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Give iPod Thieves an Unchargeable Brick

Posted by Zonk on from the this-ones-for-the-guy-that-stole-mine dept.

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.'"

9 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. Bricks anyone? by Applekid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Give iPod Thieves an Unchargeable Brick Can't I just keep the ipod and give them a brick painted as an iPod like the P-P-P-Powerbook instead?
    --
    More Twoson than Cupertino
  2. another idea by notoriousE · · Score: 5, Funny

    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
  3. Better to not get it stolen in the first place. by Filter · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hide it in a Zune.

    --

    "better ways of doing things eventually just replace the inferior things" - Linus Torvalds 09-08-07

  4. Great... by Radon360 · · Score: 4, Funny

    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?

  5. PRM by MontyApollo · · Score: 4, Funny

    PRM...Physical Rights Management...

  6. Re:weeee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I tried open source software for managing it, and that didn't work well at all You are correct for all possible values of 'it'.
  7. I can see it now... by BigCanOfTuna · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the thief only wanted my $250 iPod, but took my $3000 MacBook Pro to make it work.

  8. Make the iPod impossible to update. by pcraven · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  9. Re:False positives by jcuervo · · Score: 4, Funny

    why the hell would you have 5 ipods? Beowulf minicluster?

    --
    Assume I was drunk when I posted this.