by Flack » Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:54 am
Referring specifically to iOS (iPod/iPhone/iPad) devices:
The
possible penalty would be that the device would be blocked from Apple services. Apple is not currently doing this, but if (a) jailbreaking changes something in the OS on the device and (b) the device connects to Apple services like iTunes, then (c) it stands to reason that Apple can detect those jailbroken devices and, theoretically, (d) could block them from connecting. Again, to date, Apple has not done this to iOS users -- but you said "possible", and that's possible.
Currently, the only real world penalty jailbreakers receive is voiding their warranties, and thus losing technical support from Apple. This doesn't dissuade most jailbreakers from jailbreaking, since jailbreaking is software-based, and can "easily" be undone by resetting your device.
The world of video game consoles is completely different. take the Xbox 360, for example. None of the new consoles operate in a vacuum any more -- they all connect regularly back to "the mother ship" and run reports. Microsoft gathers information from consoles and, from time to time, bans large numbers of jailbroken machines, like they did in 2009 when they
banned 1 million Xbox 360 users from Xbox Live. When they do that, your machine can not go online and access Xbox Live ever again, which means no more online gaming for you. One unique market that has come out of this is I know lots of people that own two Xbox 360 consoles -- one that's jailbroken for playing pirated games, and one that's not that they use online (and only buy a few games for).
Sony has taken a slightly different route with the PlayStation 3. Jailbreaks on the PS3 require specific system formware versions. If you have, say, 3.55, then there are security holes that will allow you to play pirated games. Sony's defense is to (a) patch the holes, and then (b) push those patches out to all users. While users are not "required" to install those updates, they will be blocked from online services until they do. Additionally, newer games often require newer firmwares, which are included on the game discs and must be installed before the game can be played. My son recently bought the new Call of Duty game, which comes with firmware 3.72 on the disc. You cannot play the game without upgrading to that firmware. It's a dirty trick on their part.
The Nintendo Wii is so riddled with exploits that now all you need to jailbreak it is an SD card and some downloaded programs. The Wii has never had a strong online presence, which means there's no real reason not to do so. There are actually some pretty cool features you can enable on the Wii after jailbreaking, like DVD playback and the ability to store your games on an external USB drive and play them in ISO format.
Everybody says jailbreaking is all about having the legal ability to modify your own hardware, but for the most part it's about piracy. It's kind of like when your dad told you he bought Playboy to read the articles.
Referring specifically to iOS (iPod/iPhone/iPad) devices:
The [b]possible[/b] penalty would be that the device would be blocked from Apple services. Apple is not currently doing this, but if (a) jailbreaking changes something in the OS on the device and (b) the device connects to Apple services like iTunes, then (c) it stands to reason that Apple can detect those jailbroken devices and, theoretically, (d) could block them from connecting. Again, to date, Apple has not done this to iOS users -- but you said "possible", and that's possible.
Currently, the only real world penalty jailbreakers receive is voiding their warranties, and thus losing technical support from Apple. This doesn't dissuade most jailbreakers from jailbreaking, since jailbreaking is software-based, and can "easily" be undone by resetting your device.
The world of video game consoles is completely different. take the Xbox 360, for example. None of the new consoles operate in a vacuum any more -- they all connect regularly back to "the mother ship" and run reports. Microsoft gathers information from consoles and, from time to time, bans large numbers of jailbroken machines, like they did in 2009 when they [url=http://articles.cnn.com/2009-11-12/tech/cnet.xbox.live.ban_1_banned-modern-warfare-informationweek?_s=PM:TECH]banned 1 million Xbox 360 users from Xbox Live[/url]. When they do that, your machine can not go online and access Xbox Live ever again, which means no more online gaming for you. One unique market that has come out of this is I know lots of people that own two Xbox 360 consoles -- one that's jailbroken for playing pirated games, and one that's not that they use online (and only buy a few games for).
Sony has taken a slightly different route with the PlayStation 3. Jailbreaks on the PS3 require specific system formware versions. If you have, say, 3.55, then there are security holes that will allow you to play pirated games. Sony's defense is to (a) patch the holes, and then (b) push those patches out to all users. While users are not "required" to install those updates, they will be blocked from online services until they do. Additionally, newer games often require newer firmwares, which are included on the game discs and must be installed before the game can be played. My son recently bought the new Call of Duty game, which comes with firmware 3.72 on the disc. You cannot play the game without upgrading to that firmware. It's a dirty trick on their part.
The Nintendo Wii is so riddled with exploits that now all you need to jailbreak it is an SD card and some downloaded programs. The Wii has never had a strong online presence, which means there's no real reason not to do so. There are actually some pretty cool features you can enable on the Wii after jailbreaking, like DVD playback and the ability to store your games on an external USB drive and play them in ISO format.
Everybody says jailbreaking is all about having the legal ability to modify your own hardware, but for the most part it's about piracy. It's kind of like when your dad told you he bought Playboy to read the articles.