Hackers open core of Apple's iPhone
The unauthorised Nintendo Entertainment System emulator running on the iPhone 3G.
Just over a week after the release of the iPhone 3G, hackers have opened up a whole new world to users of the device by releasing a tool allowing them to install third-party programs not sanctioned by Apple.
The news comes within days of a Brazilian company, DesbloqueioBr, claiming to have hacked the iPhone 3G so it can be used on any mobile network without the need to sign up for plans with exclusive carriers.
Meanwhile, Opera has released a new beta version of its mobile internet browser that brings iPhone-like web browsing to Windows Mobile-based devices. The new program makes the web browsing experience more like that on a desktop computer by displaying the entire web page instead of a cut-down made-for-mobile version.
Over the weekend a team of hackers calling themselves the "iPhone Dev Team" released a tool, "Pwnage 2.0.1", which allows unauthorised applications to be loaded on to the new iPhone and the iPod Touch.
The iPhone Dev Team was largely responsible for unlocking the first iPhone for use on any mobile network, allowing many Australians to import and use the first version of the device despite the fact that it was not on sale in this country.
However, Pwnage 2.0.1 does not unlock the new iPhone 3G for use on other networks - it simply allows users to install unauthorised applications. Without the hack, those looking to expand the functionality of the iPhone 3G can only download software for the device from Apple's App Store.
In a blog post the iPhone Dev Team said the response to the release of the tool was overwhelming.
"The downloads brought down several of our servers, and some of them have yet to recover!"
Apple has been criticised for taking a "walled garden" approach to the iPhone, restricting developers in terms of the types of applications they can write for distribution via the App Store. The new Pwnage tool means application developers and users can interact without the App Store and Apple's oversight.
By comparison, users of smart phones based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system have long been able to install whatever applications they wanted. This approach, however, hasn't been entirely successful as the quality of the applications is not consistent.
As well, the process of installing programs on Windows Mobile is more cumbersome than via the iPhone's App Store, which already contains hundreds of applications that can be piped to the device with little more than the push of a button.
The release of the Pwnage 2.0.1 hack is likely to spark a surge of developer interest in the device. Already an emulator for the archaic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games console has been released, allowing users to play NES games on their iPhone.
Other unofficial applications developed for the iPhone include Navizon (improves the built-in GPS by updating the user's location very 10 seconds, not just when the "locate me" button is pushed), iSMS (send text messages to multiple recipients) and Native VNC (control your Mac or PC from the iPhone).
The hack can only be installed from a Mac computer but step-by-step instructions for Windows users can be found here.
Apple announced last week it had sold more than 1 million iPhone 3G handsets in just three days following its release
Step by step Process
Step-by-Step Guide to Pwn first generation iPhone running firmware 2.0 using Windows
The iPhone Dev Team released their Pwnage Tool 2.0 to jailbreak and unlock the first generation (original) iPhone running iPhone firmware 2.0 yesterday, but only Mac users could use the tool as they are yet to release the WinPWN tool for Windows users.
URherenow and Srini, iPhone Hacks readers tipped us about a way to pwn the first generation iPhone running iPhone firmware 2.0 using Windows.
So check out the step-by-step guide to pwn the first generation iPhone after the jump.
Below are the step by step instructions, Windows users need to follow (if you are a Mac user, follow this link):
Step 1: Use WinPWN 1.0 To PWN Your 1.1.4 iPhone. You can download WinPWN from this link. WinPWN will ask for an IPSW you should use the 1.1.4 IPSW. Download iPhone firmware 1.1.4 from this link.
Step 2: Install BootNeuter (Available Via Installer use the old 1.0 version it basically preps the phone).
Step 3: Run BootNeuter and have it Neuter your iPhone.
Step 4: Make sure your iTunes version is at 7.7.
Step 5: Grab a pre-created IPSW Made with PWNAGE 2.0 Mac. If you don't have one made you can grab one from this link.
Step 6: Grab ZiPhone to get into Recovery Mode easily. You can download the latest version of ZiPhone from here.
Step 7: Run ZiPhone & jump your iPhone into NORMAL Recovery mode (available via advanced settings area in ZiPhone) -- This is the most straightforward way to get it into the proper restore mode.
Step 8: In iTunes Shift+Click the Restore button and find your custom IPSW firmware file.
Step 9: Wait for the restore to complete. -- You should see bootneuter automatically come up.
This should jailbreak, unlock and activate your first generation iPhone and should have iPhone firmware 2.0 running on it so that you can use both the official and unofficial native iPhone applications.
Please do remember, hacking your iPhone is at your own risk. Please don't forget its always a good idea to backup your iPhone.
Let us know if it worked for you in the comments, and if it has, don't forget to drop in a thank you note to your fellow reader (Srini ) who has made it possible.
Thanks a ton to Srini for posting the excellent step-by-step guide in the comments and URherenow for being the first to tell us about it.
Update 1: This method works with the first generation (original) iPhone and not iPhone 3G. I have also updated the post to say first generation iPhone to avoid any further confusion.
Update 2: I had missed out URherenow's comment while publishing the original post, I have updated the post accordingly. The source of the guide seems to be the clever folks at iUnlocked.org. URherenow, sorry about that and thanks again for the tip.
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