OT: Technology and Geek Stuff Thread

[Topweasel]

Deb - if it won't boot then it's probably a hardware failure and Apple won't really know it was hacked will they? I have jailbroken two ipod touches and three iphones and have yet to brick one. Granted it takes a little time to do some googling for due diligence to make sure you're doing it right...

You'd be surprised how easy it is to unlock the device these days. It's a one click executable, reboot, and then installation of an app from cydia. Takes about 5 minutes.

But I get your point regardless.

And this is what I my point has always been. A Jailbroken Iphone probably is by far the best Smart phone out there. Once LTE has really hit the streets even if its still AT&T only, a Jailbroken Iphone might not have any real competitors. My problem isn't with the difficulty of the job itself its the perception that a normal user will or should do it knowing the policy. I used to when I worked at the Tech bench at best buy (now Geek Squad) have to re-talk customers into memory installs after I gave them the disclaimer that our install could void their warranties. People are purchasing a $500 phone (before discounts and contract) and will be tied into a 2 year contract. The last thing people will want to do, as a whole, is go home and void their warranty and possibly brick their phone forcing them to buy a new one.

Now once its bricked their isn't a single button restore option. That takes time, knowledge, and experience in computer electronics to pull off. So even if people can get it back to factory OS and settings, Joe the Plumber is just going to panic.

Its with that understanding of the computer and mobile electronics purchasers that I can't recommend a Jailbroken Iphone as sellable product. Without Jailbreaking its the most restrictive Smart Phone, a market built on customize-ability and an ever changing and developing usage.

[Coop]

Top - I have yet to see one bricked iphone occur as a result of jailbreaking....every time I have ever had any issue I have always been able to restore stock firmware...I'm not saying you can't brick an iphone but it takes the same time, knowlege, and experience to really "brick" it.

btw - isteamy is your equivalent x rated application

[Topweasel]

Top - I have yet to see one bricked iphone occur as a result of jailbreaking....every time I have ever had any issue I have always been able to restore stock firmware...I'm not saying you can't brick an iphone but it takes the same time, knowlege, and experience to really "brick" it.

btw - isteamy is your equivalent x rated application

There is a difference between bricking your Iphone and "bricking it meaning dead and will never start up ever again so go buy a replacement". A Brick because apple sent and update through Itunes that broke your Jailbroken Iphone might as well be bricked to the point as replacing it to most people.

You really need to see past the "its super easy for me" approach to consumer electronics. At the end of VHS you still had people that struggled to change the time or set a recording on a VCR. My mother just called me because she struggled to log onto a google website for googlewave. These are people that still for whatever reason either by affordability, sugestions by friends, or some random requirement during upgrade time that are now getting into the Smart phone bussiness. RIM has sold 20+ Million Curves, and sold 25 million phones last year alone. There are not 100 million technical minded people in the world.

What you want to think of PC and Gadgitry usage on your level something like that of a plumber. You know how to do it well and can do this work for others. It comes very easy to you and you don't understand why people do not grasp basic ideas. Sure there are some handy people out there may not be as skilled that are certainly capable. But thats like the guy who does his own plumbing. Even those guys will tend to really screw up stuff worse then has to take it in or call someone. There are more people that don't understand plumbing and the gap is huge then people who do. It might surprise you to find out that same ratio applies to Computer Electronics, even among the younger crowd.

On Example I would give. There was a poll during the HD media war (Late 2007), where people were polled, 80% had no idea what Blu-Ray was. You expect that those same people should know to Jailbreak their phone and how to reload the OS to factory if something goes wrong?

[mason reese]

There is a difference between bricking your Iphone and "bricking it meaning dead and will never start up ever again so go buy a replacement". A Brick because apple sent and update through Itunes that broke your Jailbroken Iphone might as well be bricked to the point as replacing it to most people.

You really need to see past the "its super easy for me" approach to consumer electronics. At the end of VHS you still had people that struggled to change the time or set a recording on a VCR. My mother just called me because she struggled to log onto a google website for googlewave. These are people that still for whatever reason either by affordability, sugestions by friends, or some random requirement during upgrade time that are now getting into the Smart phone bussiness. RIM has sold 20+ Million Curves, and sold 25 million phones last year alone. There are not 100 million technical minded people in the world.

What you want to think of PC and Gadgitry usage on your level something like that of a plumber. You know how to do it well and can do this work for others. It comes very easy to you and you don't understand why people do not grasp basic ideas. Sure there are some handy people out there may not be as skilled that are certainly capable. But thats like the guy who does his own plumbing. Even those guys will tend to really screw up stuff worse then has to take it in or call someone. There are more people that don't understand plumbing and the gap is huge then people who do. It might surprise you to find out that same ratio applies to Computer Electronics, even among the younger crowd.

On Example I would give. There was a poll during the HD media war (Late 2007), where people were polled, 80% had no idea what Blu-Ray was. You expect that those same people should know to Jailbreak their phone and how to reload the OS to factory if something goes wrong?

This is where I'm getting lost Top. You may think it silly of Coop to assume that the less technically able will be able to reset their jailbroken phone...I still don't understand why they need to jailbrake their phone.

I get that there are things that you can't do with a factory standard iPhone that maybe you should be able to do, but what is it that people need to do that they can't with a standard iPhone?

If I can't set the clock on my VCR, then does it matter whether or not my VCR can do scheduled recordings?

[CGVT]

Being one of those technically challenged people, I see TW's point pretty clearly. When it comes to electronics, if it is difficult I probably won't do it. Most of the people I know want to turn on their phone and just have it work and be simple.

[dsred]

That's the over 50 crowd for ya!

Ha!

[CGVT]

That's the over 50 crowd for ya!

Ha!

No shit. I have trouble logging on...

Although a lot of younger people I know are the same way. Most want to buy something that does what they want rather have to mess with it to get it to do what they want.

People are pretty lazy that way.

[mason reese]

Being one of those technically challenged people, I see TW's point pretty clearly. When it comes to electronics, if it is difficult I probably won't do it. Most of the people I know want to turn on their phone and just have it work and be simple.

But that's what I'm trying to figure out; if all you want is a phone that works, then why would you need to jailbreak it?

[Coop]

Mason - I want it to work with tmobile, and I want to enhance it's ability to make it work better for me. Jailbreak and the ability to unlock it allows this...

[romster]

Isn't jailbreaking a phone illegal?

[Drew]

I wouldn't think T-mobile and others would connect to an illegal device if they could help it.

[CGVT]

But that's what I'm trying to figure out; if all you want is a phone that works, then why would you need to jailbreak it?

I wouldn't. If I wanted an Iphone I would go with ATT because they support it. I would wait for my contract to expire and then swith over. I think that is the "average" user. Some tech savvy people, like Coop, would obviously do otherwise, but I think they are the exception rather than the rule.

[The Ken]

being able to use the iphone's data connection (EDGE, 3G) to browse Internet with a laptop. Mine has both the native tether option when plugged in to a USB port (creates a network adapter that has to be enabled on the PC) and I also use an app called PDANET that works wirelessly via an AD-HOC network connection created in the WIFI utility.

is that supported by apple?

[The Ken]

Isn't jailbreaking a phone illegal?

yes it is part of your EULA when you buy it.

Tether Berry customers have been threatened heavily by Verizon.

[Coop]

Romster - no, jailbreaking is not illegal. Apple would like you to think so but it is not

Drew - the iphone has been a boon to tmobile as they are the 2nd most predominant national GSM carrier next to AT&T. It is not illegal for them to support the device even though they do not sell it (yet)

CG - All fine and good but realize the Death Star cares not about you they just want your $$$

MWHSG- Tethering is a function built into the iphone. Almost every other carrier except for AT&T (US) supports it, including TMobile in the UK (Orange is their parent). Use, don't abuse.....