Between A Rock And A Hard Place: The War On ROMs
Again…let me tell you how astonished, humbled, and amazed at how many of you got real, tangible value out of the talk on Mobility I delivered in New Orleans this weekend.
I appreciate EVERYONE who has already filled out the Mobility Survey. I will be responding to each of you individually about your awesome awesome comments. that’s least I can do for the amazing outpouring of support this community has show to me over the years, and to the ideas I have about Mobility.
I’m worried though, that one of my answers during the Q&A session might not have been as clear as it should have been. I’d like to get the chance to clarify it now for both those who were there, and even folks who were not there. It’s a VERY common question, that comes up all the time in the Mobile world, and is a complex, frustrating, and bothersome issue, as it veers in the very real and nasty world of software piracy.
Let’s start with the question. A gentleman in the audience asked if I would explain how he could get Windows Mobile 6.1 for his device, even tho it’s not slated for a release. He knew that there were unofficial sources out there, but wanted some guidance how to do it, the tools needed, the best sources, and how to avoid destroying his device.
I will tell you…I was taken aback. Here’s why. I will state this in no uncertain terms…
When ANYONE uses an unofficial ROM update to upgrade their device, they are…at best, risking rendering their device useless (bricking it) or exposing themselves to embedded data exploits. However, even if those don’t happen, ANYONE who uses an unofficial ROM update it committing SOFTWARE PIRACY!
Seriously. No different than grabbing a copy of SBS 2003 or 2008 off a warez site.
So…this person was asking me to tell an assembly of roughly 200 SMB IT pros how to commit illegal software piracy, while at the same time potentially giving them information that could destroy their devices, or expose them to hidden data exploits they might never know about.
Not only that…but everything I was saying was being recorded, by a professional audio and video crews being paid by Microsoft, to create videos that may be rebroadcast on the Microsoft Partner site.
If I seemed nervous, I was. I was trying to pick my words very carefully. My first reaction was to simply say…
DON’T DO IT! DON’T THINK ABOUT IT! IT’S NOT WORTH THE RISK! NO WAY!
I didn’t say that.
What I did was hold up my personal mobile device, a Palm Treo 750. I did not use it for the WM 6.1 demo at all, on purpose. I used Microsoft Device Emulator running Windows Mobile 6.1 images. Which is not only free, but an official tool. I talked about how this is the best way to learn for everyone, etc.
I did say tho…that my Treo was running Windows Mobile 6.1 and that it was a pirate build. That I do NOT have direct access to the Windows Mobile team, nor any mobile operators. So that ROm came from an unofficial source.
However, I have vowed to never ever EVER disseminate, distribute, or otherwise give out information to anyone about how to find, use, or otherwise commit software piracy with pirate ROMS.
Think of this like…the War On Drugs. We’ll call it The War On ROMs.
If I get a pirate ROM for personal use and use it, then I’m roughly the equivalent of someone busted possession. Most times…nobody does much of anything.
But if I am directly involved in the distribution, dissemination, and the use of pirate ROMs, then I am the equivalent of a drug dealer. And that’s some seriously bad juju.
Let me ask this question…
How many of you help your clients commit software piracy on their PCs? Do you load warez or illegal OEM copies of Windows, Office, or other software for them?
I hope not. I sure don’t.
In fact, as Running Antelope says…
You Are Mr. Super Straight Arrow About Software Licensing
So much so that even in our own house, we follow software licensing to the letter. Because as I understand it, if I commit, or help commit software piracy, MS has the right to revoke all my certifications, everything.
Basically all the knowledge and certification equity I have worked so hard to build my entire 14 year IT career.
All because someone at a conference wants to use pirate ROMs.
[EDITED: Ending removed on the advice of people much smarter than me. Thank you Susan! Thank you Mark!]
|| posted by chris under clueless, community, hardware, it pro, kma, mobility, opinion, thumbs down || || ||
This is very interesting because just a couple of weeks ago I basically asked the same thing of you and got the same answer here on this blog. Initially, I was somewhat disappointed as this is something I wanted to attempt on my phone. But, by the next day I came to the realization you were right and I was wrong. I read your blog every day. Matter of fact it is the only one that I check daily as mobility is something I want to get more involved in and you have really given me a lot of insight of what can be accomplished with it. Never once have I seen you deny helping someone who had a true and genuine need for help and I know when a day comes where I need such help I could turn to you for guidance.
comment by Brad — May 13, 2008 @ 11:10 pm
@ Brad…
You do not KNOW how much your comment means to me. If you are planning on going to any tech/SMB conferences this year…let me know and we’ll arrange a meet. I am buying you a beer or 3 as thanks.
Seriously man…I needed to hear that in the worst way.
comment by chris — May 13, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Chris - stick to your guns. I follow the same policy exactly. If we don’t have our integrity - then what are we left with?
Regards,
Allen (700p)
comment by Allen Miller — May 13, 2008 @ 11:39 pm
come one guys, you know that meddling with cooked ROMs from online forums and sites is definitely not supported. It’s great that the community provide these ROMs, some really needed, some just plain silly.
As usual, Microsoft will not support the use of cooked ROMs, use at your own risk. nobody will help you unbrick them either.
That said, we understand the issue that everyone is facing here. We all need to have our OS updated from time to time, have the ability to upgrade minor version changes and provide a migration upgrade to a major version release. similar to what we do on the desktop. trust me, we want the same thing too.
Issue is how we build and ship ROMs. When we’re done with a ROM, we ship a vanilla ROM image to our OEMs, who will then pile on their custom drivers (for custom hardware) and additional software and build a BSP image for their target hardware. Once they’re done, they ship that image to Operators or Retail distributors who will then pile on additional software (sometimes called bloatware) for providing additional value added services to customers).
This whole entire process can take anywhere from 6months to a year. That’s why actual devices ship much later after the announcement is made.
So looking at this release chain, everytime we make an update to the OS, we have to follow the chain of events by shipping changes to OEMs, who would need to test/make changes to their customizations, the ship to Operators who will do the same.
That takes time, resources and money. Operators and OEMs need valid commercial reasons to provide this upgrade.
Moving forward, we’d like to be able to provide OS updates as we wish but yet be able to support OEMs and operators as well. Let me know if you have any suggestions as to how this should be handled.
comment by Loke Uei — May 13, 2008 @ 11:47 pm
@ Loke Uei…
Hey man, THANKS THANKS THANKS for posting that. I definitely learned a couple of new things about the entirety of the Windows Mobile dev process that didn’t know about. Redmond, July. Beer on me!
@ Everyone…
For those who don’t know who Loke Uei is, besides have one of the coolest looking names on the planet, he is a Program Manager with the Windows Mobile team. He graciously allows me to stalk him, bugging him from time to time about WM stuff.
comment by chris — May 14, 2008 @ 12:15 am
[…] original here: Between A Rock And A Hard Place: The War On ROMs Tags: clueless, funboard, funcave, hardware, it-pro, microsoft, mobility, opinion, piracy, […]
pingback by Between A Rock And A Hard Place: The War On ROMs | Software Piracy Update — May 14, 2008 @ 3:03 am
I’ll echo Brad’s comments a bit. I’ve seen some things posted here that really stirred my interest, especially when we both had the same device, that made me consider asking you how you were able to do some things with ROMs, etc. since we’ve gotten to know each other a bit in the last few years.
Then I stopped myself and realized it wasn’t fair to ask you about it, if I’m the technologist I think I am and am willing to do some unsupported things with my own device, well, that’s on me to find and figure out how to do it and not put a friend in an awkward position.
To answer the direct question, “No”.
I “knew” you through this blog before we ever met in person, and I’ve never read anything that I thought had any kind of smug or elitist tone to it - in fact just the opposite, you’re always quick to praise others and humble in your personal assessments.
I’d go back to my comments above: If someone wants to do something questionable on their own time to their own stuff, figure it out on your own, but don’t ask someone else to be an accomplice as such, especially in a public forum. And if others took your refusal to directly answer the question as being holier-than-thou, then hopefully they just didn’t understand your reasoning and will read this and realize they’re wrong, or they’re probably someone who hasn’t or won’t work as hard as you to achieve the personal and professional successes you have and is one of those people who always take shots at those who’ve achieved more to make themselves feel better.
No need to buy me beer, but I’d love to share one with you next chance we get!
comment by Jason Leib — May 14, 2008 @ 6:05 am
And FYI, I posted all of the above BEFORE I saw you quoted me in your next post!
comment by Jason Leib — May 14, 2008 @ 6:08 am
Chris,
I don’t understand how a guy that uses classic comic book exclamations in mid sentence can be seen as elitist. Being an MVP isn’t as easy as one would think. Knowing and doing in advance I suppose does have some elitist qualities but as an MVP you are recognized as a leader. It probably would have been best not to mention your cellphone but you did say it was illegal. I think that’s enough. It was illegal for you and it would have been illegal for them too.
I have the exact same policy on software piracy. Zero tolerance. When we encounter a client that doesn’t have legal licesning…if it is already installed we’ll support it but we won’t install it. And we won’t work with a client that isn’t interested in getting legal.
I also wouldn’t hire a anyone that was running illegal software at home. There’s simply no reason.
I think you did the right thing.
comment by Amy B — May 14, 2008 @ 6:15 am
Chris,
I think you handled it well at the SBSMigration conference. I totally understood your point and didn’t realize the person asking the question did not. As others have stated above, we don’t condone piracy with our customers. We will help them get legal, and if they don’t, we stop working with them. Period. Zero Tolerance Policy. Like you, I don’t want to lose my credentials over something easy to correct. Sometimes, wearing the MVP mantle can wear on you
Kevin
comment by Kevin Royalty — May 14, 2008 @ 6:39 am
whoever those two people who came after you making those comments should be put in the “chair” and see how they would have answered it with Microsoft listening. FACT: if MVP’s didn’t check out these ROM’s (my UTstarcom won’t even support WM6 (now that’s another subject)then how do we provide vision, warning and guidance to people like the man in the audience.
Chris “The Snotty Know It All Look Down On You Cause You Are Lowly” dude. AHAHAHAHHAHHAH you’re kidding right? More people should be as honest, smart and community minded as Chris and I’m talking also real community!!!!!!!! Like helping less fortunate, disabled and challenged people as well as enivornmentally minded.
Those two people missed the point and need to get to know the real Chris. Sad to see people like Chris being crucified for trying to help people and not lose their business. Its not funny.
My guess is one of those gus is a very well respected MVP and I think that person didn’t sit back and think about it or he/she would have not bothered saying anythng at all.
comment by Liz — May 14, 2008 @ 6:42 am
Chris - great article and it’s great that you got such a good explanation from Loke Uei Tan.
I have ‘known’ you for just a few weeks now, but I am very honored to be a new acqaintance.
Laura Rooke - MVP Mobile Devices
comment by Laura Rooke — May 14, 2008 @ 8:13 am
I absolutely agree with your position and the decision you made. It is better just to be the drug user and never cross the line into drug pusher/dealer.
On the other hand, how respectable is it to be *just* a drug user?
Let’s continue the analogy of software piracy = drug use and look at the whole picture.
You are a speaker presenting on the topic of marijuana and it’s benefits (it’s legal but only in rare instances). After discussing the topic at length, one of the participants asks, “You’ve convinced me, I’d like to get high as soon as possible, where can I get some drugs.” Immediately you find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You know that drugs (including marijuana) can really mess a person up and that there is no legal option that you can answer with. So you pull a stash of crack-cocaine out of your pocket and explain, “I am a user who likes to get high, but I’m not about to become a dealer or tell others how to commit such a crime.” Then you light your crack pipe and take a hit.
I think the better answer would have been to explain that the only legal option is to wait until its official release and keep your illegal warez to yourself.
Not that it would help your integrity more…a person of integrity does what is right even when nobody else is looking. So to install a pirate rom kills your integrity whether you advertise that fact or not.
So yes, I respect your decision and attitude to have “more” integrity by not pointing the way towards illegal software use. But I hope you can understand why you have lost some level of respect from some people.
comment by Daniel Koster — May 14, 2008 @ 8:16 am
@ Daniel…
You are totally and absolutely right.
There is no way the ends justifies the means.
I VERY much appreciate your wake-up call, because I needed it badly. I hope that an upcoming blog post will help make amends.
comment by chris — May 17, 2008 @ 2:37 am