[link590o]

After my little run-in with my sister finding an iTouch, I started having a look around the internet and it wasn't long before I stumbled on all sorts of website shouting several hail marys over something called Jailbreak. From what I've read and researched, there is a link to a website that downloads an installer application into the iTouch by exploiting a weakness in the operating system, and it grants full disk access and the ability to install third party software of just about any type.

Now, I know the rules and even talk of hacking isn't smiled upon at all, but I'm strictly inquiring to see if anyone here knows anything more about the subject, why it should or shouldn't be done, and if Apple is doing anything to put a halt to it all.

I've heard rumor that Apple is going to be allowing 3rd party application starting around this time, but I've also heard variations of this, including that they may be forcing people to start paying for these third party applications.

As you may remember, I'm already looking at buying an iTouch myself and I want to become more aware of the risks involved with all this jailbreaking business.

[samjohnson]

Hmm, never herd of it. Interesting though nonetheless.

[link590o]

I can't wrap my brain around the question of, why in the first place didn't they include a better web browser? More applications and flash players? Tons of other phone companies are doing it and it has only made their user base and prosperity increase. Apple could really truly benefit from having third-party software, but they seem to be waiting to release such software because they want any other software to be their software. They're waiting for users to clamour that they want more true-Mac style applications, and only then will they release a software update that legally jailbreaks the ipods.

Sometimes Apple can be really damn stubborn. Either way, they will make money by allowing more applications to be available whether they are third-party or not. And if they want to stop all the illegal operations being performed on their products, they should make them available right now and it will halt everything and satisfy their user base.

I suppose you could argue that they want the extra software to be theirs so that it maximizes their profit margin because they can charge what they want. But if they don't allow the extra software, they won't get any more sales if it restricts what the user can do so much.

Stupid jailbreak nonsense....