Unlock iPhone’s potential
An automated windows tool called iDemocracy for “jailbreaking” iPhones running the 1.1.1 firmware to allow the installation 3rd party apps has been released. If you’ve unlocked your iPhone, make sure you “revirginize” it first.
This will allow you to install the latest version of the free AnySIM unlocking tool.
It looks like it is possible to roll phones with the 1.1.1 firmware back to 1.0.2. A good thing if you want to run 3rd party apps. Eventually this may open the door to unlocking the phone again. The method requires a handful of 3rd party apps, and jumping backwards through a few hoops.
Apple’s BS claims of unlocking causing “irreversable damage” to the iPhone software are looking pretty bogus right now. Big suprise.
I haven’t tried it yet, but the ability to run 3rd party apps is looking more appealing than Apple’s mediocre updates.
I warned you to be cautious about buying an iPhone with the intent of unlocking it for use with another carrier. Today, Apple issued their own warning as the intro to a press release about the next iPhone update, due later this week.
Apple claims that “many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone’s software.” This is of course pure and unmitigated BS, the only irreparable damage that can occur to the iPhone’s software is Apple screwing up big time and loosing the source code. The code that the unlock tools change is code that Apple has updated before and will update again. In fact, I’m sure they will update it in the next release and break the unlocks.
Let’s hope that Apple doesn’t punish some of the iPhone’s biggest, most dedicated fans by actually rendering their iPhone permanently useless.
If you already have an unlocked iPhone, and you want to update, I’d wait until an unlock is available that works with the new firmware, and then, before installing the new firmware, I’d also check out Erica Stadun’s article on how to relock your iPhone so as not to provoke Apple into disabling your iPhone during the update process.
Other Coverage:
It has become easier than ever to buy an iPhone and unlock it for use on a non-AT&T GSM network, but I’ve got 3 good reasons you shouldn’t do it.
You may still decide the risks are worth it to have an unlocked iPhone, but my advice would be to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. Will Apple relock phones? How long will it take the hackers to create a new unlock?
The iPhone Dev Team has released AnySim, their GUI application to unlock the iPhone. This should make the free software unlock practical for a wider audience than their original command-line solution.
If you are eager to buy a new iPhone and use this unlock hack because you are a T-mobile customer in the US and still on contract, or because you are outside the US, I’d hold off for a little while. It is very likely that Apple will release an iPhone update within the next few weeks when they roll out the mobile version of the iTunes store, it may even come as soon as this Tuesday, when they are expected to announce European iPhones. That update, or any other could relock the iPhone and break existing unlock software. What’s more, there is no telling how long it will take people to create new unlocks. You may be in the position of either having an iPhone you can’t use at all, or an iPhone you can’t update with new features. I’d suggest waiting a few weeks to see what happens. Ok, you have been warned. Have fun.
Download:
PXL Package:
Mirror:
You’ll need a tool like iBrickr (for Windows) or iFuntastic (for Mac) to install the app on your iPhone.
