This week in the magazine, I write about George Hotz, who hacked the iPhone when he was seventeen, and, for his next act, figured out how to break into the supposedly ultra-secure PlayStation 3. Here are some of the YouTube clips of Hotz that are mentioned in the piece, starting with Hotz's appearance on “The Today Show,” in 2004, after reaching the finals of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.
**
“The Today Show”
**
Unlocked iPhone
In 2007, Hotz became the first person to jailbreak, or “unlock,” his iPhone so that it could work with carriers besides the then-exclusive A.T. & T. Hotz took to YouTube shortly after his feat to announce what he had done. Yes, that’s his parent’s kitchen in New Jersey.
**
CNBC Interview with George Hotz
Erin Burnett’s interview with Hotz about his iPhone hack. She proposes a mano-a-mano chat with Steve Jobs. Hotz accepts.
**
Steve Jobs on iPhone Hacking
Steve Jobs and Apple never got in touch with Hotz, but Jobs did answer a question about iPhone hacks shortly after the jailbreak occurred.
**
G4: Jailbreaking with George Hotz
Shortly after hacking the PS3, Hotz appeared on “Attack of the Show” on G4 to discuss both his jailbreak and, as he says, “making Sony mad.”
**
Anonymous Message to Sony
When the hacker group Anonymous rallied to Hotz’s defense, they posted a series of videos online, including this one. The Guy Fawkes mask shown in the clip has been adopted by Anonymous as a symbol, and was taken from the film “V for Vendetta.”
**
The Light It Up Contest
Hotz, a fan of Eminem, wrote this hip-hop song after being sued by Sony. He recorded it in his bedroom in New Jersey, and concludes by challenging Sony: “Exhibit this in the courtroom / Go on, do it, I dare you.”
**
Light It Up (Live)
In April, 2012, Hotz went to Belgrade, where he had been invited to speak at the Share2Conference, a convention on Internet activism and social change. Hotz entertained the crowd with a live performance of “Light It Up,” and wore a blazer for the occasion.
