Apple blocks iPhone jailbreaking with modified boot ROM

Anyone looking to buy an iPhone for jailbreaking may be out of luck until a new exploit can be found. iClarified and many other sites are reporting that new (shipping since last week) iPhones have an updated Boot ROM that is no longer vulnerable to the 24kpwn exploit used to jailbreak the 3GS.

Macrumors speculates that the block on jailbreaking may be linked to software piracy on jailbroken iPhones. While there are genuine reasons for jailbreaking and unlocking, the continued piracy of cheap apps isn’t going to help the cause. Ripping off apps that cost only a few dollars/pounds is just hurting the developers that make the iPhone such a great platform.

Jailbreaking iPhone 3.1.2

With the release of the iPhone Dev Team’s PwnageTool 3.1.4 it is now possible to jailbreak everything but the iPod touch 3rd generation on the Macintosh. Blackra1n for Windows is available to jailbreak any 3.1.2 device including the iPod Touch 3rd generation, so your choice is governed by your platform or device.

I tested PwnageTool 3.1.4 this morning and it worked flawlessly with my 3GS. The previous 3.1.3 version for jailbreaking 3.1 had caused me big problems with the phone being unable to connect to the network after installing the modified ipsw. Luckily I had a version 3.0 ECID SHSH on file with Cydia so it was possible (if convoluted) to restore back to 3.0 and try again. Second time round upgrading to the modified 3.1 worked fine, and I have been unable to figure out what went wrong the first time.

Redsn0w 0.8 with iPhone 3GS

The iPhone Dev Team released version 0.8 of Redsn0w recently, adding compatibility with the latest iPhone 3GS hardware running firmware 3.0. I had previously jailbroken my 3GS using purplera1n but couldn’t pass an opportunity to play with the latest method. Below is a video for anyone thinking of trying the jailbreak but unsure of what is involved. It’s fairly straightforward, the only bit that requires manual intervention is putting the iPhone into recovery mode and even that is guided by the app. Another top tool from the iPhone Dev Team, many thanks for their continued work. Click the HD button to go to Vimeo and watch or download the full size version (bottom right corner of the page).

iPhone 3GS jailbreak tested

The iPhone Dev Team have commented in recent blog posts that although they have a working 3GS jailbreak, they are planning to wait for the 3.1 update to be issued before releasing it. Without getting into the politics of the situation, hacker George Hotz has decided to release a beta jailbreak app without waiting for the next software update. Please remember this is a beta release so may do horrible things to your shiny new iPhone. I took the risk since I’m a daring blogger (or an idiot, never quite sure which)

iPod Touch 1st Gen to iPhone 3GS

For the past (almost) two years I have used my iPod Touch every day as a web browser. email client, PDA, eBook reader and even a music and video player. It’s been reliable, flexible and even better once jailbroken. As a computer user who’s experiences started with a one kilobyte ZX81 29 years ago I have never ceased to be amazed at what such a small package could do. Even after all this time I still turn it sideways and wonder how so much power can fit in such a thin case. Just like most of the iPod’s that came before it, the Touch will be remembered as a design classic.

The one thing I have missed all this time was a permanent net connection. The iPhone is an expensive proposition in the UK but I finally succumbed on Tuesday and visited the Apple store at Lakeside Thurrock intent on a 32Gb 3GS. I had initially been contemplating a pay as you go contract for an eye watering £540. This initially sounded a good deal, you put £10 a month credit on the phone and get 500 free minutes. Unfortunately these free minutes are only to other O2 phones and landlines, so it’s not quite as good as it initially sounded.

PwnageTool 3 released

Following hot on the heels of Apple’s firmware 3 for iPhone and iPod Touch is the release of PwnageTool 3 to jailbreak some of those devices. Available for Mac only at the moment, this software is capable of jailbreaking the iPhone 2G and first generation iPod Touch, as well as unlocking the iPhone 2G for any network. Support for later devices will follow soon with QuickPwn.

It’s worth mentioning that PwnageTool wiped my iPod Touch when I used it, where upgrading to firmware 3 using iTunes will leave the content on the iPod. This meant a long sync after using PwnageTool to replace all the music/video/photo’s. Not a problem, just remember to sync your iPhone/iPod using iTunes before upgrading to firmware 3 or using PwnageTool to create a custom firmware.

As ever, thanks to the iPhone Dev Team for their continued hard work bringing us the option to jailbreak and unlock our iDevices. Below is a video walkthrough, click on Read the rest of this entry for a screenshot gallery.

iPhone/iPod 2.2.1 Update

Apple has released an update for the iPhone and iPod Touch to firmware 2.2.1. This looks to be a bugfix release with no new features, and the iPhone Dev Team has upgraded their QuickPwn and Pwnage tools to handle the new firmware. Read the release notes at the Dev Team Blog before upgrading as their recommendation is to NOT use QuickPwn with a 2.2 iPhone 3G if you want to continue using it unlocked.

Quickpwn Tool 2.2 for Mac screenshots

Where Pwnage tool creates a custom firmware image to send to your iDevice, Quickpwn modifies a standard firmware install that is already there. Before starting Quickpwn you need to udpate to the new firmware using iTunes. The Quickpwn process is quite simple, the screenshots below show the steps and it even walks you through getting the device into DFU mode. The last three images are photo’s of my iPod during the install which continues on the iDevice once Quickpwn has finished.

Pwnage Tool 2.2 for Mac screenshots

Pwnage tool 2.2 supporting iPhone and iPod Touch firmware 2.2 was released late last night, and I have now had a chance to try it out. Nothing much different to the previous version, so here is a screenshot gallery of the process for anyone who hasn’t taken the plunge yet. It’s not quite as easy to use as Quickpwn as you have to manually put the iDevice into DFU mode then use iTunes to restore the package that Quickpwn makes. There are plenty of guides on the net for anyone needing guidance, so I won’t repeat it here.

iPhone/iPod 2.2 Jailbreak now available

The iPhone Dev Team have updates their QuickPwn tool for Windows/Mac and Pwnage tool for Mac to support the latest 2.2 firmware. Full details and bittorrent download links are available from their blog, the software is also showing up on several other bittorrent sites. Before charging in I would recommend reading the post at the iPhone Dev Team site as there is a lengthy guide to which version you should use for each iDevice. Both versions have just arrived at Basshead Towers so I’ll be trying them out and posting some screenshots as soon as I finish typing.

Once again thanks to the iPhone Dev Team for their continued support of the jailbreak community, and hopefully certain news web sites will be a bit more positive this time around.