Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 16 March 2008 20:27
Your IT -
Mobility
Page 2 of 3
The iPhone Dev Team, creators of the AnySIM unlock application that has allowed millions of iPhone users to use the GSM SIM card and network of their choice, and completely otherwise unaffiliated in any official capacity with Apple (despite their name) announced last week that it has ‘pwned’ (owned in hacker speak) the iPhone.
Coming a few days after the iPhone SDK was announced, the iPhone Dev Team
say that ‘Pwnage’ is “based on an exploit found in the lower levels of the iPhone/iTouch bootloader” and that “we can now “pwn” Apple by patching the device to allow unsigned code. This opens the door to unlimited possibilities.”
The Dev Team says that “once your iPhone/iTouch has been “pwned”, you can do things like installing custom made .ipsw files - straight from iTunes!”.
They are set to release two tools as part of the “Pwnage project”, with both apparently “undergoing intensive developing” and promised to “soon be ready for public consumption.”
The first tool will be called “iPwner” and is said to be a “tool to make your iPhone/iTouch ‘pwned’. You will have to use this tool just once.”. This tool sounds very similar to the Jailbreak process today’s iPhone owners have to go through to install unauthorised third party software.
The second tool will be called “IPSW Builder”, with the Dev Team saying that “by using this tool you will be able to modify the .ipsw filesystem, i.e. pre-jailbreak, pre-unlock, pre-activate, and create a complete custom .ipsw installation. In case you are already unlocked you can even tell it to disable the baseband update, just in case. Restore or Update from iTunes with custom .ipsw file and Voila! no more hassles after that.”
Although Apple are now obviously aware of the fact the iPhone Dev Team have made this ‘breakthrough’ and will likely change the final release version of the iPhone 2.0 firmware to block this jailbreak-style exploit, the iPhone Dev Team have shown they won’t be denied by any of Apple’s attempts to stop them and will strive to allow iPhone 2.0 users to run both authorised and unauthorised third party apps, just as is the case today.
In other SDK news, some of the developers who successfully downloaded the iPhone SDK have discovered that Apple isn’t yet ready to accept their US $99 to officially enrol into the program.
The Daring Fireball website
notes the letter some would-be official developers have received:
“Dear Registered iPhone Developer,”
“Thank you for expressing interest in the iPhone Developer Program. We have received your enrollment request. As this time, the iPhone Developer Program is available to a limited number of developers and we plan to expand during the beta period. We will contact you again regarding your enrollment status at the appropriate time.”
“Thank you for applying."
"Best regards, iPhone Developer Program.”
Apple did note that only a selected number of developers would be accepted into the beta program to start with, and that they would be from the US only, so chances are that some developers who have received the letter either aren’t in the US, or that Apple has received too many applicants and will be contacting developers again, as they promise in the letter, either before the June launch date, or not too long afterwards.
Is this such a big deal? Or is 'one more sting' really a one more thing 'surprise' in disguise? Continued on page 3.
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