Hackers release browser-based iPhone 4 jailbreak

(Credit: Steven Musil/CNET)

The unlocked iPhone 4 is now technically legal and technically possible.

Just days after the U.S. Copyright Office ruled that bypassing a manufacturer's protection mechanisms to allow "handsets to execute software applications" no longer violates federal copyright law, the iPhone Dev Team on Sunday released a jailbreak for the iPhone 4 at JailbreakMe.com.

Unlike previous jailbreaks, which required the device to be connected to a computer to run the update, the latest jailbreak is accomplished completely via mobile Safari loaded on the device. The browser-based software bypass reportedly works on all iOS devices, including iPhones, iPads, and iPods running iOS 4 and iOS 4.01, but it will reportedly not work on devices running the iOS 4.1 beta.

Also, some users report the jailbreak disrupts FaceTime and MMS functionality on the device.

However, as of this writing, demand for the jailbreak is apparently so popular that the site's servers can't keep up, and many visitors report difficulty in getting through.

Jailbreaking allows devices to run apps not approved by the company producing the operating system--such as Apple, the main target of such bypasses. Jailbreaking also allows devices to run devices to run on nonauthorized networks.

While the U.S. Copyright Office has declared the software legal, Apple discourages users from loading the bypass, reminding them that doing so will void their device's warranty. "As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably," Apple said in a statement earlier this week.

iPhone Hacked to Run Android 2.2

courtesy of wired.com



If you are stuck with an old iPhone but wish you had an Android device, there’s a way to combine the two, creating a smartphone with the body of the former and the brains of the latter.

A recent hack shows how to run the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android 2.2 aka FroYo, on Apple’s iPhone 3G. The mod still has a few bugs and isn’t stable enough for everyday use, but it’s a first step towards creating a hacked Android operating system for the iPhone.

Android 2.2 isn’t widely available on devices yet. Google made the operating system official last month, and while it’s available to developers, it hasn’t made it to many customers. A few Nexus One users are the only ones to have gotten the upgrade.

This is not the first time someone has attempted to port the Google-designed Android operating system onto an iPhone. Last month, a PC World editor documented his progress in getting the Android OS onto his Apple phone.

DIYers are now boldly modding phones so they are not limited by what smartphone makers offer. For instance, some intrepid smartphone users have hacked their Windows Mobile phones to run Android, giving them a new OS without any expense. It also offers access to new features and to applications in the Android Market.

The latest Android-iPhone isn’t as sophisticated. It only allows the modified iPhone to send text messages and make calls. It does not support Wi-Fi and the phone can get hot in just a few minutes of use.

And as the video makes it clear, it is really not to be attempted at this point unless you are a developer or a curious tinkerer. But as a proof of concept, it’s pretty amazing.



Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/iphone-hacked-android-froyo/#ixzz0qJ0A5kah

Jailbroken iPad Runs SNES Emulator with WiiMote Controls

InstallerApp for iPhone Plans to Shake up Apple's Monopoly

Have an iPhone and want to install jailbroken apps that aren't available on Apple's iTunes? Well up until now your only option was to make a choice; help keep the AT&T/Apple iPhone monopoly going or jailbreak your iPhone. Well, not anymore. Now there is a program available for Mac (and soon for Windows) called InstallerApp from RipDev that lets you install jailbroken apps onto your iPhone without it needing to be jailbroken.

InstallerApp is a program that will allow you to download iPhone apps to your computer and then transfer them to your iPhone over a USB connection. Once you get the InstallerApp and have it running, you will see a list of thousands of iPhone apps available from non-app store sources. You can browse by category or search for programs. InstallerApp supports Installer and Cydia, the 2 best known package installer's of jailbroken iPhones.

InstallerApp is commercial software and is available for $7 from RipDev's site.

The bottom line... this is a great way for someone who wants to follow the rules and is too scared to jailbreak their iPhone, but wants to experience some of the great "underground" iPhone apps out there. Apple may try to play Big Brother and shelter us from apps they consider foolish or inappropriate, but with this program, everyone wins.