Sam OliverDubbed "Spirit," the software for Windows and Mac OS X allows users to jailbreak their iPhone OS device, including firmware 3.1.2, 3.1.3, and the iPad-exclusive 3.2. The practice of jailbreaking allows users to run code not approved by Apple on their mobile device.
The hack was released by a coder who goes by the handle "comex," and is a member of the Dev Team group. They, along with George "Geohot" Hotz, are the most high-profile hackers of the iPhone OS.
The Spirit jailbreak was first demonstrated on the iPad in early April. The release was delayed until after the iPad 3G went on sale last Friday to ensure it would work with the new hardware.
The jailbreak installs Cydia, an unauthorized digital storefront that is the hackers' equivalent of Apple's own App Store. It includes unauthorized software such as "Backgrounder," which allows users to run more than one application at once. Early reports indicate that Backgrounder works on the iPad, though most other Cydia software created for the iPhone must be updated to run on the larger 9.7-inch screen.
Previously, many iPhone 3GS users could only use a "tethered" jailbreak released by Hotz. This method meant users of the latest iPod touch, and any iPhone 3GS released in October 2009 or later, could not perform a hardware reset of the phone without connecting it via USB cable to a computer. The Spirit jailbreak is not tethered.
Last year, Apple updated the BootROM for the iPhone 3GS to iBoot-359.32 in a mid-cycle hardware release in October — the first time ever that the handset maker modified its hardware in the middle of a product line, without a new model released. That update has slowed hackers in their ongoing game of cat and mouse with Apple.
Apple and the jailbreaking community have gone back and forth for some time, as the Cupertino, Calif., company has looked to close avenues used by hackers. One of Apple's main concerns about jailbreaking is piracy, as the procedure can allow users to steal software from the App Store, in addition to running unauthorized third-party applications.
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48 Comments
You know - if they (Apple and AT&T) would simply allow tethering (or maybe better - actually support tethering, without exorbitant charges) that alone might eliminate the desire (or need) by many to even want to jailbreak. I suppose the option to buy an unlocked phone would be another big factor. and they ought to be able to come up with some way to allow you to load your own apps without compromising the app store. maybe by adding some sort of digital signature to the app installer that is linked to your authorization on the app store - or maybe an isolated space on the device that allowed apps not downloaded from the app store to run without the ability to interfere with app store apps. Its kinda like the whole downloading of music - people obviously want to do it -so instead of making it difficult or expensive or even illegal - get creative and find a way to support it that is easy, inexpensive, and legal, and the sit back and collect the $.
At first glance I thought the headline was going to say, "Hackers release new jail sentence, re-locks Apple's 3G iPad to AT&T"
Spirit is here and it works well, except for your iPhone photos.... they disappear.
make sure you backup first.
FYI, from an experienced Jailbreaker, don't bother doing your iPad with this just yet. There is absolutely nothing on Cydia that is fully compatible yet, and it's just a myriad of crashes and bugs and inevitable restore right now.
Give it some time..
iPhone wise, looks to be the first 3.1.3 JB and the first for newer 3GS devices. Again, take caution. It's a little early and undoubtedly buggy.(Personally I'm sticking with 3.1.2 on my 3GS until public 4.0 is jailbroken this summer)
FYI, from an experienced Jailbreaker, don't bother doing your iPad with this just yet. There is absolutely nothing on Cydia that is fully compatible yet, and it's just a myriad of crashes and bugs and inevitable restore right now.
Give it some time..
iPhone wise, looks to be the first 3.1.3 JB and the first for newer 3GS devices. Again, take caution. It's a little early and undoubtedly buggy.
(Personally I'm sticking with 3.1.2 on my 3GS until public 4.0 is jailbroken this summer)
Why bother at all - I have seen nothing on Cydia but Apps that would tend to make you system less stable and certainly not anything that I can't do without? I know people like to customize their phones with diff icons and skins, but what a hassle and risk to do that.
Other than the obvious (being able to run a shell and terminal would be cool - ssh, file system, etc...) what is the draw? I do understand that there is a desire to choose carriers from some but I get the feeling that it is mostly other add-ons. Can someone inform this developer?