Latest iPhone update jailbroken before it hits the ground

Updated 4:20pm to include stats from German launch.

As expected, Apple released the OS X 1.1.2 update for the iPhone overnight to coincide with its debut in the U.K. and Germany. As not expected, it's been sprung from jail already.

Erica Sadun at The Unofficial Apple Weblog obtained jailbreaking code for the 1.1.2 update almost simultaneous with its release last night, and tests this morning confirm that it works for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The 1.1.2 update patched a flaw in the way OS X handles TIFF image processing, which was the way hackers gained access to the iPhone after the 1.1.1 update, and it also wiped out third-party applications just like before.

The latest iPhone update from Apple won't keep third-party applications of the home page.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

But new code for the 1.1.2 update was released last night by the same people responsible for the JailBreakMe program. It's still pretty raw, which means it's not really meant for those of us who aren't familiar with the command line. The latest hack works by applying the code to an iPhone that's still running the 1.1.1 firmware, then installing the 1.1.2 update.

If you're unfamiliar with the iPhone jailbreaking saga, check out some of our past coverage. In short, "jailbreaking" your iPhone means that you're opening it up to third-party applications without Apple's authorization. Apple plans to release a software developer's kit in February that will let developers and users put authorized applications on their iPhones and iPod Touches.

It's not clear whether the 1.1.2 update disabled phones that had been unlocked to run on other mobile networks, as was the case the last time Apple released an iPhone update. The update has only been live for about 12 hours, and reports are still trickling in.

It's pretty clear the jailbreaking dance is going to go on right up until the day that third-party applications are officially released for the iPhone. And perhaps even past that point, since it's unlikely Apple's going to sanction unlocked iPhones until it decides it's ready or it's forced to by popular demand or changes in the law.

As for the European launches themselves, they appeared to go pretty smoothly despite pouring rain in the U.K. and freezing cold in Germany. Lines were definitely shorter in London and Berlin, however, than they were in San Francisco and New York, although braving the elements in November requires a bit more fortitude than doing so in June. As of this writing, the iPhone's only been on sale for an hour and a half in Germany, and 30 minutes in the U.K.

UPDATE: Reuters reported that a T-Mobile official in Germany said the company sold 10,000 iPhones during the first day.

[thedreaming]

Poor Apple

They make money out of every iphone that runs with at&t service, but so many people are buying unlocked phones and keeping them unlocked.

[Lee in San Diego]

They make no money from

It is even sadder when you take into account that Apple makes no
money at all from the sale of the iPhone. All the income comes
from the deal with AT&T /snark

So how many people are "so many people" unlocking their iPhone?

[technewsjunkie]

The CARRIERS should open up...

...and let us use our cell phones on any carrier without co$tly penalties.

I can use my computer with any ISP. Why not my cell phone on any carrier?

[timber2005]

Diffrent Technologies

There was a previous article were someone spelled out why you just can't walk across carriers. I think it was the Sprint Unlocking Their Phones Due to California Settlement story.

Anyway, since I don't remember the terms (other than one uses a SIM card, and the other does not), I'll call it Technology A, and Technology B.

Tech A uses Sim
Tech B uses no sim.

Tech A is used by AT&T (and T-Mobile if I recall)
Tech B is used by Sprint (and Verizon)

If you have these phones, and you want to go from AT&T to T-Mobile, its easier as you unlock, and change sims as we've seen with the iPhone. But to go from Sprint (whose phones have NO sim slot even), to T-Mobile, you need a phone with a sim slot.

Thats it in a nutshell. We'd have to merge the technologies, or let one dominate.

[smokeonit]

150000 sold to resellers that hacked it...

since 150k went to the EU for illegit resellers no wonder the lines
were not as long, LOL...

[J.G.]

New iPhones not hacked

What actually happened is the hackers downgraded version
1.1.2 to earlier versions. They have not made it possible to
'jailbreak' the European iPhones while they are using their native
software. Erica Sadun is a self-promoter who cannot be relied
on as a source. C/NET will be publishing more misinformation if
it continues to rely on her.

[Tom Krazit]

Not exactly

You're right that they did have to downgrade to 1.1.1 to make it work, but the process still involves upgrading back to 1.1.2.

The steps she described: Downgrade to 1.1.1, install the OktoPrep software, upgrade back to 1.1.2, and run the jailbreaking code. You'll then be able to put third-party apps on a 1.1.2 iPhone, and they must have figured out something about the 1.1.2 code in order to let that happen.

[cary1]

does it make a difference?

1.1.2 doesn't give any advantage to users. So if I have a phone with 1.1.1 firmware, I don't have any reason to upgrade it to 1.1.2

God bless the hackers ;)

[baxxy]

Should i buy ot wait?

Hi there, i'm from the UK but in the states for the next 8 days.
My plan was to pick up an iphone here for a cheaper price, unlock and use my t-mobile sim back in the uk.

Bad timing with this new update launch, do i think i should hold off buying now or go ahead?

In the worse case, is it relatively easy to downgrade to 1.1.1?

Cheers all

[cary1]

buy it..

if you buy it right now, chances are that the phones in stock have firmware 1.1.1 on them (since 1.1.2 came out only couple of days ago)

You can go to this website: http://iphone.unlock.no/ and follow few easy steps to unlock it