[tech_head]

Hi,
First let me start by saying I'm a huge Apple fan and currently own 3 Macs.
I don't own an iPhone but some of you have no clue about hardware/software.
The iPhone is running MacOS and as such you can't brick the phone by running a simple or even complex piece of software unless you muck with the radio firmware or SIM firmware.
Browsers only go so far. I currently own a Treo 700W and the attractiveness of the phone is that I can run "true" third party applications. I can run software that can do things you can't do in a browser.
Also note that unlocking a phone is perfectly legal.
tech

[Craig_A]

Quote:

---

As you said before, Mr. Breen, the posts are not personal. Ideas from anyone from either side are open for consideration. If a snake, however, wanders into a mongoose camp, it's just another meal. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Let me also note, since I'm a beet farmer, if someone will eat beets they will do anything. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ideas and points of view have the force of a wind. Some are gentle breezes. Some raise a storm. Enjoy them all...if you enjoy all this down home nature hokum. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

---

Hey, I love beets. But a guy has to have his standards. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Chris Breen]

[indent]Quote:

---

Adding ugly, cramped interfaces or marginal productivity apps looks like a waste of time to me, especially in light of losing their functionality every time the iPhone is updated.

---

[/indent]
Seriously? You don't see the value in an IM client? eBooks? Dictionaries? Games? Customizations? Tools for archiving notes and SMS messages? Tools for adding custom ringtones? Really?
As for updating, again, no one is forcing you to update. My iPhone remains at 1.0.2.

[griffman]

You only lose the functionality if you choose to upgrade your iPhone .
As for the benefits of the apps, isn't that up to the individual user to decide? I don't deride anyone the choices of programs they put on their Macs, so why would you slam someone for the apps they put on their phone? The point wasn't to impress, the point was to demonstrate.
-rob.

[Pennywigeon]

[indent]Quote:

---

Now that hackers are thiiiiiis close to bringing third-party apps back to the iPhone I thought I'd give those with unhacked phones a taste of what they've been missing. <a href="http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/mwvodcast/2007/10/mwvodcast18/index.php">[more]</a>

---

[/indent]
I think what any user that follows these instructions would be missing is a Warranty.
Advocating an unsupported method that VOIDS a consumers warranty, in my opinion, is not really Macworld Material.
Shall we next do an article on how to use Torrent Software to steal Software and how to use programs to "hack" software" so a thirty day demo is now a full working piece of software?
Good Job! Macworld although I think I would have titled the article "SImple Instructions on How to Void Your Warranty. A day in the life of an expensive Brick."
A would counsel a disclaimer on this article.
What if some foolish consumer follows the advice of this article and Bricks their phone? What if they sue Macworld for not only suggesting it but recommending it. "Show them what they have been missing."
Interesting article. But not very smart. Actually I would use the word foolish.

[Pennywigeon]

[indent]Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Tools for adding custom ringtones?

---

[/indent]
I would be very, very careful here. You may wish to read up on what the RIAA defines as ownership of a song. Because of the LAW iTunes has to sell a ring tone because if you make a custom ringtone from a song you have already purchased without buying a second license for said song you are BREAKING THE LAW.
Remember the lady that got sued for $9,000 per song (almost a quarter of a million dollars in total) for breaking the copyright law? If you advocate custom ring tone methods that violate the copyright laws you may wind up on the wrong end of a lawsuit. This is not Apples doing but the RIAA.
I would be very careful with the way you present this because you are stepping into a gray that is borderline on breaking the law. If nothing else you are advocating people to void their warranties without warning them first. [shaking head]
Foolish

[griffman]

There's definitely no gray area if you're using music you created yourself, or a recording of your own voice saying "The wife is calling."
Sadly, Apple's tight restrictions on ringtones prevent any of that. Thank goodness for iToner.
-rob.

[Chris Breen]

It's not quite that black and white. If I use the original copy of a track I own -- not a second derivative copy -- and cause the ringtone to reference that track I may very well be within my rights under Fair Use.

[Pennywigeon]

How does iToner determine whether a sound file is of your own making or an MP3 downloaded off of the internet?
Since no software is made that can make that distinction I can see why Apple wouldn't support having one on your iPhone.
I mean what aabout a serial key generator? Sure it can help you if you "accidently" lost your serial number but lets be realistic here.
$20.00 bucks says you have a ringtone that you didn't create
It is the nature of the beast

[Pennywigeon]

[indent]Quote:

---

It's not quite that black and white. If I use the original copy of a track I own -- not a second derivative copy -- and cause the ringtone to reference that track I may very well be within my rights under Fair Use.

---

[/indent]
Nope, as of September if you do that you are a thief in the eyes of the RIAA and you can be sued for copyright infringement.
In black and white
WASHINGTON Today, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a decision on the legal status of ringtones, finding that mere excerpts of pre-existing sound recordings used for ringtones fall under the compulsory license provisions of section 115 of the copyright law
http://www.riaa.com/newsitem.php?news[/u]ye...46-114BD14EABE1
It is NOT Apple that is being the bad guys here. It is the RIAA and the lawsuits they are filing and the laws they are changing to better line their pockets. I would be very very careful here since that mother of 2 who downloaded 24 songs and uploaded them on KAZAA got sued for $220,000 by the RIAA. The RIAA won and the lady had to pay the damages. They have their sights now on "ringtones" as a new upcoming business they can get their greedy hands in.
Apple is only following the laws that are set by the RIAA.

[griffman]

I do have ringtones I didn't create. However, they came from legitimate public domain sources, so I'll take that $20 now.
Apple's job here is not to play police officer. If that were its role, then it couldn't exist. Why? Because iMovie can be used to edit scenes out of movies. Because iTunes can be used to steal music. Because Safari can be used to steal pictures from people's websites. Because Image Capture can be used to steal content from books. Because iChat can be used to transfer pirated software. Because Mail can be used to plan bank robberies with cohorts. Because QuickTime Player can be used to watch stolen movies.
In fact, all of OS X is just full of possibilities for people to do mean, illegal, or immoral things with. So why is Apple allowed to sell it, but not allowed to offer a tool to let people create their own ringtones -- especially when other phones offer such capabilities? Sorry, but your argument makes absolutely no sense.
-rob.

[edmetric]

Mr(s) Pennywigeon, you might as well not play that tune on the jukebox. The editors are not listening to dance music. No cheek to cheek romance tunes anymore. They want marching music, free us from the shackles, protest chants.
P.S. Will the person who parked the red Buick in the all-views-considered parking lot please move to the nothing-for-you-here lot.

[jdb8167]

Macworld editors, you are advocating zero day root exploits on the iPhone and potentially on the Mac as well. The new 1.1.1 jailbreak relies on a zero day root exploit. Think about that.
Apple wasn't informed before this exploit was published. What would you say about someone publishing a zero day exploit for OS X before reporting it to Apple?
By advocating hacking the iPhone you are explicity supporting those people who are exploiting a security problem on the iPhone and who aren't using accepted and responsible reporting practices.
These people are making the iPhone and potentially the Mac more vulnerable and you are lauding them because you want minor functionality additions before Apple is willing to support it.
This is the worst breech of good conduct I've ever seen from Macworld. It is inexcusable. Which of these hacks are worth the security of your phone?
Thanks for nothing.
James Bailey

[griffman]

"Apple is only following the laws that are set by the RIAA."
Last time I checked, the RIAA didn't make the law.
And do you know why the RIAA wanted that very decision you so happily quote? So they wouldn't have to pay royalties to artists for making ringtones out of their songs! That's right, because of that ruling, when you pay for a ringtone, you're not giving a dime to the artist, only to the RIAA. Hopefully that makes you feel good.
-rob.