I cease to see reasoning in getting an iphone.

Waka in Japan

Is it me, or are those Apple "1984" commercials getting increasingly ironic?

novacthall

@Eruanno:
umm. you were ranting about why d-bags that don't own iphones troll iphone related posts and post shit like "ha! I don't even own an iphone" but sure have to add their 2 cents...

:)

s017jrs

@snitch29:
ugh, yea. 2.01 is worse than 2.0

since I've updated the keyboard is slower, it's crashed more often, games lose their save files, the contacts app is slower, and my favorite is any contact I had with a pause in the dial string doesn't dial anymore. I touch the phone# and get nothing. it doesn't even attempt to dial.

s017jrs

Ha! Suck it up! I don't even have an iPhone!
Nor do I want one. Unless it was given to me for free. Then I'd use it. Oh hell, I'd use it good! Ha! In your face...! Uh... what was I ranting about, again?

Eruanno

I don't think Apple will misuse that considering how they've been walking on glass for a couple months. They'll get their act together soon.

CarbonatedWater

I don't know what they're thinking over there in Cupertino but this 2.0 firmware is buggy as hell and they new one the 2.0.1 is even worse so please Apple don't give us new features until ya fix this train wreck. My phone has restarted 2x today all by itself, it's like it has a like of it's own, kind of reminded me of my old windows machine

snitch29

this is really disturbing. right now it might not seems like too much of a big deal, as most of these are light apps, more for fun and entertainment. but imagine if the iphone as a platform becomes as ubiquitous as windows or OSX. in the near future mobile computing may handle apps as important to us, as those we depend on on our desktops and laptops. that kind of power to remove apps as apple see's fit is unacceptable. to think otherwise is very shortsighted. yet another reason i will stick with nokia.

meggman

@Brock: You own the phone; you license the software the runs on the phone.

EBone

btw i think this is a really ingenious idea. if apple releases a firmware upgrade that has some app that destroyes everything or acidentaly lets a malicious app get into the app store and into my iphone, i wouldnt want to wait to get to my computer to remove the app (thats if i ever find out its malicious). the faster the better. im sure they will only use it for extreme cases because of the backlash.

jewsrock

Anyone who thinks they really own their iPhone is mistaken. You're a licensee, and Apple can take it back at any time.

Brock

@RomeoDude: The certificate system that authorizes the apps to run seems to be flaky: I had that happen to me, but (per a discussion forum entry that I found -- thanks Google), it was fixed by installing another new (free) app. It refreshed the cert or something, and all of the apps resumed working properly. Except Remote.

Mandatory_Field

You can fix any problems with a restore. Why is this needed?

ALT

from that url :

app description: being realy bad!

jewsrock

a)How about a non-buggy phone OS that doesn't disable apps all on it's own? I can almost get a whole day of use out of Remote before I have to re-install....

b) You would think that if they were inclined to use it for other-than-clearly-malicious-apps, that they would have done so for apps that require jailbreaking.

Mandatory_Field

Meh. If I were an Apple user I wouldn't care. They make it work for ME. On a side note, I really hope I can get permission to continue using my hardware the way I want to anytime I would like to. My request went into the system six weeks ago, and I finally got the "pending" statement. So excited!!!

qbrad

This article proves that no one ever reads the software agreement that comes with gadgets and software. Apple is only granting you a license to use their software associated with the iPhone, and that it reserves the right to make changes to the software as it sees fit.

I'm not saying this is good or bad practice. I'm just saying that it's disclosed in the software agreement.

EBone

Or perhaps it has to do with the Enterprise Enforced Security Policies they now say they support. Ya know like not running unauthorized applications on the corporate phone stuff.

Rand

I think this might have happened to me. I used a friend's iTunes account to download some free apps on my iPod Touch. They worked for awhile (even after I sync'd with iTunes and got rid of the account on my iTouch) but now I am just returned to the springboard after trying to execute any apps from the AppStore. Seems to have happened without syncing, but I may have synced and not realized it before they stopped working.

RomeoDude

Finally....a reason why the iPod Touch is better than the iPhone :)

rahilmehta

Apple just knows what you should do with your phone better than you do. Expect it to start calling your mamma on Sundays next.

Denver_80203

@bandit: ...yeah, and I'm glad the NSA is watching over me too!!!

newgalactic

apple is watching you.

dapoktan

It's a good idea in case something truly malicious gets through.

bandit

Wonder what other information it phones home too.

Alex2643

@CJCS:
Blackberry has the exact same functionality

If I lose my berry I call the helpdesk, they wipe the device. The company doesn't care about the hardware, just the data on it.

s017jrs

Didn't any of you guys watch the keynote? This is for iPhones used in fortune 500 companies or in the Army. If a bigshot businessman or soldier loses their phone, Apple needs to be able to disable and remove, if not even wipe completely, the contents of the phone.

Apple doesn't care what the average user is doing on their phone. If you're looking at porn, good for you, Apple isn't going to remove Safari just because you get your rocks off from it. This is a feature, not a setback.

CJCS

You have a missed call. However, I am not surprised by that. Apple is like the govt. All up in my business!

Dudemeister on the Run

@EBone: No, you don't own it if you can't control it. This would be like buying a car, putting better tires on it, and the car company comes in the middle of the night and takes your new tires. That's not how it works, when you own something at least. Keep on being mindless slaves to apple tho, fanboys.

marm0lade

For once I am glad I have an iPod Touch and don't use iTunes to sync!

UpIrons

I wonder what the people who write all that legal crap are like. The stuff that says when you buy the phone we can invade your privacy blah blah. And they get away with it, for the most part. I'm sure some [insert rude term here] will try to sue apple and take a chunk of cash.

swoyekr

@bandit: really? what ever happened to privacy? sure it's a noble idea but whats to stop them to see other stuff like what sites you go on, what business you call ect.. ect.. If apple really whats to use this as a means of stopping something malicious then it should either be an option on the phone or at the very least make it clear to people before they buy the phone.
@ALT: exactly even a simple update of the app would suffice.
@CarbonatedWater: maybe not miss use it but im curiouse if this is a way to see if a phone has been jailbroken or unlocked at any time so that they can void the warrenty????

Boots_Mcoy

@Brock:
I know for FACT that I own my phone. However no one owns the software on the phone expect for the devs of said software.

JEmlay

Can't we sue them for this?

ddragos

Having worked for a phone maufacturer earlier this year. This is hardly news.

Carriers can send out broadcast signals that cause your phone to "call home" with information that they want. Something to do w/ 9/11 and reverse 911 support is what gave rise to the ability. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details.

Xavoc

Be careful! You might get sent to Cupertanimo!!

Akibake-

@Mandatory_Field: Yeah, considering they haven't employed this for the unlocked iPhones, I don't see the big deal. Google or Yahoo could put a bigger hurt on me than disabling an app on my phone, but I don't live in fear of it.

sumocat

If they're doing this to disable bad files, then fine... but there's gotta be another way around it.

diesel828

how come nobody is freaking out because blackberry can do the same thing?
ok, I'll start...
OMG! They can wipe my blackberry remotely?! OMG OMG OMG lets sue!

ok, I'm done.

s017jrs

@ddragos: Did MS ever get sued for having PC's send back info on users?

I don't remember them getting any suits so I don't expect this to.

ttech10

If Windows Mobile had a blacklist people would be screaming bloody murder.
Apple's Black List (to quote a post above): "btw i think this is a really ingenious idea. if apple releases a firmware upgrade that has some app that destroys everything or accidentally lets a malicious app get into the app store and into my iphone, i wouldn't want to wait to get to my computer to remove the app (thats if i ever find out its malicious). the faster the better. I'm sure they will only use it for extreme cases"

*hears (comparative) pin drop*

Luthian

storm in a glass of water. move on...

sos10

I've had apps go from free to paid and gotten the paid version free when I updated.
Maybe it depends on the app/developer?

s017jrs

If you have an app that you downloaded for free ,and they start charging for it. The app will cease to work. Oddly enough, I have not synched in 3 weeks.

The app, "Crazy Lighter" has no reason to contact a server. It is a light! When I fired it up this morning, it started and then stopped and turned itself off.

darley

I think they are waiting for a pirated store app to pop up on jailborken phones, I really don't think we'll see Cydia or installer removed.

chorx

@Xavoc:

You'd be surprised how often that happens. Before I left the servicedesk where I work it wasn't uncommon to get a call to lock down someone's IDs and wipe their berry.

s017jrs

@s017jrs: Talk about one hell of a way to fire someone.

"Don't bother coming in today. We've already wiped your BB. Your final paycheck is in the mail, and UPS should have your belongings to you in 3 days."

Xavoc

@drwedge:
It's not just RIM that can do it. Anyone with their own BES can do it.

s017jrs

If they want to compete with blackberry in the corporate world it's necessary functionality. I don't get why people can't see past "holy shit, they can do WHAT?" The Gizmodo slant on it doesn't help I'm sure - but look at it from a corporate standpoint.

Take this as an example -
An email goes out to a handful of employees. The content of that email is sensitive, say someone lost a laptop with some sensitive records on it or something that will affect stock prices. One of those employees gets home from the bar and realizes "oh no, my iphone! I must have left it at that hooker... ummm at the bar!" and calls the helpdesk to report it missing. The helpdesk CAN WIPE THE DEVICE. That sensitive information is now gone, and infosec gets a good nights sleep.

s017jrs

I wonder how long it will take for a virus to change that URL to point to a location that either disables ALL of the phones software or points to a place that installs additional 'software'.

Regardless, I agree with what a couple of others have said. If Microsoft had done this there would have been people throwing themselves off of buildings in disgust and screaming murder. Apple does it and it's "an ingenious" solution to security problems.

Apple can bite my shiny metal @$$.

diverguy

@s017jrs: Honestly, I didn't know RIM could do that with their BB's. Otherwise, this would've been the last straw for me to switch back to a BB. And yes, I am an Apple fanboi... Sad, huh?

drwedge

We don't know exactly what it's used for, all we know for sure is that it's got a blacklist for "/clbl/unauthorizedApp"

My argument is that this is not only specific to iphones. The blackberry servers can blow away or install apps over the air, wipe the whole device, reset a password, push down security policy, sync contact lists, etc etc etc.
If Apple wants to compete in the corporate realm with blackberry, that functionality absolutely has to be there.
Any security audit team worth it's salt would shoot down any smartphone or device without that functionality available to them should it be required.

s017jrs

I can't say with absolute certainty that big A performed the Heimlich on one of my apps, but Boxoffice suddenly was disabled and I hadn't synced in a while. Then I hear it was pulled. Interesting.

Kajo

Just so we're all on the same page, this is NOT the remote wipe capability -- this looks like it would either disable (or prompt for you to disable) an application.

I'm pretty uncomfortable with how much power Apple is reserving for themselves. There's obviously a legitimate use of this -- if some unscrupulous developer seeks a Trojan horse of some kind past the App Store clerks (who have not shown themselves to be terribly, erm, discerning) and it starts multiplying, deleting data, or otherwise fucking shit up, Apple can eradicate it from afar.

Anything not on the other side of a bright line like that would raise quite a ruckus -- I hope Apple knows that, but they're acting pretty off these days.

nnnnnnnn

HAIL HITLER !

waza

Apple can also use this to deactivate programs that it deems as unsafe or dangerous. IE: the one that was sending user information cleartext back to the application's servers?

Xavoc

@s017jrs: Right, yes, but then why does the phone have a URL that says 'unauthorized apps'? In fact, why would the phone need a URL at all? If all you're doing is sending a 'wipe all data' signal from Apple headquarters to the phone, then why does the phone need to access a URL?

I suppose this is useful in case a genuinely malicious application slips by Apple's much-vaunted vetting process; what I'm arguing is that this is not equivalent to being able to wipe a phone's memory remotely.

It's possible I've missed some key point; if so, feel free to correct my misunderstanding.

CarrerCrytharis

work can wipe my laptop no matter where in the world I am. As soon as it connects to the internet it calls home. If work says it should stop working, it stops working...

This isn't new functionality for any smartphone, PDA, or any other device that has the capability to call home. Nobody would even care if giz didn't make it sound like the evil overlords are going to steal your apps while you sleep.

s017jrs

Even if they do it, people will still follow like drones.

Borg Drones!

nfs

@s017jrs: Oh, I don't doubt it happens. In fact, I watched myself get wiped out of the system at a previous job during a layoff. It was interesting watching the logs scroll by, seeing my name get wiped, and then about 5 minutes later I was called in to talk with the two Bobs.

Xavoc

how would people feel if dell had the ability to remotely wipe your laptop. i mean, you could have sensitive information on it that you brought home from work. would that make it okay?

meggman

I doubt apple is going to do anything with it unless a company requests that functionality for their corporate devices. You don't see RIM blowing away apps that they don't like because some overzealous blogger wants hits to their article.
err. I mean because the Jobs sayith.

s017jrs

WTF is the matter with some of you? A remote wiping application from the OWNER of a device, like an employer, isn't anywhere near the same goddamn ballpark as the company that manufactured the fucking device doing whatever the hell they want with it.

Are you deliberately being obtuse or are you just drooling retards?

drewls

that's 2 things I want for christmas now...
lil snitch for the iphone, and a shaman aggro dump

s017jrs

@Triplet66:
Where's an iphone developer when ya need one?!

s017jrs

@RedBackFur:

We use an app called safeboot. It's crackable, but not easily.
10 bad password attempts and the drive is wiped.

s017jrs

@s017jrs:

now you're talking :-)

Triplet66

I wish there were remote wiping apps for laptops. Don't you read the news??? All those identity thefts stemming from the myriad of Dumba$$es that lose their corporate laptops full of unencrypted personal data. I love our company to be able to have a "Mission Impossible" type hard drive self destruct remotely triggerable. We've used software that can play "Phone Home" from stolen laptops once they hit the internet, but very few laptops have come back using it.

RedBackFur

someone needs to port lil snitch to the iphone

s017jrs

@rahilmehta: By "calling home"... well, the Touch can do that over Wi-Fi. Whenever the hell it wants (as long as there is a connection, obvs.).

jbang

I really don't see Apple going through and nitpicking apps off the iphones that aren't supposed to have them, i think it's no big deal or in case of loss/theft etc. plus is his jailbroken? might not even have that "exploit in the jailbroken code....just a thought, I don't know much about the code end of things.

Triplet66

If people are honestly that concerned about the Jobs having access to drop apps from the phone, don't buy one. put that tinfoil hat back on and lock yourself in the closet.

s017jrs

@rahilmehta:

And you make calls on it how? you're comparing apples and oranges dude, seriously. ones a music player with wifi and apps, ones a phone with bluetooth, wifi apps, etc. your argument doesn't hold water.

Triplet66

@EBone: And those same software agreements usually say the company reserves the right to change the agreement without notice at anytime. They're really a one way benefit. You don't get anything out of reading them.

This is a great idea if it's just to take off a malicious app that somehow got approved on accident. But if they're going to use it to yank apps because of licensing deals falling through or some other crazy reasons, then this is fucking stupid.

I don't really like the idea of it reporting back to Apple.

karasu is my homeboy

You guys need to lay off the heavy cheese before bed...

Do you honestly think that if Apple started making apps disappear that they are just going to get off nilly-willy?

WTF is this? The friggin Mafia?

Being worried about this is absolutely unrealistic. Simply the user backlash against something like this happening on a wide scale is going to do huge damage to the company's image.

And guys? If you havne't figured it out by now. Apple is BUILT on image.

NeoXY

Looks like as Apple becomes larger and more successful their practices start to seem 'corporate,' don't they? I am not all that bothered by the finding but I do admit I laugh a little inside every time some fanboy reads one of these articles that illustrates how Apple isn't some utopian 'product for the people.' They are a profiting company...and they are finally becoming large enough and gaining enough share of computing products to start doing the 'evil' things they wanted to benefit from all along.

Just had to get some people on board.

Jackson

So, does anyone need another GOOD reason to jailbreak/Pwn your iPhone?

I think the really good reason has just been given.

SgtBeavis

it's HEIL not HAIL@waza:

ffoofighter2001

@NeoXY: The same image that shows cracks all over the back of people's iPhone 3gs, or the same image that displayed the horrible launch of Mobile Me?

Or...the image of, you know, when launch iPhone 3gs couldn't activate when the server crashed just like the original launch.

Shit happens. Saying they won't do something we don't understand or that will make them look bad because they don't want to look bad is really ignorant, and broken logic, on your part.

karasu is my homeboy

Once again apple assumes people are too retarded to remove an app themselves. Next they will have a person call your phone when your battery is getting low to explain how to charge it up each time.. in case you forgot.

aeroworks

Convenient backup plan :)

Digital Freak

"big brother is watching you" - and I thought they are a nice creative company...

Bodypainter

@drewls: drooling retards...
I love the post that says "It's a feature!!!"
FFS, do you really think apple thought that 99% of its sales would be corporate so they needed a HIDDEN feature that disables apps?
Does this appear in your owners manual?
What about Boxoffice? Is that such a "corporate" app that it needs to be disabled for fear of sensitive corporate data escaping?
Repeat after me: "mmmmm koolaid....."

Blakamin

hmmm software that looks at a list of files on the internet and disable any it finds locally...... Folks thats called virus protection Get over it.

PS no one has seen anything to suggest a iPhone sends any data back to apple this way, and all this is based on the name of an URL in the firmware. There is no knowledge if its even functional or what function it serves if it is.

trrosen

[iphone-services.apple.com]

=

{ "Date Generated" = "2008-08-07 06:30:25 Etc/GMT"; "BlackListedApps" = { "com.mal.icious" = { "Description" = "Being really bad!"; "App Name" = "Malicious"; "Date Revoked" = "2004-02-01 08:00:00 Etc/GMT"; }; }; }

geschmidtt

@Blakamin: What about Boxoffice? Is that such a "corporate" app that it needs to be disabled for fear of sensitive corporate data escaping?

someToast

@aeroworks: Once again apple assumes people are too retarded to remove an app themselves.

The majority of people aren't nerdlingers that'll learn of a rogue app the second the news hits the internets. These people aren't retarded.

someToast

@ddragos:

Can't we sue them for this?

you can sue anyone for anything you want no matter how ridiculous. you live on earth and you are seriously asking if there are limitations on filing a lawsuit? where have you been?

(my apologies if you are not actually from earth or are some sort of time traveler.)

x23

my phone i bought it, ill run whatever i damn well please.

fostina1

@s017jrs: well.. reading on the comments I see my point was already pointed out!
thanks guys for bringing FACTS to this place ;)

madlogik

@Rand: I'm with Rand on this.
I run a BES (blackberry enterprise server) and there is a list on "unauthorized applications" on it. (we don't want sales rep to run the browser, but we don't mind if a VP wants to do whatever he pleases on his bb) .

madlogik

err. wait. I'm not being a good gizmodo commenter.

oh noes! I can't has iphone appz kuz the apple gestapo is going to steal my internets!

s017jrs

@madlogik:
I wish more people would get over the sensationalist journalism here and look at it objectively.
He who shall be called The Jobs isn't going to be blowing away apps because he had a bad cup of coffee... There's a legitimate business need for this functionality. Without it this would still be a glorified kids phone.

s017jrs

1984 anyone?

Costermonger

Tee hee... Apple is watching your p0rn...

iSmithx

@fostina1:

Me Too! BS, up to me if I want to run hacked shit and take the risk, not Apple to decide whether or not to delete it etc. Man Apple is pissing me off more and more. They better get their shit together soon. I'm a fanboy of sorts, but it's bs when they try to take over the world and dictate, they should be focusing on the f-ing MobileMe (joke of an app/service) instead of deleting a 0.99¢ app of someones iPhone or wifi iPod touch.

Triplet66

i have a solution to the problem
DON'T BUY AN IPHONE!
there done

Wakeley

I've always felt that if Apple were the size of Microsoft they would be more "evil" than MS is now and this is starting to prove it, along with the hidden installs of their shitty software

rodsky

@Alex2643: I submit that it is phoning home to say it will be playing Trism with the guys until very late tonight, and to not wait up, honey.

negative1

Did anybody actually check the URL? Everybody's acting like it's some conspiracy and all their apps are getting disabled. The URL is a (somewhat) plaintext list. With one app on it. You know what the banned app is called? "com.mal.icious"

M'kay? It's a just in case feature. Don't freak out.

zwaldowski

This currently could not possibly have anything do with apps not working. If you take the time to look at the URL you will see it only has one entry: a placeholder / example that says "Description" = "Being really bad!"; "App Name" = "Malicious". Also, this feature is not for enterprise, it applies to all iPhones. Enterprises can wipe devices, not disable apps. The ability to remote wipe a device is in the hands of the IT department from which it was issued, the ability to disable apps is in Apple's hands.

KatrinaCat

lol you guys are all wrong. CoreLocation. That's the Location API. If you know that not all apps are allowed to use CoreLocation. Some apps might do some very wrong things with your current location. Perhaps this is a URL for the iPhone to disable CoreLocation on certain malicious apps.

SpoBo

@drewls:

Wow...guess you have never heard of a little company called TIVO. See they make a hardware DVR that they then modify the software in without your consent! OMG...lets burn them down!

Also until you can show beyond a shadow of a doubt that Apple has done anything evil with this...then anyone posting this is wrong/bad/evil is completely FULL OF SHIAT!

Seems to me there are an awful lot of MS/Nokia/BB shills in here.

If i was BB i would be shaken in my boots right now. Nobody is waiting in lines for their products and Apple in 1 year gained a 20% market hold and will most likely triple that within the next 12 months.

Motorola is outta this game and Sony is a minor player.

Scream all you want. I have a ton of apps on my iphone and no issues with it performance. No restores needed. No glitches. In fact 2.0.1 seems to be a lot more stable.

Hmmmm....me thinks some here are trolling.

Yet millions are enjoying the iphones.

Must suck to be a troll/shill or just to be so unlucky to get one of a handful of defective phones.

Wowwzers2

According to this guy's blog, his NetShare did get removed when he synced his iPhone. http://terrywhite.com/techblog/?p=753

SeanGreel

Cool all the tech companies should collaborate and tell us what is better for us. We are so dumbed down that we can't tell it to ourselves.

last1

"Description" = "Being really bad!"

rofl

wcnghj