11/03, 1:50pm
Utility supports hacktivation
Blackra1n coder George Hotz has released blacksn0w, a new jailbreaking utility that unlocks iPhone firmware v3.1.2 and the latest baseband v05.11.07. The tool now allows users to upgrade to v3.1.2 from older firmware without losing the unlock. The process also enables tethering, allowing the handset to be used as a computer-connected modem even on carriers, such as AT&T, that still block the function.
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09/09, 6:15pm
Apple prevents Palm Pre sync with latest iTunes
Apple has made sure to prevent Palm Pre owners from syncing their smartphones with the iTunes 9 update released Wednesday, according to several user reports posted on PreCentral's forums. The company has worked to prevent compatibility, starting with iTunes 8.2.1, after publishing a technical note warning users that third party phones would not be able to sync.
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04/02, 2:50am
Apple forbids jailbreaking
Apple is taking a more aggressive stance against developers who create apps for "jailbroken" iPhones. According to a new report, the Cupertino-based company recently updated its "iPhone Developer Program License Agreement" - the agreement to which all iPhone developers are required to adhere -- to explicitly disallow jailbreaking, assisting in jailbreaking, and developing and distributing jailbreak apps. The Ars Technica report says that while previous agreements forbade the creation of apps that violate privacy, facilitate crimes, or violate intellectual property laws, the new one restricts developers from jailbreaking their own phones.
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02/13, 5:10pm
Apple jailbreaking stance
Apple has publicly defined its legal stance on iPhone jailbreaking, arguing that it represents copyright infringement and a DMCA violation, in response to an exemption filing by the Electronic Frontier Foundation that was submitted to the Copyright Office as part of the 2009 DMCA triennial rulemaking. The foundation proposal asked for an exemption that would allow jailbreaking of iPhones or other handsets, effectively liberating the devices to run applications other than those obtained from Apple's own iTunes App Store.
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11/23, 7:30pm
QuickPWN v2.2 available
Just days after Apple released its iPhone 2.2 Software update, it has been jailbroken by QuickPWN.com's developer team. QuickPWN has released QuickPWN 2.2 for both Mac and Windows users, free to download from the website. The software allows users to jailbreak the iPhone or iPod touch updated to the latest v2.2.
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08/13, 11:15pm
Qik for iPhone 3G
After claiming plans for an iPhone version of its client, Qik on Wednesday unveiled a beta version of its live-stream video client for jailbroken iPhone handsets. Qik offers mobile device users access to internet video streaming over the cellular network, providing a simple, but effective, asset to investigative journalists, bloggers, or anyone else requiring a mobile video stream. Qik requires users to jailbreak their iPhone, although plans for an App Store release are currently being explored.
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07/19, 9:35pm
Pwnage Tool 2.0 released
On Saturday, iPhone Dev Team released its own utility to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone 3G, allowing users to access to the file system, to run third-party applications, and also unlock the device for use on any GSM network. The new Pwnage Tool 2.0 both jailbreaks and unlocks older iPhones as well as jailbreaks iPhone 3Gs and iPod Touches; it is designed for v2.0 firmware only, according to the brief announcement; however, a more full announcement is expected later. The free software featuring both 'simple' and 'expert' modes, patches the original Apple firmware/software download to allow users to install software and requires that users restore their iPhone using the patched IPSW file. The software appears to unlock original iPhones only and will not (yet?) unlock the iPhone 3G, which some other vendors have claimed to offer.
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07/15, 6:10pm
Software iPhone Jbreak?
The iPhone Dev Team says it had become the first to jailbreak an iPhone 3G. In a posting just a few hours ago on its blog, the group showed a picture of its "Pwnage Tool" jail-breaking software for the iPhone and iPod Touch with a new addition -- support for the 3G. The posting says "this is not a release announcement, but we are working hard," apparently on a final version of the software.
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06/13, 7:05pm
Ziphone unlock for 2.0
The Ziphone iPhone unlocking and jailbreaking application was revealed on Friday to support the new v2.0 iPhone OS, the final version of will ship next month. A post in the developer's blog reveals that the application enables support for the device on many international networks, including AT&T, Rogers and Fido in Canada, T-Mobile, Vodaphone, TIM, Claro, and many others. Ziphone is available for iPhone owners on either Mac OS or Windows.
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04/15, 1:40pm
VOIP, IM iPhone client
fring on Tuesday today became the latest VoIP application to be made publicly available for Apple's iPhone. The fring beta software, which requires a "jailbroken" iPhone (the company uses "opened" as its euphemism), enables users to talk, chat and interact with other fring users and all of their online communities, using their iPhone’s WiFi connection. A light, sneak preview R&D version of the popular mobile VoIP application, developed in conjunction with the Holon Institute of Technology academic research labs in Israel, is now available for use on the iPhone. According to the company, the pre-release version is designed to gather feedback from users; the final version is due for launch later this year.
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02/29, 6:10pm
iPhone 1.1.4 unlock guide
A Mac-only guide describing how to jailbreak Apple's iPhone 1.1.4 and SIM unlock the device has surfaced alongside a graphical user interface port of the Debian APT package management system for iPhone. The new guide, posted on IntoMobile, takes users step by step through the process of jailbreaking -- or gaining filesystem read/write access -- the iPhone and unlocking it for use with wireless carriers other than Apple's exclusive partners.
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02/27, 11:25pm
Jailbreak for iPhone 1.1.4
Hackers on Wednesday released the first publicly available "jailbreak" solution for version 1.1.4 of the iPhone software. A little more than 24 hours after the release of Apple's latest iPhone software, a group of coders have released iNdependence 1.4b5, a Cocoa-based application for Mac OS X that provides an easy-to-use interface for jailbreak, activation, SSH installation, and ringtone/wallpaper/application installation on the iPhone. The open-source software is available under GNU v2 license. Meanwhile, other reports indicate that at least one other jailbreak hack (with an older firmware) has survived the version 1.1.4 upgrade and yet another hacker has already successfully cracked a part of the latest firmware/software update. Next week, Apple is expected to announced, and likely release, the official SDK at the special iPhone SDK event in Cupertino. [click to read more]
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02/12, 9:50pm
iPhone 1.1.3 jailbreak
iPhone users who have upgraded to firmware version 1.1.3 now have a viable jailbreak option with iJailbreak 0.5.1, an update to iJailbreak 0.5 that was released this morning. This iPhone-only jailbreak allows users to open up an iPhone with v1.1.3 installed in order to implement custom applications and services. The jailbreak requires users to implement bootloader 4.6, and will not function with any other version.
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02/04, 9:10pm
iPhone roundup: Jailbreaks
In brief: Hack that Phone has released a technical note describing the process of jailbreaking as well as maintaining unlocked status on Apple's iPhone with firmware version 1.1.3, iPhone Helper has released the official Dev Team 1.1.3 jailbreak, and MobileScrobbler has released Milestone 1.2.0. Hack that Phone has described how to update to iPhone firmware v1.1.3 and jailbreak it while retaining any pre-existing unlock.
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01/29, 2:05pm
WiFi iPhone 1.1.3 hack
An over-the-air hack that updates already-jailbroken iPhones to firmware version 1.1.3 has surfaced, allowing users to update their hacked iPhone or iPod touch without a computer. The update takes up to 45 minutes as it silently brings a hacked iPhone up to date with Apple's latest mobile software, downloading the firmware from Apple over a wireless connection, according to CrunchGear. The update only works for iPhones that are already 'jailbroken,' or that allow users to access the filesystem.
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01/28, 2:30pm
Jailbreak for iPhone 1.1.3
The 13-year-old software developer behind the open source 'iJailBreak' utility has released iJailBreak 0.4, an update to the software that allows iPhone and iPod touch users on jailbroken versions of firmware 1.1.1 or 1.1.2 to automatically update to and jailbreak the newly released 1.1.3 firmware. Users who currently have the previous version if iJailBreak installed should be notified of the new release and offered the ability to automatically update. iJailBreak is available from Google Code, with information available at iJailBreak.com. Late last week, the iPhone 1.1.3 jailbreak was publicly released (along with Mac and Windows versions of the utilities).
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01/24, 10:40pm
iPhone 1.1.3 jailbreak
Hackers on Thursday released a simple "jailbreak" solution for iPhone 1.1.3, allowing users with already jailbroken iPhones running v1.1.1 and v1.1.2 to upgrade to the latest software/firmware update. Delivered about 9 days after the v1.1.3 update was first released to the public, the iPhone Dev Team and Iphone Elite Team have released a working "jailbreak" for iPhone 1.1.3, allowing users to install third-party applications and obtain access to the filesystem. Ironically, version 1.1.3 of the software includes the groundwork for Apple's forthcoming SDK (due by end of February), which will allow third-parties to deliver native applications for the iPhone without the "jailbreak." Update: some reports indicate that unlocked phones appear work properly after the update and true AT&T users can correct the issues with the map locator functions.
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01/09, 12:10am
First iPhone Trojan attack
The iPhone recently fell victim to its first Trojan attack, which came in the form of a malicious file named “113 prep”. While installation of the phony application is relatively benign – the app merely says “shoes” when activated – uninstalling the file causes damage to or deletes system-critical files in the /bin directory on the iPhone. In addition to harming the devices own software, third party utilities are also being rendered useless through the same means. This attack was orchestrated by an 11-year-old, and has some modmyifone.com forum members laughing to ease the pressure using references to the 1995 film Hackers, due to the similarity of circumstances.
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