$600 is a lot of money, and I’m not even sure if that price gets you full iPhone functionality. For instance, will Visual Voicemail run on other networks? To be sure, unsubsidized iPhones aren’t really new. The French and Germans required that their local counterparts also be available without any sort of lock-in.

Is the relatively high price worth it? Gearfuse implies that unsubsidized units free the user from the jailbreaking game, definitely a benefit worth considering. But I imagine bypassing Apple’s and AT&T’s restrictions will remain in vogue, so long as really good apps only work on jailbroken units.

(image and source: BGR)

Post from: The Gadget Blog

No doubt, Apple considered jailbreaking an iPhone verbotten, given how the process compromises the manufacturer’s vision of mobile app and connectivity and financial utopia. But recently, in response to an EFF request to grant a DMCA exemption to jailbreaking, Apple has finally stated for the record that jailbreaking is illegal, since it violates the copyright of its iPhone OS software. The company even went so far as to argue that none of the restrictions it places on the iPhone need removal to foster innovation, implying that its gadget is fine the way it is (yeah, right).

The EFF originally argued, and restated, the basis for their exemption request:

But the courts have long recognized that copying software while reverse engineering is a fair use when done for purposes of fostering interoperability with independently created software, a body of law that Apple conveniently fails to mention.

Of course, don’t expect Apple to budge on this one. I’m sure there are some people in Apple who truly believe that declaring jailbreaking fair game would expose the iPhone and its users to a wider set of dangers. But, since no system is perfect, who’s to say Apple themselves can provide absolute protection? The fact that jailbreaking—what’s basically a compromise of Apple’s layers of protection—is an issue now is proof of such protections ultimate effectiveness.

Thanks textually.org!

Post from: The Gadget Blog