Dev Team members PlanetBeing, MuscleNerd, and Pytey were speaking last week at the 25c3 conference in Germany to present how they hacked the iPhone. It's a very "geeky" video but it's worth your time if that's your cup of tea.
Some interesting facts is that at least 180 people with Apple corporate IPs update their phones using the Dev Team’s software on a regular basis. No doubt these guys at Apple are working on countering the jailbreak and unlock tools.
This piece of news might mean something for iPhone geeks out there,but I guess the average iPhone owner couldn't care less... Dev Team member PlanetBeing found a way to port Linux 2.6 kernel to the iPhone.
This is a rough first draft of the port, and many drivers are still missing, but it's enough that a real alternative operating system is running on the iPhone.
.Visit PlanetBeing's blog for the download.
Crackulous is a software that allows you to easily crack any iPhone application, without having to pay a dime to the developer or to Apple. No need to say that this is illegal... In what seems to be a very ironic story, a beta version of Crackulous was pirated and leaked on the Internet before it could enter a full open-source distribution.
Erica Sadun wrote a good article about it over at Ars:
SaladFork, the author of Crackulous, called the leak "absolutely disgusting, and downright insulting." He writes about his pride of development, saying, "[I] have released a new version of Crackulous almost every day or two, fixing all the bugs that had been reported up until that day. I was proud of Crackulous, and put a large majority of my free time into ensuring it will be the best application it possibly could be. I responded to beta tester feedback, and each version of Crackulous was better than the last."
Did SaladFork learn his lesson? Obviously not as he wrote:
Several of you had noticed the irony in me complaining that a tool used to steal from other developers was stolen, but I hope you realize the difference in situation. iPhone developers almost always (99% of the time) develop applications for the App Store in hopes of getting money.
The latest 2.2 firmware update allows Japanese iPhone owners to use Emoji icons in their emails and text messages, but for some reason, the rest of the world cannot enjoy these useless, yet funny icons...
That was until Irish developer Steve Troughton-Smith found a simple hack to allow everyone to use Emoji icons, not mater what carrier you're on. Here are the instructions:
You need to edit the file /User/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Preferences.plist on the device -> whether you use a jailbreak to achieve this or merely some iTunes backup editor is up to you.
Add the following boolean key as 'true':
KeyboardEmojiEverywhere
Then merely go to the Keyboards section of the Settings app, hit Japanese, and turn on Emoji. Will work for any text field/view in the OS, including on websites, AND including the titles of items on SpringBoard (e.g. if you save a bookmark to the home screen).
Easy enough :-)
UPDATE: I just published this post and went back to my news reader to realize there is now an app available on Cydia that allows emoji incons with no editing required!
Install the package called Emoji, then go to Settings > General > Keyboard > International Keyboard > Japanase and enable Emoji Icons. Now launch your mail or note app and try it out! By the way, this only works on 2.2, so if like me, you're still on 2.1, it won't work.
If you're an iPod Touch owner and you feel that you've been left alone with the Google street view feature, I have some good news for you. iPodTouchFans.com user timmyj9 reveals a hack that will allow you to get Google street view on your iPod Touch.
To do so, you will need some very basic skills. Here it goes:
1. get this file via ssh: /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/N45AP.plist 2. convert to xml at http://iappcat.com/plist/bin2xml 3. add
<key>telephony</key> <dict> <key>maximumGeneration</key> <real>2.5</real> </dict>
underneath
<key>standAloneContacts</key> <true/>
4. save then using that website again reconvert to binary 5. rename original file N45AP.old 6. copy new N45AP.plist in (make sure permissions are 644) 7. reboot ipod all new Maps features work however you get a searching for service (replaces the word ipod in the top left) and waiting for activation message that pops up occassionally, music settings disappear also music slot in prefs disappears (hjrry)
I haven't tried this as I don't have an iPod Touch but I'd love to hear from you if you try this hack out. Share your experience in the comments.
I knew it wouldn't take too long to the Dev Team to come up with a new jailbreak method for firmware 2.2. They just released an important message on their blog that every jailbreaker should read before attempting to pwn their iPhone.
I don't like copying large part from other people's blogs but I feel like it's necessary in this case as I want to make sure you fully understand the methods and the risks you're taking if you decide to go ahead and jailbreak your iPhone. You can also read this post on the Dev Team's blog.
GOLDEN RULE: If you have a 3G iPhone and want potential soft unlock in the near future do NOT use QuickPwn, and do not use the official ipsw or the iTunes update process without using PwnageTool. Read item 1 again and again. At the bottom of this post are the bittorrent files for the latest versions of PwnageTool and QuickPwn. These are suitable for the recent 2.2 release. Please read all parts of this post before downloading and using these tools. The ‘late 2008’ MacBook/air/pro line of computers have an issue with DFU mode, it is possible to go from Pwned 2.1 -> 2.2 but going from stock to Pwned does not work, if in any doubt use a different machine. Choosing the correct tool is crucial. Be warned!Baseband 101
The ‘baseband’ is the generic name given to the internal components of the iPhone that handle the phone calls and Internet access. This ‘baseband’ is a tiny and unique independent computer system that runs inside your iPhone, it is separate to the main system that handles the applications (such as email and google maps) and it talks to the main part of the phone over an internal communications network. Think of it like a cable modem or other peripheral that is attached to your home PC that needs occasional updates. When a software update is released and presented to you within iTunes the baseband is sometimes updated (to fix bugs or add new features). The 2.2 update for the iPhone 3G contains such an update, so running the vanilla updater straight away with iTunes will reprogram and update the baseband. This could be bad for certain people, depending on your ultimate aim.
SIM Free/SP Unlocked/Factory Unlocked iPhone 3G
This applies if you bought your iPhone 3G for $$$$$$$. This model of iPhone 3G doesn’t have an Service Provider lock (aka factory unlocked) and you are able to put any SIM card into the phone and get service. Your phone is already unlocked so you do not need to worry about baseband updates, simply upgrade to 2.2 using iTunes and then use QuickPwn to Pwn and Jailbreak. This will add Cydia and Installer too.
Locked iPhone 3G - Preserve Baseband
This applies if you have a locked iPhone 3G and you wish to update to 2.2 but preserve the iPhone’s current baseband software. Preserving the baseband will give you the maximum chance for any upcoming software unlock. To upgrade your phone to 2.2 and preserve the state of the baseband you need to create a custom .ipsw with PwnageTool. This custom .ipsw will not contain the baseband update but of course will still allow all the cool new stuff from 2.2.
There are plenty of tutorials about this process on the web, but PwnageTool contains intuitive graphics and easy to follow prompts that should have you up and running in no time at all.
Locked iPhone 3G
If you are using your iPhone with one carrier and have no interest in the possibility of an iPhone 3G unlock in the near future then just restore or upgrade to 2.2 using iTunes and use QuickPwn to Jailbreak and add Cydia and Installer.
Locked iPhone 2G (1st Generation)
Restore your iPhone 2G with iTunes then run QuickPwn to do the magic, ‘nuff said.
iPod Touch 1G (Original iPod Touch)
Update to 2.2 with iTunes and run QuickPwn.
iPod Touch 2G (New iPod Touch)
Sorry, no support at this time.
Bittorrent Releases
PwnageTool 2.2 for Mac OS X is here SHA1 Sum - 97ee6096aaa1967498431bf01c36c18d0e877545 QuickPwn 2.2 for Mac OS X is here SHA1 Sum - 254b8af0e19870a4660b7b11e3b6f6ae1d6bc66f QuickPwn 2.2 for Windows is here SHA1 Sum - ffdbc561224c61ffc2713cb6a6e696b6d429c4caI'm gonna be working on a QuickPwn 2.2 Guide and a PwnageTool 2.2 Tutorial and I should post this within hours.
UPDATE: I wrote new tutorials on how to jailbreak or unlock your iPhone 2.2 firmware using QuickPwn:
jailbreak iPhone 2.2 unlock iPhone 2.2Firmware update 2.2 surprised a few people who accidentally updated their iPhone. If that happened to you, you now have 2 choices: either stay and 2.2 and wait for the Dev Team to come up with a jailbreak method for 2.2, or you can try to downgrade from 2.2 to 2.1.
I personally don't have this issue. I haven't updated to 2.2 but I figured that some of you guys may have, so I started looking for a solution to post here. The problem is there doesn't seem to be a solution that works for one main reason: 2.2 updates your baseband and once your baseband is updated, you can't downgrade it to 2.1 (not as yet anyway).
From what I read, only 2-3 people were actually able to get their iPhone back to 2.1 without issues but it is very unclear what they did exactly... Now let's have a look at these different methods that supposedly show you how to downgrade from iPhone firmware 2.2 to 2.1.
It took a while to Apple's lawyers to find out and do something about TheMonkeysBall.com but they finally did it. They finally got this site shut down for uber massive copyright infringement.
For those of you who don't know, TheMonkeysBall.com was the reference in matter of cracked iPhone apps. The website offered a gigantic library of cracked ipa files, making it the preferred destination for anyone who didn't want to spend a dime on iPhone apps.
Wyze, the owner, explains:
Well, Apple, it took you long enough to find us. We're sure Mr. Haklab will take credit for this and all we have to say to that is that it took you long enough. We had a good run and honestly we are surprised we lasted this long. We don't want to move servers again to another country to avoid DMCA as we've lost interest since the site first launched.
The site is now up for sale. I doubt you can do anything with such a URL but who knows...
If you've been complaining about the lack of external keyboard on the iPhone, rejoice! Well, don't rejoice too much as this hack is very close to being useless but I guess what's interesting is that some people spend time on that kind of stuff.
It seems that the person behind this hack is running some type of Ruby code on a jailbroken iPhone and plugged and external keyboard via USB. You can see the final result in this boring video.
[digg-me]UPDATE: The Cydia Store is now open! I invite you to read this post for more details.
If you didn't read the title to this article in the deep voice of the movie previews guy, please go back and do so at this time, just to give you an idea of how huge this is. Now, if you've navigated to our blog and are reading this article, hopefully you have some idea of what Cydia and the App Store are. For those of you who don't, I will provide a brief breakdown of each program before I list their stand out features.
Both programs offer a sizeable library of applications and games that can be downloaded directly onto the phone from virtually anywhere you can get a cell phone or wifi signal. Please no hate mail from Installer fans, as it's obvious it has not garnered near as much support as Cydia since the iPhone was updated in firmware over the summer. But now to the main event, the Download Showdown. Who will take home the title as the Champion of iPhone applications? Let's get it on.
You've seen the commercials, you've seen it in the world-reknowned iTunes software, heck you see the icon everytime you look at your iPhone, it's the App Store. Riding the coat tails of success of Apple's enormous online music store, is the online application store that has redefined software distribution for the mobile market. Never before has an online library of mobile software been so accessible, as it can be reached from any mac or pc, or from any iPhone or ipod touch with web connection.
Another reason it is so groundbreaking is the 70/30 deal it has made with iPhone platform developers. That means that Apple keeps 30% of the profit from the software sales, and gives the remaining 70% to the people that make them. On top of attracting big name software companies like EA and THQ, this 70/30 deal has made several independent companies like Tappulous and The Blimp Pilots (koi pond creators) extremely wealthy.
The App Store's main advantages have got to be it's stability and ease of use, two of the most important things you can find in any software. I can't tell you the last time my App Store crashed or froze, and its interface is about as simple as you can get. You'll also find that most applications fall in the $0.99 - $9.99 price range, keeping purchases from breaking your bank. For the froogle audience, there is also a large FREE section of applications and games that has yet to disappoint me.
Finally, the fact that Apple, is the company behind the App store has its ups and downs. For example, Apple pre screens all apps submitted to the App Store, minimizing malicious code and low quality software epedimics. This also prevents very good software from reaching the App Store due to opinions held by Apple (see R.I.P article). Downloading is also kept very quick and simple by Apple, as typing in your iTunes password, ok's any download, free or not. You also don't have to jailbreak or "hack" your iPhone to access the App Store, how charming. So bottom line here is that the App Store is easy to use, extremely reliable, has a huge library of free and non-free applications, and it's not against AT&T's TOS (terms of service) to access.
Now for the challenger. A product of James Freeman, or Saurik, Cydia has been around since the original jailbreaking days of Ziphone and iBrickr. Originally, Cydia stood in the shadow of the Installer application by the Dev Team, which did the exact same thing (offered 3rd party downloads). Now, thanks to its I-got-to-firmware-2.1-before-you-did attitude, Cydia is flourishing.
But these guys [devteam, Saurik, Spazio, etc.] really opened the eyes of the world to the possibilities of the iPhone, and let users unlock their iPhone's potential with 3rd party applications, a touchy subject in the beginning of the life of the iPhone due to Apple's lack of 3rd party support.
Enough history, how does it stack up today against the colussal App Store. Size? Nope. The size of Cydia's library of software doesn't hold a candle to Apple's App Store. Price? Nope. While a majority of Cydia downloads are free, some are only trial versions that demand paypal payments to continue using them. So then why in the world would you even want Cydia? Exclusivity. Boom. Cydia is the only place to download applications like Winterboard and Cycorder, software that goes against Apple's guidelines for App Store approval. I couldn't have a see-through dock with a customized icon set without Cydia. I couldn't have recorded a video of my dog doing cart wheels without Cycorder, and it's only available through Cydia. Is VIP access to cool customizeables enough to make this underdog a Champ? Let's review.
It seems on paper Apple's App Store should win by a landslide. Thousands of more software titles, the technical and customer support of a Fortune 500 company, and its overall ease of use should give Apple the belt hands down. But you can't forget about the little guy. If a firmware update prevented the downloading of Cydia or a similar program, how many users would be devastated? How many would avoid updating? If you're like me, chances are you have App Store, Cydia, and Installer (at least the first 2) icons sitting on your springboard right now, and aren't likely to delete any of them any time soon. I like having all 3 for the simple fact that if I read about an application and want to download, I know I am covered, and can find it in one of the 3 libraries.
It looks like a split decision here, but I am going to give the nod to Apple's App Store for a number of reasons I already listed. Once again in an ideal world we could have a united application that would offer the best of both worlds. For now, it seems the App Store will hold the download Showdown title. Thanks for reading, this article is a treasure, so digg it!
VoIPover3G (that's Voice Over IP Over 3G) is what I think the hottest application that came out this weekend, and let me tell you right now, like all hot apps, it is only available in Cydia - that should give you yet another reason to jailbreak if you still haven't done so.
So what does this bad boy do? This MobileSubstrate library can trick any application into thinking that it is on wifi even though it is on a cellular data connection. There are a lot of possible uses for that, but for me the main use is being able to use VoIP programs like Fring over 3G. So no more hack necessary to use Fring over Edge or 3G.
By default, VoIPover3G is configured to to trick only the App Store and Fring but you can edit the setting, but in order to do so, you'll have to know your way around SSH...
As mentioned above, VoIPover3Gis available in Cydia. If you instal it, don't look for the icon on your springboard as it doesn't have an icon. Configuration settings are explained in the "more info" link of the app.
LogoMe is a new application available in Cydia that will change your boot logo without having to rejailbreak or restore. All you need to do is installing the application, launching it and typing in the URL where the photo can be downloaded from (that means that your photo has to be somewhere online - ie. Flickr). You will not be able to change your boot logo by using a photo from the library.
Once you've typed in the location URL, tap "Download" and LogoMe will download the file. After having downloaded it, you'll be able to preview your boot logo. When I previewed mine, it showed a white bar at the top but I decided to install anyway. When you're done, reboot your iPhone and you should see your new custom logo. Note that the white bat doesn't show on my custom boot logo anymore once installed.