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Give iPod Thieves an Unchargeable Brick
Svippy writes "Apple has patented a technology for new generations of iPods that would detect when a user tries to operate the iPod on an unauthorised machine ... and will refuse to charge. Indefinitely. From the article: 'Every portable gadget with a rechargeable battery has a charging circuit that recognises when the external mains charger has been plugged in. It then manages the transfer of current to the battery. Apple's patent suggests that by attaching a "guardian circuit" to the charging circuit, it would be possible to block the charging process. When a device is plugged into an unauthorised computer, software would compare a security code in the device to a code buried in the software in the computer. Apple already employs a similar technology to "pair" iPods to iTunes running on a specific Mac or PC. If the codes do not match, then the guardian circuit could be triggered to prevent any further charging.'"
More Twoson than Cupertino
An ipod is plugged into an unauthorized computer and all of a sudden dozens of crappy songs are downloaded to it... songs that no one wants to hear like
Freeze Frame by J Geils Band
or wannabe by the spice girls
or wake me up before you go go by wham
mmmbop by hanson
you know, horrible stuff like that --- i know if i were a thief the idea of horrible music would deter me
And then there was E
Hide it in a Zune.
"better ways of doing things eventually just replace the inferior things" - Linus Torvalds 09-08-07
Finally a digital device that will go on an energy hunger strike if it doesn't like its connectivity situation.
So, would this make the iPhone the Gandhi of portable devices?
PRM...Physical Rights Management...
...the thief only wanted my $250 iPod, but took my $3000 MacBook Pro to make it work.
I've learned that if you plug a USB socket into the Firewire plug on your motherboard, any subsequently connected USB iPod is then "secured" against further updates. Interesting noises are included as the internal protection circuit is established.
You can still charge it.
I fully expect Microsoft to counter this pansy-ass display of "user protection" with the PROPER way of doing it -- if someone plugs the Zune into an unauthorized computer, the Zune explodes. KABLAMO! It'll be like Blade's sword, only with less bad acting.
Anyway like a bunch of people have already said, this is probably going to anger a lot more people than it's going to make happy (as far as consumers go). I for one would rather *not* have my device have a feature like "if you hook this up to the "wrong" machine, it's forever forfeit."
Not to mention this won't act as a deterrent for thieves worth crap.
I like basketball!!1!
why the hell would you have 5 ipods?
Assume I was drunk when I posted this.
No shit eh? Apple doesn't include a USB port for your computer along with their iPod? Damn, those bloody fascists!
I like how you mention the Zune like that's going to make Apple jealous. "I can't believe you'd go out with that slut!"
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
I'd agree, except you need to realize something about the Entertainment Industry.
There are a good amount of people out there that realize they don't need an iPod to make it through the day. However, would you like to be the call center rep that gets Suzie Soccerwench on the line when she finds out the only defense she has against a van full of screaming brats has been incorrectly identified as stolen, and will need to be shipped off to Apple? The indignation and malice that these harpies can muster is practically unparalleled in the natural world.
(Background: I've worked in a cable company call center before. Telling someone, "Yes, you are absolutely correct. You will not be able to watch TV until our cable technician gets out there to fix it." usually doesn't end so well. Compare this to a 2-3 day shipping turn-around time if the bricked iPod does, indeed, need shipped back to Apple.)