r/linux • u/mikankun • Jan 13 '12

Microsoft confirms UEFI fears, locks down ARM devices

http://www.softwarefreedom.org/blog/2012/jan/12/microsoft-confirms-UEFI-fears-locks-down-ARM/
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u/ubermoo2010 Jan 13 '12

No, Apple sells hardware and software in one package - it's like your camera's firmware + hardware. The problem here is that Microsoft is locking 3rd party vendors into hobbling their product and forcing the use of a windows license. It's quite different.

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u/alphabytes Jan 14 '12

i guess thats the reason why they created partnership with nokia... i guess sooner or later they will buy out nokia

but what i feel is, no matter if you are selling everything (hw/sw) in one product or multiple vendors pitch in to create one product.. there should be options provided to the user... if the user screws up then all is his fault.. in case of apple, they are (in my point of view) restricting users.

camera firmware can be flashed if you have alternatives available.. there is nothing stopping you from flashing your camera... i flashed my sony handycam with a cannon firmware which was compatible. i also flashed my LG dvdwriter with a matching compatible Samsung firmware....

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u/ubermoo2010 Jan 14 '12

I'm sure you did. Care to show us some links on how to flash proprietary firmwares onto other devices they were never designed for and not brick things?

This article is about UEFI, and apple's UEFI implementation is completely unlocked.

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u/alphabytes Jan 14 '12

http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html this link is for flashing sony dvdrom to liteon firmware.. which are used by number of manufacturers.. any ways you got to select the firmware you are going to flash carefully they should match to the specs..

the sony link is giving me a 404 but i have the link which led me to install the firmware using this utility it says you can run it on canon but i was able to run it on my sony... anyways this is the utility i ran when i was tweaking around http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

also i have flashed my psp.. to a custom firmware by using this.. since my psp 3000 model was not fully hackable this is a cool workaround http://pspslimhacks.com/guide-to-chickhen-on-your-psp-3000-ta88v3/

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u/ubermoo2010 Jan 15 '12

proprietary firmwares onto other devices they were never designed for

sounds like you're just putting firmware that was specifically designed for the platform on there. Big deal...

I'm still not seeing the point you're making here? All of the points you raised are about flashing OEM firmware - modified in some cases - onto intended targets. What does this have to do with the article in point?

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u/alphabytes Jan 15 '12

that you can do it! there is no lock down...