Forums | MacLife
You are not logged in.
#1 2008-08-11 3:50 pm
- Bat
- Adult's Play
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 24097
iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
Apple is looking at the App Store in the same way it looked at selling music for its iPod. Rather than trying to make huge sums of money off applications sold in the App Store -- Apple expects the App Store will drive sales of the iPhone.
Jobs told the WSJ, "Phone differentiation used to be about radios and antennas and things like that. We think, going forward, the phone of the future will be differentiated by software."
Jobs also confirmed for the WSJ that there is in fact a kill switch built-in that will allow Apple to remotely kill and remove any application sold via the App Store from a user's iPhone. Jobs says that Apple needs such an ability in case it inadvertently allowed a malicious application to be sold through the App Store. Jobs said that the kill switch would be needed, for example, if an application were found to be stealing a user's personal data.
Jobs said, "Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull."
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
Offline
#2 2008-08-11 4:22 pm
- mo' ron
- Hates Integrated Graphics
- From: NC, USA
- Registered: 2002-10-15
- Posts: 13545
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
This is a great software model. The only problem is that they don't have a good way to do shareware (which I know many hate, but I like), because that would mean Apple gets no $$$.
What is the difference between Vista and OSX?
- Microsoft employees are excited about OSX.
Offline
#4 2008-08-11 11:09 pm
- smilr
- Soldering Iron Savvy
- From: The Dalles OR, U. S. of Apple
- Registered: 2000-06-21
- Posts: 2853
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
The original rumor they mention was started when someone poking around with the iPhone software guts found a web url leading to an application blacklist in the CoreLocation package.
While jobs did mention they had a killswitch for apps - this link that was uncovered is actually a list of programs forbidden from accessing the location info (gps / cell tower triangulation) system.
So yup - sucks they have it, but nope - we haven't seen how it works... yet.
There is some solace in knowing that some things just can't be attained by throwing piles of money at them in the name of corporate greed. --CaptKevMan
Offline
#5 2008-08-12 7:41 am
- reece_james
- TheLAD
- From: Wollongong, Australia.
- Registered: 2001-12-01
- Posts: 3786
- Website
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
Well, sucks that they have it. Sucks more if they didn't and a virus/malware pops up.
My opinion, this is a good idea. It is a closed distribution model and it ultimately helps the consumer. It doesn't stop people from developing apps and installing them on their own iPod/iPhone.
Either way, well done to Apple for having the guts to do it. It will be a bigger well done if they never use it.
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
Intel iMac CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 17" + 20", 1160GB HD, 10.5.2.
MacBook CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 60GB HD, 10.5.2.
Offline
#6 2008-08-12 12:31 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 14565
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
Just ask JC Denton what he thinks about kill switches.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
Offline
#7 2008-08-12 2:54 pm
- Bat
- Adult's Play
- Royal Wombat
- From: Björk, Björk
- Registered: 2001-05-14
- Posts: 24097
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
It saves Apple money, too, in not vetting apps the store sells. If something proves harmful it'll be killed after damage is done. Caveat Emptor.
At least they pulled that useless "Get Rich" app that did nothing but put a red jewel on your display. It cost only $1,000, too... 
If all economists were laid end to end, they would not reach a conclusion - George Bernard Shaw
"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air."
Offline
#8 2008-08-12 4:54 pm
- reece_james
- TheLAD
- From: Wollongong, Australia.
- Registered: 2001-12-01
- Posts: 3786
- Website
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
user wrote:
Just ask JC Denton what he thinks about kill switches.
Just what we need, Tracer Tong on Apple's case...
Reece [/IMHO]
"All posts on the internet are postfixed by an invisible 'IMHO'", tito
Intel iMac CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 17" + 20", 1160GB HD, 10.5.2.
MacBook CD 1.83Ghz, 2GB RAM, 60GB HD, 10.5.2.
Offline
#9 2008-08-16 7:17 am
- nayrk
- User Error
- From: Outland
- Registered: 2004-05-01
- Posts: 622
Re: iApp 'kill switch' confirmed
the big question is... if they kill it... will I get my $$ back?
prolly not 
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm a schizophrenic
And so am I
Offline
