IPhone 3G Jailbreak Released, Paves Way For Open Source Apps

PainMeds writes "iPhone Atlas is reporting that the first jailbreak for the iPhone 3G has been released, and includes the popular Cydia community installer for distributing free games and applications. Since Apple's SDK was released, web sites have criticized Apple for the restrictions placed on both what developers could write and what APIs they were allowed to use. Others have noted the SDK's incompatibility with the GPL. The Cydia installer has provided a distribution channel for both open source software and software that would otherwise be impossible to build using the restricted SDK. A few applications are already out, including MobileTerminal and NES.app, a Nintendo game console emulator. In just over a week, open development is finally here for the iPhone 3G!"

Comments

Re:so

[neonmonk]

Because OpenMoko looks like the iPhone's ugly cousin from Kentucky? How about the fact that the iPhone already has numerous apps and a lot of momentum in app development? How about the fact that the standard software on the iPhone is much more polished than anything the OpenMoko will produce?

I'm more interested in Android and very interested in what platforms may support it. (You know if, if it gets out of Beta(tm) stage)

Re:so

[neonmonk]

Flamebait? By pointing out the OpenMoko's obvious downsides to the iPhone? Are you kidding me? The overzealous sensitive mods are out in force!

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the OpenMoko, but the execution is poor considering the considerable competition. People are developing plenty of apps for the iPhone because it is popular and it does have a very polished user interface. The iPhone has staying power. The OpenMoko? Not so much.

Re:Don't buy it

[D'Sphitz]

Because they can. Isn't that like the official motto of geeks everywhere?

Re:Don't buy it

[Free the Cowards]

The reasoning is not very difficult:

1) I like the hardware

2) I don't like the software

If the cost of fixing 2 is less than the value of 1, then you buy the device.

I don't have an iPhone either, but I don't act like people with a different opinion are drooling morons.

Re:so

[Anonymous Coward]

The mods aren't overzealous, they're from Kentucky.

Re:I don't want a device I have to "jailbreak"

[Free the Cowards]

Posting on Slashdot must automatically remove all of your ability to sympathize with other human beings too.

Let's go through why most people don't care about the stuff you raised.

1) Most people don't do anything that's restricted anyway. This is less true of being restricted to a single carrier, but people generally have very little loyalty toward an individual carrier.

2) People really do not feel that it's a big deal to connect their phone to their computer one time in the 2+ years that they will own it.

3) People don't have "many different types of media", they have MP3s. The iPhone plays MP3s.

4) $200 US does not seem overpriced to me. As for overhyped, most people don't have this weird reaction where they feel that they are obligated to dislike anything that's popular.

5) Most people simply don't care about replacing their battery.

6) Most people simply don't care about storage expansion.

Your complains are all legitimate and it's fine that you don't like the thing (I don't own one either), but it's silly to act as though the device has no merit whatsoever.

Re:I wonder...

[samkass]

Really? I applied as an individual developer without any released Apple products, and have paid my $99 and got in. They were very restrictive until release day, but at this point I don't know anyone who's applied who hasn't gotten the invitation email. I got my email the day after the App Store was opened, and am halfway done with my first app.

And as there are enough applications in the Apple Store already that it's hard to track them all, I don't think lack of apps is anything anyone's worrying about. Jailbreaking will definitely be good for GPL fanatics (as that's the only one of the open source licenses that's incompatible), but I suspect 99% of the users won't care and will stick with the convenience, support, and variety of the official store.

Re:Don't buy it

[QuantumG]

Awesome, so you're buying a product and deliberately cutting yourself off from software updates for it.

What could possibly go wrong?

Nah, buy it.

[SignOfZeta]

Apple has said that they won't make updates intentionally defeat jailbreakers. I was jailbroken from 1.0.2 all the way through 2.0. And if you need Apple's help, backup and restore your phone with the stock firmware.

Re:Nah, buy it.

[@madeus]

Upgrade 1.1 irreversibly bricked phones.

No it did not. You cannot brick an iPhone (or iPod) just by installing customized firmware or messing about with the software on it - even if you try. Some people have a really hard time grasping that.

What happened to some people was it restored the status of the phone to "awaiting activation" from where they could only be used with the original SIM they were bundled with (or, technically, an already activated SIM on the appropriate locales network, taken from another iPhone).

Now that pissed some people off and meant that people who got phones and where using them with other providers couldn't keep using them anymore (as they phones wouldn't get passed activation without an activated SIM on the appropriate network for the locale being inserted).

People liked using the term "bricked" so that's how they described it, not least because many of the people in that camp didn't HAVE an original, already unlocked SIM to insert, because the bought the phones from a 3rd party and so were left with a phone that was of no use to them (but that was really still working just fine, as intended by the vendor - but not as they desired).

People in this category were impatient / foolish enough to rush out and install a largely untested update on a phone they'd already patched the software on. This is happening again with the latest jailbreak with people who have a very limited understanding of what they are doing running into problems they won't be able to fix, and I am sure there will be a lot of tears before bed time when they rush like lemmings to install the next official update over the top of their patched up date in a few weeks or so.

Thankfully the Apple restore functionality for iPods and iPhones is reliable and robust. Even if you fuck one to the point where it won't boot still doesn't mean it's "bricked" - because even after doing that you can still access the restore mode and restore full functionality, loading up factory firmware on the device.

Assuming Apple allows you to buy it

[Somecallmechief]

I had my first experience being denied the privilege to purchase a product yesterday. I called the Apple store at the nearest mall to verify they had units in stock, which they did. I then drove the two hours to said mall, in all eagerness to buy the product. After 30 minutes in line, and 20 minutes in angry negotiation with the Apple employee, I walked out of the store without an iPhone. They were in stock; I am an AT&T customer with an existing iPhone and eligible for an upgrade; and my account is in good standing. Unfortunately for me, there is a mysterious IFU tag on my account, which AT&T later explained means one of lines has a discount or special promotion on it, rendering me ineligible to purchase in an Apple store. As Apple refused to sell me the phone, I asked if I could bring an AT&T employee from their kiosk (literally a few dozen meters from the Apple store) to assist with the purchase. Impossible, said Apple. I asked if they could sell the unit to the AT&T kiosk to let AT&T then sell it to me or arrange some such similar inventory transfer. Impossible, Apple said. I asked if there were any way to broker a deal in the Apple store by including an AT&T employee. No, they said, and they asked me to leave. I was, admittedly, very angry. It's the prerogative of the company to choose how and to whom they sell their products, but it seems in infinitely bad taste to do either in so far as you are able. In fact, it seems like unmitigated arrogance to deny such a sale based on some vainglorious corporate policy to lock your device to a vendor and a service provider. I've never been disappointed by Apple before now in my last 2 years of Apple fanboydom. But.. hot apple sauce. I still can't believe I don't currently own an iPhone 3G.

Re:Assuming Apple allows you to buy it

[olafva]

This same situation was described on the first day by a TV reporter who was also refused as he also had a special discount. This is why potential customers were asked to come by a day or so before to check their eligibility for an iPhone 3G at the discounted rate. Clearly, thos on special discounted plans were not eligible for the full discounted rate. Thisincludes you as you could have determined by checking online before. However, it's human nature to want something and overlook the details. I'm sure you can find a solution by talking with AT&T and getting a phone from them since you are thiwr customer, however, don't expect to get the $199 or $299 discounted rate unless you give up your monthly discounted rate.