Trigger Finger

So the recent Apple press release on iPhone unlocking is stating that unlocked iPhones could well be bricked by the new firmware update released in the next few days.

There are a few things I find obsurd about this statement.

1. Since when has a firmware flash been irreversable damage? The is no software on earth that can’t be changed.

2. The is no hardware on earth that can be ‘damaged’ by software unless it is written in a malicous way, and even then extremely difficult to do

3. Why are Apple the only company on the planet to be exempted from laws that state that all phones should be unlockable so they can be used for the purpose for which they were bought on any carrier?

4. Why are Apple warning users in advance of the upcoming firmware changes? Normally they break stuff without any advanced warning. The answer seems obvious. Their exclusive deals with AT&T, O2, T-Mobile etc are in jeopardy if they don’t at least ‘appear’ to be doing everything they can to keep user on those networks.

To the average user FUD like this is a great way of scaring them into keeping the phone locked, whilst technical users will see this as a subtle warning not to update your firmware as AT&T et al have requested code that breaks the current unlocks. This is currently being very senstionally reported when the truth is a little more subtle. Headlines should really read ‘Apple warns users not to update to the new firmware if they want to keep their phones unlocked’

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