Jailbreak I Phone Yourself

This guide will cover a Jailbreak on the Iphone or IPod Touch. It is broken into two chapters each with three sections.

A Jailbreak is when root control of a device is gained. Root control, when used in the context of an iPod or iPhone, is when the user has access and control of the primary partition where system files are stored. More simply it allows you to install or remove anything the user likes. In the case of this manual the Jailbreak will consist of gaining root control, allow users to install apps from their own source, and adding addition functionality to the device.

This guide is current as of February 8, 2009. Once a new firmware is released this Jailbreak will almost certainly not work on newer firmware and may brick your device. This manual was written with the idea that the user knows how to operate the device on a basic level but some experience and caution is recommended.

The Jailbreak – Introduction and Understanding
Before the Jailbreak can begin we will need to gather the correct supplies and understand some details about the process. First, the device must be of the 3.1.2 firmware, firmware being the operating system. To check your firmware version go to settings, select general, select about, and look for version on the list. The following is a list of general supplies that will be needed once you determine you have the appropriate firmware.

1. 20 Pin Apple USB data cable.
2. PC running Windows XP, Vista, 7, or Mac OS X with internet connection.
3. Wireless internet connection (for the device).
4. Be sure your device is fully charged before beginning!

Two other topics that need discussion before you begin are legality, and the tethered unlock. First and foremost is legality. Depending on where you live the legality of a Jailbreak varies and changes. Based on the current user agreement with Apple it is breach of contract to Jailbreak your device in the U.S., it is still legal in Canada and Germany. Also, it is worth noting that these contracts have never been taken to court and tested, until that happens it is impossible to know if these contacts can legally prohibit this, being that you own the device. Here also a distinction between Jailbreaking and piracy should be made. Just because Jailbreaking your device makes it easier to pirate things such as apps doesn’t make it responsible for piracy.

Second, the tethered Jailbreak has far more impact than the legality of the Jailbreak. Software such as Blackra1n use bugs, loop holes, or weak spots in the firmware to insert its code on the fly. The exact inner workings of the Jailbreak programs are basically a secret. This is done to try to keep Apple from patching the loop hole. The most that could be found on how Blackra1n works is that it uses a patchable flaw in the USB connection to the device. This style of Jailbreak has one flaw, some devices with a certain baseband firmware, 5.11.07, when rebooted will boot into a mode called Recovery Mode. When this occurs the device must be reconnected to a PC with Blackra1n, Blackra1n will re-inject its code, and the device will function until its next restart. Most development teams have announced they have no plans to fix the tethered Jailbreak issue.

The Jailbreak
This section will cover the steps needs to perform the initial Jailbreak. You will need to go onto your PC and download Blackra1n RC3 from here. No install is necessary the program is a standalone executable. Once downloaded, connect your device. If iTunes opens close it. Open Blackra1n and click ‘make it ra1n’

Once you start the process it will run on its own, with no interaction needed from the user. Your device will restart during this process into Recovery Mode and Blackra1n will bring it out of Recovery Mode. Another window is going to popup it is just a note from the author of the software.
This has completed the actual Jailbreak of the device but has done very little to enhance functionality or circumvent the Apple App Store. The later will be covered first in the next section. Cydia and Installous To allow us to add functionality (software packages) and a different apps source we first need a portal to software packages. Cydia is one of two well known sources and will be our choice. Blackra1n gives us the ability to install Cydia.

To install Cydia simply select the new Blackra1n icon on your device, select Cydia and select install, see figure 1.3.1. The device will handle the installation and may reboot during the process. Once the installation of Cydia is complete, Cydia needs to be opened for Installous to be added as a source. Begin by opening Cydia by selecting it on your device. On its first run Cydia may need to reload its data and may need to restart once that is complete. Once Cydia is opened select ‘Manage’ from the list at bottom and select ‘Sources’. Once in the sources window, select edit in the upper right, then select add in the upper left. Once the add window is open type ‘http://cydia.hackulo.us’ and select ‘Add source’.
Once the source has been added Installous must be installed. Return to the sources page in Cydia. Select the Hackulo.us source, scroll down to the ‘I’ section and select ‘Installous’. Once the Installous software package screen is open select install in the upper right hand corner. Once Installous is installed you will have an icon on the device for it. You can open it and search for an application, download it, and install it.

Adding Functionality – SBSettings
Another major reason to Jailbreak your device is to add functionality. IPhone and IPod touches lack many functions of other devices not because they lack the capability but because apple has decided the user doesn’t need them. SBSettings is a software package from Cydia that allows easy access to several device settings such as brightness, wifi control, running processes, and various IP addresses. To install SBSettings on the device open Cydia and select search. Scroll down to the ‘S’ section and select SBSettings from BigBoss then select install. Once installed SBSettings can be accessed at any time by sliding your finger across the top of the screen over where the time is displayed.

Backgrounder
Another function that is missing the ability to have an application run in the background. For example, the Pandora application is great but you can’t use it while checking your e-mail. With Backgrounder you can press and hold the home button to make an application run in the background. When this is done a window will pop-up saying that back grounding of that application is either enabled or disabled. To install Backgrounder return to the Cydia search page and search Backgrounder. Scroll down to the ‘B’ section and select Backgrounder. Once open select install.

WinterBoard
The last big function that we are going to add is the ability to style our device using themes. A theme is a package that in our case works with WinterBoard. These packages allow us to change everything from a single icon to the entire look of the phone. To install WinterBoard return to Cydia search and search WinterBoard. Scroll down to the ‘W’ section, select WinterBoard, and select install. To use WinterBoard you can select its icon and check which theme you would like applied. When you want to get new themes for your device simply return to Cydia search and search for your desired theme.

Conclusions
In conclusion, we’ve gained true control of our device as well as add some missing core functions. Going forward if there is a function you would like to add you can search for it in Cydia. If there is an application you would like you can search for it using Installous. There will be future firmware updates from Apple. Do not install an update through iTunes until it is clear that the new firmware can be jail broken. A good place to find that out, and any future news on the Jailbreak front, is If for whatever reason the Jailbreak doesn’t work and the device is inoperable you have two options, Recovery mode and DFU mode. Recovery mode is not a preferred mode but your device may ‘slip’ into this mode during the Jailbreak. If this happens simply connect it to iTunes and follow the onscreen instructions to restore your device to original firmware. If the phone is not in recovery mode DFU mode is the only option. DFU mode is the best option if your device becomes bricked, or completely unresponsive.

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Tags: blackra1n jailbreak

This entry was posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:31 am and is filed under Apple Iphones. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.