var json_comments = new Array("
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squinko
July 29, 2009 3:59 PM
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Blaming things on terrorism is so 2002.

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5 replies
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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 4:19 PM
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@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: If you dont blame the terrorists for everything, the terrorists win.

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edguitar
July 29, 2009 5:20 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: Jobs should make the iBlow specially design for terrorists it costs a little more but now we can't balme them for everything done witha cell phone

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Outrun1986
July 29, 2009 4:01 PM
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@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: Next thing you know they will be blaming it on SARS!

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Applekid
July 29, 2009 4:06 PM
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@Outrun1986: I prefer going back to 1993 so we can blame Ace of Base.

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I Love New Jersey
July 29, 2009 4:00 PM
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A bulldozer can also crash cell phone towers. Should they be also considered a threat?

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3 replies
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RandomZero
July 30, 2009 3:27 PM
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@I Love New Jersey: Maaaaybe.


Or maybe we should stop focusing on methodologies and isntead focus on general recognition of people up to no good (remember when this was a survival skill for police?) and rapid, generally-capable response.

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goodpete
July 29, 2009 4:11 PM
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@I Love New Jersey: My thought exactly. Their \"logic\" is stupid. They're saying:

X is illegal.
Y allows X.
Therefore, Y should be illegal.

Under that logic, we should also outlaw breathing (lets those terrorists live long enough to terrorize people), cars (lets those terrorists drive places to terrorize people), clothes (let those suicidal terrorists hide their suicide-making explosives), etc, etc, etc.

In order to convince me (or any other thinking person) that Jailbreaking should be illegal, they need to demonstrate that the primary purpose of such a process is to facilitate an illegal act.

Of course, my sister Jailbroke her iPhone for the same reason many people do it: So that she could put a new theme on it. Not exactly a terrorist act.

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reynwrap582
July 29, 2009 4:47 PM
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@plamoni: Depends on the theme! I consider Hello Kitty terrorism.

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Monkey_Business
July 29, 2009 4:01 PM
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iPhone ... the latest weapon of mass destruction

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2 replies
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sp00nix
July 30, 2009 2:15 PM
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@Monkey_Business: To bad bush cant go and blow up Apple.

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Xerloq
July 29, 2009 5:24 PM
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@Monkey_Business: If you wanna take down the cellular network, there's an app for that.

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DPGumby
July 29, 2009 4:02 PM
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Has anyone asked why is this coming from Apple and not AT&T? Last time I checked Apple doesn't own or operate a carrier network or any cell towers.

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Sir Winston Thriller
July 29, 2009 4:04 PM
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This is illustrative of one reason I didn't get the Jesusphone--Apple thinks it knows better than you what to fo with your property.

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4 replies
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takes_so_little
July 29, 2009 7:07 PM
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@Sir Winston Thriller: Let's face it, a LOT of companies are trying to control what you do or don't do with the products you buy... ever read a EULA? I just bought a Dell they tried to tell me I COULN'T put XP on. I actually asked them what they would do if I did. No reply, huh.

I will agree that Apple is the worst offender at this kind of thing, though.

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Cyberxion101
July 29, 2009 7:40 PM
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@takes_so_little: Maybe they meant that you actually couldn't physically do it? Like, if you tried to lay the disk on the computer, it would evaporate into nothingness? :P

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ArcanaJ
July 29, 2009 4:30 PM
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@Sir Winston Thriller: Same here. The idea that a manufacturer thinks they get to tell me what I can and can't do with an item I've purchased is ridiculous.

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BlazerUnit
July 29, 2009 6:54 PM
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@ArcanaJ: For all the Mac heads who swear by the superiority of Apple products, you rarely hear them admit that the company likes its tight grip on firmware, software, and the hardware it produces.

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RamV10: The Axeman Returneth
July 29, 2009 4:04 PM
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More like a weapon of mass stupidity.

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ceriphim
July 29, 2009 4:04 PM
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Terrorism-

There's an app for that!

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2 replies
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BigFoot_Pete
July 29, 2009 4:06 PM
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Because you know 9......11:

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Applekid
July 29, 2009 4:07 PM
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So, do your part to prevent terrorism, Apple, and let users install whatever they want on the phone without requiring they jailbreak it.

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4 replies
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Keavy_Rain
July 30, 2009 12:56 AM
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@Applekid: Apple and AT&T asked me to pass a message onto you.

Dear Applekid

GTFO and take your logic with you.

Hugs and Kisses,

Apple and AT&T

I mean, I totally agree with you and feel that your comment was totally appropriate and fair, but Apple and AT&T disagree with me and I really needed the $1,800...

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Chris Walters
July 30, 2009 1:29 AM
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@Keavy_Rain: Yep, that $1800 should cover at least a couple of textbooks this fall...

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Brontide
July 29, 2009 4:54 PM
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@Applekid: We have a winner. The only reason jailbrakers need to access the baseband is because the phone is both software locked to the App Store and SIM locked to AT&T. Lighten up and the hackers don't NEED to hack the baseband.

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 4:21 PM
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@Applekid: Oh please, allowing freedom and liberty is just the kind of things a terrorist would do. That would be so unamerican to let people do what they want with things they own.

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thezone
July 29, 2009 4:10 PM
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Apple's point doesn't make any sense. Sure their phone could be used in that manner. However, that doesn't mean jail breaking should be illegal. Their phone can be jail broken regardless of the legality of it. Therefore, the phone can be used in that manner even if it does not receive an exemption. I think Apple is still living in the Bush years where you could say the word terrorism and the government would blindly jump on board.

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6 replies
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Kabukistar
July 29, 2009 8:35 PM
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@thezone: It reminds me of my old Junior High. They wouldn't let us wear coats or backpacks in the halls, because they were worried that we'd be concealing guns in them (this was right after Columbine). But, if you were going to shoot up the school, presumably you wouldn't even care about the rules and would just carry your gun out in the open or shoot the first teacher who told you to take off your coat. It's not like someone would be planning to shoot up the school, but then think \"wait... I'm not allowed to wear a coat on campus; there's no way to shoot up the school without breaking the rules so forget it.\"

Same kind of deal. If you were planning on using your iPhone for any kind of terrorist attack, then a DMCA suit would be the least of your troubles.

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Con Seannery
July 29, 2009 5:39 PM
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@thezone: Just classify it as a weapon. Then we can break out the second amendment on them!

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uncle moe
July 29, 2009 5:06 PM
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@thezone: it also seems like if jailbreaking were illegal, it'd just be the lesser offense committed in a list of much more serious crimes, assuming their theory is played out

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Megalomania
July 29, 2009 4:48 PM
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@thezone: It's kind of the whole \"when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns\" argument.

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Saboth
July 29, 2009 4:13 PM
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@thezone:

Its kind of the old \"DRM\" argument. \"We put DRM in so our customers can't do illegal things with their software and music.\" \"Um....but these are the people paying for it...the hackers break your DRM in a day anyhow...why punish customers who actually pay money?\" \"Errr\"

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CrazyTrain
July 29, 2009 4:14 PM
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Everytime you jailbreak an iPhone, the terrorists win.

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1 replies
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Paul Carr
July 29, 2009 8:36 PM
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@CrazyTrain: I thought that was how terrorists got their wings.... hmmmmm

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novacthall
July 29, 2009 4:15 PM
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And Apple continues its road down becoming a parody of itself. Bravo.

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1 replies
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amercer
July 29, 2009 4:15 PM
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How will the Copyright Office stop a terrorist from jailbreaking the phone? A person who is willing to do this will do so regardless of laws or copyrights. Instructions on how to do this will still be online. The Copyright Office can do nothing to stop this. The only good the Copyright Office can do Apple is to go after non-terrorists who are trying to jailbreak their phone for personal use.

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1 replies
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RandomZero
July 30, 2009 3:32 PM
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@amercer: This. Is somebody out there really going to say \"Well, I WAS going to bring down a nation's communications network and kill a few dozen people... but I don't want to break the DMCA.\"? I'm similarly baffled by MS putting \"Do not make illegal copies of this disc.\" on their CDs and DVDs. If the law won't stop me, why would a command from someone who has no authority over me?

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TCama
July 29, 2009 4:18 PM
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Let's look at this another way.

Apple is asking the Copyright Office to stop terrorism. The Copyright Office. Terrorism.

Remember kids, copyright stops terrorism.

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5 replies
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Tiber
July 29, 2009 5:39 PM
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@TCama: It makes sense to me. The last thing terrorists would want to do is break the law.

I also love how, by arguing how everything could potentially be used for terrorism, they're could just as easily be giving terrorists ideas. Quick America, we've got to stop thinking up scenarios like these, otherwise we're supporting terrorism!

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 6:34 PM
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@Tiber: As wise man Bush once said: \"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we. \"

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Tiber
July 29, 2009 9:26 PM
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@MostlyHarmless: Yes, but I don't think hacking into the cell phone network is likely to be thought up by people living in caves. Yes, I realize they're not complete technophobes, but what Apple is talking about goes a bit beyond the average user.

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 9:34 PM
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@Tiber: There are better and easier ways to terrorize people than to hack into a bunch of expensive phones and drunk dialling away into the night. More importantly, I dont see any way of killing yourself violently while DDOSing using an iPhone. Jobs probably did not get the memo on their MO.

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yagisencho
July 29, 2009 5:30 PM
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@TCama:


My gosh, you're right! It all seems so obvious now...

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squinko
July 29, 2009 4:42 PM
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@TCama: WHo knew this entire time that RIAA was just helping protect America?

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Xerloq
July 29, 2009 5:28 PM
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@squinko - applauds the death of FBC: Weird Al.

You'll have to jump to YouTube to watch.

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diasdiem
July 29, 2009 4:21 PM
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Does anyone else find Apple's 1984 commercial really ironic now?

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3 replies
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veg-o-matic
July 29, 2009 4:39 PM
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@diasdiem: No, but this simulpost is just weird!

Ooooo-EEEeee-uuuuuu!

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veg-o-matic
July 29, 2009 4:41 PM
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@veg-o-matic: Ungh. I meant that one.

my html skilz don't pay no bilz.

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 4:24 PM
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@diasdiem: Not anymore. Maybe a couple years ago.

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qwijybo
July 29, 2009 4:21 PM
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Am I the only person thinking that Apple is becoming more and more like their big Superbowl commercial, and no longer the one breaking the video screen.

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3 replies
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Munchie
July 29, 2009 10:57 PM
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@qwijybo: I thin I'll have to go with Harold and Kumar on this one. Do you like giving hand jobs? No. Do you like getting hand jobs? Yes. When then you are a hypocrite get over it.

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 4:24 PM
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@qwijybo: Prettymuch, yes. Because everyone else joined that bandwagon 2 years ago.

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twophrasebark
July 29, 2009 4:33 PM
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@qwijybo:

Jobs has always been that way.

He does whatever he wants and then attacks others for doing the same thing.

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cristiana
July 29, 2009 4:22 PM
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I love my Mac, and the great OSX, and I have a 3GS, and I love that too. Plust, I have been using Macs exclusively since OSX first debuted.
But, these stunts they are pulling with the iPhone are making me dislike the once pristine tower of Apple. I hate what they have become, and I hope that this craziness is completely the fault of ATT (but, I don't think that is true). I can go on and on about it, but, everyone knows the story, hopefully this trend will die, and not snowball into something even worse.

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2 replies
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Mythandros
July 29, 2009 6:41 PM
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@cristiana:
O.o ....You DO realize that we're talking about Apple here, right?


Wishfull thinking much?


Fanboi? Fangrrl?


Apple = bad IMHO. Almost as bad as Micro$oft.

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banmojo
July 29, 2009 7:09 PM
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@Mythandros: agreed, and essentially proven to be fact. stevie blowz donkey phalluses

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 4:23 PM
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hacker could potentially initiate commands (such as a denial of service attack) that could crash the tower software

So I guess we are all going to have to surrender our computers. Being of brown skin and possessing 6 computers, I bet I'll be shipped to gitmo asap.

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2 replies
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este
July 29, 2009 6:25 PM
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@MostlyHarmless:

:) Funny.

I was going to make a separate post about this but I'm lazy: Everyone seems to be missing the point that Apple is just using the hacking aurgment to protect their own device. They could give a shit about terrorism. It's just a way to get what they really want from the gov.

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 6:31 PM
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@este: Actually, everyone knows exactly that. They are just being snarky.

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Mythandros
July 29, 2009 6:43 PM
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@MostlyHarmless:
Really? I never would have guessed!


*Watches the sarcasm drip from the monitor and short circuit his keyboard* Damn!

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cotr
July 29, 2009 4:24 PM
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WAIT... is this why my iphone keeps dropping calls and not working? BECAUSE APPLE KNOWS IM A TERRORIST?

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Shadowman615
July 29, 2009 4:26 PM
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Is there some kind of variation on Godwin's Law that specifically deals with invoking Terrorism in a public debate?

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4 replies
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ceriphim
July 29, 2009 8:34 PM
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@Shadowman615: Straw Man fallacy, I'm pretty sure...

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MostlyHarmless
July 29, 2009 6:32 PM
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@Smashville: Hahahaha +1 for that. We shall call it Guiliani's Law now.

And if it involves torture, Cheney's Law or Yoo's Law.

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valueofaloonie
July 29, 2009 4:33 PM
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This makes me want to jailbreak my iPhone...

Bring it, \"terrorists\"!

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twophrasebark
July 29, 2009 4:35 PM
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\"Taking control of the BBP software would be much the equivalent of getting inside the firewall of a corporate computer - to potentially catastrophic result.\"

This is hilarious. They are basically arguing you shouldn't be able to buy ANY COMPUTING DEVICE that is not locked down, including your own home computer.

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pecan 3.14159265
July 29, 2009 4:37 PM
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But in this day and age, we have John McClane and Jack Bauer. The world is fine, so long as we've got lots of ammo, intense music, ticking clocks, and roadways open for extensive high-speed chase scenes!

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Pixelantes Anonymous
July 29, 2009 4:40 PM
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The only reliable solution is to declare iPhones as weapons of mass destruction, ban the production and export of them and send SWAT teams to every household that owns one.

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chapoec
July 29, 2009 4:43 PM
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Yeah sure \"terrorism\" like making free call using the Google Voice App, or other apps that would make the iPhone great.

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TheBursar
July 29, 2009 4:50 PM
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Odd, I think Apple just made a case that the iPhone should be illegal.

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1 replies
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vastrightwing
July 29, 2009 5:38 PM
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@TheBursar: I agree. What was Apple trying to do? Encourage millions of civilians to destroy America?

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Duckula22
July 29, 2009 5:22 PM
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Modern times approach to proprietarism is quite terrorist too.

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tailstoo
July 29, 2009 5:24 PM
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It's really hard to argue with that logic. All jailbrakers must be terrorists. We should make them all live in mold-filled apartments.

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Corporate_guy
July 29, 2009 5:25 PM
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Microsoft should have used this as a defense for windows. If Apple can monopolize their platform and close it down because of terrorism, I think Microsoft can get away with a completely open platform that has a web browser by default.

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Tankueray
July 29, 2009 5:27 PM
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I can't live without my Jailbreak because of NemusSync and (now) GVoice. I like my other applications, but I would not have jailbroken if I could have gotten them in the App Store. (Or actually had the same capabilities as my old WM phone had.) I went from a 3G to a 3GS just because I really like the thing, and even bought 2 more that won't be jailbroken, but I'm growing weary of this crap. I'm not afraid to go back to Windows Mobile or a G1, even breaking my contract in the process.

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SynMonger
July 29, 2009 5:29 PM
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That's really funny reasoning. I own and use an ADP 1 (android development phone, unlocked version of the G1, also goes by dev1), and with every new major release of android software there comes a new version of the baseband firmware to go with it. Yep, that's right, we get to flash the baseband processor ourselves.

While the firmware isn't open like the android platform, it's available for download and anyone with the knowledge can disassemble it and try to reverse engineer it.

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vastrightwing
July 29, 2009 5:32 PM
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Using Apple's own admission that iPhones can be used to destroy towers, the iPhone should promptly be classified as a dangerous military device and no civilian should be allowed to own one because it can be used for terrorism.

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2 replies
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edguitar
July 29, 2009 5:37 PM
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@vastrightwing: The problem is that would like people to want it even more. You lnow people are always inclide to the forbidden

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pecan 3.14159265
July 29, 2009 6:15 PM
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@edguitar: I'm keeping an iron grip on mine! You can't take it away from me!

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RyeBrye
July 29, 2009 6:04 PM
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The G1 is hard to turn into a weapon. the radio only accepts signed images to flash the radio portion - so even though you can get root on it, you can't dump the radio or write any arbitrary code to it.

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vladthepaler
July 29, 2009 6:11 PM
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OTOH, if someone wrote an iPhone app that made fart noises and hacked cell phone towers, it would probably be approved, as long as it couldn't be used to visit web sites that use profanity.

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Khaos_Child
July 29, 2009 6:16 PM
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I saw Steve Wozniak on TV offering to jailbreak Kathy Griffen's iPhone. I think the companies hire ups should have more direct contact with their legal department.

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Voyou_Charmant
July 29, 2009 7:30 PM
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If Apple gets its way, it will set COBRA's plan for world domination back at least a year.

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Coyote
July 29, 2009 7:41 PM
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Nice straw man they have there. Making jailbreaking illegal won't stop someone from \"illegally\" doing it anyways to do \"illegal\" things. The thing is, usually when someone breaks the law they tend to lose track and not really care past the first few.

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Mr.Gawn
July 29, 2009 7:41 PM
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i wonder how many times the MAN has check this article because of all the trigger words

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Skater009
July 29, 2009 8:56 PM
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Lame , they want all control come on , that whole is getting out already.

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JasonR
July 30, 2009 2:22 AM
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\"Every tool is a weapon if you hold it right\" - Ani DiFranco

Jailbreaking is not a crime!

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r4__
July 30, 2009 11:34 AM
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I just want to point out that Apple's fears are also the FCC's fears -- they won't license any software-defined radios (SDRs) for cell phone use if their software radios aren't hardcoded. However, Matt Ettus makes a device called the GNURadio that allows reception and transmission at GSM frequencies... if terrorists really wanted to \"take down\" the global communications network, it'd be far easier to make a GNURadio do it (since it already has all the hardware and code out there to make it act as an GSM base station in the first place.)

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RandomZero
July 30, 2009 4:09 PM
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Apple has been drinking AT&T's kool-aid, it would seem. Blaming others for your own failures and launching a witch-hunt is ALWAYS a good idea, after all! If this is even possible in the first place, it's because a number of engineers were seriously asleep at the wheel (or grossly incompetent) at both Apple and AT&T.

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