iPhone Firmware Update Woes

by Budda
If you’re a Uk iPhone user thanks to the unlock methods that were made available earlier this month, then you might be a little worried about Apples new iPhone update.

Apple are pushing out the Firmware 1.1.1 update this weekend. The update brings the iTunes WiFi store to the phone, just like the iPod Touch.

Depending on how your iPhone was originally unlocked will give you different results. “Jail broken” handsets are going to turn in to expensive AT&T paper weights as the 1.1.1 update security has been tightened up.

Users of the open source SIM unlock software are getting an “Incorrect SIM” error message.

So if you’re running an iPhone in the UK - don’t do the update, do you really want iTunes store on your phone that much? Well there are other update features, Engadget has a nice round up of the features and status of the 1.1.1 progress on unlocked phones.

Serious Geeks Sour on Apple iPhone

This is the equivalent of Roger Ebert slamming a Scorsese movie, or Lester Bangs trashing the Beatles. Tired of being pushed around by Apple's greed and ham-fisted approach to locking down its hardware, gadget giant Gizmodo has brought down the hammer by giving the Apple iPhone a (rare) "don't buy" rating. Ouch, that smarts.

Gizmodo (which is hardly alone in the new Apple bashing) originally told users to "Wait" on the device for more applications to be included, hoping that a 1.1 firmware update would correct some earlier, obvious defects like the inability to send MMS messages, record videos, make your own ringtones, or use the device for mass storage. But Apple's latest release infamously fixed little of that. Yes, you can purchase ringtones now and access iTunes via Wi-Fi, but Apple also went out of its way to disable all unlocking and customizing that more enterprising users have developed. That's a picture of Gizmodo editor's iPhone just before upgrading it with the latest firmware. Afterwards, it looks just like any other device.

Gizmodo's ire on behalf of hardcore gadget enthusiasts is rightfully placed: Apple was probably never going to introduce these features on its own and intentionally "bricked" the devices as part of its most recent update. Gizmodo even goes so far as to call the update "malicious," after washing his hands of the device until its opened to third-party apps. (I plan to hold the post's author Brian Lam to his word next time I see him. If he has an iPhone in his pocket I'm gonna kick him in the shins.)

As for me, I can understand his position. He wanted upgrades, he got nothing. The average user, of course, gets the iTunes upgrade and a $200 price cut, and that's not a bad deal especially compared to the original proposition (though I still won't recommend it without 3G service). But power users who want the freedom to tweak their phones (which they paid for, right?) as they see fit are not going to have the patience to battle Apple on this stuff every 30 days or so. The iPhone will be unlocked again, then Apple will re-lock it, and the cycle will continue, probably forever. I don't blame Lam for washing his hands of the matter before things get ridiculous.
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Apple Trinity Sued over iPhone Price Cut

Steve Martinez
The suit, filed September 22 in Queens, New York, accuses Apple, Steve Jobs, and AT&T of discrimination by price, rebates, underselling, and deceptive actions.









Dongmei Li, the Plaintiff, was one of the many who waited in line on opening day to purchase an iPhone. Although she was going for the 8GB model, when she made it to the checkout line the 4GB was the only model still available. She claims she's the victim of price discrimination since she's unable to resell her iPhone for profit, given the recent price drop. Also, since the model she owns is being discontinued, it resale value has plummeted.

Additionally, she feels cheated since the $200 price drop that recent buyers received eclipses the $100 store credit her first purchase merited.

Says Li's attorney, Jean Wang of Wang Law Offices, "iPhone was selling very well because Apple's stocks were increasing since August 16, 2007 and rose as high as $144.16 on September 4, 2007, the day before Apple announced that it was cutting the price of iPhone."

They're claiming this is proof of "underselling", since there was no sound reason for the price cut to being with.

The lawsuit accuses AT&T as well, forcing customers into a 2-year service agreement with $175 early termination fees. Li believes this is unfair, given that users have been able to unlock their iPhones to use with other networks. However. given the recent iPhone firmware update, this argument has taken a backseat to the other issues.

Li is requesting compensatory damages of $1 million, as well as punitive damages to be determined at the trial.
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