Apple bans iPhone 3G patch omission talk from forum A Reg reader who brought up Apple's decision to exclude the iPhone 3G and other older devices from its latest security update on an official forum has received a firm rebuke for his effort. Apparently the post, which was quickly deleted, failed three separate rules of the Apple Discussions soviet, as a curt notice to our …
I can't buy new shiny because...
1) my bloody contract isn't over yet!!! And I don't want to get stuck with this bloody service provider for yet another 2 years.
2) I'm not a rich spoiled brat who can buy a new 800 USD phone every year. 800 USD this year on a phone means spending 800USD less on other hi-tech toys (like that required laptop for school!!!)
3) I'm not a mommy's boy and have to PAY rent, electricity, food, car, insurance, medical bills etc... There simply isn't enough left for that 800USD phone every year.
4) If I spend yet another 800USD on a phone my girlfriend/wife will declare war on me and leave (because I can't spend that 800USD on her anymore). Then I have to pay rent etc... alone which I can't because my boss doesn't pay me enough!
Spending +800USD on an electronic gimmick each and every year just because it's new, has nothing to do with improving living conditions but all with decadence.
IMHO A phone shouldn't cost more then 400USD tops even one with fruit logo.
Anyway. Since Apple sells these Iphone 3G's upto 2009 they should honor the warranty period (which is 2 years in Europe) and hence supply updates for at least these 2 years. In reality this means onto the end of 2011. So all those morons calling us cheap are a bit premature.
Well don't bloody buy one then. Know how much I want to spend on cars? As little as possible. I don't buy a Mercedes then go bleating to them about what a pauper I am. (I am a pauper, I just don't bleat to Mercedes about it.)
PS. Is Mercedes still a status symbol thingy or common as muck and driven by oiks? That's BMW isn't it? Should I have said Bentley?
And is that phone 3+ years old? Well, bit of a shame if they're not fixing security issues, but I'd be inclined not to do my secure transactions on a phone in any case.
And here I thought at least here in the States we were in a recession and compared to say food or rent for many people paying the Steve Jobs new shiny tax was pretty far down the list. I wish I had a customer base though fairly small number wise were incredible stupid with their money and would wait in long lines to throw it at me.
I have two important non-functional requirements when being asked to select software to purchase in a business setting. These are an open defect/support system (such as Jira) so that anybody can look at anything and open / uncensored forums. Yes, you can't always have what you ask for but it's held me in good stead to stick to these wherever possible. I'm far more trusting of a company that is open to and accepting of criticism.
Just because it's not getting 4.3 does NOT mean it's not getting patches. After 4.x, Apple did promise to maintain security only patches for the 3.x line for at least some time. No additional security exploits have been known to be exploited for the 3.x line, so there have been no additional patches. However, 4.2 has several known exploits (just demonstrated this week), and it WILL be patched, but it will not move to 4.3. Apple won't simply add security patches "just because," but if an exploit is DEMONSTRATED, they have promised to close those holes.
The 3GS is also nearing 2 years old, name another phone released near 2 years ago that saw patches after 1 year on the market and I'll give you 5 released in the last 12 months that have already been publicly cut off from all future updates...
Didn't Apple state this, rather than delete the post? Sounds like FUD, tbh...
"The 3GS is also nearing 2 years old, name another phone released near 2 years ago that saw patches after 1 year on the market and I'll give you 5 released in the last 12 months that have already been publicly cut off from all future updates..."
Just cause other manufacturers aren't doing it, doesn't mean they shouldn't... After all, don't Apple always lead by example?
Apple should have politely responded with facts, as best they know them. It's fine to say the issue is iether (a) on their radar and fixes are coming or (b) we don't see the issue.
But they deleted the post altogether, saying it shouldn't exist. That's not effective customer management.
That the planned obsolescence in mobile phones is not an Apple thing, it's a whole industry thing. As poor as Apple might well seem to be, they're still actually one of the better ones in this regard. Still I suppose its easier to snark about one supplier you don't like than think objectively about what it says about the whole industry eh?
"However, 4.2 has several known exploits (just demonstrated this week), and it WILL be patched, but it will not move to 4.3. Apple won't simply add security patches "just because," but if an exploit is DEMONSTRATED, they have promised to close those holes."
Eh?? If an exploit is demonstrated they will patch it? By your own admission, it has been demonstrated already. 4.3 is released and has patched the 3GS and 4. I'm waiting for my 3G to have it's security failures resolved. You let me know when they're planning to meet their promise.
Perhaps I should charitably assume that you meant they're waiting for an exploit to appear in the wild before patching? Brilliant. As an aside, I have a horse in a stable with no means of keeping it there. Fortunately I have a massive padlock waiting to go, just as soon as I see the horse bolt.
Not being an Apple freak I went into their Norwich store the other day (I know, I know, I went that shit-ole called Norwich, but hey, I later paid my £5 and flew away again) and had a look at an Apple laptop. How crap are they? There is a backspace key but no delete key.
And they have won awards? For what, shitty design?
I am 'fairly' sure that iOS4 is only available on the same hardware (eg. Iphone 3gs, iPhone4, new iPod touches etc) as this new update.
As such, being surprised that you cant update a piece of software you don't have, seems a bit odd.
But I could be wrong
That is not to say that I think they way this is handled is right, at the least the security updates should be issued. However that isn't really Apple's style. One iOS for all devices, updates happen to all that can take them, those that cant get nothing.
Sorry that's incorrect. iOS 4.2.1 is available for the 3G iPhone.
The thing that I don't like about this is the implication that this is an incremental update, which is how the public will (and are obviously) perceiving it. As such the impliction is that it will be installable on all devices that can currently run any iteration of iOS 4.x.
If it can't run on older hardware (for whatever reason) then it should get a whole number version name update.
I relay dislike this practices myself of v XX.X.XX a few software vendors like to use (I'm looking at you mr Forefox 3.6.15 and Apple OSX 10.4.11). there's no need for that many double digit sub numbers (I'm sorry I don't know what there correct term is, percentages are they?),I wish they would stop doing it.
End rant.
Totally agree with your principle that the version number should increase if it's a new version with changed scope.
But you missed the point.
Apple needs to keep the headline number the same to match the headline number of the hardware, otherwise the Fanbois simply won't be able to handle the confusion.
Can you image their brains exploding: "I've got an iPhone 4, but it's running iOS 5. Does not compute" Boom!
If memory serves, the syntax is version dot mod dot revision. Or, in non-tech speak: software, things added to the software, bugfixes. The third part is optional, and software devs should be lauded when they're actually willing to admit how many times they've had to patch bugs in their code.
Apple's forum rules are upheld pretty tightly, I get told off weekly for being 'harsh' in my posts.
In their defence, the forums are there as a user-user help resource and posting feedback aimed at Apple, polls or speculation/wider discussion about any Apple policy of unreleased product is strictly off-topic.
That's all made clear when we sign up. Doesn't make it less annoying when you get their email template in your inbox though!
I would like to congratulate you on the foresight you have shown into the El Reg community as illustrated by the use of "user-user help" instead of "user-user support".
But on a more serious note. This wouldn't be such a story if it wasn't for the fact that Apple have a history which shows a strong desire to silence their critics. The BBC are often accused of being Apple fanbois. Even they once openly stated at the end of a BBC click program that Apple threatened a "damaged relationship" if they were to run a particular story though.
Perhaps the 3g Cr*pple phone owners should flood the store where some nice vacant miss-adviser will tell them how to protect their ex-pride and joy. Just leave it in the box and never power it on, it is a work of art, not something to be exposed to the nasty real world. After all if you switch it on them it might be compromised and nothing from cr*pple ever gets compromised, (except the rubbish design weaknesses).
So "end of life" doesn't actually mean end of life? If a product is EOL'd, doesn't that mean that it's no longer supported?
Besides, if you're _that_ worried that the websites you visit are going to be maliciously crafted to pwn your iPhone then you should pony up and upgrade to a current model like the rest of the world has.
"Besides, if you're _that_ worried that the websites you visit are going to be maliciously crafted to pwn your iPhone then you should pony up and upgrade to a current model like the rest of the world has."
Obviously! Why should you expect to be able to use the thing you bought when it is still in perfect working order?
How dare this rabble rouser point out Jobs beloved business model of forced obsolescence. Its not enough Apple charges obscene markups but to keep Wall St happy they need to bleed the Mactards hard every few years on their beloved gadgets. Whats amazing is not Apples behavior (just good ole capitalists) but all the sheeple that actually wait in long queues to be the first to get shafted by Apple in the name of a "superior" experience (I guess certain people say same thing about S&M hookers).
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