Saturday, February 23, 2013

Jailbreak explanations part 1

Often newcomers are confused by strange words in the iPhone jailbreak world. In order to make it easier to all newbies out there, here are short explanations on different terms and processes known in the iPhone jailbreak community. Included in this descriptions are some software tools, apps, explanations and other useful tips needed for every newbie jailbreaker.

Jailbreak tools

Usually there is more than one way to jailbreak. This depends on the iOS version, jailbreak exploits and so on. If you do not know how to find out which iOS version is currently running on your iPhone here is how to find this out: tap settings, general, about. Scroll down to see the version.

Here are the software tools need to jailbreak your iPhone

iPhone with 4.2.1

Greenpois0n (untethered jailbreak)

RedSn0w

iPhone 4.1

Pwnagetool (untethered jailbreak, for Mac computers only)

Greenpois0n (untethered jailbreak)

Limera1n (untethered jailbreak)

Verizon iPhone 4

Greenpois0n (untethered jailbreak)

Explanations of some jailbreak terms and words

Jailbreak

Simple yet confusing. To jailbreak an iPhone is same as rooting an Android phone. When you jailbreak you can customize you iPhone in whichever way suits you best. It also gives you access to Cydia where you can find apps which Apple wont allow to their App Store. While jailbreak is different than unlocking it is the first step toward the unlock. No jailbreak means no unlock, simple as that.

Unlocking

When you unlock your iPhone you can use and sim card with it. For example if you have an AT&T iPhone but you would like to use a T-mobile sim card, all you need to do is to insert the T-mobile sim card and it will work with your iPhone. Many people who would like to use an iPhone can't because of Apple's network carrier policies. That is one of the reasons to jailbreak, to enable people on other networks enjoying advantages of iPhone. There are people who would like to increase the resales value of their iPhone and they do so by unlocking it for use on other carriers. The unlock depends on the firmware version on your iPhone and the modem firmware version. Most often the unlock will be UltraSn0w or YellowSn0w. To get this unlocking tool you first must jailbreak and install Cydia.

Cydia

We all know about the iTunes App Store, but how many people know there is an alternative? Cydia is the alternative app store. Cydia will allow to get apps which great apps are not were not accepted in app store because of various restrictions imposed by Apple. This is reason why so many great apps are not found in app store. So all of you who jailbreak can get to enjoy in those jailbreak apps.

Repositories

Repositories are online servers containing various software packages. Simply said repositories are sources or places where you can download software packages . You can add (or remove) repos within Cydia. Most known repos are Big Boss, Telesphoreo Tangelo Repo, Mod Myi and so on.

Some of these like BigBoss for example are already there when you install Cydia first time but you can add more repositories of your choice when you need them.

It is always advisable to be careful which repo you will add and you should add only trusted repositories.

DFU Mode and Recovery mode

It is easy to mistake this two modes but they are really different. The simplest way to be sure is to this: if the on the iPhone screen you can see only the Connect to iTunes message (or completely dark screen) then your iPhone is in DFU mode. If you can see the same logo but with the slide for emergency sign your iPhone is in Restore mode.

Usually an iPhone will need to be in DFU mode for the jailbreak to work. This is how to get your iPhone into DFU mode:

1. Turn your iPhone off

2. Press and hold both power and home button

3. release the power button when the screen shows Apple logo and keep the home button down.

4. If done correctly you will see "connect to iTunes" sign.

5. Start iTunes and plug in your iPhone into the computer

6. you can now restore your iPhone

SHSH Blobs

This is term which often brings confusion even to seasoned iPhone users. What is this, and why should you save it? Do you remember when you upgraded the firmware version last time? If you do so you will remembers the message when you began with restoring: "Verifying restore with Apple".

This comes from the fact that Apple being what it is want you to restore only to current firmware version. So this means practically that they wont let you downgrade your firmware version if you have "accidentally" upgraded the iOS on your iPhone.

If you save SHSH blobs, downgrade will still be possible for you. It works by tricking iTunes that your restore is being verified by Apple's servers. You can use the TinyUmbrella software to save the SHSH of your iPhone. It is very advisable to save SHSH blobs if you didn't already did so.

Baseband

What is baseband? Baseband is a part of iOS which controls your connection to the carrier network. This is the reason baseband version is very important if you need to unlock your iPhone. When you upgrade this baseband will also be upgraded and it is important to know which basebands cn be unlocked, as there are certain basebands which can't be currently unlocked. If you want to jailbreak your iPhone without upgrading the baseband you will want to use Pwnage tools. With this tool which unfortunately works only on Mac computers, you can upgrade the iOS version without upgradeing the baseband at the same time. If you are on a official iPhone carrier you do not need to worry too much about the baseband.

Springboard

Springboard is the "desktop" of your iPhone and also its interface. When you need to respring your iPhone it simply means that you have to restart the springboard. This is sometimes requested after installing some jailbreak apps.

Winterboard

Winterboard is the jailbreak version of the classical Springboard "desktop" of your iPhone

I will continue tomorrow with some more basic info about jailbreaks and jailbreak apps. Let me know in the comment section about your jailbreaking experiences.





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