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Apple: Bricked iPhone? Buy a New One [UPDATED]

Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 2:15 PM - by

Some users, with their iPhone in various states of hack, discovered that their iPhone was bricked after the 1.1.1 Update. Apple's response is that "they should purchase a new iPhone," according to Jennifer Bowcock, an Apple spokeswoman.

Apple is unapolgetic about the situation with non-operational phones, according to Daily Tech. They've posted a large volume of information, posted license agreements with the update, and provided a well-covered press release prior to the 1.1.1 update.

"Anyone who hacks must know that they are taking certain risks," said Noah Funderburg, an assistant dean at the University of Alabama School of Law. "If they arent willing to assume the risks upfront -- like a brick[ed] iPhone -- then maybe they should not hack the device." Despite all that, some angry customers are threatening to sue Apple.

Apple's official response came from Apple spokesperson Jennifer Bowcock: "The inability to use your phone after making unauthorized modifications isnt covered under the iPhone warranty. If the damage was due to use of an unauthorized software application, voiding their warranty, they should purchase a new iPhone," she said.

Some users experienced problems with their iPhone after the 1.1.1 update even with a pristine, never-hacked phone. Apple has not said how it will handle that situation.

[UPDATE: iPO contacted Ms. Bowcock at Apple directly. She denied making this statement to Daily Tech. iPO has contacted the Daily Tech reporter for clarification of their coverage and will report the results.]

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Tommo_UK said:

member since 16 Mar 2005 with 23996 posts, TMO Mac Specialist, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:33 pm

"Some users experienced problems with their iPhone after the 1.1.1 update even with a pristine, never-hacked phone. Apple has not said how it will handle that situation."

I would have thought its pretty obvious the company will just replace the phone... does it even need speculating on?

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ctopher said:

member since 25 Aug 2006 with 134 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:37 pm

It needs to be commented on if at first Apple assumed that those people HAD hacked their iPhone. (i.e. you're guilty unless proven innocent)

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iVoid said:

member since 10 Jan 2007 with 65 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:38 pm

While I understand Apple not supporting hacked iPhones, telling users to buy a new iPhone after their 1.1.1 update bricks a iphone (hacked or not) is something I'd expect out of Microsoft.

Especially since it's a firmware/software fix to get the phone working again (there are reports that some good Apple geniuses are unbricking iPhones by doing some kind of firmware/flash restore).

Apple really needs to have the iTunes 'Restore' function work to fully restore the phone to original factory condition (it apparently doesn't fully restore the firmware and base OS in flash) before they start telling people to buy a new iPhone.

Just like you can reformat a Mac is you screw up the OS, you should be able to reformat an iPhone and start from scratch again.

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Tiger said:

member since 17 Jun 2003 with 1018 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:42 pm

It will all come back to personal accountability. And it's about damn time.

I had to laugh as I read about the issue over GPL and software makers/developers who violate it and are now being taken to task.

Apparently, they didn't read the agreement the signed (sound familiar?) and are facing suits for violating the terms. (take note you hackers, violators are being held responsible).

Or to put it in the words of the attorney for the Software Freedom Law Center, ""If you start getting a reputation for being a pansy, then people are going to conclude they don't have to do anything."

--Dan Ravicher, attorney, SFLC

He could be saying this on behalf of Apple and be just as poignant.

Is it any wonder the iPod Update bricked some iPhones?

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jimothy said:

member since 04 Jun 2004 with 612 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:09 pm

Tommo_UK wrote:
"Some users experienced problems with their iPhone after the 1.1.1 update even with a pristine, never-hacked phone. Apple has not said how it will handle that situation."

I would have thought its pretty obvious the company will just replace the phone... does it even need speculating on?

Replacement isn't the only, or even most likely, option. They could release an update to users to self-repair their phones, or if that doesn't work for all users, users could have to send in their phones for repair. Replacement would be the most costly for Apple, and not the most convenient for users, as they'd have to a) go to a retailer, and b) re-sync contacts, etc. So yes, it's worthy of speculation. I'm speculating right now!

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gslusher said:

member since 13 Nov 2002 with 2088 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:12 pm

iVoid wrote:

Just like you can reformat a Mac is you screw up the OS, you should be able to reformat an iPhone and start from scratch again.

If you screw up the firmware on a Mac, you may not be able to reformat it and start from scratch. You may have to take it to a repair technician. Part of the problem with unlocking (and some hacks) of the iPhone was that it involved changing the iPhone's firmware.

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ctopher said:

member since 25 Aug 2006 with 134 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:17 pm

Lets not all jump on Tommo, in a way, he's right. Apple has always stood behind their products and if they break, they have a good reputation of making it right.

But that being said, if you never hacked your iPhone and the update ruined it, Apple should graciously take it back and make it right. (fix or replace). If they initially refuse and accuse you of hacking when in fact you did not, then they are behaving badly.

The article didn't say that this was the case, (That Apple assumed guilt) so perhaps I'm out of line too. BUT, I don't believe the majority of people are arguing that Apple should support their hacked phones, but it seems to make good sense for Apple to do what it can to not make their product unfixable.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:37 pm

My non-hacked iPhone died on the updated, but my wife's updated fine. I called Apple and they sent a dispatch box on Friday. A new phone appeared today to replace the dead unit. Not bad response time, as I was only without a phone for the weekend. They even offered to waive the loaner charge if I wanted a temporary phone. The only down side in the whole thing is my nice ApplePeelz protectors are gone so I will have to buy them again.

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gslusher said:

member since 13 Nov 2002 with 2088 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:43 pm

Anonymous wrote:
The only down side in the whole thing is my nice ApplePeelz protectors are gone so I will have to buy them again.

You may find that you really don't need them. Several people have tried to scratch the iPhone's screen with keys, even very sharp knives, with no success.

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Terrin said:

member since 29 Jan 2006 with 414 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:01 pm

Apple's position is not unreasonable. There are essentially two different types of hacks. Some unlocking the iPhone, and others installing third party software. In the first category, there are different types of hacks. For example, where the hardware is actually taken apart and the non writable memory on the iPhone is replaced. A software restore is not going to fix that hack because a restore doesn't touch the non writable memory. Another unlock hack utilizes a bug in the firmware, which by its nature Apple was likely going to fix anyway. Nonetheless, one poster suggested that Apple treat the iPhone like a Mac and let users do a full system restore of the computer's firmware. However, on a Mac, once you update the firmware, you cannot restore it to an earlier version. Firmware can only be restored to the version that is currently installed on your computer. Accordingly, the iPhone is treated like the Mac. When people unlock the iPhone, many are essentially updating the firmware, so Apple's system restore, like on a Mac, sees the alteration as an update and for whatever reason will not install the older factory default version of the firmware.

I see no problem with Apple's stance on the unlock hacks, anymore then I see a problem performing the unlock hacks. People were informed that the update would likely break their phones, and they were informed doing the hacks voided the warranty. If you want to hack your iPhone, do not perform the update and do not expect Apple to support you. Apple cannot pay attention to all the various ways of hacking an iPhone. Moreover, it is not in its interest to do so as it is contractually obligated to maintain its relationship with Apple.

I am more sympathetic to third party application hacks because a simple system restore should be able to fix problems caused by updates. Moreover, Apple's position of application development is neutral. In others words, it is not discouraging it. As such, make it easy to go back to the default state.

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Terrin said:

member since 29 Jan 2006 with 414 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:07 pm

On a Mac once you update the firmware, you cannot go back and restore the default firmware. You can restore the currently installed firmware. Moreover, I do not believe a system restore on a Mac touches the firmware. Many of the unlock hacks on an iPhone are changing the firmware. So, Apple is treating the iPhone just like a Mac in the sense that restores will not go back to a previously installed version of the firmware. Instead, the restore merely reinstalls the OS and included applications to the factory shipped state.

iVoid wrote:
Apple really needs to have the iTunes 'Restore' function work to fully restore the phone to original factory condition (it apparently doesn't fully restore the firmware and base OS in flash) before they start telling people to buy a new iPhone.

Just like you can reformat a Mac is you screw up the OS, you should be able to reformat an iPhone and start from scratch again.

Quote this post ↓

Terrin said:

member since 29 Jan 2006 with 414 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:13 pm

I do not own an iPhone. However, my brother does. I went and bought it with him. At no time during the purchase was he asked to sign a contract. Nor was he told if he changed anything about the iPhone it would be bricked. He merely went in and said I want an 8GB iPhone. He paid cash. The Apple guy bagged it up and handed it to him. There is no contract until you sin up for service.

With that said, I do not feel terribly sorry for people with bricked iPhones who unlocked the phone knowing voluntarily installed updates could break the phone. Those people should have waited until the smart hackers figured out how to restore the phone. They will. I also applaud the people who are making use of their hardware as they see fit. They own it. They just shouldn't expect Apple to support their efforts.

Tiger wrote:
Apparently, they didn't read the agreement the signed (sound familiar?) and are facing suits for violating the terms. (take note you hackers, violators are being held responsible).

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esegre said:

member since 28 Feb 2003 with 22 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:08 pm

I have been a programmer most of my life and Im 65, also been a hacker

(in the good sense) most of that time ,My experience is that it is extremely

difficult to "brick" a solid state item with software only.

Im sure a backdoor is going to be found to reload the firmware and start anew.

Enrique Segre

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Jim of D said:

member since 01 Oct 2007 with 1 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Mon Oct 01, 2007 7:52 pm

Gee, Mr. Martellaro, are you trying to pull a Ryan Block here? How come when it comes to the iPhone, journalists like you think it's ok to just publish anything without confirming the report first?

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 1002 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:28 am

I'm pretty sure my buddies at Apple call her "Jenny Blowcock". Is there a typo in the story?

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:02 am

If you bricked your iphone you can sell it here

www.ibuybrickediphones.com

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