Steve Jobs recently confirmed that there exists a “kill switch” mechanism that can remotely strip already installed apps off iPhones all across the globe if Apple ever feels the need to go to this extreme. Presumably, this has been put in place as a last resort to protect users from malicious applications in case any of them slip through the App Store vetting process.
But Stephen Colbert, the host of The Colbert Show on Comedy Central, has an entirely different interpretation of the kill switch. Apparently, Steve Jobs is misleading the legions of iPhone users out there and the “kill switch” actually does what it says. Your iPhone can kill you!
“Steve Jobs claims the kill switch is just programming code that lets Apple remotely remove undesirable software,” Colbert said, “but he doesn’t call it a Remote Undesirable Software Removal Switch. Why? ’Cause that’s not what it does; it kills you!” There’s also some light hearted Zune bashing thrown in for good measure. Check out the embedded video below. In case it doesn’t work, you can watch the clip on Comedy Central’s official website.
[Via The iPod Observer]
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Does this even extend to patched iPhones? Well this is bad, this I don’t think was meant to de-activate malicious applications but NOT to allow people to install applications that don’t come through the App Store, like some Skype service or something. This is unfortunate. A little too much control IMO.
No, it has got nothing to do with jailbreak apps. It’s for those App Store apps that are very malicious and yet slip through the cracks somehow and make it onto customers’ phones. Only in an extreme case will Apple flip this switch. As soon as they do, the next time your phone connects to the Internet (through 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi, or via iTunes), the malicious app in question will immediately be completely removed, leaving no trace behind. If it was a paid one, you’ll automatically get a full refund.
Again, it’s strictly limited to App Store applications only. And I’m glad that something like this exists. Like Steve Jobs said, it would be irresponsible of them to not have such a precautionary measure in place.
haha.. hilarious!