Apple may nuke iPhone apps remotely
section: common, for your questions: KezNews forum, 7.8.2008
Apple apparently can disable App Store software remotely on your iPhone 3G. The iPhone calls home and poof the application is nuked.
Needless to say that this has caused a bit of a blog ruckus (Techmeme). MacRumors notes that Apple has come under fire for removing App Store software without notification and the ability to simply deauthorize apps already installed on an iPhone is worrisome. iPhone Atlas points out that Jonathan Zdziarski found Apple’s blacklist in a forensic analysis of the iPhone 3G.
Is this something to be outraged about? Yes, it’s creepy that iPhone can phone home and deactivate your apps, but the risk-reward is clearly in Apple’s favor. Let’s recap:
Risk: You deactivate apps and annoy customers. Impact: Minimal. iPhone customers will stick.
Reward: By having this deactivation “feature” Apple garners some enterprise credibility. Yes, it’s DRM run amok, but if you’re a company you like a little remote wiping action.
Reward: Apple has some control over security. Let’s face it folks. QuickTime and Safari aren’t the most secure applications every written. Apple is a big target. And a malicious app disguised as a legit piece of software could iBrick the iPhone army. That’s a dangerous scenario for Apple considering the company has had its hiccups (MobileMe anyone?).
Reward: Apple has a reputation to maintain. Apple is a walled garden. You get integrated hardware and software and a great interface. Apple controls everything. That’s part of the deal. If blacklisted applications were to diminish the Apple experience with crappy software a lot of the company’s secret sauce would be wasted.
Add it up and the reward category wins 3 to 1 over risk. Now Apple could revise its blacklist after complaints, but assuming the company doesn’t abuse its privileges the remote nuking capability may not be such a bad idea. As usual though, Apple operates in its own universe. Just imagine if Microsoft had a blacklist of apps and could nuke software remotely.
source:
blogs.zdnet.com
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Comments(6)
i'm pretty sure this would be worse than having to validate your copy of windows over
the internet. but of course all those mac boys who are infatuated by apple products like
moths to a flame will casually forget to mention this in their endless preaching of why
apple is the best.
ya right!
at least microsoft doesn't control
everything...
yet...
...apple is a pretty good metaphor for the bush regime. "bend over, spread 'em and we
will do what we want, when we want and how we want and to whom we want.
not sure how politics figures into apple raping it's customers, but i guess some people
have to fit a bush comment in every discussion.
i say good for apple! let them
nuke every piece of 3rd party software....and while they are at it, they can send the
users abill for the nano-second of time they spent doing it. $40 sounds fair. anybody
who spends $2000 on a low powered desktop, or $300-$600 for an eye candy phone, or $300
for an mp3 player likes getting screwed. if a person enjoys it...who is apple not to
oblige?
now bill has left microsoft i forsee a merger between appleµsoft.
lets
hope bill still has some power to keep it under control.
i decided never to buy intel again becuase they fitted recordable cpuid into pentium
ii's. i have the ability to turn off anything m$ tries to do by way of phoning home...so
i guess that will never get an iphony. i'm happy with my diamond & m$m6.1. in terms of
business i understand why apple are maintainig control. but imagine buying a house and
having to share the house with the builder! you'd get naff'd or real quick wouldn't
you!
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different from WGA?
By yoyoma on 08.08.2008 - 02:08