On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 4:10 PM, Andy Stewart <andystewart@comcast.net> wrote:
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Jorden M wrote:
The iPhone is still far too much of a vendor-lockin device. Apple increases their constriction on free development more with every release.
Which is sad, because with an open hw/sw stack, it would be amazing.
HI all,
I was recently given an iPod touch, which is similar (as I understand it) to the iPhone.
Upon opening the box, I noticed immediately that the device is a brick. It won't do anything until it is connected to Windoze or Mac and has iTunes loaded. Vendor lock #1.
OK, so my sister has a Windoze box and we un-bricked the device. Now it functions. My attempt to load FREE (as in zero cost) applications from the Apple Apps Store illustrates Vendor Lock #2. I had to apply for an account, even to download free applications. The tool refused to authenticate my account (I did not give my credit card number), so now I cannot download the zero cost applications. Go figure.
Yeah, the only way around that is to buy an iTunes card.
I am in the process of trying to "jailbreak" the device...that is, run software which removes some of the silly restrictions. The software which runs on Linux to do this is outdated for my iPod OS version (3.1.2), so its back to the Windoze machine. Vendor lock #3. This step is in progress.
Once I do this, I believe I can connect to Cydia and download truly free applications.
Yes. You can also download the GCC toolchain right to the phone so you don't have to use another computer for development (Thanks, Apple, for crippling a device that is a full-fledged Unix). However, if the OS is V3.1 or higher, libgpod can't put music on it. You can get files from the device, but not music or pictures due to Apple's proprietary database format and hashing scheme. Jobs wants you to use iTunes or go elsewhere. Thanks, Steve, your narrow-mindedness knows no bounds.
Had I not been given this device, I would have quit a long time ago.
Frankly, I wouldn't advise wasting your money on the purchase of an iPod. I agree with the previous post...it is far too much of a vendor lock-in device, which is really too bad.
My 2 cents...devalued of course for inflation.
Andy
- -- Andy Stewart (KB1OIQ) Founder: Worcester Linux Users' Group Founder: Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group President: PART of Westford, MA (WB1GOF) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
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