We just knew that the iPhone Dev Team would be quick off the mark with the 2.1 firmware breaking PwnageTool for iPhone users. Not least because a good few weeks back now it was reported that the team had got its hands on a copy of the 2.1, Beta 1, Build 5F90 firmware that was seeded to iPhone Developer program members.

Armed with this ammunition, the iPhone Dev Team had got themselves into a position where they were always going to be that little bit ahead of the game.

Especially important as it has become clear that Apple is becoming increasingly narked by this particular fly in its iPhone development strategy ointment.

That became clear even before the iPhone 2.1 firmware was made available on Friday. The problem for owners of Pwned devices was all too evident for those who had already upgraded to iTunes 8 after the Let's Rock event.

iTunes 8 had been programmed to detect and protect against Pwned devices. Connect one up to iTunes 8 and it informs you there is a problem, that it can not identify the device properly, that you need to disconnect and reconnect. In a never ending loop of error messages it would seem.

Of course, the iPhone Dev Team quickly started rolling out the patches to overcome this little hurdle which surprised absolutely nobody, expect perhaps Apple.

Equally unsurprising, then, that it could also release the new jailbreaking tools so quickly, complete with iTunes 8 barrier busting functionality built in.

"The iPhone family of devices is still fun to hack!" the iPhone Dev Team defiantly announce, adding that they "figured out a way to combat iTunes 8 without patches" and gleefully tease The Powers That Be with a cutting "we’re waiting to see what Apple tries next" comment. 

How can you get hold of the latest PwnageTool and QuickPwn? And why has the iTouch 2G been excluded from the Pwning fun? More on page 2...

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