Give iPod Thieves an Unchargeable Brick 338
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.'"
Not surprised... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:possible solutions (Score:5, Interesting)
What about non PC charging? (Score:5, Interesting)
All I want to be able to do is charge my friggin' iPod when I'm away from home. I don't think Apple should be deciding where I can charge my iPod -- what damage to them if I use a different machine to *charge* the damned thing.
I mean, it's not like you can extract songs from an iPod readily. (At least, not such that I've seen). This just sounds like really dumb functionality.
will never happen.... (Score:5, Interesting)
My girlfriend has a car charger, a wall charger, and an iHome which all charge her iPod.
Re:possible solutions (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:False positives (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:great idea (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh well, off to the Apple store to buy a new computer, a new iPod, and then to iTunes to buy all my music again...
Sorry, what was the downside of this for Apple?
Re:False positives (Score:5, Interesting)
This is about making sure that people who buy a second charger have to buy it from Apple, at inflated prices.
Neo1973 (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:weeee (Score:1, Interesting)
The file names were all random characters, so it's a little hard to figure what's what, but they list with readable names in iTunes.
Apple makes it awkward to circumvent the iTunes interface, but there is nothing magical about it if you are remotely proficient at the command prompt and have some patience.
The only problem is that my musical taste and my brother's are utterly different.
stolen ipods or stolen music? (Score:1, Interesting)
I've had a similar Idea... (Score:2, Interesting)
Although I don't know of the legality of such an action...
Re:Bricks anyone? (Score:5, Interesting)
Very funny indeed. You did follow that link, didn't you?
Quote:
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3) Finally, and most disturbingly, Jeff was not heard from again. I personally e-mailed him for permission to run his story on ZUG, but after an initial response, I never heard from him again. All of his Web sites have come down, and he is nowhere to be found.
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Re:False positives (Score:2, Interesting)
I have 5 iPods because they are the best way to store photographs when on a long assignment where stable electrical current is a forlorn hope. A couple of them are old, but an 80GB iPod offers the best combination of battery life, size, weight, and storage space there is.
Zen already do this? (Score:2, Interesting)
I wonder if the reason I have to use the $30 Zen charger, or the included USB cable, is because they have this technology built into their chargers.
This smells as an entry towards DRM'ed chargers.
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:possible solutions (Score:2, Interesting)