iPhone Firmware v1.1.3 Release End of This Week? Could Unlock Voice Recording & Storage Capabilities
Electronista is reporting that iPhone firmware 1.1.3 is expected to be released by the end of this week. There is some good news and bad news.
The bad news first, new firmware update means that we will have to go through the viscious cycle of first figuring out how to jailbreak the latest firmware which is important in order to install third party native iPhone applications.
Now for the good news, apparently the latest firmware unlike previous firmware version will be unlocking additional features such as Voice Recording and ability to use your iPhone for storage capabilities (similar to that available on the iPod where you have support to drag and drop all data transfers except iTunes media).
However, lets not forget you always have a choice not to upgrade to the latest firmware till the time the iPhone hacking community have not published a step-by-step guide to help you customize your iPhone with the cool native unauthorized iPhone applications.
iPhone Hackers Publish Simpler Method to JailBreak iPhone Firmware v1.1.2
So far we have seen a couple of ways to JailBreak iPhone firmware v1.1.2, however the process has been somewhat complicated.
Folks at iPhone Atlas have posted a method, which they claim is somewhat easier to JailBreak iPhone firmware v1.1.2 which will work on Windows and Mac thanks to the work carried out by the iPhone Elite dev team.
The process apparently also does not require any third-party utilities other than what is included in the package from Conceited Software.
Links and more details to JailBreak iPhone firmware v1.1.2 available after the jump.
Continue reading "iPhone Hackers Publish Simpler Method to JailBreak iPhone Firmware v1.1.2" »
Google's iPhone web-apps
In case you have not yet noticed it, Google has revamped its homepage optimized for iPhone's interface. The revamped version now has links to other Google applications optimized for the iPhone such as Calendar, Gmail and Reader on the top row.
If you are logged in and click on the any of the links, Google's iPhone web-apps are displayed in a tab-style interface thus improving on the user experience in comparison to the older version.
The results of your search are displayed on the same page below the search bar and tapping on Images, Web, Local, and News links at the bottom of the search bar will display the relevant search results below the search bar.
The other feature that has been rolled out as part of the revamped version is that you now have a live "suggested searches" function that shows the popular searches, in real-time based on the input in the search field.
The latest update of its website for the iPhone seems to be Google's attempt to give the webpages that were optimized for the iPhone an iPhone web-app kinda look and must say they have done a good job with it.
To check out the new version, visit Google.com from an iPhone.
Let me know what you think of Google's new iPhone optimized homepage?
iPhone accessory
It is not very often that I write about an iPhone accessory, however this one did get my attention and thought you folks might be interested in checking it out.
The iPhone accessory is the Pogo Stylus from Ten One Design which features an ultra-light aluminum body with an anodized finish and laser graphics and sized for accuracy which Ten One design claims does away with the awkward typos and misfires common when you use fingers.
Video Guide to Install Native iPhone Applications on firmware v1.1.2
Folks at Gizmodo have published a video guide to install native applications on the iPhone based on Trunkz's guide in Hackint0sh.
So if you are new to the iPhone hacking world and are looking to customize your iPhone by installing native applications then you will find the guide quite useful as it teaches you how to easily install the apps and bypass activation.
How-To Fix YouTube on JailBroken iPhone Firmware v1.1.2
Many readers here @ iPhone Hacks asked me if I had a solution to the YouTube problem which they faced after Jailbreaking iPhone running on firmware v1.1.2, as post the jailbreak apparently YouTube stopped working.
Unfortunately I am no iPhone hacking genius I am just a passionate fanboy and a humble reporter of all the hacks, applications and news on the iPhone, so could not provide a solution. However, for all those readers I have some good news as Erica over at Tuaw who now is the iPhone hacking legend has posted a link to a simple guide by Ging of the South which should help in resolving the YouTube problem.
iPhone launched in France - Unlocked iPhone for €749; Orange Offering Four Tariffs
Apple iPhone has been launched in France and is available with four tariffs plans from Orange who is Apple's exclusive carrier partner in France.
This is deviating from the strategy followed by Apple's other exclusive carriers partners such as AT&T in US, O2 in UK or T-Mobile in Germany who are offering iPhone with only a single tariff plan.
There are some interesting details that Orange has put in the fine print. More details and the tariffs available after the jump.
Apple's Greg Joswiak on the iPhone
I stumbled upon Greg Joswiak's interview posted on Fortune's Big Tech blog and thought of sharing it with you folks. In case you are not aware, Greg Joswiak, is head of marketing for Apple's biggest product, the iPod, voted best gadget of all time as well as the iPhone, probably the most hyped gadget ever created.
If you think that is probably the easiest job in the world thanks to the frenzy and hype surrounding both these gadgets, you are mistaken as there is a lot more than just promoting the products. Apparently Greg Joswiak was the one who pushed Apple to produce the 14-inch iBook even though Steve Jobs wasn't entirely convinced about it and we all know the end result, it turned out to be a hit.
In the interview Greg Joswiak touches upon quite a few points related to the iPhone such as the evolution of the iPod from being just a music player to now the iPhone, iPhone’s holiday prospects etc.
The interesting part of the interview was that when he elaborated on his views on how to open up the iPhone platform for legitimate developers to develop native iPhone applications, he seemed to reiterate the point Steve Jobs had made when he announced about the iPhone software developer kit (SDK) about the use of digital-signature. It now seems quite likely that Apple will be going the Nokia way and use the digital-signature approach to the upcoming iPhone SDK.
If you are an Apple fanboy like I am, the interview is a must-read. We have all heard, seen and admired Steve Jobs but it is interesting to hear from some of the other heroes at Apple.
Breaking News: Unlocked iPhone now being sold in Germany for €999
I had reported last week that T-Mobile will be selling Unlocked iPhones in Germany for around $1500, its no longer a rumor as Germans can now get their iPhones unlocked for €999 (around $1500).
The information that is available currently is that the iPhones will be sold in locked state and are not unlocked out of the box and in order to unlock the iPhone you will need to use iTunes.
The process of unlocking is also not real-time as when you buy the €999 iPhones, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is recorded and sent to Apple. Then apparently after 24 hours you will get an e-mail confirmation. Once you receive the email confirmation all you need to do is connect your iPhone to iTunes and it does the magic which other unlocking methods have been doing so far.
If you are one of those who has already bought the iPhone and are interested in unlocking it then as of now there is not too much information available. I guess your only option would be to go back to the store and check if there would be arrangement for you to pay the difference to get your IMEI registered in order to unlock your iPhone.
Nine Hacks That Will Make You the Master of Your IPhone
Only a few days after the iPhone went on sale, hackers were already kicking the wheels and checking under the hood to see if they could pimp out Apple's locked-down smartphone. After a month, they've made surprising progress. Below, we detail some of the milestone hacks for what has been called "the most significant consumer electronics product ever."
Department of Continuous Improvement
Corrections? Additions? Edit this article in the Wired How To Wiki.
Most of the hacks that have been publicized so far are aimed at controlling or enhancing your own iPhone, but a darker side has emerged too. A security firm announced a possible Wi-Fi-based browser exploit, which could give hackers access to an iPhone's microphone, surfing history and contact information -- and possibly website and e-mail passwords stored on the phone, too. Make no mistake: The iPhone is a magnet for hackers, both good and bad.
The hacks below run the gamut from easy hacks almost anyone can do to advanced mods that require serious hardware and software skills. Proceed at your own risk: With any hack, there is a chance you could permanently damage your iPhone or render it unusable, and you're almost certainly voiding your warranty if you try most of these hacks. You have been warned.
Activate the IPhone Without AT&T
Ordinarily, the iPhone needs to be activated from within iTunes and registered with the carrier, AT&T, before it can be used for anything except telling the time and calling 911. Jon Lech Johansen (aka "DVD Jon"), who is notorious for cracking the CSS protection scheme on DVDs, took only five days to write a program that can bypass the activation step. It's called Phone Activation Server 1.0. Of course, if you don't have an AT&T account, the phone part won't work, but this hack does get you Wi-Fi, web surfing, e-mail and music capabilities.
Difficulty: Medium
Details: DVD Jon Hacks iPhone: No Activation Required
Use the IPhone with a Business or Prepaid Account
Once the iPhone has been activated, it is possible to substitute the supplied AT&T SIM with another AT&T or Cingular SIM. Why would you do this? If you already have an account with AT&T, you can transfer it to your iPhone by dropping in your old phone's SIM card. This hack will let you use a business account (otherwise not available for the iPhone) or a pre-paid account with your iPhone. Another way to get a prepaid account for your iPhone is to fake bad credit. Here's how: During activation, keep entering a bogus Social Security number and eventually iTunes will give up and offer you a pre-pay account. Sweet. (The same trick also works if you actually do have bad credit and use your real Social Security number.)
Difficulty: Beginner
Details: Hackers Saw Through IPhone AT&T Shackles
Play Tilt
Tilt is a game which takes advantage of the iPhone's tilt sensors, the things which cause the display to flip when you change the orientation of the handset. Developer Joe Hewitt created Tilt at iPhoneDev Camp, and the game involves tilting the phone to control the main character, Flip, and help him eat falling leaves and butterflies. It's no Wii Tennis, but it is a nice demonstration of the iPhone's innovative controls.
Store Files on Your IPhone
IPhoneDrive is a graphical file transfer tool for the iPhone. Just hook the phone up to your Mac and you can drag and drop files to and from the iPhone, using it as an external hard drive the way God intended. Why on earth Apple didn't include this feature from the start is a mystery, since every other iPod already has a similar capability. IPhoneDrive costs $10.
Difficulty: Beginner
Apple firmware updates for the iPhone
In the continuing saga of Apple firmware updates for the iPhone versus free ranging programmers developing ways to unlock the phone, a new chapter looks to be opening up. The iPhone Dev Team, responsible for the free iPhone unlocking solution known as AnySIM, has decided to make the offering open source in an attempt to keep up with Apple and also keep the code clean.
Gizmodo has a solid break down of what has been happening. An earlier report details an interview with one of the team members in which it was revealed most of the "core members of the team" were ok with putting AnySIM into an open source model. The hope by doing this was to create legitimate development versions of the application and not hacked together pieces based upon "rip offs" of the original code.
AnySIM, after a poll was conducted, is now moving into an open source model. Again, citing Gizmodo, the plan is to release the code under the General Public License. This seems to be a smart move on the part of the iPhone Dev Team to do this so as to keep potentially bad, modified versions of their work from creeping around the Internet. Expect the open source AnySIM this Friday.
iPhone sales reached nearly 1,4 million units
Just after announcing that iPhone sales reached nearly 1,4 million units in 3 months, Apple stated, on the Q4 earnings conference call, that they estimate the number of iPhone bought potentially to be unlocked, to a quarter of a million units. Unlocked iPhone users can then use their mobile phone on a different provider than AT&T and they don't have to sign a two year contract with the provider.
That's roughly 18% of all iPhones out there. That's a lot! If we could have an idea, on how many of these phones have been unlocked for a domestic use (to avoid signing the AT&T contract) and how many have been exported around the globe, it would give us a better picture on how well the "exclusive partner" strategy developed by Apple is working or not.
iPhone sales reached nearly 1,4 million units
Ok guys! We're going to have an SDK. Brian was talking about it this morning, but we never thought that the announcement would be for today. Steve Jobs officially announced that an iPhone SDK (Software development kit) will be available next February. With this SDK, the "approved" developers will be able to develop native iPhone applications.
Here's how the God of portable gadgets, Steve Jobs, announced the news: "Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers' hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers."
Besides the iPhone announcement itself last January, this is probably the most important iPhone news ever. A few weeks after the official iPhone release last June, hundreds of iPhone native applications were developed using the jailbreaking software released by the iPhone hacking community. You can bet, now that Apple will officially permit iPhone 3rd party apps, that many established companies will also jump on the iPhone application bandwagon and release powerful iPhone applications. Hopefully, tons of productivity tools will be coming our way...
There is so much more that can be done with this device. Until now, iPhone had a bright future. But with this announcement, iPhone has the brightest future of all mobile devices out there. Period.
One thing I wondering though, is how long it's going to take before an iPod Touch SDK is announced?
iPhone in France: The Door to a True Unlocked iPhone for Everyone?
Apple and Orange have officially announced that they reached an agreement for the French iPhone release. The iPhone will be released on the French territory on November 29th, just in time for the holiday season. The iPhone will carry a 399euro price tag and the iTunes Wi-Fi Store will also be available in France.
But here's where it becomes interesting. In France, it's required by law that all cellular phone models offered with a contract, have to be also offered without any contractual obligations. That means an "Apple certified unlocked iPhone"! And firmware upgradable and unbrickable iPhones.
A French website suggested that the unlocked-contract free iPhone would have a not very attractive price tag of 999euros. Sure, that's outrageously expensive, but it also means that a genuine unlocked firmware version of the iPhone would be available to the iPhone hackers. Aaaahh!
How can this be exploited by the hacking community? This is not clear for now, but it sure gives them a new door to look at. This gives them a fresh new start and probably an easiest way to hack any iPhone using the Apple's official unlocked firmware.
A true and a firmware upgrade-bullet proof unlock hack is what the hackers need right now to truly keep alive the unlocked iPhone market. Otherwise, it will stay like it is right now, a marginal phenomenon.
Hackers have been officially able to jailbreak the iPhone loaded with firmware v1.1.1
Hackers have been officially able to jailbreak the iPhone loaded with firmware v1.1.1 and his companion, the iPod Touch. Engadget says they have tested the hack and it works as described by the hackers.
But don't hold your breath on this one, because the hack life expectancy is somehow very short. It will not survive very long because it's based on a simple TIFF vulnerability found in the v1.1.1 firmware's mobile Safari, which grants access to the file system. These types of doors can probably be closed down by Apple without major rework of iPhone's OS.
You can bet that the next minor iPhone firmware release will close that door in a second. And from what I understand, hackers will then be back (yet again) to the drawing board.
This iPhone hack has not been released to the public yet, but you can expect it very soon. Being based on a similar firmware version, the iPod Touch can be hacked the same way. UPDATE: The iPhone hackers have released the hack and iPhoneAlley wrote an installation procedure. Be careful with this one, a freshly baked hack like this one, could serve you unexpected surprises!
Even though this hack won't last, we can still say that it's "Hackers 2 and Apple Engineers 1".
I'm wondering how long the hackers will be having fun with this and when they will give up and stop trying to hack the iPhone's OS?
iPhone Hackers 1 and Apple Engineers 1
Since the iPhone came out last June, the iPhone buzz was pretty much around iPhone hacking. We've seen everything, starting with a jailbreaking program to games and unlocking solutions.
Companies were even beginning to structure themselves around what could even be considered an after market for the iPhone.
But it looks like when Steve Jobs said "no 3rd party apps" on the iPhone, he meant it. The market is gone. At least for today…
Since the last iPhone upgrade, no 3rd party application can be uploaded on the iPhone and the ones already installed are kicked out by the 1.1.1 firmware upgrade. Even worst, all the unlocking solutions currently on the market are useless for now.
Continue reading "iPhone Hackers 1 and Apple Engineers 1"
New iPhone Software: Leaving Us Wanting More?
I wonder what Steve Jobs & Apple would prefer... really. They don't seem to want anyone unlocking or hacking the iPhone, but wouldn't they miss the buzz if we stopped? They're threatening that the new software update coming in a few days may "Brick" a hacked iPhone... rendering it useless.
I understand where they're coming from... I've used two iPhones for nearly 90 days now, beat on them pretty badly, and they run solid. Let's not forget... that's one of the things we've loved about Apple hardware & software. They don't want us all installing a bunch of shareware on their beautiful little sensation, under warranty, do they?
Still... look at what's going on now... so many great ideas for iPhone apps, although many don't really work well at all yet. But so many folks want to push this device, to see what it can do. I mostly like mine the way they are, because again... Safari apps and upcoming e-mail features on your phone are plenty of fun for me for now. I have to admit though, of the things I miss on the iPhone, lack of a simple voice recorder leaves the biggest hole, so I'll probably continue testing those (like the iPhone Voice Recorder by Erica Sadun). I think that Apple will, though, come thru with a good recorder on the phone, very soon. A no brainer for them.
iPhone Hacks: Running out of Application space on your iPhone or touch?
Both the iPhone and the iPod touch include relatively limited space on the OS partition (the part of your iPhone's memory that stores the operating system and associated files). It's where Apple, by default, adds its factory-installed Applications but you can save space by installing your Apps on the Media partition instead (that's the part of your your touch or phone that contains your iTunes musics and videos). Here's how:
Your iPhone or iPod touch knows about a folder called "/Widgets". Any Application installed into /Widgets gets recognized and loaded into SpringBoard, just like any app in /Applications. You can fool your iPod or iPhone into thinking you've added a Widgets folder by creating a symbolic link between your media partition and /Widgets.
To do this, you create a folder in your root directory called Applications, or more specifically, /var/root/Applications. You can then add a "symbolic link", a kind of alias, that connects /Widgets with /var/root/Applications. If you install my Erica Utilities and the BSD subsystem, you can create and remove this link by running my xwidg utility.
At this time this is a command-line only operation, however, if you have ssh installed on your system and connect from your computer, just issue the following command: ~/bin/xwidg. The utility looks for an existing symbolic link. If it finds one it removes it, if it does not it creates it. So running xwidg repeatedly just toggles the connection on and off. After each update, it restarts SpringBoard so it reflects the updated link.
The downside is some Applications use absolute paths in their code: Labyrinth and Crossy are two prime examples (They should be using NSBundle calls but that's a completely different matter). Most Applications will run as happily in /Widgets via /var/root/Applications as they will in /Applications and you will save yourself a lot of OS partition space.
FULLY WORKING IPHONE HACK FOR 1.1.1 GETTING CLOSER
Many of our readers wrote in over the weekend to inform me that my post from Friday, "Apple iPhone Update 1.1.1 Has Been Hacked," was not completely accurate. The hack at the time only allowed access to file directories on the iPhone, and did not completely open the new upgrade. Well, the hack of 1.1.1 appears to be closer to completion today.
Here is a look at one iPhone 1.1.1 hack in progress from The Unofficial Apple Weblog:
So what does this jailbreak mean?
* Third Party apps run. Kind of. We probably have to recompile many of them for the new frameworks because many of them crash.
* Springboard no longer recognizes DisplayOrder.plist. And the list of "whitelisted" apps (that is, the official Applications including Safari, Photos, Calendar, etc) seems to be hard-coded into Springboard.app
* The iPhone has been activated via third-party workarounds.
* The 1.1.1 binaries barely work with 1.0.2 -- at least not well enough to run the music store without major hacking.
* The Mobile Terminal App works on 1.1.1.
* The entire bsd suite still works -- as do standard command-line utilities compiled for ARM.
* 1.1.1 references both com.apple.mobile.radio and com.apple.mobile.nike.
* The jailbreak method is nowhere near ready for prime time. So please be patient.
Well, it sure looks like this hack is moving pretty quickly to completion. According to some of our readers, the hack would take months to complete, while others claimed that the working hacks of 1.1.1 were at an impasse. Well, this seems like a lot of progress to me in just three days.
Again, it looks like hackers are dedicated to opening the iPhone, no matter what Apple tries to do to stop them. Why not just open the iPhone and work this collected enthusiasm instead of trying to fight it?
What do you think? Is the drive to hack 1.1.1 stuck at an impasse or will we see a working, commercially viable hack that opens all iPhones with 1.1.1 in the next few weeks?
The Great iPhone Hack, round 3
Posted by Tom Krazit
Two weeks to the day after Apple's iPhone software update wiped third-party applications from the device and disabled unlocked phones, the hackers have struck back.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog posted details of the iPhone Dev Team's latest effort, which once again opens the iPhone up to third-party applications and the ability to use it on any other GSM network than AT&T's. This appears to be a more substantial effort than the one posted earlier in the evening that exploits a vulnerability in a TIFF image file; you can bet that one will be patched fairly quickly.
The latest hack allows iPhone users who have already installed the OS X 1.1.1 update to revert their iPhones to the previous 1.0.2 update, "jailbreak" it for third-party applications, and then somehow update back to the 1.1.1 version without the cell door slamming shut. TUAW and iPhone Atlas have tested the latest hack and have declared that it works, assuming you have a certain amount of knowledge of the iPhone's command line interface.
We're not posting links to the actual files you'll need to make this happen, but if you're an enterprising fellow with access to the Internet, I doubt you'll have too much trouble. I downloaded the files, and in a readme file accompanying the patches and guide you'd need to jailbreak your iPhone, the iPhone Dev Team (or NerveGas, Pumpkin, Edgan, drudge, dinopio and asap18) actually posted a disclaimer: "The iPhone Dev Team disclaims any liability of damage to your iPhone as a result of following these instructions. While the instructions listed here are believed to be safe and accurate, there is always a possibility that your iPhone could be permanently damaged." Can you really sue somebody for providing you with a hack that damages your iPhone, even though you're violating your service agreement to install that hack?
Anyway, if you unlocked your iPhone and then installed the 1.1.1 update only to be left with a pretty paperweight, the iPhone Dev Team says their update won't fix your problem. However, the iPhoneSIMFree folks announced Thursday morning that as a result of the iPhone Dev Team's work, they're now able to not only unlock 1.1.1 iPhones but they are also able to unbrick those unlocked iPhones that fell silent after installing the update.
Where's Harold Lederman when you need him? Now that the iPhone hackers have figured out how to get past the latest update, which many thought was much more difficult to crack than the original software, the third round goes to them. I'll score it 10-9, but Apple's still in the lead going into the fourth round, by virtue of the 10-8 second round in which they knocked iPhone hackers to the canvas by disabling the unlocked iPhones. The first round, of course, went to the hackers.
So what has Apple got up its sleeve? With Leopard's release around the corner, many are starting to wonder if Apple might start to tire of this fight and figure out a way to let third-party application development onto the iPhone. It's pretty clear that Apple will be unable to completely fend off an army of determined hackers forever, but I think it is trying to find a way to allow third-party application development without letting people unlock their iPhones just yet.
In the meantime, if you really, really want third-party applications on your iPhone, understand that you might be forfeiting your right to future technical support. Those who previously hacked the iPhone were able to restore the factory settings before bringing it in for service, but it's not clear whether that's still an option with this latest update.
Nine Most Likely iPhone Hacks
by Damon Brown Jun 27 2007
The iPhone can’t do these things—yet. But just wait until high-tech tinkerers get their hands on it.
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Apple and its exclusive wireless partner, AT&T, announce pricing plans for the much anticipated iPhone.
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Apple to Face New iPhone Rivals
Multiple Carriers
Why go to AT&T when you’re a happy T-Mobile customer? Both AT&T (formerly Cingular) and T-Mobile use the GSM network, and customers of those services have technically been able to use the same phones for years. Though the iPhone is designed to work just with AT&T, it might not take much tweaking to make the device equally flexible.
Porn
Apple isn’t going to allow X-rated—or even NC-17—movies in its Apple Store anytime soon, but pornography always manages to penetrate new technology. We can definitely expect to see programs that will allow renegade directors to make their homemade movies compatible with the iPhone.
Other Music Formats
Apple has had a stranglehold on the iPod with its proprietary music format. The iPhone’s computer-like architecture will make it easier for tweakers to enable other formats to be heard.
iClones
Asian copycats will probably reverse-engineer the iPhone—at least crudely—by next year. Korea, China, and Taiwan will have cheap iClones available in 2008. Just don’t expect them to be as smooth or reliable as Apple’s original.
Gaming
Apple’s own to-be-announced gaming initiative won’t be enough to satisfy hardcore players. But most hackers are gamers too. They will come up with the appropriate tools to help unauthorized developers create games for the iPhone that are like those on Macs and PCs.
G.P.S.
Triangulation—using the distance between three cell-tower signals to find a phone’s location—makes this modification a given. Hackers could create a program to pinpoint your location and feed it to Google Maps to guide you to your destination.
Viruses
Not all hacks are to our benefit. The iPhone carries a version of Mac OS to run its features, and iPhone-specific viruses will almost assuredly be coming along for the ride. Like traditional computer viruses, they will likely work to make your files and information vulnerable to theft. The iPhone’s always-open WiFi connection makes this virtually inevitable.
Downloadable Music
You still need a computer to download music from the Apple Store. But by year’s end, unauthorized websites will let you download songs directly to the iPhone.
Multimedia Sharing
Apple is known for aggressively blocking file-sharing applications, but with the iPhone’s WiFi- and Mac-inspired infrastructure, hackers will have users passing goods back and forth like they have Microsoft’s swap-happy Zune media player.
iActivator: Easy iPhone Jailbreak Hack (Mac)
As some readers might know, before you can get to really playing around with your iPhone (unlocking, adding third party programs and mods, etc…) the device has to undergo a procedure called "jailbreak", which essentially removes the read-only mode set by Apple. And surely some of those that checked into iPhone jailbreak were scared away by the length and complexity of the instructions provided on different iPhone hacking sites.
Thankfully there is now a very easy graphical user interface based program for Mac owners that can do this and much more for them in a couple of clicks. Currently at v1.14, iActivator (download link below) can perform jailbreak, and also activate the iPhone, as well as remove these hacks if needed.
NOTE: This iPhone hack will not unlock your SIM card, iActivator only jailbreaks and activates your iPhone so that you can use it without having to set up an account with AT&T and use other mods. It's a universal binary and has been tested on both PPC and Intel Macs. It's also been tested with both iPhone firmware versions 1.0 and 1.0.1. For more information on iActivator read the included readme file.
iPhone hacks versus the 1.0.2 update
I'm seeing a lot of misleading articles regarding what happens to hacked iPhones with the iPhone 1.0.2 update. Note that none of this applies to activation or service hacking. Here is my experience with hacking the iPhone and upgrading to 1.0.1 and then all over again with 1.0.2:
1) The 1.0.2 update doesn't force a restore.
That implies that somehow this is pushed. It's not. You can choose not to do the update. The usual advice on waiting to do updates applies. If you want to do the update, you must first do a restore, if you have hacked your iPhone. This should be expected and should be the preface to any "hack your iPhone" instructions.
2) The hacks are not disabled.
After doing the restore and update, you need to re-do the hacks. To say they are disabled implies that the software and/or methods used to hack the iPhone no longer work. Jailbreak, iFuntastic, iPhuc, installer.app (and all its associated apps) all work.
3) I have not seen any reports of actual bricking of iPhones.
If you have bricked an iPhone, please comment on this post. Please first note that "bricking" a device means that you've literally turned it into a brick. Specifically it means that your device can not be recovered, reset, or restored in any way.
What the 1.0.2 update does:
Having updated the iPhone to 1.0.2, I have not discovered any improvements other than with WiFi and the iPhone's camera now has pretty decent image stablization, which greatly improves image quality, especially in low light situations. Apple only offers up in the release notes that this update fixes bugs.
The rest of this post is relevant if you've fully hacked your iPhone to the point of adding SSH/SFTP. You may consider doing this before updating to 1.0.2 as it will allow to back up additional data, and if you mess up along the way, there's no effort lost as you're going to restore your iPhone anyway. Think of this as a practice run.
The best guide I've seen yet for hacking your iPhone is at:
www.shauninman.com
Before you upgrade your hacked iPhone to 1.0.2:
1) Make sure to completely synch your iPhone using iTunes.
2) Copy all of your customized images into a folder on your hard drive. Use subfolders that map specific locations where the images will go on your iPhone…keep stuff organized!
3) Copy all of your ringtones to a folder on your hard drive.
4) Back up all of your files that aren't otherwise synched. Using ssh or sftp, go to /var/root/Library. I backup the entire Library folder, just becuase it's easier. However, when you go to recover after the update, only copy the files back that you need…things like Notes/notes.db. You can also backup your photos which are located at /var/root/Media/DCIM.
Apple iPhone
We’ve been amazed by it since its introduction. Who can’t remember the address given by Steve Jobs of Apple when he introduced the revolutionary iPhone? Who wasn’t amazed at the device that was capable of surfing the web, taking pictures, listening to music and of course receiving and placing calls?
Nothing new, right?
Just as the iPhone was released, hackers around North America started to dig into what makes this tick. The primary reason was to unlock the phone so that you didn’t have to sign-up with AT&T but with any carrier that supported the technology. But could there me more nefarious reasons to hack the iPhone?
Skilled hackers could now take their phone onto any carrier, but more importantly they could create and enable custom ring tones (without having to pay for buying ring tones), enable custom wallpapers and more.
In process of hacking into the iPhone, several tidbits were gleaned - such as the fact that the software on the iPhone runs as "root" - in the Unix world this basically gives you full and complete access to the machine. You could bring down entire servers and even chains of servers if you have ROOT access to a Unix machine.
So how does this impact you, the average user of the Apple iPhone that isn’t planning on hacking into their phone? Well someone may want to hack into your phone and they now have the blueprint to do it.
While Apple is working hard to try and prevent hacking by playing cat and mouse game, it will always be a cat and mouse game. If you happen to surf into a questionable website that happens to download software to your iPhone you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.
In an article in the New York Times Technology section from July 23, 2007, an iPhone flaw was found to let hackers take over the iPhone. Remember that most people store entire lives on their digital assistants (whether this is a Smart Phone, the iPhone or even a PDA). They keep names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses on them. Not to mention passwords, banking information (such as bank account numbers) and even digital images taken by the built-in camera.
Now imagine if a hacker has access to all this data.
The security firm, Independent Security Advisors found that through common flaws (and without even hacking into the phone) they were able to gain unauthorized access to the contents of the phone through a WiFi connection or by tricking users into visiting websites that insert malicious code onto the phone.
The hack enabled the firm to gain a wealth of personal information that the phone contained.
Dr. Miller, who was a former employee of the National Security Agency also demonstrated the hack by visiting a website of his own design, inserting some malicious code onto the phone and then proceeding to have the phone transmit data to the attacking computer. He went on to say that the attack could be used to program the phone to make calls thereby running up the phone bill of the user not to mention the phone could be used to spy on the individual by turning it into a portable bugging device - remember, it does have a built-in camera.
How can you protect yourself? As with any device, common sense should prevail. Don’t open e-mails from people you don’t know - if you open them, and there are attachments avoid opening the attachments or visiting the websites in question.
Since the Apple iPhone has automatic updates, always ensure your iPhone has the latest updates by visiting the manufacturer’s site.
If you are very concerned about threats to your iPhone you may also want to visit the website http://www.exploitingphone.com/, which is run by Independent Security Evaluators to stay on top of hacks and threats to your personal data on the iPhone.
Even doing simple searches in Yahoo, Google, or MSN with 'iPhone hacking threats' will give you a wealth of information.
iPhone hacks void warranty, Apple says
The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty, says Apple
Less than a week after CEO Steve Jobs said that Apple would fight hacks that unlocked the iPhone, the company said any modification, unlocks included, voids the phone's warranty.
Saying it had found that many of the unlocking programs "cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software," Apple spelled out the policy. "Users who make unauthorised modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty," the company said in a statement. "The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing software is not covered under the iPhone's warranty."
Several unlock hacks are circulating, including the free open-source anySIM unlock created by iPhone Dev Team, and iPhoneSIMFree, a commercial unlocking program that sells between US$45 and US$90 online. The unlocks let users insert a SIM card programmed with account data from another mobile provider so the phone can make calls on that carrier's network, rather than solely over AT&T's.
Other mods, or modifications, let iPhone owners install their own ring tones — Apple charges US$0.99 on top of the usual US$0.99 tune fee for a ring tone — and add new software to the Apple-approved applications on the device.
Apple also said it would issue an iPhone update this week, and hinted — as expected — that it will use firmware updates to cripple unauthorised modifications. "Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorised iPhone unlocking programs ... will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed," the statement said.
The coming update has been no secret. Shortly after Jobs unveiled the new iPod line and announced the US$200 iPhone price drop that angered many early buyers, Apple confirmed that it would update the device to add new features, including the ability to buy tracks from the iTunes music store over Wi-Fi.
Not surprisingly, Apple's policy didn't scare off those who have modified their iPhones. On the company's iPhone support forum, a user identified as ansuz07 said, "The percentage of iPhones that have become bricked from hacks is very low. Even those that experienced problems could be fixed by a simple restore. Apple is going to make it sound a lot worse than it actually is since they are the ones who don't want you to do it in the first place."
iPhone hacks
Not that anyone expected the 1.1.1 version of the iPhone firmware to be unhackable, it’s still nice to see the hacks finally starting to appear.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog has been liveblogging their attempts all day, following the steps of the hackers “dinopio” and “Edgan”, and seem to be having some success.
It appears the blogger, Erica Sadun, has managed to get read/write access to the directories of the upgrade, and is working that method still.
Meanwhile, over at the Hackintosh forums, they are working on a solution that uses a TIFF exploit. By opening a TIFF file of their own creation with Mobile Safari, they hope to crash the browser and cause a buffer overflow. If successful, this will allow them to execute the codes they need to to hack the popular phone.
The hacks are all still in process, but seem to be on the right track to getting in.
Of course, this will all be moot once firmware 1.1.2 or 1.2 comes out and breas the hacks again.
Jobs Says Apple Will Fight iPhone Unlocking Hacks
Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said Tuesday that it's his company's job to stymie hackers who try to unlock the iPhone -- the first time the company has officially said it would fight attempts to use the popular device on unauthorized networks.
At a London Apple retail store where he announced the iPhone's Nov. 9 U.K. debut, Jobs responded to a question about whether Apple would put a stop to the unlocking hacks that have mushroomed recently. "It's a cat-and-mouse game," said Jobs. "We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in."
In last few weeks, people have unveiled several unlock hacks that let users swap the iPhone's included SIM card with one from another cellular service provider so the phone can make calls on that carrier's network. With the iPhone limited to domestic sales until November, unlocking is the only way consumers living outside the U.S. have been able to use their phones.
Last week, the iPhone Dev Team posted a free unlocking hack, then followed it Monday with anySIM, an unlocking tool tucked into a graphical interface. Just a day before the iPhone Dev Team released its free hack, a group called iPhoneSIMFree began selling an unlocking tool of its own through a network of online resellers at prices ranging from US$45 to $99.
Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner Inc. analyst who was at the London presentation, said she wondered if it matters much in the long run whether Apple stays a step ahead of hackers, as Jobs said it must do. "At the moment, as a consumer, you need to be very careful about unlocking the iPhone, and know how you want to use it," she said. "If you unlock it, you are not going to have a flat rate, and you will not have access to the 7,500 hot spots."
O2 Ltd., the iPhone's sole carrier in the U.K., will offer three flat-rate plans -- dubbed "tariffs" in Britain -- that range in price from $70 to $110 per month. Flat-rate plans are relatively rare in the U.K., said Milanesi. "If you unlock and then use the Internet and e-mail, you may be surprised by your first bill," she added, referring to the pay-as-you-go data rates charged by most carriers in the country and elsewhere in Europe.
O2 has struck a deal with a Wi-Fi provider called The Cloud that will give iPhone users unlimited wireless access to some 7,500 hot spots in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
"There's a difference here, too, compared to the United States," said Milanesi. Because Apple plans to release its iPod Touch, an iPod-cum-Internet device, in the U.K. by the end of the month, consumers will have a choice between that and the iPhone when the latter launches five weeks later.
"Now with the Touch, you have an alternative," she said. People who might have been drawn to the iPhone for its music capabilities, interface and/or its Web browsing features -- and might have used an unlocking hack so they could avoid paying a penalty when they ditched their current carrier -- could instead opt for the iPod Touch.
Jobs did not go into details on how Apple would bar hacks, but the process would presumably involve firmware updates to the iPhone, delivered via the iTunes software. Both of the firmware updates issued since the iPhone's U.S. debut in late June have either broken other, non-unlocking hacks, or forced users to restore the device from scratch. IPhoneSIMFree, for instance, does not guarantee that its unlocking tool will work after future firmware updates.
Keeping unlocking hacks completely at bay, though, will probably be impossible, something Jobs tacitly acknowledged when he said that while it was a cat-and-mouse game between Apple and hackers, "I'm not sure if we are the cat or the mouse."
"Jobs said that they would stay a step ahead," said Milanesi, "but that will be easier said than done."
Jonny Evans and Karen Haslam of MacWorld UK contributed to this story.
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