Greg In The Desert

F-Secure makes anti-virus software. F-Secure would like you to be afraid of computer viruses so you will buy their software. In the case of the iPhone there are reports of Viruses only for iPhones that have been jailbroken, or modified in such a way that any software can be installed.

“Apple hasn’t been too interested in developing antivirus solutions for the iPhone, because there are no viruses, which of course, isn’t exactly true.”

He said that recent worm outbreaks targeted jail-broken iPhones, and suggested that Apple wasn’t interested in protecting these, as it didn’t approve of jail-breaking to begin with.

“So our recommendation is to avoid jail-broken phones, because it will weaken the security of a phone, whether the iPhone or any other device,” he said.

Apple doesn’t want you to Jailbreak, F-Secure doesn’t think it’s a good idea. But yet, they still want you to be scared.

“Apple is doing a good job of keeping everything in its own hands, but the fact of the matter is that if you are an end customer who bought an application not from the app store, something could happen,” he said.

I don’t completely agree with Apple’s review process for application on the iPhone but they are doing what they intended. I feel pretty confined that no one will access my iPhone without my knowledge. Perhaps the solution for F-Secure is to sell software for jailbroken iPhones through Cydia.

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Now I have an excuse to jailbreak my iPhone again. Mini vMac is a Mac Plus emulator originally for OSX that has been ported to work for the iPhone. The software emulates a 4MB Mac Plus, Full screen or scrolling, Full simulated keyboard and Sound. You will need to have a Mac Plus around to get the ROM image from.

16GB iPhones released today. Took Apple long enough. If the retail Apple Stores have them, I will be buying one today.

Update 10:15 am: I was at the Chandler fashion mall Apple Store at 10am. They had them but had not processed them yet. They said come back in a 1.5 – 2 hours.

Update 02/06/08 6:19 am: I got the phone yesterday and have been playing with it all day. I was especially impressed with the box. The whole process of setting up an account and transferring the phone number from T-mobile was a terrific experience (I assume T-mobile will automatically cancel my account?) Yes, i know this is old news. I’m late to the iPhone game after all.

I have 3.61 GB left, therefore I was right in thinking I needed to wait. I’ve also watched some video podcasts which I didn’t think I would do much of. Maybe I should have waited for the 32GB iPhone?

Apple had some interesting announcements for the ipod and iPhone today. I know a lot of people who bought 8GB iPhones are pissed at the price drop. I don’t have any sympathy for you. I bought the iPod Photo for $599, only to have the iPod Video released a few months later $200 cheaper.

8GB wasn’t enough memory for me, so I didn’t buy. I’m patiently waiting for a iPhone with more memory. I’m surprised that there is a iPod touch with 16GB, but the iPhone is only available with 8GB. Could a iPhone 16GB be too far away?

People living in Madrid, NM have prevented AT&T (formerly Cingular) from building a cell tower on a ridge overlooking the town. AT&T is, of course, the provider of the Apple iPhone. Personally i’d rather see Madrid get some public toilets before they worry about the cell towers.

They don’t seem like the iPhone types anyhow.