Previously, I suggested that the conduct of the Apple computer company with regard to its iPhones may qualify it as the new evil empire. (Whereas Microsoft was the first.) Hackers had gleefully unlocked their new $499 iPhones from the AT&T deal and were able to install third-party programs, which irked Apple - they were hoping to make tons of money on the side with their exclusive AT&T deal. So with the release of its 1.1.1 firmware patch, Apple “bricked” those phones - turning them into expensive paperweights. That was round 2. Get ready for round 3 - the rebel hackers are fighting back.

CNET News reports that the new firmware patch has been beaten. Hackers have released videos and instructions on how to re-unlock bricked iPhones. No word yet what Emperor Steve Jobs will say on this matter.

To see some videos (and more of these cool pictures) go here.

To see instructions on how to un-brick or unlock your iPhones, while still getting the 1.1.1 patch, go here.

But wait, there’s more. In my previous post on this topic, I mused about whether or not owners of “bricked” iPhones could sue Apple over their attack on their legal unlocking of iPhones. Well, it turns out that some are going to try. Computerworld announced a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit against Apple.
It’s tricky business, because they are looking to prove that Apple illegally interfered with their right to unlock the iPhones. Apple is claiming that the “bricking” process was a side-effect of their goal to preserve security. But the hackers have countered that the claim that unlocking the iPhones “damages” the iPhone software is a cover-up. It seems to me that if they can go in the iPhone and edit the code to make their hacks work, they should be able to demonstrate whether or not the code inserted was intentionally designed to interfere with third-party applications and unlocking, or whether it is an unfortunate side-effect.

Whether or not that lawsuit will be successful, the hackers have fired back, with both blasters. Even if they manage to beat the lawsuit, I don’t think they’ll be able to continually keep the rebel modders from doing what they want with their expensive palm-sized computers. What Apple does next may determine whether they’re the rebels or the empire.