Mathew's comments - Latest Comments in Why does Apple get a free ride?

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Cheryl's Office — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:54:43 -0000

I'm not sure why I would want to risk buying a iPod touch or iPhone that has been hacked our unlocked. I guess those that do are buying something they can characterize as unique.

I'll just keep my iPod touch an original and ordinary.

Apple iPod touch

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Rick Turtle — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 05:18:59 -0000

You're not seeing an outcry against this because the majority of Apple users are soccer moms, stoned college kids, artsy fartsy hippies and other types that don't pay attention nor give a shit about "hacking the itouch."

Personally, I feel apple computers are made and best suited for people who don't want to bother with what is going on "behind the scenes," and never really wonder if they can make the thing do something out of the ordinary/something it wasn't originally intended to (ie: improvements/hacking).

Apple makes boatloads of money off of these people because these are people who just want their stuff to work.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Necol — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 13:01:50 -0000

It's acting like Microsoft and Wal-Mart, but everyone supports it's strategy & tactics because it's been the "underdog" for so many years and built a grass-roots 'cult'ure -- brainwashed by Steve Jobs.

hmmm.... the name of a guy in Texas (David) rings a bell.

LOL. It's just really --- REALLY -- funny to watch.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Jason — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 00:20:25 -0000

@Tom Boucher...

http://www.opensource.apple...

There you go. :)

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Morgan — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:29:25 -0000

@Anthony
He's Matthrew Ingram and I'm pretty sure that he writes for the Globe and Mail, oh snap beotch!

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Mathew — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:45:22 -0000

I'd just like to point out that this is nothing like uploading the entire source code for OS X to a public website -- what Martyn was doing (as I understand it) was uploading to a secure server some of the code that was stored in the flash memory on the device, which is not even close to being the entire source code for the operation of the iTouch.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Zareph — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:36:12 -0000

So by your logic if someone found the source code to OS X and posted it to the web (secure or not) for other people to get access too and Apple issued a take down notice that's evil empire activity as well?

That's pretty much what was done with the iPod Touch firmware.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

djwtwo — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:29:05 -0000

In this particular instance, Apple was doing exactly what I'd expect any company to do. This wasn't DVD Jon posting a hack of his own creation, or the results of real reverse engineering (e.g. work-alike code). This was someone who was going to post unmodified code created by Apple directly -- it's exactly like posting a full copy of Mac OS X, which I would think most people would realize is well within Apple's rights to got after.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Thought — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:11:00 -0000

Why is there so much emotion injected into these stories? It's quite simple - it's a game of "cat and mouse" - as Steve Jobs recently said at the UK release of the iPhone. In this case, the "hacker" in question should have kept his mouth shut about his progress and his intent until the code had successfully propagated to a number of websites or into the torrent space. I am/was pretty impressed with the AwkwardTV approach - which was to sure the knowledge of hacking the AppleTV rather than real bits. This proved to avoid legal hassles for the website and allowed individuals to hack up their own systems to their hearts' content.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

ERM — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:57:16 -0000

I have no idea what their problem is. Hacking yields more 3rd party apps which yields more customers. Or do they like being the little guy so much that they hate customers?

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

rocco — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:08:00 -0000

@rick
“there aren’t entire online groups dedicated to reverse engineering other phones”

maybe because other phones OSes developers provide a SDK?

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

fell_away — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:54:19 -0000

Finally someone speaks up! Even though Apple gave me my $100 iPhone credit, I'm still not a fan of their policies. [ They paid for my silence ;) ]

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

JTD — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:08:27 -0000

@Keith:

You fail at paying attention.

Hackers and geeks evangelize the product when they find it to be useful and well-designed. People trust geeks to recommend technology because they know they know what they're talking about. This is not a complicated equation. Apple stomps all over their own supporters at their own peril.

"Trying to upload the code in it is much more like someone stealing all of your house contents, giving them to people as proof you are a nice guy."

What the hell are you talking about? It was being put on a private server so his fellow devs could work on it.

"Dont like the Company, Don’t like the product, Dont like the TOC then Dont buy the product."

So what happens? Let's suppose everyone makes their displeasure known by not buying the product. Does Apple reach the conclusion that they need to be more open with it? No. They reach the conclusion that the entire idea was a failure and abandon the product line. Then no one is happy and no one can have what they need.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Noshi — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:16:34 -0000

God forbid we have the option to use Windows Media Player or other players cause well... iTunes sucks balls... I will never buy another Apple product in my life... UNLESS IT'S BEEN HACKED!

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Pipjoint — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:35:10 -0000

Steve Jobs is a mortal. Apple is a company concerned as all companies are, with profit. If there is disappointment it is only because we are guilty of idolizing Mr. Jobs and demonizing Mr. Gates. Idolotry never leads to anything but disappointment. I will continue to purchase prodcuts based on my desires and the best choices. Apple is not a god and we are fools to think so.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Kiran — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:01:14 -0000

I still can't believe that Apple sniffed the iPod Touch before even it was completely uploaded!! Anyways, he must have easily uploaded it from his friend's place or via a flash drive may be!! Apple can't lock us from using our expensive gadgets, cmon Apple they aren't your devices anymore, just provide support when needed, don't invest in anti-hacking techniques while u can use it for product R&D!!

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Nature Wallpaper — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:48:20 -0000

Are you kidding me, he actually did this! uhm where are the authorities! Someone.... :(

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Dennis — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:26:27 -0000

To add to my comment, I think we are given free will in this world--and you can choose to use it or not. You can choose to buy an iPhone or not. I think it's as simple as that.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Dennis — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:22:12 -0000

I think hate is normal. It's easier to hate anyone, especially big companies like Apple, Starbucks and Microsoft. I would say it's the big-bad-wolf mentality. Anything big is bad....

For now, everyone loves the new growing companies like Facebook, Youtube and Myspace. But believe me if those sites become immensely popular, this love too shall pass -and they will be hated like every big company is hated. It's simply human nature--and people are never really every contented about anything in general.

I don't idolize Apple products; there are good ones as there are bad ones--and I don't have any, except tha iTunes. My take on this is that if they are not killing me, I really don't care. There are more things to worry about.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

steve — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:16:53 -0000

I used to own an imac and an ipod. Both had severe "quality issues."

I now own a Gateway and a Creative Zen. They do not have "quality issues," i.e. they have not broken in the three years I have had then.

That's enough for me.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Keith — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:01:35 -0000

Hacking evangelising, in fact the 2 concepts couldn't be much further apart.

Trying to upload the code in it is much more like someone stealing all of your house contents, giving them to people as proof you are a nice guy.

Yes, serves him right and I hope Apple sues the shit out of him.

Dont like the Company, Don't like the product, Dont like the TOC then Dont buy the product.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Steve Jobs — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:59:52 -0000

NO. FUCKING. BUTTONS.

EVAR.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

KG — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:59:50 -0000

You know what's crazy!!!!

The Hacking that "Apple Hackers" want to do is all just to better the product. So I really don't know why Steve would do this.... Unless there's something in the iTouch's OS that's for a future awesome Feature he doesn't want anyone to know about..... Or what about the idea of Steve not wanting someone to take the Algorithum for the whole iPhone / iTouch Keyboard (where it guesses the next letter you'll press) or something like that. I mean come on they didn't do anything for when they hacked the Apple TV.

I don't think it's totally right that Apple stopped this but I'm sure it's another Apple thing to do to keep their secrets for the future from being leaked. Maybe!!! I hope so!!!

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

JTD — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:49:42 -0000

It's amazing. I've literally heard people say "serves him right for trying to hack his iPod." WHAT.

Apple, please cut the crap and stop attacking the technical users who want so badly to be able to evangelize your products and platforms.

Re: Why does Apple get a free ride?

Ian Eisenberg — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:44:26 -0000

Yes you are right, Apple as a publicly traded company should abrogate all responsibility to it's shareholders and just let anyone do whatever they want with it's code. Forget IP and the fact that legally Apple has to issue takedown orders to protects it's copyright for current issues as well as in the future.
Apple doesn't get a "free ride", in fact Apple gets just as much or more bad press (most of it bogus) from tech journalists who either troll for hits or are just plain clueless.
From my point of view MS seems to get a bigger free ride (with the exception of all the Vista reviews) since it's software is so crufty and mediocre.