Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

It seems that Microsoft

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/18/w...roid-with-its/

Apple, of course

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/11/j...s-kill-switch/

and now, shockingly google

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/25/g...witch-for-the/


All seem to reserve the right to remotely 'clean up' your phone. Does this seem like a little bit of a slippery slope to anyone else?

I don't see any way that Nokia would have this capability right now, but who knows if the ovi store ever gets really full

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

How do we know there isn't one? ;)
But seriously, with all the confusion i see at nokia hq, they have bigger problems

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

Eesh, I hope if there is one that they would give us the option to turn it off. I'll decide whether I want an app removed or not.

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

Well if MeeGo takes off like I hope, we can always produce a community build that omits any sort of "remote kill" switch :)

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

This is ridiculous.
If I buy a device, why don't I have the right to do with it what I want?

Seriously. If I buy a product, don't I have the right to do so?

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

I expect once we get proper DRM (probably on the next device), then kill switches could be implemented.

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

Considering Nokia planned for the next Maemo (now Meego) to have DRM. I don't think we could easily. Apparantly the choice was to be..

DRM mode (limited configurations)

Non-DRM mode (as a result, no access to DRMed apps) but full configuration.

Sadly, no middle ground (unless you pirate the DRM apps for Non-DRM use).

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

This is one reason I like the N900. I worried they'd add this in the PR1.2 firmware, which is why I keep copies of the older firmware around. Worst case we can always revert vai re-load of the base image.

Mind you, all three have only used it for removing apps that had/were malware (Google used it against a banking app written by a phisher that was not affiliated with the bank in question, for example). But the fact that it exists, and isn't blockable, would be enough to make me twitchy if I owned one of these.

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

I'm aware of that. And like I said, a community release can ensure it is stripped. I fully intend on running in a no-DRM mode for all of my devices, and any developer who demands I give up control of my device can go stuff it ;)

Re: Nokia only manufacturer without 'kill switch'?
 

Heh.. this is "Freedom #1!!!!11" talk allover again... but unless we can help Nokia police the pirates, then DRM is the best 'defense' they have.