Sour Apple Stresses Warranty Violations to Would-Be Jailbreakers
Sour Apple Stresses Warranty Violations to Would-Be Jailbreakers
Posted 07/28/2010 at 5:56am
| by Paul Lilly
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We're still celebrating the decision by U.S. regulators to add some much needed exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act which, among other things, makes it perfectly legal for users to jailbreak their iPhones and other mobile phones, and boy is that pissing off Apple.
"Apple's goal has always been to ensure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience," an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement. "As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhone as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably."
We bolded the warranty tidbit ourselves, because really, that's the part that some will construe as a veiled threat from Apple, and others will take as affirmation that, yes, your warranty goes out the window the minute you alter Jobs' magical handset in ways his Cupertino company doesn't approve.
Nobody really knows exactly how many jailbroken iPhones are out in the wild, though some estimates peg the number at around 10 million. And that was before this landmark ruling. With the Library of Congress handing the keys over to users, you can bet an increasing number of iPhone owners will drive off into what's no longer the Forbidden Zone.
Sure, Apple can kill your warranty for doing so, but that's all the company can do, right? Maybe not. If you haven't already, check out our latest edition of Murphy's Law, in which David Murphy explains why he thinks this is just the beginning of a frightening war between Apple and those would dare jailbreak their iPhones.
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Lost_Intelligence
July 30, 2010 at 9:59pm
Apple is successful because they cater to (an overwhelmingly large) non-technological market. At the same time, they have successfully marketed themselves as a "fashion statement". You're "cool" if you parade around with your fruity device.
It's the classic Jocks vs. Geeks scenario.
As much as I hate Apple and despise there business practices, they have every right to operate how they want to. And they'll continue to be successful at it, as long as consumers are willing to be spoon fed. If I was running a company, I would protect my warranty aspects as well. <- Devils Advocate view
Those who Jailbreak their phones TYPICALLY have a little knowledge of technology. They also know (for the most part) how to hide the fact they have voided their warranty [re-flash a legit firmware from a recovery menu].
violian
July 28, 2010 at 11:47am
Apple has every right to deem that jailbreaking would void their warranties. Firmware and software changes can allow such things as overclocking the processor - which in turn, could damage the hardware innards. Such as the new Palm Pre firmware hack that allows overclocking the Pre's 600MHz processor to 1000MHz for instance - if you're not careful, you could fry the chips.
damicatz
July 28, 2010 at 8:14am
Steve Jobs would do well to consult this little thing called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act before making such comments.
Apple cannot legally void your warranty for jailbreaking unless they can demonstrate that the act of jailbreaking the phone caused the damage in question.
albe23
July 28, 2010 at 8:47am
Thats a good point but most likely Apple would say it did and you would have to take them to court over it.
TechLarry
July 28, 2010 at 6:46am
But I have to say, their pure, unrivaled, condecending attitude towards their customers has taken me to the point where it over-rides any desire I may have to own any of their products any longer.
I was planning on an iPhone later this year. Between Apple's antics and AT&T taking away unlimited access, I think I'm looking towards the Sprint HTC 4G now.
This new Bill/Ruling needs to be amended. Yes, absolutely, if the customer makes a hardware change to the device then the warranty should be void. One cannot question that.
But a simple software change? In no way should a warranty void be allowed for something that has nothing to do with the hardware warranty on the device.
The Apple BS is really getting thick these days. Maybe it IS time for Jobs to move along. He's becomming a nasty, crotchety old man.
Ntldr
July 28, 2010 at 7:32am
If you read up and study your history of apple you will see that Steve Jobs has never been a nice guy or even a pleasent one to work with or for. He is just a nasty person in general.
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