Jailbreakers have the ability to run a homegrown version of Siri on unsupported iOS devices, and it appears that Apple doesn’t like it. According to mixed reports, a large amount of unsupported Siri users are now unable to use Siri. Has Apple stepped up its game, or is this merely a routine update to the spunky digital assistant?
iDownloadBlog says that Apple has added a “SetActivationToken” requirement for Siri to function properly. According to the report, Siri server users on Twitter are claiming that deleting the com.apple.assistant.plist file located in the jaibroken iOS device’s var/mobile/Library/Preferences/ folder fixes the issue.
Because the problem can be fixed so easy, it’s unclear as to whether this is a direct attack by Apple on non-4S Siri users. It could be a coincidence that this new token blocks unsupported access. To get Siri up and running on a non-4S device, jailbreakers must install Spire and set up their own SiriProxy server. The process isn’t for the faint of heart, and the number of unofficial Siri users can’t be too high. We’re hoping that Apple has bigger fish to fry, and that this added Siri token is something for the iPad 3.
Let us know if your Siri sever isn’t working anymore, and if the fix mentioned above worked.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
14 responses to “Apple Flips Kill Switch On Non-iPhone 4S Siri Users?”
It’s more likely to be just a token for information purposes or for *future* attempts at shutting down illegal access to Siri. Â
It might be nice if you mentioned once in the entire article here that this access *is* ILLEGAL and that using Apple’s services for a product that they don’t support and thus don’t build in the service support for is in fact, THEFT. Â
People like to see conspiracies everywhere. Â I am willing to be a lot that Apple is just updating Siri to tighten security, without specific targets in mind other than general unauthorized use.
quit your whiningÂ
It’ll be re-jailbroken in a week
He makes a great point. Go home, troll.
As I’ve stated before, not true. It’s illegal to distribute Siri publicly, not to use it on your owned iDevice (no matter the generation or model).
He’s incorrect. So he doesn’t actually make a good point.
Let me tell you – I’ve said this before. Apple allows jail breaking secretly. They know the importance of tweakers and modders in the community.
If Apple “secretly allows jailbreaking” then why does every single iOS update attempt to patch the vulnerabilities to do such thing? Whether they allow it or not, using software on an unsupported device is unlawful and he, in fact, makes a good point.
Let me tell you – I’ve said this before. Go home troll.
One can make the argument that software which allows an unsupported device to access software that it shouldn’t be running is a form of distribution and is unlawful.
I don’t think so. Not every patch fills the jailbreak security holes.
One can also ease up and relax about it. You and Peabody are too upright even for iSheep.
This is happening only because Siri’s performance has been mediocre at best. Apple needs all the server resources it can (legally) get.
I don’t understand how this is news..unauthorized use of ANYTHING is unlawful and companies will do everything they can to stop illegal access. If you want Siri, THEN BUY A 4S!
somebody please shut Professor Peabrain up