iPhone 3.1 Versus Cydia

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10348902-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple' target='_blank'>http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...subj=News-Apple</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"If you're one of the millions of iPhone users who've jailbroken their iPhones or iPod Touches--the desktop hacking trick that allows you to use non-Apple approved apps, access the iPhone's file system, and other tweaks--you'll want to hold off on the latest software update (3.1) that Apple announced Wednesday."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1252687313.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>Along the lines of the <a href="http://www.applethoughts.com/news/show/95113/itunes-9-breaks-palm-pre-sync.html" target="_blank">Pre story</a> from Friday, the iPhone update 3.1 also gives it to the jailbreakers. This update will remove any of your programs installed via Cydia as well as the Cydia program itself. Jailbreaking seems like a pain in the you know what to me, is AT&amp;T hated so much that the aggravation is worth sticking it to them? It wouldn't be for me, but obviously it is for some.&nbsp;</p>

[Underwater Mike]

I'm surprised at the tone of your post. Jailbreaking is not about "sticking it" to AT&T or Apple. It's about enabling more features, more user control and more performance than is available from a stock device.

[Jeff Campbell]

Yes, it may seem harsh, but it seems that whenever I read about jailbreaking, they also include the "I hate AT&T" rant, or at least mention it in the article. So you are right, it might not be caused by hatred of AT&T, but there certainly is implied correlation between the two whenever there is an article about it. I could be wrong, but don't most if not all that jail break their phones take it to another provider? or jail break it so they can take it to another provider? I can understand wanting more functionality, but it sure seems like a pain to me when it already has plenty of functionality via apps. But then again, I have yet to mess with my Apple TV so you can see how big of a modifier I am, I like things simple ;)

[baralong]

Actually every OS update removes Cydia and jailbroiken apps, the issue here is that there isn't a re-jailbreak option available for 3.1... well not yet anyway. Apple did make a change to the baseband to fix the hole yellow snow (the unlocking probram) used to unlock the phone, but that's quite different from jail breaking.

As someone who has his phone officially unlocked by the carrier (thanks Optus here in Australia, done free when you have a contract with them) I'm not too fussed about the carrier unlock, though I can understand why it's an issue in the USA. Though, exactly why is a puzzle ot me. Don't you have early termination fees with your contracts over there? AT&T would get your money regardless

Anyhow, the jailbreak thing is a bit of a pain, and I've given up on most of the Cydia apps. Copy and Paste and MMS have been fine sins 3.0 came out so no need for jailbreaking for that, I found that all the themes (winterboard) seemed to slow down the phone, so now it's just 3 things that I jailbreak for:
<ul><li>Access to the file system, ok that's only for the one pur UI tweak I do (smiley face instead of signal bars) and some custom SMS and other sounds</li>
<li><a href='http://code.google.com/p/statusnotifier/'>Status Notifier</a> that shows me is I have unread email, messages, missed calls, or if I'm in silent mode with icons up near the battery</li>
<li>5 icon dock. I still can't choose which of phone, messages, iPod, safari and mail I don't want easy access to</li></ul>

Honestly, if status notifier was included in the base OS, then I probably wouldn't bother with jailbreaking. When my partner got her iPhone she was really surprised it wasn't part of the basic functionality. I think Apple could also pull back a large number of the jailbreak crowd but letting people have themes, similar to winterboard, on their phones. I'm sure they'd sell like hot cakes on the app store :)

[WhoCares?]

Yes, a common misconception about jailbreaking.

It is unlocking that is breaking free of the carrier. Jailbreaking is a pre-requisite to unlocking via a software unlock. But jailbreaking on its own is not done only to unlock.

I have no need to unlock, but I jailbroke after 3 days to break free of Apple's restrictions, not the carrier's (Rogers in my case).

I couldn't live without basic functionality that was assumed in Windows Mobile, but that is still not available in iPhone OS without jailbreaking. The biggest ones for me? Automatic profile switching (MyProfiles), quick access to basic settings (SBSettings), adding useful apps to the lock screen (IntelliScreen), and overall customization (WinterBoard and Categories). Oh, and of course being able to use Skype over 3G.

[Jeff Campbell]

It appears they have the jailbreak (http://smokingapples.com/asides/3-1-jailbreak-is-here/) for 3.1 already :)

[baralong]

Not for 3GS :( but I'll keep waiting