Nick Lee’s Flash Light iPhone application called Handy Light, looked like any other simple torch app on the iTunes store. But lurking behind the scenes in its code was a camouflaged tethering feature.
The hidden tethering code used the SOCKS proxy similar to that of the Netshare tethering application that was finally removed from the iTunes app store after a few intermittent appearances.
The Ingenious Hidden Feature
The Handy Light app allowed you to adjust a few network settings on your iPhone and then by selecting colours in the app in the correct order, enabled your iPhone to allow sharing of cellular internet connections with another wireless devices. This clever workaround essentially turned your iPhone into a mobile hotspot, a feature that was highly sought after but often restricted by mobile carriers. The app’s simplicity and the hidden functionality made it a unique tool for users who needed tethering capabilities without the extra cost.
The process to activate the tethering was not straightforward and required a bit of technical know-how. Users had to configure their iPhone’s network settings to use a SOCKS proxy, which is a protocol for handling internet traffic. Once the settings were adjusted, users could then follow a specific sequence of color selections within the Handy Light app to activate the tethering feature. This method was reminiscent of the Netshare app, which had faced similar issues with Apple’s App Store policies.
Impact and Removal
Unfortunately, the Handy Light app has now been removed from the Apple App Store but good try Nick. The app’s removal was inevitable once its hidden feature was discovered, as it violated Apple’s App Store guidelines and the terms set by mobile carriers. Despite its short-lived availability, Handy Light made a significant impact by highlighting the demand for affordable tethering solutions and the lengths to which developers and users would go to circumvent carrier restrictions.
Handy Light was available for a little time at only $0.99. A bargain when you think mobile providers charge near an additional $20 a month for a legitimate tethering feature on your iPhone. This stark price difference underscored the frustration many users felt towards the additional charges imposed by carriers for a feature that, in essence, utilized the same data plan they were already paying for. The app’s brief existence also sparked discussions about the fairness of such charges and the need for more transparent and user-friendly policies from both Apple and mobile carriers.
The story of Handy Light is a testament to the ingenuity of developers and the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between them and platform regulators. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of user demand in shaping the features and pricing models of mobile services. While Handy Light may no longer be available, its legacy lives on in the continued efforts of developers to create innovative solutions that empower users and challenge the status quo.
Via Wired
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