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Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 04:41 pm
Apple disabling unauthorized Siri ports on non-iPhone 4S devices
A report on Tuesday revealed that Apple has added a new barrier to the software needed to run Siri, a move that shows the Cupertino, Calif., company is actively tracking the growing number of iDevice users who have managed to port the voice-recognizing assistant to non-supported hardware.In an attempt to halt the unauthorized use of its digital assistant on devices not intended to run the software, Apple covertly instituted a "SetActivationToken" property list file which effectively disables any attempts to communicate with Siri's servers, according to Apple blog Redmond Pie.
To get the voice-recognition software to work on other iOS devices, the so-called jailbreak community came up with a basic program called Spire which installs the required on-device files to communicate with the Siri servers. Spire's developers, the prolific hacker "chpwn" and Ryan Petrich, allege that the program is a completely legal port.
The software has caveats, however, as it is only available to jailbroken devices, requires a proxy Siri server and an iPhone 4S certificate.
Despite the troublesome task of installing and troubleshooting the workaround, the demand from users who don't have an iPhone 4S yet want a taste of Siri has been enough to warrant a response from Apple.
Since Siri was announced in October 2011 as the standout feature of Apple's iPhone 4S, users of other iOS devices like the iPhone 4 and 3GS have questioned the company's decision to keep the software locked to the newest generation handset.
Apple has not officially responded outside of saying that the hardware on the 4S makes Siri possible, though previous anecdotal reports have claimed that the exclusivity may stem from a modified proximity sensor or integrated noise reduction tech from EarSmart.
The feature has been seen as a driving force for sales of the newest iPhone, and Apple may be pushing users to upgrade rather than rely on an untested, unauthorized piece of software.
Apple's newest iPhone 4S commercial featuring Siri. | Source: Apple
The jailbreak community is already claiming that a simple "solution" to the "SetActivationToken" addition is to simply delete the entirety of a certain .plist information bundle, however the technique hasn't been fully vetted.
This latest attempt to free an iOS feature from Apple's "walled garden" is but one of a myriad jailbreak attempts by users who want interface with their devices in ways frowned upon by the company.
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Previous Comments View All
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apple ][ 
Good. Screw the jailbreak community. Regardless of what anybody claims or says, I still believe that the majority of them are simple cheapskates and thieves.
And the few people who claim that they are not, well they should just go out and buy an Android phone if tinkering and wasting time playing around with their phones gives them hard ons.
Good. Screw the jailbreak community. Regardless of what anybody claims or says, I still believe that the majority of them are simple cheapskates and thieves.
And the few people who claim that they are not, well they should just go out and buy an Android phone if tinkering and wasting time playing around with their phones gives them hard ons.
What about the people who like to vent on forums to get hard-ons?
I have no problem with this as Siri's usefulness is usefulness is directly affected by the system load but I suspect they will going back and forth with the hackers until the iPhone 4S is the one of the oldest iPhone on the market.
I do hope that hackers aren't clever enough to figure out how to access Siri on non-iOS-based devices. Having Android users to use Siri because their service in unintuitive could be devastating to all Siri users.
I have noticed that Siri is more responsive and perhaps even more intelligent since it first debuted. I hope we get some info about Siri updates at the next event.
This is great news for consumers. Siri doesn't work well on older devices that's why Apple was forced to make the very difficult decision not to offer the technology to 3GS and 4 owners.
Apple is always about protecting the user experience. That's why I love them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by success
What about the people who like to vent on forums to get hard-ons?
What about the people who like to vent on forums to get hard-ons?
What about them? Are you suggesting that I go out and buy an Android phone too?
I can afford to buy all of my apps. I have so many apps, that they all don't even fit on my current iPad.
Jailbreakers have the mentality of a Fandroid, and that's what they should be using, an Android device.
Siri is "really sorry" she "can't help . . . now" often enough in the L.A. area, at least once a day it seems, to make me think that they don't have enough bandwidth for her yet. Or maybe datawidth is the term?
So keep her restricted to paying customers for the time being. She's one big reason why people who sprung for a 4S are impressed with the phone over and over again. I still haven't gotten over being amazed. In fact it's growing.
Of course the other amazing thing is the video out of this camera.
Edit: I say L.A. like as if it's a factor in Siri's overload episodes. I have no idea if geography has anything to do with it. Probably not, eh?
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
This latest attempt to free an iOS feature from Apple's "walled garden" is but one of a myriad jailbreak attempts by users who want interface with their devices in ways frowned upon by the company.
This latest attempt to free an iOS feature from Apple's "walled garden" is but one of a myriad jailbreak attempts by users who want interface with their devices in ways frowned upon by the company.
Apple frowns upon crashing, the loss of all security and crummy-looking user interfaces.
Jailbreakers are the scum of the earth.
Quote:
Originally Posted by I am a Zither Zather Zuzz
Apple frowns upon crashing, the loss of all security and crummy-looking user interfaces.
Jailbreakers are the scum of the earth.
Apple frowns upon crashing, the loss of all security and crummy-looking user interfaces.
Jailbreakers are the scum of the earth.
Interesting. With that in mind, I wonder what TIm Cook thinks of Apple's own Mac OS X Lion developers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by success
What about the people who like to vent on forums to get hard-ons?
What about the people who like to vent on forums to get hard-ons?
The "hard-on" line immediately marks you as a juvenile (mentally, physically or both), and undercuts whatever "argument" you thought you had.
The content of your post might be better phrased as "Look at me, I'm an intolerant young guy with a potty mouth who attacks people for no reason!"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Prof. Peabody
The "hard-on" line immediately marks you as a juvenile (mentally, physically or both), and undercuts whatever "argument" you thought you had.
The content of your post might be better phrased as "Look at me, I'm an intolerant young guy with a potty mouth who attacks people for no reason!"
The "hard-on" line immediately marks you as a juvenile (mentally, physically or both), and undercuts whatever "argument" you thought you had.
The content of your post might be better phrased as "Look at me, I'm an intolerant young guy with a potty mouth who attacks people for no reason!"
He was responding to a "Hard On" reference previously made. LOL!
Quote:
playing around with their phones gives them hard ons.
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Good. Screw the jailbreak community. Regardless of what anybody claims or says, I still believe that the majority of them are simple cheapskates and thieves.
And the few people who claim that they are not, well they should just go out and buy an Android phone if tinkering and wasting time playing around with their phones gives them hard ons.