JeremyMorel.com
It’s chic to be geek.
Jailbreaking = Terrorism?
Aug 2nd
Apple has claimed that jailbreaking iPhones – that is, altering their software to allow the user to run applications without restrictions – could turn them into tools for deliberately bringing down cellphone networks.
The claims come in a response to a government review which takes place every three years to decide which situations should be exempted from copyright laws. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has filed a request asking that the act of modifying the iPhone’s software should be deemed legal for people who own a handset.
Because the software is licensed (whereas the handset is sold), Apple maintains that modifying the software is a breach of copyright. It rejects the argument that such behavior is covered by section 117 of the US Copyright Act which allows for situations such as installing software on a computer or making a back-up copy to protect against losing it if the computer is damaged.
The most striking note of its response, however, is the claim that jailbreaking makes it easier to access the baseband processor, the component which connects the handset to the network – in this situation, Apple warns that jailbreaking could modify the software controlling this processor and lead to GPS functions failing.
More seriously, it says jailbreaking could make phones more vulnerable to hackers. As they would be able to access the baseband processor, this could let them change the Exclusive Chip Identification (ECID), the number which identifies the handset to the nearest cellphone tower. Apple claims that this creates a risk of two phones with the same ECID connecting to a tower simultaneously, which could potentially see one user unable to make or receive calls. (PC World questions this claim, noting that iPhones have a secondary identification number built into the SIM.)
According to the filing, the consequences could be more serious than inconvenience, Apple says somebody hacking into a jailbroken phone and controlling the baseband processor software might also be able to get around limits on the amount of data the handset can send at once. At best this might allow them to evade data call charges. At worst they could deliberately overload the cellphone tower and crash its operating software
Why is Apple forcing me to Jailbreak my iPhone?
Feb 19th
So I’m in a quandry. Remember the Frosted Mini-Wheats commercial from the 80’s? Well much like those people had to stifle their inner child, I’m in a battle with my inner hacker. You see, it’s in my nature to peak and tweak pretty much everything I own. If it’s electronic, and it’s got hidden potential, I’m going to open the hood and sup it up. So here’s the problem: the rational adult in me admires my iPhone’s shininess, and its “it-just-works” technology. This has me second guessing my usual penchant for cracking and hacking.
Up until now, I’ve decided to leave my iPhone in its virgin state, but I have to admit, I’m tempted to push the magic button that allows me to add a whole bunch of functionality that isn’t able to run through Apple’s native interface… and shit, it’s just cool! So, I’ve pragmatically weighed the pros and cons… and as much as I want to hack it, my iPhone is too important to me to risk turning it into a brick. Ok, so this is an open and shut case, right? Not so fast…
If there’s one thing Apple should have learned by now, it’s that it’s the little things that matter most – the small touches and attention to detail that make someone fall in love with (or out of love with) a 
device. And while you certainly can’t second guess what everyone on the planet will deem an important feature, there are some that should be obvious.
To me, one such obvious feature is the ability to create my own SMS alert sound effects. Apple originally tried to stop people from creating their own custom ringtones for the iPhone but eventually gave up after a while, and now, while Apple does not try to encourage it (ie, build the “make ringtone from your own files” functionality into iTunes) you can now find tutorials on how to easily get your own files to play as ringtones if your do a little Googleing.
But the same cannot be said for SMS alerts. Unfortunately, Apple has decided that only 6 “magical” sounds can be allowed to signal an incoming text message, and out of those 6, only 1 is usable, unless you work in the circus.
So what’s the deal? Why can’t we use our own music/sound effects to signal a text message? I personally have always enjoyed the classic Super Mario Brothers 1-Up sound. I’ve used it with other phones, and it’s PERFECT for incoming texts, but alas, my iPhone does not recognize it.
To rub some salt in my open sores, I’ve learned that I can do exactly what I want if I’m willing to jailbreak my phone and install a simple program to enable SSH. It’s right there, and it’s tempting me… I know some folks think I’m making a big deal out of nothing, but it’s these little things that make me the hit at parties. Ok — so I haven’t been to a party since college — but I really like my gadgets to be all they can be! What’s a geek to do?
