tomcrown- My point was not that in a future date Apple will aid hackers to unbrick the phone. If you read what I wrote correctly, I stated Apple had a history of bricking the iphone. I can't believe you would deny the thousands of reports, including a whole podcast from Leo Laporte and John Dvorak on this back in 2007 when it happened. I think you just didn't understand my point of it being historically accurate.
Scott- I would not be surprised about The Woz, supporting hacking, illegal hacking at that. Anyone who is as old as I am ( not that old) will remember back in late 60's, early 70's legendary stories about "The WOZ" the infamous hacker who developed the "black box" used to get free long distance phone calls. It was a very simple device and later he developed the "Blue Box" which used a more sophisticated double set of push button keypads to route long distance phone calls for free via AT&T's inward circuit using a simple 2300 Hz tone to activate the route tones. Then he published the secret inward circuit code numbers in the form of a chain letter. Point being that you can't justify a hacking software from the likes of a person who grew up becoming notorious world wide for his practice of illegal hacking. It would be like justifying hacking satellite smart cards because a guy who publishes directions on how to get free satellite and cable TV said it's OK.
Want some more? I happen to have proof! I tape recorded an actual demonstration of this blue box on quarter inch reel to reel audio of the Woz routing phone calls complete with verbal instructions how he was doing it around the country and then to Hawaii and Alaska for over 30 minutes broadcast on 75 meter ham band. I also don't think he was a ham radio op, legally, either. But he was often on using a fake broadcast station like call sign, guess what? WOZ. What else?For awhile I heard he was using W4OZ but stopped when he discovered that real ham like call sign was already in use by a real ham. He poses as a telephone operator hacking his way through the phone system. The tape is a classic piece of history. Someday I may dig out my reel to reel tape recorder and play that tape convert to an MP3 file, if it still works.
Oh and as for jailbreaking being illegal, it is not criminal law, unless a case can be made on the DMCA argument, but also and rather, civil contract law where you are in violation of your license agreement. As long as the owner of the software/firmware in the iphone says it is a violation of the terms of their contract with you, it is a case that may stick. It all depends on the judge / jury decision. At best, you can say it is a gray area as are all civil cases. At worse you lose and suffer the loss of your phone and service. out of warranty etc.
Jail breakers are not alone on this. I believe the use of software like PDANet may be a violation of Verizon's license forbidding tethering except through Verizon subscription service add-on. Haven't heard any public statements on this, however. Apple is different as they have made their case claim and now violators will have the opportunity to argue the case claim in court. Criminal for DMCA and civil for license violation.
