Jailbreaking iOS 4.3.1 with PwnageTool 4.3

PwnageTool and Redsn0w have been updated, and both allow jailbreaking a range of iOS devices without tethering. This walk through covers PwnageTool 4.3, with another covering Redsn0w to follow. The main difference between the two apps is the method of jailbreaking. PwnageTool makes a custom Firmware file that iTunes puts onto the device. Redsn0w jailbreaks a device after iTunes has installed a standard Apple Firmware.

Before starting a jailbreak using PwnageTool or Redsn0w you need the correct firmware for your device. I used a great guide at iClarified that links to every iPhone firmware that has been released. My iPhone is a 3GS so the firmware I wanted was the 4.3.1 (3GS): iPhone2,1_4.3.1_8G4_Restore.ipsw. Once downloaded and placed on my desktop I launched Pwnagetool 4.3.

iTunes updated to version 8.1

Apple has today released an update to iTunes. Version 8.1 boasts several new features on top of the usual bug fixes, including importing CD’s at iTunes Plus quality (AAC, 256kbps) and Genius for Movies and TV shows. The best improvement for me so far has been the speed boost. iTunes now loads faster and syncing with my 1st Gen iPod Touch is noticeably quicker.

Also updated are Front Row and the iPhone/iPod iTunes remote adding iTunes 8.1 compatibility.

Is Apple going DRM free?

The biggest rumour of the day is that Apple will start offering music from all the major labels DRM free. Lots of sites are claiming this will start today, but Greg Sandoval of Cnet says the claims are bogus. That’s a shame, as the Amazon MP3 store has recently opened in the UK offering DRM free MP3 singles from 59p and albums from £3. I bought one for Mrs Basshead at the weekend and used Amazon’s download software to get a chart album in under a minute. This was one of the £3 albums in 256kbps MP3 format. Nice to see the download software is available for Mac and Linux as well as Windows.

Looks like Apple need to get their store in order pretty quick or Amazon and others are going to start clawing back part of the music download market.

iTunes 8 blocks jailbreaking (for now)

There’s a very interesting post at the iPhone Dev Team blog today, concerning iTunes 8 blocking the current Pwnage process. It appears that Apple is taking steps to prevent owners jailbreaking their devices by blocking the use of modified IPSW files. The Dev Team already have a patch available to allow iTunes 8 on a Mac to jailbreak an iPod Touch, and all the other combinations are expected in the next week. Once again, thanks to the iPhone Dev Team for their continued work in freeing our devices.

Engadget have covered this news today and are asking how relevant jailbreaking is now, with the wider availability of the 3G iPhone and useful software in the App Store. I guess the real question here is do we want an appliance or a pocket computer? I never had a problem with previous iPod’s being a locked system where you bought the device and it did what the box said. The iPod Touch and iPhone are different beasts (since they run Mac OS), and I want to be able to access the file system. There is so much potential in these devices that it seems a shame to lock them down and restrict their use to what Apple decides and approves. I want to theme my iPod. I want to browse the filesystem and see how it works. I want the option of using any app I choose. And most important, I want textReader for my eBook fix.

And while I’m mentioning Engadget, wasn’t that Apple special event coverage on Tuesday just a bit too sarcastic?

iTunes 8 genius feature screenshots

The biggest new feature of iTunes 8 is the genius, which works like online services Pandora and LastFM to recommend similar music in the iTunes store, and create smart playlists using the songs you already have. iTunes 8 is a 58.4Mb download available now from the Apple website or through Software Update.