That Didn’t Take Long…iPhone 2.0 OS Unlocked

by Peter Sauer on July 10, 2008

It has not even been officially released yet, and the iPhone 2.0 OS already has been unlocked. In contrast, the original iPhone OS took hackers a couple of months to unlock. But this time they got a head start. Gizmodo reports the iPhone Dev Team has been working on jailbreaking the phone since the beta version went out with the iPhone SDK.

But does it really matter? While it’s exciting that the new OS is unlocked and unauthorized apps can be added, it’s not as useful as when the original version was jailbroken. That’s because there’s this little thing called the App Store, along with the new phone’s tighter bundling with an AT&T contract no matter where you purchase it, and because the phone will soon be available in most countries.

But if you enjoy the sheer sport of watching people hack Steve Jobs’ precious creation, keep an eye on the iPhone Dev Team’s site for the release of their tool. It reportedly will be released “soon.”

Comments

more iPhone coverage please! - July 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pm PDT

Guys, serioulsy. I get that Apple is making a huge impact on the mobile phone industry, and that the 2.0 and app store is big news.. but come on. You’re at like 10 posts or something ridiculous today about JUST the iphone.

Variety.

Chris - July 10th, 2008 at 4:10 pm PDT

http://consumerist.com/consume.....272305.php

If somebody social hacks AT&T out of the plan cancellation fees, then please share as well. I would buy the phone outright for $199 if I could continue to use my $29 a month plan.

consumerist.com/consumer/consumerist-kit/script-for-escaping-cingular-contracts-without-fee-based-on-new-arbitration-clause-228186.php

Daniel Brusilovsky - July 10th, 2008 at 4:25 pm PDT

Wow, that was fast

Jimzip - July 10th, 2008 at 4:29 pm PDT

@ ‘more iPhone coverage please!’

Yah - that’s been the last *6 months* at AppleInsider…
Yawn.

Jimzip

beach - July 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm PDT

As long as there isn’t a video recorder for the iPhone… then unlocking is viable.

Mario - July 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pm PDT

Well considering the appstore is charging for the most ridiculous apps (flashlight app) I for one am happy that I will be able to hack it. Not to mention that there are many features that will be lost with just the app store to get apps. one example is using SSH to mount my iphone as a volume on my desktop. Allowing me to haul any file I want with me. I see huge advantages to having it open. It would be really boring if I only had the appstore.

Daniel - July 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm PDT

But it’s my phone!!!

Why can’t I unlock it if I want to!!

Your Daddy - July 10th, 2008 at 4:39 pm PDT

You want to unlock and jailbreak so you can not only have the AppStore but the other UnderGround App Store that has all of the other rejected Apps on there. The official one couldn’t house them all so you need another corner store! I cant wait till I get my 3G tomorrow!

Chris Hahn - July 10th, 2008 at 4:54 pm PDT

The big reason why I jailbreak my phone? so I can hack the system sounds. i HATE the default systems sounds. They may work great for an actual Mac, but most of the sounds are stupid quiet. It’s extremely easy to replace the system sounds, as they’re just AIFF files, and you can pretty much do whatever you want.

Ignace / @micronauta - July 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pm PDT

One thing is to be able to run any program on it, and another very different thing is to be able to use it on any network, that is the unlocking that will really be news.

Chris - July 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm PDT

“But does it really matter?”

Yes, now you can
1. Install any app you want
2. Use any SIM card you want, very useful when traveling abroad
3. Use the iphone as a 3g wireless modem for your laptop for the low price of $30/mo.
4. Stick it to the man.

Peter B - July 10th, 2008 at 5:12 pm PDT

In case you looking to upgrade to 3G version, this might mean that you can unlock your original unit and pass it on a family member or sell it. Otherwise, it turns into a “wi-fi capable iPod” - and lets face it, who needs one of those if you gonna have 3G iPhone anyway

Charles - July 10th, 2008 at 5:15 pm PDT

@more iPhone coverage please!

There is definitely an INSANE amount of coverage on the iphone today. I counted over 9 articles and 340 comments on techcrunch and over 33 articles and 1400 coments on gizmodo.

Graph:
http://www.iphonetrue.com/2008....._4775.html

Mansoor - July 10th, 2008 at 5:19 pm PDT

Way to go … dev-team, we are waiting for the unlocking app

Jonas Follesø - July 10th, 2008 at 5:31 pm PDT

This is awesome!

I have a first generation iPhone, and have no plans of committing to those horrible prices for the Norwegian 3G iPhone. So a jail braked 2.0 OS, with support for app store godness on my “old” iPhone is gold!

Bob - July 10th, 2008 at 5:35 pm PDT

Will be waiting for that.

vectr - July 10th, 2008 at 5:48 pm PDT

Yes it matters…

Here’s the upgrade path:

1. Purchase initial iPhone
2. Upgrade to iPhone 3G for local use
3. Unlock old iPhone for overseas travel

Hendra - July 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm PDT

@ #1
well it’s better than the posts about governator and the frucking car..

adam - July 10th, 2008 at 6:30 pm PDT

I guess you should go ahead and change the URL to iCrunch now? The entire site *appears* to be iPhone-centric. I’ll try back next month.

Charbax - July 10th, 2008 at 6:40 pm PDT

The App store doesn’t let you install VOIP, GPS in-car navigation, iTunes alternatives or basically any app which would provide commercial functionalities which Apple wouldn’t be able to control.

bob cobb - July 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm PDT

Apple just has too much control over the app store. It’s great, it’s attracted a TON of amazing developers, but I’ll jailbreak mine just so I can put iCopy on it. As well as a tether app when one becomes available.

Eric - July 10th, 2008 at 7:03 pm PDT

Jailbreaking is still very useful. I don’t see most of the apps I want (openssh, terminal, python) in the appstore, and I doubt they’ll ever be there.

Jerome - July 10th, 2008 at 9:14 pm PDT

maybe he hasn’t noticed, but a lot of the apps in the App Store originated from the jailbreaking scene. So a part of the guys who published there know the similarities and differences from the jailbreak and to the official sdk.

Jon - July 10th, 2008 at 10:06 pm PDT

the most important reason at all to jailbreak: freedom from AT&T (or if you are international, the contracted provider). The new pricing plans for the iPhone are a joke. $30/mo for internet + you get no text messaging with that? Really?

Original Sin - July 11th, 2008 at 3:56 am PDT

“But does it really matter?”

Michael, if there ever was a sign you’ve completely drunk the Kool-Aid, this would be it. Of course it matters! Let me introduce you to some things you might not have heard of in the Apple cave you seem to be hiding in:

1. Free software.
2. Software that does things Apple doesn’t like. How about a farking DivX player? Or VoiP?
3. Did I mention free software?

Sometimes this blog shows an uncanny likeness to a cult news letter. Please make that stop.

Original Sin - July 11th, 2008 at 4:00 am PDT

Perhaps worth adding that by “Free software” I mean free software that does what the for-pay software does, but for free.

supa134 - July 11th, 2008 at 7:57 am PDT

yes, where can i get my sketch program for free instead of 10 bucks lol
cmon mlb said there app was gonna be free gotta pay 5 bucks for that, if i look at it i get better apps for free with the installer and save like a hundred bucks, that remote program is cool from teh app store and i have been waiting ages for a decent aim program, the app store got that, but damn 50 bucks for a program to store you medical records lol cmon . sometimes mac really pushes my buttons

Christian Nussbaumer - July 11th, 2008 at 9:26 am PDT

Just got my new iPhone 3G and I’m definately gonna unlock it just because there’s a fix, actually a little app, that allows you to switch of that annoying auto correction when you inout text in SMS or eMails.

Why didn’t Apple thought of implementing this tiny little feature? There will be literally millions of people begging them to do that…