How a 15-yo Kid Tricked Apple With a Disguised iPhone Tethering App
43 replies, posted
[quote]Oh, Nick Lee, you clever boy you. See, Nick here tricked Apple with a very simple iPhone application: Handy Light. On the surface it looked just like any other $0.99 flashlight application. But, secretly, it was a lot more useful.
Handy Light allowed you to make your iPhone's screen go blank with a color of your choice. You opened it, clicked a swatch from a simple palette, and that was it: Life in technicolor. Another stupid flashlight application like a hundred others. Or so the App Store team thought.
Inside, the app contained hidden code that made it a full tethering application—a program that allows you to use your iPhone as a 3G modem. Using this ability you can surf the web from your computer, using the iPhone as a bridge to the internet. You can do this using your iPhone's preferences too, but that way you will have to pay the additional $20 per month that AT&T wants you to pay for this kind of service. That is $20 extra on top of whatever you are paying for your iPhone data plan. With Handy Light, the tethering service was completely free.
It worked beautifully: You just needed to set up a Wi-Fi network in your laptop, connect your iPhone to it, change a few parameters in your computer's Wi-Fi settings, and that was it. Within seconds, your notebook was able to surf the web. And yes, I say was. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. The app was pulled from iTunes as soon as news of its true nature appeared online. Those who downloaded it, however, can keep enjoying its benefits.[/quote]
Source: [url]http://gizmodo.com/5592521/how-a-guy-tricked-apple-with-a-disguised-iphone-tethering-app[/url]
:bravo:
Nice job kid.
Screw Apple and AT&T
Wait, AT&T charges you for tethering? What the fuck
I saw this earlier on Gizmodo, and holy shit that's clever.
What a smart kid
That is damn awesome
[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;23531365]Wait, AT&T charges you for tethering? What the fuck[/QUOTE]
How does using their network on a laptop equate to more network usage?
[QUOTE=Goptrop;23531612]How does using their network on a laptop equate to more network usage?[/QUOTE]
It doesn't. It [i]is[/i] something they can charge you extra for, just because they know you'll pony up.
:bravo: Nick!
[QUOTE=Phyxius;23532180]It doesn't. It [i]is[/i] something they can charge you extra for, just because they know you'll pony up.
:bravo: Nick![/QUOTE]
And this is one of the reasons I won't ever go to AT&T.
[QUOTE=Goptrop;23531612]How does using their network on a laptop equate to more network usage?[/QUOTE]
It's not that you're using "more" of the network, they're charging you to be able to access the internet via your laptop anywhere as long as you have your phone and your laptop networked. I would be more surprised if they weren't trying to charge for it.
Cell Phone providers are ridiculous now, they charge you way too much for every thing... my entire PC and monthly payment of just internet is about the same price as an iPhone and its service after a couple months, and then gets cheaper as the iPhone gets more expensive over time, and it does a LOT more
Sure you can't carry it around with you everywhere, But I'd rather keep my arm rather than sell it to afford both, 10 cents per text, 0.01 cent per kilobyte of data, contracts that make you pay out your ass if you quit early, it's all a colossal pain in the ass
I quit worrying about how much I have to pay PER DATA USED after I got rid of 56k in the 90's. Cell phones need to catch up
i couldn't be happier! now i just need an iphone.
I think all the cell phone companies are caught up in the "We can charge as much as we want because they will pay for it anyway." I'm sure the couple billion dollar infrastructure can handle what we want.
I've got a $10 tracfone that I've put $20 of minutes into. I'm not even close to running out yet. Fuck smartphones.
This is why Sprint is the best carrier.
[editline]03:27AM[/editline]
And also why Android is so much better than iOS.
Saw this earlier, that kid deserves a medal.
I feel old with my prepaid card and the 15 € is use every two months or something.
[QUOTE=revrend_slapaho;23531339]Source: [url]http://gizmodo.com/5592521/how-a-guy-tricked-apple-with-a-disguised-iphone-tethering-app[/url]
:bravo:
Nice job kid.
Screw Apple and AT&T[/QUOTE]
Monopolyism is what's gonna kill the iphone eventually, people will get tired of this crap and something better will come out.
[QUOTE=Arrows;23534391]Monopolyism is what's gonna kill the iphone eventually, people will get tired of this crap and something better will come out.[/QUOTE]
How is Apple an monopoly on the smart phone market considering every phone company on earth seems to be shitting out new smart phones every other week.
I bought this app because my friend suggested it to me. BEST. APP. EVER.
Just plug your iPhone into your PC's power so you have constant battery replenishment, and go wherever with your Laptop. It works perfectly.
Does it work with the ipod touch?
hahah, good job kid :smile:
[editline]05:59PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Niko Bellic;23534524]Does it work with the ipod touch?[/QUOTE]
Touch's dont have internet do they?
Mobile style, MMS or whatever it is..
I bought it when it came out because my dad needed a light on his Iphone...
But now it seems cooler
Those people that have the app are so lucky.
What, I read it and I still don't understand.
[QUOTE=KillerSlash;23539779]What, I read it and I still don't understand.[/QUOTE]
The iphone can be used to surf with your laptop on 3g.
[QUOTE=Niko Bellic;23534524]Does it work with the ipod touch?[/QUOTE]
you can't get 3G internet on a touch so no
it might work on an 3G iPad though
So Apple want you to get charged for something that is possible with the right software anyway?
That kid's awesome. I'd send him a present if I knew how.
Which is why Verizon is the best carrier.
Anyone got the code for this? I mean, I will make an app to do this with some crap function like an iPhone 4 flashlight and market it.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.