Jailbreak and unlock the iPhone

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Do you have a lot of pages on your iPhone? Do you hate having to keep flicking through them to find the one you want? Check out Smoothboard. Now when you flick a page it won't snap lock to the next page. You really have to see this in action.

Dock, puts a new spin on launching your applications. You can either drag your finger straight up from the bottom of the screen to select your category, then slide to the upper row of icons to launch a particular application... Or you can drag your finger diagonally from either lower corner to get a list you can scroll. Check out this link from Nate True (the creator of this program) to see the program in action.

If you are in an area without Wi-Fi access for your laptop, and you need to get online, no problem. You can "tether" your iPhone's 3G connection to your laptop, and surf the 'net with it using freely available programs. Read my tutorial on how to do this here. There used to be a program for tethering on the App Store, until Apple removed it...

3G Unrestrictor allows for downloading files larger than 10 megabytes from the App Store, or the iTunes Store. You will also be able to watch higher quality version of YouTube videos, instead of the standard, compressed for the 3G network videos. You can purchase this via Cydia. Read more at the developer's site here.

If you like SMS, you'll notice that the stock SMS application included with the iPhone is lacking in many respects. There are three alternatives that I know of (BiteSMS, iRealSMS, and QuickSMS). They all expand SMS on the iPhone to include things like: instant reply (withtout closing another application that may be open), message forwarding, drafts, search ability, folders, notifications, send to multiple recipients at once, and more. BiteSMS even offers a cheaper payment plan for sending messages (in some areas).

Looking for an alternative MMS program? Try SwirlyMMS and you'll be ready to go. It will send and receive MMS from any cell phone. Messages can include pictures, video, audio and text.

You can now run applications in the background! There are severe limitations imposed on AppStore apps. One of these is "no background processes". This means that if you have an application, such as an instant messenger, every time you press home to go to another program, the application is closed. You are disconnected. You get no messages, no notification, nothing.

Backgrounder is an attempt to fix this. Backgrounder allows you to select an application that you want to allow to run in the background. Then when you press home, that application will keep running. This is perfect for an IRC application or other similar program that you do not want to get disconnected everytime you tap the home key. This adds critical functionality that you cannot get unless you jailbreak!

All you do is launch the application you want to keep running, in this case I'm running Pandora. Press the Home button until you get the message that the program is now running in the background. Press and hold Home again to cancel it. Backgrounder is available on Cydia.

How would you like to add scroll bars to applications like Safari? I don't know about you, but scrolling long pages by flicking over and over again is time consuming. With QuickScroll 2 installed, you get a scroll bar that you can touch and drag anywhere. This program will also work in many other applications including the SpringBoard. All you have to do is configure it.

Turn by turn GPS navigation. xGPS is the first program for the iPhone to offer turn by turn directions. It works in conjunction with Google Maps. This program is only available on Cydia. Check out this demonstration video from the program creator.

If you're a developer, you can install GCC, Java, Python, and Ruby. MobileTerminal is here too... This is all available via Cydia, a Debian APT-based distribution system.

Cydia also allows for developers to sell their programs, if they wish. This should be a welcome alternative to those developers who are rejected by the App Store, to still reach their target audience. Programs for sale stand out from free programs as they have a purchase button on their information page.

The iPhone hacking community is well established, and has been around since the day the first iPhone went on sale in the summer of 2007. With the creation of Installer, and Cydia, the community created the foundation for the distribution of third party applications. Apple saw this, and witnessed the success of these two distribution models. I'm sure they were a driving force behind the creation of the App Store, so Apple could make money from distributing third party software on the iPhone. Installer and Cydia offer the majority of their programs for free. Installer was later replaced by Icy, and Icy was discontinued late in 2009.

Here are the interfaces for Cydia and the App Store. Pretty similar looking huh? They function essentially the same too.

Jailbreaking is very safe, and completely automated. All it takes is a program like blackra1n, PwnageTool, redsn0w, or Spirit, a USB cable, and a couple clicks of a mouse. After a few minutes your iPhone will be modified to have access to a whole new world of content. Once you jailbreak, the sky is the limit.

Why are there seven Step 1 tutorials, and which is the right one for me?

My Step 1 tutorials all revolve around three key programs for Mac users: PwnageTool, redsn0w, and blackra1n. I do not have any tutorials for Spirit as I don't have enough phones to replicate every condition. Here is a brief summary of their differences.

PwnageTool (works up to 3.1.3 firmware)

Does not require you to be on a specific firmware before use. You will create a custom firmware file with PwnageTool and restore with that.
Is a more in-depth program offering a simple mode and an expert mode for greater control over custom firmware creation.
Used for activating, and jailbreaking first generation, 3G, and 3G S iPhones. Uploads the BootNeuter program to the iPhone for unlocking the first generation iPhone only. You must use the stand alone program ultrasn0w for unlocking the 3G or 3G S iPhones.
Creates a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with (wipes out your current settings and personalization of the phone) again and again.
Allows you to decide whether or not you want to install Cydia and Icy (discontinued).
Uploads custom images for the boot logo and restore logo in expert mode. Simple mode installs custom default images automatically. You can also upload your own images.
Allows custom root partition sizing.

redsn0w (works up to 3.1.3 firmware)

Requires you to already be on the firmware you intend to jailbreak! This means you have already updated or restored. This is the biggest difference between redsn0w and PwnageTool.
Is a more basic program offering only one mode for custom firmware creation.
Does not create a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with again and again. However, it does not wipe out your personal settings once they have been configured.
Allows you to decide whether or not you want to install Cydia.
Does not allow for custom root partition sizing.

blackra1n (works up to 3.1.2 firmware)

Requires you to already be on the firmware you intend to jailbreak! This means you have already updated or restored. This is the biggest difference between blackra1n and PwnageTool. blackra1n is similar to redsn0w, however only blackra1n works on 3.1 or 3.1.2 firmware.
Is a one button program on your Mac. Installs a basic program on your iPhone as well. This allows for installation of Cydia, Rock Your Phone, and blacksn0w.
Does not create a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with again and again.
Does not offer the ability to customize the boot and recovery logos.
Does not allow for custom root partition sizing.

Spirit (works with 3.1.2 or 3.1.3 firmware)

Requires you to already be on the firmware you intend to jailbreak!
Your iPhone must already be activated.
Is a one button program on your Mac, and it will install the Cydia program onto your iPhone.
Does not create a custom ipsw file that you can use to restore with again and again.
Does not offer the ability to customize the boot and recovery logos.
Does not allow for custom root partition sizing.
You can read more about this program and download it here.

One last thing before I cover the Step 1 tutorials. You need to know what firmware versions are currently on your iPhone.
I recommend reading this next, if you need help determining this.

The first tutorial - Step 1 : Jailbreaking/unlocking the 1st generation iPhone, uses the PwnageTool program in conjunction with Boot Neuter to unlock the iPhone. This particular tutorial uses Expert mode, there will be no Simple mode tutorial as it is redundant and would have fewer options. Read it here.

This tutorial is only for the 1st generation, or 2G iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate (if you are not using an official AT&T contract), and unlock your iPhone to work with any GSM carrier's SIM card. It will also allow you to decide whether to install the Cydia third party distribution program.

This method will require you to restore your iPhone to jailbreak it.

The second tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking/unlocking the 1st generation iPhone, uses the redsn0w program in conjunction with Boot Neuter to unlock the iPhone. Read it here.

This tutorial is only for the 1st generation, or 2G iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate (if you are not using an official AT&T contract), and unlock your iPhone to work with any GSM carrier's SIM card. It will also allow you to decide whether to install the Cydia third party distribution program.

The third tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking/unlocking the 3G iPhone, uses the PwnageTool program in conjunction with ultrasn0w/blacksn0w to unlock the iPhone for use with any GSM carrier's SIM card. Read it here.

This tutorial is only for 3G iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate, and unlock your iPhone. It will also allow you to decide whether to install the Cydia third party distribution program.

This method will require you to restore your iPhone to jailbreak it.

The fourth tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking the 3G iPhone, uses the redsn0w program. This tutorial is simulated. There is no unlock for iPhones that came with 3.1.3 stock firmware with the 5.12.01 modem firmware. Read it here.

This tutorial is only for the 3G iPhone. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak and activate your iPhone. It will also allow you to decide whether to install the Cydia third party distribution program.

The fifth tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking/unlocking the 3G S iPhone, uses PwnageTool and ultrasn0w/blacksn0w to unlock the iPhone for use with any GSM carrier's SIM card. Read it here.

To be able to indefinitely restore to older firmware, read this tutorial.

This tutorial is only for 3G S iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate, and unlock your iPhone. It allows you to install Cydia for third party programs.

The sixth tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking/unlocking the 3G S iPhone, uses redsn0w and blacksn0w to unlock the iPhone for use with any GSM carrier's SIM card. Read it here. This program has not been updated to work with 3.1.3 firmware.

This tutorial is only for 3G S iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate, and unlock your iPhone. It allows you to install Cydia for third party programs.

The seventh tutorial - Step 1: Jailbreaking/unlocking the 3G and 3G S iPhone, uses blackra1n and blacksn0w to unlock the iPhone for use with any GSM carrier's SIM card. Read it here.

This tutorial is only for 3G and 3G S iPhones. Using this tutorial will allow you to jailbreak, activate, and unlock your iPhone. It allows you to install Cydia and Rock Your Phone for third party programs.

The PwnageTool, redsn0w, and ultrasn0w programs are distributed for FREE by the iPhone Dev Team. I either link (from within my tutorials) to the official download location for these programs, or host them myself. Blackra1n is distributed for free by GeoHot at his site here. Do not pay for these programs! I know there are shady businesses out there that sell them!

Step 2: Okay I've jailbroken, now what?

This tutorial is to be read after you have jailbroken your iPhone. It gives instruction in the use of Cydia, how to maintain it, and how to install applications with it. It also provides a list of recommended applications (within the context of using this site). Used in conunction with this page you are reading now, I'm hoping this ties up all the loose ends in the iPhone hacking scene.

What else does your site offer?

The bulk of my tutorials are in the "Hacking" menu tab, and their titles should be self-explanatory. Some things you might want to try next are:

These are just some of the numerous tutorials I have on iPhone hacking.

I also have synergy with a popular iPhone news, product review, and forum website called iPhone Alley. Links to their hacking forums are in my "Forums" tab.

My "Miscellaneous" menu holds all my other iPhone odds and ends like a ringtones creation guides, how to rip your personally owned DVDs and copy them to the iPhone. There is a directory for the locations of various graphics on the iPhone (which are popular ones to switch with custom graphics), GSM codes that trigger certain hidden functions, iPhone technical speficiations, hacking terminology, a page with popular iPhone website links, and how to securely erase the iPhone - among other things. So take a look around and explore. You'd be amazed at what you will find here.

Alternate hacking programs.

There are a few programs you can buy that will automate the jailbreaking and customization process, and help with downloading programs from the Cydia repositories, among other things.

iFuntastic - has been around the longest of these programs. It has an extensive feature list here. Some of its features include: jailbreaking, file management, ringtone creation, home screen customization, web clip editor, themes with WinterBoard and many more. Note: this program currently costs $5.95 and is tied to one specific iPhone.

Rock Your Phone - Installs a desktop client and a program on the iPhone. The developer claims to have a feature that will fix problems when the iPhone won't start due to application conflicts. this program is an alternative to Cydia and Icy, and has iPhone programs for sale. You can visit their site here.

Reminder

There are some things you should know before you perform anything on this site. There is obviously some risk involved here, but the majority of people have been able to restore their iPhones back to normal, should they get into trouble, by using iTunes.

You potentially risk voiding your warranty. Something would have to go disastrously wrong though.
Any modifications you perform on your iPhone, including bypassing activation and unlocking, could be reset if you should install a firmware update provided by Apple. It is usually just a matter of re-doing everything you previously did to get your iPhone back the way you had it. Sometimes this process becomes more protracted as the firmware updates work harder to resist our hacking attempts.
Read the instructions in their entirety. If you can't follow directions, you may damage your iPhone requiring a replacement that will most likely be paid for by you. Apple does not provide warranties to any iPhone not under a service contract through their official cell phone providers (AT&T, O2, et cetera).
I am not responsible for your results if they are less than what you expected. You assume all risks. I recommend seeking help in iPhone hacking forums or in the various IRC channels. Check my links page to find them.
If you have not activated your iPhone via one of the official cell phone providers (AT&T, O2, et cetera), then you will lack the ability to use visual voicemail.
Just because I was able to get something to work on my iPhone successfully is no guarantee you will be successful. Individual iPhones seem to have their own personalities. They do not all behave the same way every time.

If you get into trouble, I offer a mail-in only repair service for a fee. Click here to learn more.

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