As some of you will probably have learnt Palm just got back in the game! Seriously. For those of you who have missed this news or skipped the news regarding Palm from our CES 2009 roundup, this you don’t want to miss. The latest Palm Pre is a svelte new smartphone that runs Palm’s all-new, touch based webOS mobile platform. The Pre boasts a 3.1-inch touch screen with a gesture area below, a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 8GB of internal storage, on board is WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash. The Pre, initially will be available only from Sprint. The Palm phone will be sold alongside the Touchstone, an inductive charging dock that lets you charge up wirelessly just by laying the Pre on top of it, which leaves me absolutely speechless. It’s quite clear that Palm is up for a challenge, is it comparable to iPhone or RIM BlackBerry Storm or Google Android G1 or even Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, I think definitely and no doubt we will be hearing about Palm Pre for the rest of this year.
Here’s a quick hands on gallery [via Engadget, Gizmodo] featuring the Palm Pre in greater detail…
Update (22/12/08): Those who have come into this article looking for info on iPhone unlock, please visit for the latest video released by the iPhone Dev Team demonstrating their latest tool for unlocking the iPhone 3G.
Just a day or so after its release the latest iPhone OS firmware / software version 2.2 has been jailbroken by the iPhone Dev Team’s PwnageTool 2.2 and QuickPWN 2.2. Like we mentioned earlier, the iPhone Dev Team was bound to release their iPhone 2.2 jailbreak / unlock solution soon, but this time, it was unexpectedly quick!
Please be aware that firmware 2.2 jailbreaking / unlocking DOES require abit more attention than previous releases, any false moves could result in permanent, irreversible consequences (such as not being able to unlock your iPhone 3G in the near future!).
Please, please read carefully, we have illustrated a few scenarios and we hope you read through all this before going ahead, if in doubt, ask questions!
Note:
- The new Pwnage Tool 2.2 is not available to Windows users but only QuickPwn 2.2
- Here is the bittorrent link:
- If the above link isn’t working, try any of the mirrors below:
- Latest Pwnage Tool 2.2 and QuickPwn 2.2 are both available to Mac OS users
- Pwnage Tool 2.2:
- QuickPwn 2.2:
Before you read further, please quickly be aware of the following main points:
- iPhone 3G users, you have to update your iPhone 3G using Pwnage Tool if you plan to someday unlock your iPhone 3G
- Using the iPhone Dev Team’s latest Pwnage Tool will give you an end result of a Pwnage Tool-based iPhone 2.2 OS jailbreak which the team believes is the only way to preserve your iPhone’s older baseband firmware
What the heck is baseband and why should I care about it on my iPhone 3G?
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.
As we mentioned in the bullet point above, it is absolutely crucial at this point that if you have the iPhone 3G, you don’t plug it into iTunes and automatically agree to iTunes when it prompts you to update to firmware 2.2. We can’t stress this hard enough, you must update your iPhone’s firmware to version 2.2 using PwnageTool if you ever want to even dream about unlocking your iPhone 3G in the near future.
I have iPhone 3G, I’m not bothered about unlocking and just want to jailbreak…
If you are a loyal and happy O2 or AT&T customer and don’t think you will ever need to unlock your iPhone but just want to jailbreak so that you can download lots of neat applications off Cydia. All that you need to do is click agree to update to firmware 2.2 via iTunes then use the latest version of QuickPwn, version 2.2 to jailbreak your iPhone’s firmware 2.2.
I bought an iPhone 3G (from Asia for example) that was already manufacturer unlocked…
We got asked this by a reader for the last firmware. If this is you, we now know that you don’t need to worry about anything. Your iPhone was destined to be unlocked and won’t lock itself up after restoring or updating or upgrading using iTunes. So all you need to do is jailbreak if that is what you want, use QuickPwn 2.2.
I have the iPhone 2G (first generation), which tool should I use?
The iPhone 2G is the simpler of the two, it is no longer a difficulty for the iPhone Dev Team, it can be unlocked and jailbroken with no problems at all, the instructions below also applies to the iPhone 2G.
Will this work for the iPod Touch?
For first generation iPod Touch, yes just like the iPhone 2G, your iPod can be jailbroken to install Cydia apps. For second generation iPod Touch, your device is currently unsupported.
Instructions
Now for the all important, crucial part. The following steps will take you through the process so that your iPhone 3G’s baseband is preserved for any possible future iPhone 3G unlock solutions. The below instructions also apply to unlocking and jailbreaking the iPhone 2G.
- Download the iPhone 2.2 OS firmware to your desktop:
- Download Pwnage Tool 2.2, (Pwnage Tool is not available for PC Windows):
- Now that you’ve downloaded Pwnage Tool, click it to start it up
- Select Expert Mode
- Select your iPhone version, iPhone 3G or iPhone
- Click Next
- Allow Pwnage Tool 2.2 to find the iPhone 2.2 OS firmware that you downloaded to your desktop
- Select the iPhone 2.2 OS firmware
- The iPhone 2G’s firmware 2.2 filename is iPhone1,1_2.2_5G77_Restore.ipsw
- The iPhone 3G’s firmware 2.2 filename is iPhone1,2_2.2_5G77_Restore.ipsw
- Now click Next
- Select the General category
- Click Next
- General Settings:
- If you are using your iPhone on a contract with your carrier or network you must uncheck the box next to Activate
- If you don’t have a legitimate iPhone contract with your carrier, you will need to ensure that the box next to Activate is checked, this will make your iPhone or iPhone 3G for use on an official iPhone carrier’s network
- Change root partition size to 1000MB
- Now keep clicking Next until you get back to the Build screen
- Now select Build
- Click Next
- Save the custom restore file to your desktop and this file should be named iPhone1,1_2.2_5G77_Custom_Restore.ipsw
- Wait for PwnageTool 2.2 to build your custom iPhone firmware 2.2 file
- When asked if the iPhone has been Pwned before, be honest and choose the appropriate option
- Now connect your iPhone
- Follow directions to enter into the Restore Mode, remember the trick is to press the power button slightly before pressing the home button!
- If you followed the directions correctly, you will then be given a blue window, now click on OK
- You will see I Can Haz Success, now quit Pwnage Tool 2.2
- Now start and go into your iTunes
- You will be told your iPhone needs to be restored
- Click OK
- Now here is a crucial part, make sure you hold down on options key on your keyboard while you click restore
- Now choose the iPhone1,2_2.1_5F136_Custom_Restore.ipsw from your desktop and click open
- The next part is to wait and can take up to a few minutes, be patient!
- After some more waiting, you will be told that your iPhone has been restored, click on OK
- Now disconnect your iPhone after iTunes recognises it, you can now restore the backup of your iPhone’s data
- Congratulations, all done!
Any comments will be appreciated, comments usually replied within 48 hours, we hope everything works out ok for you! We’ll be keep this guide updated, so come back soon!
With help from iPhone Hacks, iPhone Dev, IntoMobile, QuickPwn…
Hey folks! Just abit over two weeks after our last roundup for jailbreaking the iPhone firmware 2.0.2, we now have another updated roundup for the latest and just recently released iPhone firmware version 2.1. In this latest roundup, as before, we will try to summarise the most popular methods that the iPhone community and also the iPhone Dev Team have come up with for jailbreaking and unlocking the iPhone 2.1.
The iPhone software or firmware 2.1 which was announced by Steve Jobs earlier this week has indeed addressed a number of issues, these include…
- Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
- Significantly better 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 for users with lots of third 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
However, as you would expect if you’ve previously experienced some jailbreaking or unlock yourself, updating to the latest iPhone firmware always means paying a bigger price, getting your iPhone locked or ‘bricked’ again…
Update (14/09/2008): The subsequent version of the iPhone firmware, version 2.1 can now be jailbroken, unlocked! More details – Roundup of jailbreaking, unlocking the iPhone 2.1 2G and 3G…
It’s been sometime since our last round up for jailbreaking the latest iPhone firmware, this latest round up will summarise for you the latest you need to know for jailbreaking the latest iPhone firmware, firmware version 2.0.2.
Since Apple’s update was released in an attempt to fix some of the issues relating to 3G on the iPhone well over a week ago, there have since been version updates released for various jailbreaking tools such as the Pwnage Tool, WinPwn and QuickPwn… So let’s get cracking!
- Pwnage Tool 2.0.3.1
So let’s first talk about the latest Pwnage Tool from the iPhone Dev Team, it’s latest is now version 2.0.3.1, this latest release includes an updated Installer app. Though it’s the newest from the iPhone Dev Team, it will only jailbreak and NOT unlock the iPhone 3G running iPhone firmware 2.0, 2.0.1 or the latest 2.0.2. If the first gen iPhone (2G) is the one you have, this latest Pwnage Tool will jailbreak and unlock your iPhone running either firmware 1.1.4 or 1.1.5 or 2.x including iPhone firmware 2.0.1 and 2.0.2.
The latest Pwnage Tool will also include multi language support, these include, German, French, Hungarian and Russian. Please be aware that Pwnage Tool is only compatible for Mac users and not Windows users (use the tools below if you’re running Windows).
Download the Pwnage Tool version 2.0.3.1 here…
- QuickPwn Tool 2.0.2
The Previous version of the QuickPwn Tool did not support Mac users and was originally made for just Windows users. The latest version 2.0.2 supports both OS now, and can be used to jailbreak the latest firmware 2.0.2 by anyone. Don’t be confused, QuickPwn Tool is not a replacement for the Pwnage Tool. Think of QuickPwn as the little brother of Pwnage Tool, err… In other words, the Pwnage Tool is still much more powerful.
As we mentioned in previous posts, QuickPwn makes it quicker and easier to jailbreak iPhone as it does not need iTunes based full restore. Pwnage Tool on the other hand is more powerful, because it allows you to create custom iPhone firmware versions which can then be used to pwn the iPhone to jailbreak it.
The Mac version of QuickPwn Tool will work on iPhone running firmware 2.0.2 and it’s interface is similar to the Pwnage Tool. The latest Windows version of the QuickPwn Tool has now been updated to work on iPhone running iPhone firmwares 2.x (2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2).
Just like the Pwnage Tool, QuickPwn Tool will only jailbreak and NOT unlock the iPhone 3G. If the first gen iPhone (2G) is the one you have, it will jailbreak and unlock your iPhone.
Download QuickPwn 2.0.2 for Mac here and here…
Download QuickPwn 2.0.2 for Windows here…
- WinPwn Tool 2.5
The WinPwn Tool to me has never attracted as much attention in comparison to the creations of the iPhone Dev Team, especially now that QuickPwn is available. Nevertheless for Windows users, the latest WinPwn Tool, version 2.5 is available to jailbreak your iPhone running 2.x (2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2).
WinPwn 2.5 can be used to jailbreak, unlock and activate first gen iPhones running firmware 2.0, 2.0.1 and 2.0.2. It can also be used to jailbreak iPhone 3G running firmware 2.0, 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 but cannot unlock iPhone 3G.
The latest version of the tool comes with an all new user interface and includes the following features:
- QuickPwn Support for iPhone firmware 2.0/2.0.1/2.0.2
- Root partition resize support
- Installer support
- Basic / Expert modes
- Wizard style interface
- Automatic updater
- Support for WinXP and Vista 32/64bit
You can use WinPwn in either Basic or Expert mode. The basic mode is like the easy mode where it uses default settings. All you need to do is build a custom firmware image and restore your iPhone using that custom firmware via iTunes. The expert mode as the name suggests gives you more control over the process.
You can download WinPwn 2.5 here. You must uninstall any older version of WinPwn before you install the latest version.
Should you choose to use WinPwn, here are some links in case you require further support:
[via Fosfor, iPhonehacks, Gizmodo, WinPwn]
You can also check out our previous roundups for jailbreaking the iPhone here:
This is just to let everyone know the iPhone Dev Team have released a new jailbreaking tool called the QuickPwn and is intended for Windows users with iPhones or iPod Touches running the firmware 2.0.1. QuickPwn is currently still in beta but is safe and is already available for download. It’s also got an advantage over WinPwn in that it operates very quickly without needing iTunes to rebuild/restore your device afterwards.
Find out more in detail and visit our Roundup of jailbreaking, unlocking the iPhone 2.0.1 2G and 3G so far… UPDATED, the download link is located near the bottom of that post…
ust to let everyone know, the latest Pwnage Tool version 2.0.2 by the iPhone Dev Team is out and we’ve outdated our roundup post for jailbreaking firmware 2.0.1 for both iPhone first gen and iPhone 3G. Scroll towards the bottom of that post and you will find the latest update we’ve just inserted.
Roundup of jailbreaking, unlocking the iPhone 2.0.1 2G and 3G so far…
