4 ms·
> phones becoming nothing more than expensive bricks after 2-3 years due to lack of vendor support, coupled platform DRM that prevents re-use? I have repurpose
by mchahn 11y ago
> phones becoming nothing more than expensive bricks after 2-3 years due to lack of vendor support, coupled platform DRM that prevents re-use?
I have repurposed my old Samsung android phones around the house as displays on the walls. They all have the net connection shut down and I use the wifi. They all work great and I see no reason they won't work until the hardware dies.
I know this is only one data point. Can someone describe how other models of phones can become bricks?
Edit: People less weird than me can still use the phones like tablets are used without a radio connection.
- teacup50 11y ago> Can someone describe how other models of phones can become bricks? iPhone's have a fully DRM'd trust chain, starting with the bootloader, which is itself on-die and immutable. Installing a new OS image requires online activation with Apple's servers, which return public-key signed installation permission. Unless there's a vulnerability that allows jailbreak, you're not installing non-Apple-approved software on that device. That's the future of the fully centralized/cloud-based 'software iteration business model ... making inroads into the hardware market'
- mchahn 11y agoAh, I understand what you are saying now. Technically, not being able to install new software isn't bricked since you can still run the old. I only run the browser on my old phones so I didn't notice this.