Unlocked iPhones partially bricked by update

Author: Tim Smalley
Published: 28th September 2007
Comments (13) Stumble
iPhone Firmware update 1.1.1 is not for anyone with an unlocked device.

iPhone Firmware update 1.1.1 is not for anyone with an unlocked device.

Last night, Apple released a software update that is disabling iPhones that had been unlocked to work on any mobile network.

Earlier in the week, the company had warned could potentially damage unlocked iPhones earlier in the week. It looks like that warning has turned out to be true, as many reports from around the web have confirmed that the new 1.1.1 firmware is partially bricking unlocked iPhones.

Users that have an unlocked iPhone and update to the latest firmware update will be greeted with the "Activate iPhone" screen. The reports are suggesting a common theme: you'll be greeted with an incorrect SIM warning, even if you use the original SIM that came with the phone when you purchased it.

If you haven't unlocked your phone completely and are using the AT&T SIM provided with the phone, but have installed third party applications and custom ring tones, you will not be able to access this content.

The update brings a number of tweaks and changes including the following:
  • iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
  • Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
  • Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favourites or music controls
  • Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
  • Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
  • Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
  • Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
  • Support for TV Out
  • Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
  • New Passcode lock time intervals
  • Adjustable alert volume
While there are some nice additions to the phone's feature set in this update we'd recommend that those with unlocked phones, or those using third party applications, don't install the update at this time. The iPhone Dev Team is already working on a new version of Jailbreak to open up handsets that are stuck at the activation screen.

Being an iPhone owner myself, I think I'll be holding off on the update. I don't need the WiFi Music Store and the new features that catch my eye are the louder speakerphone and receiver volume and the adjustable alert volume. I can live without those for the time being though... In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the iPhone Dev Team couldn't reverse engineer some of these updates without having to install the new firmware.

Got an unlocked iPhone? Share some of your favourite applications in the forums.
Quote quack 28th September 2007, 14:42
Of course it should be noted that this update is also bricking vanilla iPhones - i.e. those that have NOT been unlocked.

http://www.scripting.com/stories/2007/09/27/appleUpdatesIphoneLegalUnh.html
Quote DarkLord7854 28th September 2007, 15:12
Quote:
Originally Posted by quack
Of course it should be noted that this update is also bricking vanilla iPhones - i.e. those that have NOT been unlocked.

http://www.scripting.com/stories/2007/09/27/appleUpdatesIphoneLegalUnh.html

Lol! Awesome.

iTunes Music Store.. woohoo.... not. Am not updating mine, couldn't care less bout the "new features"
Quote Firehed 28th September 2007, 15:13
I've been sitting in the installer.app IRC channel since the update hit waiting for them to do their thing so I can get my new features :D
Quote cyrilthefish 28th September 2007, 16:19
Well, recently i was mentioning to a friend (who wants an iPhone) that i thought Apple had been overtaken by greed and was the single most evil company in the mobile phone business now...

this has just confirmed i was right :|

Congratulations Apple, you're now making Microsoft now look like one of the good guys in comparison :(
Quote Kipman725 28th September 2007, 17:10
Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrilthefish
Well, recently i was mentioning to a friend (who wants an iPhone) that i thought Apple had been overtaken by greed and was the single most evil company in the mobile phone business now...

this has just confirmed i was right :|

Congratulations Apple, you're now making Microsoft now look like one of the good guys in comparison :(

it's more of a return to form if you look back ;)
Quote capnPedro 28th September 2007, 19:51
Engadget has some more info.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/28/iphone-update-facts-and-fiction/
Quote completemadness 28th September 2007, 21:00
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kipman725
it's more of a return to form if you look back ;)
Did they ever actually change?
Quote mikeuk2004 29th September 2007, 02:24
Apple have always been greedy gits with their propriety kit. Another reason to not even think about buying a iphone.
Quote The_Beast 29th September 2007, 17:56
apple keep screwing over there customers but one day the customers will screw them over (I hope so)
Quote Nath 29th September 2007, 19:13
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikeuk2004
Apple have always been greedy gits with their propriety kit. Another reason to not even think about buying a iphone.
Well, not necessarily. Proprietary kit has the advantage (if done right :/) of being guaranteed to work. It's just a consequence of having full control of the hardware and software, which isn't a bad thing; if you can stand the lack of 6 billion extra functions which only partially work.
Quote Havok154 30th September 2007, 02:11
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Beast
apple keep screwing over there customers but one day the customers will screw them over (I hope so)

I don't know. I used to work at an Apple certified repair shop and saw Apple bend some of their customers over fairly hard. What was scary though, was the customers ability to still be smiling and claim Apple as the best company ever. :(
Quote Wolfe 30th September 2007, 06:22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nath
Well, not necessarily. Proprietary kit has the advantage (if done right :/) of being guaranteed to work. It's just a consequence of having full control of the hardware and software, which isn't a bad thing; if you can stand the lack of 6 billion extra functions which only partially work.

You missed the part about the update breaking some phones where the update is not installed...
Quote Fly 30th September 2007, 08:56
I just got my new iPhone, unlocked it and it is working fine on Orange in the UK. Not really interested in the updates unless the added feature list is much much longer. Only having played with my new toy for about a day I can comfortably say it isn't all I expected it to be. it is a step forward for usability but a massive leap backwards for functionality.

No MMS, No IM support, no multiple recipient SMS, no forwarding of SMS, no SMS delivery reports, non standard headphone socket, can't get my wireless router to see it properly, Safari's zoom function sucks, earpiece volume is so low.

Frankly if you bought one of these expecting an all singing, all dancing feature rich phone you will be VERY disappointed.

It's in the Classifieds if you want it. :)
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