Unlock iPhone’s potential
A recent update from the iPhone dev team on their blog details important progress towards a soft unlocking of the iPhone 3G. They have a modified version of the baseband firmware running successfully. The baseband firmware is the software that controls the core phone functions of the phone, so this is an important step, if only because it provides them with more opportunites to explore for weaknesses.
Let’s all wish them luck!
As predicted, there was a jailbreak released today for iPhones running the new 1.1.3 firmware. The jailbreak allows the installation of unofficial apps on the iPhone. It does not unlock the phone so it can be used with carriers other than AT&T, but with any luck, an unlock for 1.1.3 will be coming soon now.
Windows and Mac versions are available. It requires an iPhone running 1.1.2 or earlier firmware. If you are already running the 1.1.3 firmware, you’ll have to downgrade.
Last week at Macworld, Apple officially released the latest update to the iPhone firmware which added some features (the improvements to the map app are my favorite). The firmware had been leaked a few weeks before, which gave hackers a head start at unlocking it’s secrets.
Nate True posted his interesting analysis of the iPhone 1.1.3 firmware’s behind the scenes changes. He found obvious signs that the iPhone is now ready for official third party applications. Applications now run as the “mobile” user, rather than “root.” This improves the security of the iPhone (so much for all those “experts” who thought Apple had blown security-wise it by running apps as “root” in the early releases). He also found extensive changes to the application frameworks, which will break a lot of existing 3rd party applications.
He also noted that the $20 software upgrade for the iPod touch demonstrates the application installation infrastructure is already in place. It may be that Apple won’t have to do another firmware release before they ship the official Software Development Kit next month.
Apple has started pushing out the v1.1.2 firmware to existing iPhone users. The obvious changes bring better support for international users in preparation for the European release in just a few hours. There is also an update to the radio firmware. This may also be targeted at international users, but it might also bring fixes related to call reliability and quality to US users. Time will tell.
This release also fixes a buffer overflow bug which clever hackers have been using to “jailbreak” the iphone so we can install 3rd party apps. This is a good thing, since it’s only a matter of time before someone exploits the bug for malicious reasons. On the other hand, it is also a setback in that it makes jailbreaking the new version more difficult. However, there is some good news, a team of hackers have already figured out a way to jailbreak the iPod Touch using 1.1.2 firmware, which should work identically to the iPhone in this regard. No details on the exact method they used are available yet, but it is only a matter of time before simple tools that make it easy for the rest of us are released. We may never have something as simple as the web-based AppSnapp method though.
The new version of the iPhone Firmware has finally been released.
I’d wait if you are fond of 3rd party applications or your carrier unlocked iPhone and see how things develop. So far, it’s not looking good. Unlocked iPhones aren’t even usable on AT&T’s network after the update, and tools for installing 3rd party apps no longer work. If the iPod Touch is any indication, it could be a while before the iPhone hackers figure out how to install 3rd party apps again.
Oh, and a warning. The “backups” Apple makes of your iPhone every time you sync with iTunes aren’t good for much. They don’t back up photos you’ve taken, and if there is a glitch during the restore process, iTunes just blows your old backup away without giving you a chance to try again. Say goodbye to all your notes, your settings, and any contacts and calendar items you aren’t syncing with another program.
