In fact, our sister-site Gizmodo has amended their review of the iPhone and are now recommending that you do not buy it due to the loss of cool third-party applications that will now no longer work on the updated iPhone.
(For the record, we always recommended that you not succumb to iPhone hype, and we even made the editor who loves Apple write a story about it. We’re so mean.)
From BBC News (emphasis ours):
That warning has now proved correct as many owners are reporting their phones no longer work following installation of the update.
Apple requires iPhone owners to take out a lengthy contract with AT&T in the United States but there are a number of programs on the net that unlock the device for use with other networks.
Some owners are reporting on technology blogs and Apple’s own forums that the update is deleting contacts information, as well as photos and music, on iPhones that have not been modified in any way.
Awesome. Good job, Apple. Here’s what one bricked iPhone user has to say:
Walked (well, more like ran) over to the nearest AT&T store. I told them my iPhone stopped working and that iTunes told me I needed a new SIM card (both true). The guy said no problem, and handed me a new SIM. He told me to install it, connect to iTunes, and activate the SIM with my existing account. Just got back, popped in the SIM, and no luck–getting the same errors.
Tell us all your iPhone bricking stories at tips [at] consumerist [dot] com.
Bricking my iPhone [Macworld]
Apple iPhone warning proves true [BBCNews] (Thanks, Papa Midnight!)
(Photo:Macworld)
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someone brought up windows.
Everyone who’s saying “They can’t test against everything everyone might do…” is absolutely right. That’s the reason that Apple resisted so hard against letting 3rd parties develop software and hardware for Macs. That’s the reason it was so hard to find a new hard drive or new sound card, and why developers won’t port games over. It’s gotten better over the years, as hardware standards have gotten a bit more stable and ubiquitous. Windows has always been buggy and unstable because they let any old joe schmoe write programs that hack registry keys, delete dll files, do all kinds of crazy unpredictable shit, with crazy unpredictable results.
People like apple stuff because “it just works” and the reason it just works is because they don’t let bozos who only sorta know what they’re doing write code for the OS. They made a mistake not opening up the API so that anyone could develop for it. What we have now are a bunch of untested apps running code that may or may not work on patched or updated firmware. This isn’t even mentioning the people who actually hacked their phone to work on T-Mo. I haven’t got any sympathy for them, though I admire them for blazing the first trails.
The way to fix this ultimately is to make the API public so that everyone can get a hold of the proper development tools and write apps that won’t brick phones under new firmware. This would still keep with what I believe the original philosophy of Apple was back when both Steves ran it.
September 28, 2007
I had purchased an 8GB iPhone on the first day they were available for sale, and was extremely excited about the device.
A month later, I used a ringtone program to allow me to use ringtones on my phone, as Apple had not yet released any software supporting this feature.
I have had no problems with my phone, and had actually restored the phone to remove the conflicting ringtone software.
On September 27th, I updated to Apple’s 1.1.1 iPhone firmware, which then proceeded to make my iPhone inoperable.
The phone displays an ‘Incorrect SIM Error’ and asks for a new unlocked ATT Sim card. I have been to AT&T and have tried 3 different new sim cards, all to no avail.
I called Apple support on 9/28/2007 and spoke with “James”, case #84820480, and he told me that I had broken my phone using the ringtone software and the phone was no longer usable, not for AT&T, Pre-paid AT&T, T-mobile, nothing.
I then asked to speak to James’ supervisor, and spoke to “John”. John was very helpful and set up an opportunity for me to return my phone, and transferred me to Apple iPhone Support.
I then spoke with “Scott Simmons” who proceeded to ask me for my IMEI information, my Serial Number, and after an hour of waiting, he got back to me and told me I had voided the warranty on my phone and they would not be able to service the phone for me.
I asked Scott to explain my situation, and here are his words, paraphrased, “your phone was working on September 26th when the ‘software modification’ had previously been applied, and on September 27th, after installing firmware 1.1.1, your phone was inoperable. The firmware from Apple did not cause the phone to be inoperable, but rather the ‘software modification’ did.”
Even though the phone was completely operable prior to this update, it was not the 1.1.1 firmware that resulted in my phone becoming inoperable.
I have been a loyal Apple customer, only becoming the first iMac owner last June. I have since owned a White Macbook, Black Macbook, and now own a 15.4″ Macbook Pro, iMac G5 20″, Apple Extreme Wireless, iPhone, iPod Shuffle, and have purchased over 50 macbooks for my company and clients.
After Apple graciously offered a $100 credit to early iPhone owners, this is a most grievous error on Apple’s part, and my confidence in their business has been seriously shaken.
I would like for Apple to do the following:
1. Offer me an ability to use my phone on AT&T per my purchasing of the phone
* Whether this involves fixing, replacing, my phone I do not care; I understand if they do not want to issue me a new phone, I am perfectly happy with my scratched model
2. Please explain to me why their firmware caused my perfectly working phone to become inoperable. After discovering that there would be a possibility phones would become inoperable (Sept. 24th announcement), Apple should have considered a plan allowing users to undo this inoperable change.
3. Explain to me why the iPhone is not able to be unlocked; According to a recent federal law, after 90 days, the carrier must unlock all handsets, does this action by Apple fly counter to this law?
I respectfully await a response. I was very happy with the service received by John, however, Scott and James were very unhelpful, and basically told me I have no recourse after spending $536 on a phone, which was made inoperable by the very software released by Apple.
Respectfully,
Andrew
I thought that unlocking a cell phone was protected under the DMCA for fair use. Just as long as you are using it for personal use, it should not be an issue. Why does Apple hate America?
I’m so glad I grew out of my “early adopter” stage.
So let me get this straight, people stand in line for hours to BEG Apple and (even worse) AT&T to take their money and be locked in to AT&T’s network (screw job #1).
A few weeks later the price gets lowered $200 and Apple gives the same people $100 credit in the Apple Store. Translation: “Go pound salt!” (screw job #2)
These same people then violate their warranty by “hacking” the internal software of the phone and are warned, in advance, that if they update their phone it will be rendered unusable…but they update anyway?? Where they not expecting screw job #3?
Talk about catching the wrong side of the “bleeding edge”. These people are collectively suffering from battered wife syndrome.
Listen, cut your losses…don’t think for one minute that as long as AT&T and Apple are in bed together that screw job #4 and #5, etc aren’t coming…
He doesn’t love you, if he did he wouldn’t beat you!!
Forgive my ignorance as in Canada we can’t get iPhones yet, but, they did say that the update would do this. Could one not have restored the phone back to firmware defaults, undoing the unlock, before updating?
In fact, the phones aren’t being rendered useless – they’re simply reverting back to the factory-spec ATT-only state. Additionally, third-party software never intended for use (and a possible security hole) has been prevented from working on the iPhone with the latest update – which is purely optional.
The affected, unlocked iPhones are not “bricked” at all, unless you’re trying to use them with another carrier than ATT, specifically violating the terms of use.
Consumerist got it wrong – wonder if they’ll do the research required and post a correction?
@DeeJayQueue: “why developers won’t port games over”
Not quite right on that one — anyone can write a game for Macs. There is demand. The computers can do it, the programmers just won’t do it. Apple can’t really be blamed here.
If Apple can find some way of fixing this, probably with a software upgrade they make their consumers pay for, they should call it iY2K. This whole debacle reminds me of the panic.
@HeySuburbia: I guess we just disagree that the warning was enough. Apple said it wouldn’t work, they warned that the OPTIONAL update might brick the phone, and then users, having been completely warned by Apple, decided to update anyway. I have to fault individual users.
It is the same with any hacked phone, I wouldn’t take my hacked Krzr back to Verizon, I wouldn’t update the firmware, TIVO, PSP, any computer unofficial bios, etc etc. This is a simple known risk you take when you hack your purchase. My thought is that this will be such an issue because the iPhone caused more casual/non tech savvy people to hack their phones, so there wasn’t the same familiarity. But that really isn’t an excuse. They warned you before you bought it, their stance never changed, they warned you before the update, and then it bricked…it’s hard to have sympathy.
I bet someone will be able to Un-Brick the iPhone in a week or so.
@bradanomics: Disregarding your ridiculous “hate America” comment — private parties can do whatever they like. Has the federal government levied a court order against you barring you from unlocking your phone or imposing a penalty for having done so or charged/convicted you of a crime here?
@MissPinkKate:
The concept has been moving steadily toward selling services instead of products. A product is a one-off charge, but a service is a recurring monthly charge. In order to do this, there is usually some wording in the agreement that Apple maintains ownership of your product from a legal standpoint and can do with it as they will. Even though you buy the physical piece of hardware, Apple maintains control over any and all software on the device as well as what the device is used for. It is a sneaky, controlling method that the entire industry is moving toward. Imagine buying a car, and have the manufacturer deciding what brand of gas you can buy, what roads you can drive on, and what accessories you can have installed. The tech industry is moving in that direction.
@Buran: Ah. That makes sense, I guess.
@goodguy812: besides if you buy something it becomes your right? so if you want to smash it into pieces you should be able to.
Yeah, but you shouldn’t be able to sue for it not working after you do.
@ry81984: I’m in complete agreement with you. Jobs is a typical hypocritical Baby Boomer!
@andrewufl2: Why should Apple do anything for you? That third party software could have changed something w/o your knowledge in the phone. That’s not Apple’s problem, just like it’s not Microsoft’s problem when you install some random program that you found on the internet. I’ve hacked my Razr, and I know if it bricks it’s my own damn fault, not Verizon’s or Motorola’s.
@Buran: No, but if Apple is intentionally breaking perfectly good working products with a software update, it will very quickly become a class action lawsuit due to people not getting what they are permitted to do by law.
Sweet. Hopefully this pisses off the FCC enough that they step in and stop this whole practice of restricting equipment. Paging Michael Powell.
There is a reason why consumers in South Korea, Japan, and now China have access to better cell phone equipment than U.S. consumers, and this whole debacle typifies it.
In answer to a few people above:
The DMCA does not prevent Apple from doing this.* The recent minor alteration to the DMCA (via the Library of Congress) stated that users of cellphones were permitted to find ways around the technology that locked phones to a single carrier. This was (arguably) previously illegal in the United States.
The new rule DOES NOT REQUIRE Apple or any other cell phone provider to aid you in this process. You’re allowed to do it on your own, or with the help of others. Nobody is required to help you. If they’re able to make it technically impossible for you to switch carriers, they have every legal right to do so.
Now, actually damaging your phone in retaliation for switching carriers is another issue and seems very questionable to me. I don’t think that would be challengable under the DMCA however.
* Unless maybe you added your own DRM to the phone and Apple somehow circumvented that in order to brick it. That’s an unlikely scenario.
@nequam: If it was brand-new and broken and they won’t exchange it, good cause for a chargeback.
So I install some 3rd party app that isn’t approved by Apple and they issue an update to MY cell phone and they have the right (warning or not) to deny me my purchased hardware. Seems to me that if a company wants to issue an update why doesn’t it just set it to factory defaults. I cant believe that there isn’t more of a power struggle to keep anyone from “modifying” a purchase.
If I were to upgrade my Dell with a new video card does that mean Dell has the right to brick my computer??
So I am not allowed to use a 3rd party app that may work better or is proprietary and they can destroy my phone if they want and just say you voided a warranty??
Seems Apple wants to go to the dark side and came up with their own take on WGA…
Thumbs up Apple welcome to the club
Thank god I have a BlackBerry
@bradanomics: Where did you get the notion that that’s what it is? “We can’t guarantee this will work if you modify it” is not the same as their doing it on purpose. In fact, the exact opposite has been publicly stated.
Apple and AT&T are so much the antithesis of either, it’s like having Mother Teresa show up at the Folsom Street fair in San-Francisco…
If the RIAA pulled such a stunt, there would be outrage, but Apple can get away with it, with the people clamouring for more…
It really is schadenfreude to me indeed. When I pay for something, it’s mine — I do not answer to anybody about what I do with it. When I pay for something, it had better meet my needs or be adaptable to my needs. Anything that actively prevents me from doing so is anti-consumer, anti-innovation, and sure as hell defective by design.
When I drive my not-so-defective by design Windows Mobile-based phone into the ground, I’m getting the FIC Neo1973.
Oh, yeah… can I throw out that locked phones are also bad for the environment? It sucks throwing away a perfectly good phone just to switch carriers.
@The Walking Eye: I feel like you kind of nailed it, saying that you’d blame yourself, not Motorola, for a bricked RAZR. There’s some sense of entitlement consumers have when it involves Apple, and I’m guilty myself. I expect them to fix crazy crap on my MacBook when it goes wrong.
I don’t think it’s because of the money we spend on it, because buying a Dell laptop is expensive too, but I don’t often hear of people expecting handouts from Dell. It’s almost like, because we’ve heard about what terrific customer service Apple has, we expect to be treated the same.
Ultimately, I think the people who pay for backlash like this are all of us who buy their products. This sense of entitlement (and the subsequent meeting of those demands) yields $500 telephones.
Please, Apple warned everybody this would happen.
So if you’re not with AT&T, just buy a normal phone and a iPod Touch. Same thing, less trouble.
(Or you can wait a year or two for CDMA iPhone)
To the guy that wrong the loooooong comment about how he loaded a ringtone hack to his iPhone, then de-installed it, taking the author dude’s word for it that it *totally* changed everything back to tabula rosa? He lied.
Whine to him, not to Apple. Or whine in the mirror.
If I slap an after-market NOS turbocharger on my car engine and as a result, end up with a slag of melted aluminum under my hood, the only reason I’d bring it up to the Acura dealership is because I love to be ridiculed. Which I don’t, so I won’t.
Don’t try to update and you won’t get a brick. You screwed with it, and now you can’t update. It isn’t apple’s fault. Plus, they warned you people who bricked it that it would do exactly what it did if you installed the update.