Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail, Bad Apple, iPhone
Apple Geniuses are reportedly unbricking iPhones
Apple continues posting warning signs around their stores, cautioning customers that unlocked and modded iPhones fall outside their warranty. And at the same time, Apple Geniuses around the country quietly are reportedly accepting bricked iphones, slipping into the back and returning with functioning units.
We're not sure whether they're doing a low-level reflash or just swapping units out. We have reports of at least four customers who walked in with iBricks and walked out with iPhones. It is unclear at this time whether these customers unlocked their iPhones or not--we're also receiving reports of iBricks from people who never unlocked or modded their units.
Thanks to Ronald Ishak and "Martyn".
Update: Bolding added to existing text for clarity and emphasis.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Frank Tinsley said 9:56PM on 9-27-2007
When Apple does something, they do it right. Even when they write FUD.
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byaah said 10:10PM on 9-27-2007
Hah, gotta love the Geniuses.
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Rubbinz said 10:13PM on 9-27-2007
Wait for the mad rush of morons that bought their iPhones off of ebay to start rolling in. Look on ebay, most of the iPhones listed are being sold at 200+ above retail unlocked.
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Big John said 10:22PM on 9-27-2007
Off of what Rubbinz said... I should buy an iPhone, unlock it and sell it for profit. A lot of iPhones. A lot of times. Whee!
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Christopher Mercer said 10:28PM on 9-27-2007
I do believe it is already illegal to void a warranty based on a mod to a device. I reference adding an after market stereo to your car does not void the warranty on the car!
I think Apple needs to recheck a few precedents
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DrunkDwarf said 10:32PM on 9-27-2007
I guarantee one thing, after this mess Apple will point to it for years as why we can't be trusted with an SDK. Thanks again Erica "iPhone Terrorist" Sadun.
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Mitch said 10:35PM on 9-27-2007
The Apple Genius on duty at the Corte Madera store (CA) was having no part in fixing a no-SIM recognizing iPhone.
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Ronny Baywalds said 10:44PM on 9-27-2007
So wait, you're reporting that Geniuses all over the country are swapping or somehow reformatting hacked, unlocked iPhones based on the fact that someone, somewhere was at a Genius Bar today and saw iPhones being swapped?
You know, iPhones can break. They did before hacks, they will after hacks, and Geniuses will replace them if they weren't hacked. Its actually kinda their jobs.
I think its pretty irresponisble reporting to give Unlockers false hope and send them running to the Genius Bar based on someone observing iPhones owners being helped at the Genius Bar without any indication that they hacked their phones.
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tr755 said 10:47PM on 9-27-2007
Here's a little secret for anyone that tried to upgrade their unlock iPhone and is now getting the activation required/invalid SIM message.
First off, Apple changed the IMEI on your iPhone to a special one that identifies your phone was unlocked by third party software. If you take your phone to a Genius Bar or call Apple Support, they will ask for the IMEI number. If it's this special IMEI, they will stop and not help you any further.
HOWEVER...
The is an unconfirmed bug that the 1.1.1 update is causing the same IMEI activation message on AT&T GoPhone (prepaid) accounts. If you tell the person at the Genius Bar that this is a GoPhone account, they will replace your iPhone right then and there with no further questions. You must have an AT&T SIM card in the phone, but the Apple employees have no way of verifying whether or not it is a GoPhone account or not.
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OM said 10:49PM on 9-27-2007
i want to know what is an 'authorized' iPhone unlocking program?
apple legal team is quick to write 'unauthorized' iPhone unlocking program.
is it just me or wasn't there a law passed recently (within the last couple of years) that required mobile providers in the US to provide an unlock code to subscribers after 90 days of ownership?
OM
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Joel Robison said 10:52PM on 9-27-2007
You can add me to the list of people with iBricks. I tried installing the update today as I was VERY excited about the new wifi Music store, unfortunately, my iPhone stopped functioning after the update. I brought the phone to an ATT store, they gave me another SIM to see if that would help, no avail. I then took the phone to an Apple store in Bellevue WA (I have had poor service at this store previously as have friends of mine) and they accused me of unlocking my iPhone. Their accusation was very damaging to my opinion of Apple's service.
I have recently had such great experiences with apple products that in the last 4 months I had purchased a MacBook Pro and an Apple TV. I was just about to purchase an iPod touch for my wife, but now as you may suspect I am second guessing that idea and considering returning my MacBook.
On the other hand I have called AT&T and canceled my service with them as Apple told me they blacklisted my phone and the warranty had been voided so I didn't see a point in paying for service that I couldn't use. AT&T agreed with my point of view and didn't charge me a fee for cancellation or yell at me for unlocking my phone.
As for unlocking my phone, I have done some research and it seems that if a person wanted to use their phone an a different carrier that it should be legal since the phone is wholly owned by the person who bought it(not a lease), although I may need to contact someone with some legal background as I am no professional.
My take away from this:
AT&T:
Despite all the people giving bad reviews, Their service has been great and I would recommend it to others.
Apple:
Should not be "disabling" devices that they dont own, regardless of this "unlocking" issue. To me the unlocking problem seems a but semantic and only is being enforced because of contractual obligations between Apple and AT&T. I understand AT&T not wanting people to leave their service, after all that is the point of all companies, to make money by exchanging goods or services with the value of the dollar. I view this whole thing to be Malicious on Apples part, almost like they are "Hackers" themselves. I am no hacker, I just wish to use the phone that I paid $600 for to make calls and send/receive email.
Suggestions:
Apple:
Shut down the Bellevue store, or get some real genius's that are presentable and will actually help you.
Let the people that paid good money for their devices use them, I don't see any problem with blacklisting a phone, but I think that disabling it from working was a bad choice, after all it could still be used to get email from WiFi or be used as an expensive iPod even if it doesn't have cell service.
AT&T:
Keep on doing what your doing, it works well your customer care is grade A.
Steve Jobs:
You have done an amazing thing with Apple, I was considering buying stock in your company as well as more apple products.. I will leave it at that.
-Disappointed Expensive Paperweight Owner(with touchscreen)
P.S. For those of you wondering: yes I got my $100 back for the price issue, thank you Apple
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Mitch said 11:00PM on 9-27-2007
Joel - you never said whether you had unlocked your iPhone. Did you?
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thechansen said 11:02PM on 9-27-2007
I brought my ibrick in today to the freehold mall. Explained to them what happened and they replaced my iPhone. I have been an att wireless customer for about 9 years now and they seemed confident when I pulled out my Cingular branded SE. No unlock preformed by me. My brother's iphone also suffered the lock out and he us using the default iPhone plan with zero mods running. I think the update may have just been faulty with certain iPhones.
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Kris Ziel said 11:02PM on 9-27-2007
@Joel Robison
I am sorry for the crappy service you got, but we are all human. Go back and talk to a different genius, and they will sort it out. I don't know what the logic is behind returning current stuff and boycotting Apple will help, thats just idiocracy.
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gerdozain said 11:05PM on 9-27-2007
I installed the new firmware update and as my iTunes was trying to install it on my iPhone, which has never been unlocked, it too died. I had to do a full restore and then wait until I got home to finally get all my info back on it.
So, even if you never unlocked your iPhone, please back-up everything before you update, cause most likely, you'll have to restore.
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Tom said 11:16PM on 9-27-2007
Apple's previous statements have been pretty cool: You can upgrade your product (like ibook) as long as in the process of upgrading it you don't break it. If you break it in the process, then they won't fix it for free. If it breaks for some other reason and you upgraded, they are supposed to fix it for free, but it's a crapshoot with the depot.
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Derek said 11:21PM on 9-27-2007
No problems here. Uninstalled all the apps via installer as much as possible, then with Installer still there, ran the update. Back to plain iPhone, with the iTunes store. Boring. Haven't tried iBrickr yet...anybody have luck with it?
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Ross Kirby said 11:57PM on 9-27-2007
@ Joel
The first time you setup your iPhone you accepted the SLA (Software Licensing Agreement) by making unauthorized changes to the Phones software you have violated the SLA making your warranty null and void. You did it to yourself
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Tom said 12:20AM on 9-28-2007
@19 Ross:
Contracts can contain clauses that are illegal and invalid and thus while they may be signed/agreed to they do not need to be carried out. Such as if you hire a hitman. That contract specifies illegal activities and thus is invalid.
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Rubbinz said 12:21AM on 9-28-2007
@Ross,
You have the audacity to say that if you install an Apple supplied software update, you void your warranty and it's all your fault if it bricks your device?
That is what you just said. And you deserve a virtual kick in the gonads for it. Please do explain, in full legalese how an Apple supplied update is "unauthorized".
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