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iPhone Tethering App Released, Killed In 2 Hours
tjhayes writes "The iPhone App Store released an application called NetShare that allowed the iPhone to tether a laptop to the internet. It was priced at a $10 one-time fee. After being available for approximately 2 hours, the application has disappeared from the apps store. What exactly are AT&T/Apple trying to accomplish here?" They are trying to prove what is wrong with DRM, and demonstrate why hackers want to jailbreak the iPhone.
I know tethering is against the AT&T rules and regulations... but why was it pulled for all non-usa iphones? We don't have the same agreements with our carriers outside the USA, and yet ... we suffer because AT&T can't stop complaining...
we'll do more than not use it, we will continue to point out how such a retarded policy is wrong, and that's it's costing apple customers.
If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
The queue is really lagging. The app is back up and still for sale. Come on, Slashdot mods, stay current!
I was quite shocked, but knowing apple, I shouldn't have been.
I was shocked to learn this about the original iPhone, since it was only since I switched to OS X that I started regularly using a phone for Internet access via Bluetooth. Apple made it really easy to set it up (there's a little Bluetooth wizard that does everything for you), and by not supporting this on the iPhone they have made sure that pretty much any other make of phone integrates better with their OS than their own phone.
My old (cheap) Nokia phone can sync calendars with iCal, sync contacts with Address Book, and be used as a modem, all via Bluetooth. The iPhone needs a cable to do any of these (and can't do the third one even with a cable).
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
Roger that! But when you do more than "not buy/use it" the fanboys (and girls) want to mod you as flamebait.
Apple is mostly image and branding. There is nothing Apple does that is unique. There is nothing in the iPhone that is unique. (You show me an iPhone, I'll show you a PalmOS phone and the major differences are fewer buttons/keys on the iPhone and more graphic intensive.) So what makes Apple better or different? It's how people FEEL about Apple. If you disagree, instead of modding me flaimbait, how about citing some *objective* examples of where I am mistaken?
When people at my office ask me about iPhone, I state where I see it falling short. You can't remove or replace the battery. So when the battery is useless, the phone is useless. That almost always gives people cause to think. But still 1 in 20 people will still say something like "I don't care! It's so cool!" I don't try to stand in their way either. If they can't see beyond the bling-bling, they aren't going to hear what I have to say about it.
Maybe the problem is all mine... I am just not as enthused by shiny stuff as other people are. I want it to work the way I want it to work and to use it the way I want to use it. If I can't, it's nothing short of an annoyance.
What exactly are AT&T/Apple trying to accomplish here?
Quite simple:
1. AT&T (like other mobile operators) would like you to pay extra for the privilege of using your phone as a modem. This has nothing to do with Apple or iPhone: e.g. the same thing applies to my Windows Mobile smartphone on T-Mobile (UK).
2. Apple needs to play nicely with AT&T and its other mobile operators and can't be seen encouraging people to breach the terms & conditions.
3. Presumably, someone at Apple OK'd this software without checking the AT&T T&Cs. Someone else spotted the error and took it down.
Nothing to see, move along.
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
No offense, although I'll probably be moderated as a troll for this, but you're just an idiot, plain and simple.
It doesn't take a triple digit IQ to know the phone didn't have SSH and a terminal, so either you're trolling or really are an idiot if you bought the phone knowing that only to turn around and complain about it.
Blackberry also passes all e-mail and everything else through their servers. Again, troll or idiot.
And there was no secrets about Mobile Me.
So which is it? Troll or idiot?
It's not the same browser, but it is the same rendering engine.
Okay, I'll bite. Funny thing is, I don't even have an iPhone, but I'm pretty familiar with another of Apple's products. I have a video iPod, and I absolutely love it.
It has little to do with it being an Apple product. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of the company, precisely because it tries to be all glitzy. But just as frankly, my iPod is head and shoulders above any other mp3 player I've ever used. Sure, it's pretty, but it also has a very nice display. I find that navigating using the touch wheel is much easier than the clunky buttons on most other players. Getting music and videos is stupidly simple. Although I'm technically proficient and can rip CDs and DVDs, jump through hoops encoding and transferring stuff, I appreciate the fact that with my iPod, I don't have to. I hate the DRM that Apple imposes on content, but it works well enough for me, and when I need to get past it, hey, I can still rip CDs and DVDs and jump through hoops encoding and transferring stuff.
You say, "I want it to work the way I want it to work and use it the way I want to use it." Well, you've pretty much stumbled onto why there are so many Apple devotees. Sure, there are some fanboys, but for most of them, Apple's products just work. It's that simple. They don't have to rip and encode and transfer and configure and read manuals and learn rocket science.
The iPhone undoubtedly has some areas where it falls short. I've used an iPhone, and I'd love to have one, but the game-breaker for me is that I'd rather shove bamboo shoots under my fingernails than to subscribe to AT&T's service, and although I probably could, I just don't have the motivation to hack it. (Better things to do with my time.) I really don't see the battery as an issue. Honestly, in about 15 years of having various cell phones, I've never once had to replace a battery. I always end up getting a new one before my battery stops holding a charge. Is it a consideration? Sure, I suppose, but stacked up against other things, it's not a major one.
Apple isn't perfect. I don't know of many people who think it is. And yes, they have a reputation for being excessively stylish. But that doesn't change that their products are very, very good. You want people not to get caught up in the glamour and not to overrate their products; I'd ask you to do the same and not underrate them, either.
A non-replaceable battery on your phone is a critical issue for those of us who use our cellphones frequently for business reasons. With my current phone, if I find myself on calls for four hours during during the day, and I'm worried about the battery running out of juice later in the afternoon, I can just slap in the spare, charged battery I lug around in my bag. I guess there are external chargers you can carry around and plug your iPhone into if you needed to, but then your phone rings and you're trying to do stuff with your cell plugged in to an external battery pack and whatnot.
A non-replaceable battery is just a poor design choice for a phone. It makes it much less functional for a lot of people.
The real deal killer for me is ATT. Not with a gun to my head. I need my telephone to ring when somebody calls me, not go into voice mail. I do carry an iPod touch, which I love, but if ATT offered a data only plan for people who weren't disabled, I'd grab an iPhone and sign up for that plan right away...
It's not that Apple's products have a feature-list that is notably superior. It's that their ease-of-use is notably superior. It's hard to measure 'ease of use'. You can't really quantify it. It's not like megapixels, gigabytes, or battery life... it doesn't really go down to numbers.
But Apple products tend to have no jagged edges... there are no common use cases where they are frustrating or annoying to use. Any product will have frustrating uncommon use cases, you can't avoid that... the battery is a good example.
Do you think the iPod succeeded just because people like Apple? Bullshit. It succeeded because it was better than the other players, and remains superior, if only by a slim margin, even today. Most of the other mp3 players have jagged edges that make them uncomfortable to use... a button that accidentally pauses the music if you have the player in your pocket... a stupid menu that takes 4 clicks to play music, but 2 to change contrast... a short battery life... too heavy... bad software...
It's not that Apple products are so superior in every way. It's that they have no strong weaknesses other than big price tags. No jagged edges. Removing jagged edges, removing frustrating use cases, is where Apple's design teams excel. It's their killer feature.
I'm not an Apple fanboy... I use Linux and Windows. I'm a gamer. The only Apple product I use is my wife's castoff 10GB iPod that I use as a USB drive. I know Apple products have flaws... nothing is perfect. And their brand image is part of the appeal. But brand appeal can't carry a bad product... their products are good, AND they have brand appeal. You can't stick your head in the sand and pretend otherwise.
"I will trust Google to 'do no evil' until the founders no longer run it." Hello Alphabet.
"how about citing some *objective* examples of where I am mistaken?"
I've owned Palm based devices for a while, and I can safely say 'objective' is in the eyes of the beholder. I remember trading in my ancient newton for a Treo...no longer needed to wear cargo pants to use a mobile device (I started off with a MP100..then 120 and finally a 2100 before realizing I wanted something smaller not bigger). The Treo was nice...but unlike the Newtons, I couldn't change batteries. Big deal. I kept a pocket charger in my bag for the few times I've ever needed to plug it in.
Since this time, I've had several smart phones. The iPhone was only because I needed something so that I could transport my music with me without having two devices in my pocket. No other reason...I held off for months picking one up even though I had Apple credit that I've had sitting around for a while (and the fact that I occasionally consult for the company).
Subjectively, it syncs better than any other PMP that I've used. This is a biggie for me.
Subjectively, I wish it had a keyboard, but at the same time kept the same sized screen, but without changing the size of the sucker. Oh wait, this is an either / or. I do wish I could sync up an external keyboard like I could my old Palm (though that was a full sized one...I'd rather have a BT capable thumbie thing). Again, it is subjective.
Batteries? I've only run out of juice once. It was after two days of not charging and using edge quite a bit. I've never carried a change of batteries...I've always found it easier to just charge (I bought two extra cables for $8 and have a car adapter with USB built-in). Besides, an external battery (that can actually charge the device and you can unplug it after it is done) is only like $30 from Belkin (I believe...or one of those companies).
I replaced the battery in my iPod and it was pretty cheap ($25) and actually pretty easy. I looked up the instructions on how to replace the one in the iPhone before buying it, and while a LITTLE more complicated, it can be done at home with the tools supplied in the battery kit.
Objectively, I have options. The lack of a replaceable battery does not make one a fanboy by ignoring this fact.
Beyond that, it is all subjective. Don't discard the subjective though...I'm a former computer science / programmer that went back to school several years ago to go for a therapy based psychology PhD (midlife crisis thing...looking for substance and not just another line of code). The geek side says that all the specs are the same. The human side tells me that this is NOTHING like the rest. Guess what? We should be looking for subjective and not objective (and that's why I'm not going to argue against your subjective arguments). I thought the interface on the old Palms were HORRIBLE. It felt like using the old Win 3.1 interface...but that they had actually thought it was innovative. The iPhone...fluid. Gesturing that was hinted at in older experimental GUIs and then abandoned were refined and made useful (yeah, back in the day, I had used a few geeky interfaces for Linux or Win that when I realize that I could have kept my fingers on the keyboard, it would have been faster than memorizing a dozen movements). But it just worked on the iPhone...and it isn't like they included EVERYTHING...just enough to do what you need.
And subjectively, it is the idea that Apple didn't try to put everything into this device that makes it useful. It is limited...and that is a good thing. This was the problem with my Newton that was infinitely more laptop-like than my palm...it tried to be a portable computer after a while.
The only thing I've concerned myself with lately is that I do engage in some 'extreme' sports...and while it is nice to be able to be up 10 stories and pull out the device to get another angle on the right route to climb, it is too fragile. Been thinking of picking up a second one that is rugged and that I can strap to my ass and not worry about banging it u
AT&T had to ban this to protect the network, the same reason Comcast has to ban BitTorrent. I'm sure all of you understand. It is very important to protect the network from new, predatory applications or we will never have innovation. Just look at how the plain old phone network collapsed and became totally useless after the courts forced the telcos to allow their customers to plug in unapproved phones. Overnight people were plugging in 3, 4, 5 phones, vastly exceeding the phone rental limits. Some were even using newfangled wireless phones that let them consume Precious Network Resources from places the Telcos never planned on, such as the yard or bathroom.
Maybe someome will write an app called "net-sell". and I can go to coffeeshops and rent my iphone connection to all the people in the room.
Why not?
What I use my Internet connection for is none of my Internet provider's fucking business, and if you believe otherwise then you're just a tool.
features that everyone raves about on the iPhone, but I've never used them. It doesn't even occur to me to use them because I feel like I need a PhD in computer science with a specialization in programing for imbedded devices to figure out how to use the damn features.
Hah, thank you. I own a Nokia e65, which is as expensive as an iPhone, but I simply do not feel like using these functions, because they suck with the interface provided...
I "accidentally" bought an iPhone (I had a site I had to format for iPhone so I had to get a phone), and after that I just kept the phone. Even though some features (such as net sharing with a laptop) are missing, I am still happier because YOU CAN USE THE DAMN THING .... unlike the 40 others ......
I also totally agree with your other points about Apple VS not apple, but I made the switch from Linux desktop (as I dropped Windows 10 years ago, even though I had to use it here and there)
It's that their ease-of-use is notably superior. It's hard to measure 'ease of use'. You can't really quantify it. It's not like megapixels, gigabytes, or battery life... it doesn't really go down to numbers.
Well that makes it easy!
So I claim that the Iphone has the worst UI. You can't claim I'm wrong, because as you say, it's hard to measure "ease of use", so when I claim there are much better phones, you can't prove me wrong on this issue.
But seriously, that it's unmeasurable is a myth put out by those who what to claim that there's something special about the Iphone. This argument would never work for any other company's product (imagine it: "Who cares about all the flaws in Windows - it just is better. It's better in ways we can't measure or quantify, it just is" - would that be accepted?)
UI is quantifiable in all sorts of ways, for example, explaining how a particular process is achieved on different phones, or by comparing features that might make a process quicker. E.g., how do I copy text from somewhere to somewhere else?
There are plenty of examples of quantifying user interface on operating systems. E.g., menus at the top of the screen (as in AmigaOS, MacOS) are better that those not at the top (as in Windows), or proportional scrollbars give a better visual representation than non-proportional scrollbars (as in classic MacOS), or up/down arrows next to each other on a scrollbar (as in AmigaOS) are quicker to access than those at opposite ends on the scrollbar (as in Windows). Anyone who claims that UI is inherently something we can't measure is just grasping at straws to claim that their favourite expensive product is better, and they fail anyway, because I can just as easily claim my dirt cheap phone has the better UI - and by your own rules, you can't claim I'm wrong, because UI is unmeasurable.
Do you think the iPod succeeded just because people like Apple? ... Most of the other mp3 players have jagged edges that make them uncomfortable to use... a button that accidentally pauses the music if you have the player in your pocket... a stupid menu that takes 4 clicks to play music, but 2 to change contrast... a short battery life... too heavy... bad software...
The Ipod was a decent product. This topic is about the Iphone. Furthermore, you contradict your own argument. You've provided numerous examples of why the Ipod was better. So much for "it's unmeasurable"! So where are the same reasons for the Iphone?
It's not that Apple products are so superior in every way. It's that they have no strong weaknesses other than big price tags.
[Leaving aside a few basic functionality that even cheap phones have such as copy/paste, Java, MMS, video recording, and it only just finally got 3G.] If you agree that the Iphone is not superior, and it has no major weaknesses either, then that's the point: it's just yet another phone, and there's nothing special about it. Lots of phones fall into this middle ground category
But brand appeal can't carry a bad product... their products are good, AND they have brand appeal. You can't stick your head in the sand and pretend otherwise.
I'm not the one with my head in the sand saying "You can't measure UI, it just is better".
Brand appeal is important - this is shown by the very fact that you tried to claim the Iphone is better be saying how the Ipod was better. Your logic is that they're both "Apple", therefore the Iphone must be good too. That's judging not by product, but by brand. Do you think the Iphone would be getting even a fraction of media coverage it gets, if it wasn't produced by Apple? Brand appeal is everything to Apple. Consider how Macs today are nothing to do with older Macs (different hardware, different OS), but no one says "Well, Apple had to ditch the old OS because they finally realised it was so awful), rather, they're all considered to be the same platform.
The service you purchased on your phone contract says otherwise, and that's the problem.
Apple products no jagged edges? What the fuck?
Ok, I understand, they are smooth 'n all -- oh, you mean there are no USABILITY issues. Gotchya. And... wrong.
Example: Someone (my wife) using Windows 98. Really. With universal usb storage driver. Buys her sister an ipod and a CD to rip (audio book). The ipod is the little one with no display, 1gb of memory, cheap. Really, its a destructo audio book player. Limited instructions, maybe she missed the part about "itunes" but I don't think it was in the instructions!
Anyway, the CD is ripped onto the computer, and the ipod is plugged in. It shows up as a mass storage device. She copies the rip to the device, and charges. However, the ipod won't stay on! She RETURNS the ipod to the store as defective. The service guy says "Um, you need this application called iTunes" - Of course it is not supplied with the ipod. Too cheap to put a mini-cd in the packaging!
iTunes doesn't work with Windows 98. XP, maybe (I don't know). Fortunately, GtkPod is available for Linux (which we also use).
Let's break it down -
The ipod needs custom software, YET responds as a USB mass storage device - this is good design?
Apple doesn't put a cheap CD into the box with the software - come on, that's just bad - now an internet connection is REQUIRED.
iTunes doesn't work with Windows 98. Ok, I'll grant you this.
The ipod doesn't stay turned on if there is no magic itunes stuff on it. It has a nifty color changing led and all, but that isn't used to display any sort of distinguishing error - you have to KNOW the magic to get it to go.
And you think Apple doesn't have jagged edges... I would imagine that iTunes probably comes with the Mac computer, so it is probably seamless 'n all. But the chutzpah! I should spend $600 so a $50 product works?
Just another "Cubible(sic) Joe" 2 17 3061
Government force should be met with force if necessary. But contracts entered into voluntarily are the basis of civilization. You're advocating a return to the day when contracts couldn't be enforced, which would destroy the availability of the very services you hope to steal. Your position is not only irrational and immoral, but short-sighted.