Hack Standstill

[JeremyMiller]

Are we kind of just treading water now? As far as the hacks go, it's been a while and no one's really been talking. Shouldn't you guys be done with finals yet?!
Chip Chop Chip!

[ZunePet]

THE PROBLEM:
The Zune bootup sequence includes a check to make sure the image is an official one from Microsoft.
It is digitally signed using Microsoft's private keys to prevent you from replacing it with an un-authorized version.
The other parts in the Flash ROM are also digitally signed (so it isn't easy to patch them to disable the check)

There may be holes in their update mechanism or other checks, but that is unlikely (since this is using age-old WinCE technology).
Even so, if a software hole is found, a simple firmware update can close the holes (see all the PSP holes that have been patched, in that case the PSP operating system was relatively new code)

Cracking digital signatures is possible with various techniques, but unrealistic (it can take years with distributed computing)
Without a hardware mod, the Zune may be a tough nut to crack.

Of course the ideal situtation would be for Microsoft to publish an API to the Zune device so people could write Zune addin games and apps, like you can on PDAs that run versions of WinCE (PocketPC/MobilePC). Even better if they would open it up as a special WinCE platform, we could reuse all the existing WinCE programs (Eg: web browsers, Word document viewers, ...). Someone would have to adapt them to the limited Zune input, but that's easy compared to the other problems.
However that won't happen, not due to any technical limitations of the Zune. It is a music and movie player with limited codecs and one user interface. Microsoft wants it to stay that way.

[J$]

So with that, who else wants to sell their zune now? :'(
I bought this because of the huge potential. Apperantly ms is blocking that potential.

[lpxxfaintxx]

I wouldn't give up hope just yet. Give it a year, see what happens.

[micromartyaka]

Originally Posted by lpxxfaintxx

I wouldn't give up hope just yet. Give it a year, see what happens.

Yeah, iPod Linux didn't happen right after it's first gen release.

[Pierce28]

Remember: The Zune guys said they were looking into games on the Zune.



Why not open it then to allow users to make their own games? And if we have the power to do that... who says we have to make a game?

[Mistafied]

I think it is this..

http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsmed...s/default.aspx

[UnderCover]

I don't know if any of you are into the Xbox, but the same thing happened there. The 360 could be tricked into booting flash/shockwave games from a CD-R, as soon as Microsoft found out it was vulnerable to this "trick" they shut it down with the next update. BAHHUMBUG! Bill Gates is a control freak, and that is why they are fighting this.

[DUI_]

The problem with most of the hacks is the auto update. MS will fix the bugs/hacks with each update. So it is a never ending battle. Until we get the OS hack done, every hack will be temporary.

[Artanix]

Just wait, more hacks will come with time.

[hackerx4]

Originally Posted by DUI

The problem with most of the hacks is the auto update. MS will fix the bugs/hacks with each update. So it is a never ending battle. Until we get the OS hack done, every hack will be temporary.

Aye but if you don't update your firmware then you will still be able to use the hacks...