iPhone Hacks · Hacks, Cracks, Mods, Homebrew, Utilities

A new firmware is approaching for the iPhone and with it comes another warning about the dangers of blindly installing new firmware versions before iPhone hacking teams have had a chance to rip it apart and update their software accordingly. Here is the latest note from the iPhone Dev Team on this matter:

in the past and we’ve warned against the immediate installation of these updates without knowing what they do to your device.

This is indeed true of the iPhone 3G’s upcoming 2.2 release. Installing ‘2.2’ straight away on the iPhone 3G using the iTunes auto-updater could affect your chances of any software unlock in the near future (should one be found and released), so when you see an update in iTunes await our instructions first!

Please don’t blindly install the update and then complain about it later ;-)

Tired of searching around the internet for where to download ipsw files? Kalieb has created us a nice little Windows application to make downloading iPhone firmware ipsw files a little easier. It is a simple program that lists all the iPhone firmware with a download and info button. The manager uses direct links to Apple’s servers for all versions of the iPhone software to date. Kalieb promises the software will also update itself with new links in the future.

You can grab from our iPhone Downloads section under “iPhone Utitlities”::”Windows” or use this direct link: Kalieb’s iPSW Manager.

Note: We always have the iPhone’s firmware files along with some custom ones hosted here:
iPhone ipsw Downloads

justinomg has put together this amazing post at MacRumors documenting all the undocumented changes in Apple’s latest iPhone 2.1 firmware.  Obviously quite a bit of time went into creating this list of new features, so thank justinomg and all the other contributers noted in the article.

justinomg’s post:

Undocumented features/fixes:
All screenshots have been taken and uploaded by myself unless stated otherwise. Please do not use them without crediting me.
Feel free to post any more new undocumented features and I will happily upload a screenshot to the thread, crediting you for the find of course.

• Although it isn’t exactly a “new feature”, some bluetooth headsets which didn’t originally work with visual voicemail and other features on previous firmware versions have been reported to be working on 2.1 by different users.
Confirmed headsets:

• Plantronics 520BT Headset (Credit to trunksu).
• Plantronics 925BT Headset (Credit to diesel).
• Plantronics Voyager 510BT Headset (Credit to QuarterSwede).
• Bluespoon AX2BT Headset (Credit to galenmd).
• Any Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicle with U-Connect (Credit to mklos).

• You can now pause apps by clicking the icon while it downloads/installs.

• Tripple clicking the microphone button (attached to included headphones) now goes to the previous song played/in a playlist. (Credit to Sealit). (more…)

Apple has released the 2.1 system software update for the iPhone & iPhone 3G today. If you have a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone we do not recommend updating until software like PwnageTool, QuickPwn & WinPwn have a chance to update for this latest iteration.

Update: Some risk takers have reported it is safe to upgrade to iPhone 2.1, if you have an unlocked first generation iPhone. You will lose your jailbreak but the modem will remain unlocked.

Here’s what’s new:

• decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• significantly improved battery life for most users
• dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• faster installation of 3rd party applications
• fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes if you have lots of 3rd party applications
• improved performance in text messaging
• faster loading and searching of contacts
• improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

As always we’ve mirrored these firmware files in our iPhone Downloads section under “iPhone Firmware”::”iPhone System Software Updates” or just use these direct links:

iPhone 2.1 ipsw Download
iPhone 3G 2.1 ipsw Download

For those of you who have upgraded already let us know your impressions in the comments.

Minutes ago at the Apple “Let’s Rock” event in San Francisco, Steve Jobs finally made the official announcement that iPhone 2.1 will be available this Friday September 12th. No word yet on the expected not so surprise new features.

If you have a Jailbroken or Unlocked iPhone, iPhone 3G or iPod Touch Do not upgrade on Friday. Make sure to check back here for updates on when it’s safe and how to do it.

…This is a big update, it fixes lots of bugs. Fewer dropped calls, big battery life improvements. No crashes with Apps. Backing up is faster. Some great new performance enhancements… free to all owners, available this Friday.

Apple has released a new iPhone System Software Update this latest version is 2.0.2. This is another mysterious bug fix release with no new features being added (any new features would appear in a 2.1 release). Mysterious due to the fact Apple won’t tell anyone what those bugs are. Maybe this is the rumored 3G coverage bug fix? Apple has been receiving a bit of bad press lately with reports of users having 3G coverage issues that could be fixed via a firmware patch.

If you have a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone do not upgrade to this firmware yet. You will lose your jailbreak and unlock. As always we’ll have to wait a little bit while iPhone developers patch their tools.

As always when a new firmware is released we have archived and mirrored it in our iPhone Downloads section under ‘iPhone Firmware’ :: ‘iPhone System Software Updates’ or you can use these direct links:

iPhone 2.0.2 ipsw Download
iPhone 3G 2.0.2 ipsw Download

You may already know if you’ve launched iTunes recently, that Apple has released a new iPhone System Software Update 2.0.1. This update is just a bug fix patch and gives no new features. Always when a brand new update is released, if you are using an unlocked or jailbroken iPhone it is recommended that you ignore the update until different dev groups have time to update their tools.

Download iPhone Firmware 2.0.1 EDGE/2G iPhone1,1_2.0.1_5B108_Restore.ipsw

Download iPhone Firmware 2.0.1 3G iPhone1,2_2.0.1_5B108_Restore.ipsw