Newbie's guide to jailbreaking

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Hi guys, I know there are plenty of Jailbreak threads around the web, but thought I would ask here for a clear cut description of it without all the crap!

I have a 3gs, and want to know is it worth jailbreaking?

Jailbreaking is just giving you access to the phone to allow you download different apps that aren't from the iTunes store, am I right in thinking that?

How and where from do I download these apps?

Does it provide any other benefits? Does it offer extra settings for the phone? Is there a way to get delivery reports!?!?

Is there a possibility of bricking the phone while jailbreaking it?


Thanks!

Basq

Bryn wrote: »

I have a 3gs, and want to know is it worth jailbreaking?

Jailbreaking is just giving you access to the phone to allow you download different apps that aren't from the iTunes store, am I right in thinking that?

Yeah, it's very much worth it. It basically opens up the filesystem to be written to and allows third party apps to be installed.

Bryn wrote: »

How and where from do I download these apps?

When you jailbreak, you'll now have an app called 'Cydia' which is almost basically a repository of third party apps / themes / tones etc.

Bryn wrote: »

Does it provide any other benefits? Does it offer extra settings for the phone? Is there a way to get delivery reports!?!?

Benefits are endless really.. it all depends on what you use it for. Whether you use it for getting useful apps (e.g SBSettings which allows you to quickly switch on WiFi / BT / 3G etc) or to skin your phone (e.g using Winterboard to apply a theme / tones / wallpaper of your favourite band / TV show / football theme, or even an Android / XP / Vista skin).

Unsure about delivery reports app.. quite possibly. This seems to indicate you can: http://iphonehelp.in/2009/09/06/iphonedelivery-get-sms-text-delivery-report-in-your-default-sms-app/

Bryn wrote: »

Is there a possibility of bricking the phone while jailbreaking it?

There's risks in everything.. but I've never met one person who has bricked their phone.

If the jailbreak doesn't take and something goes wrong, a restore will fix 99.9% of problems.

Hope this helps!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Basquillem thanks very much for your reply. Exactly what I wanted/need to hear
After a quick flurry with Android, I realised I much prefer my iPhone so it's time to make full use of the iPhone!

Is there only one way to jailbreak or are there multiple programs to use to jailbreak?
Any links to how to jailbreak a phone?

Basq

Bryn wrote: »

Any links to how to jailbreak a phone?

Find out your firmware version and use this guide!

Best of luck!

Be careful if you're on 4.2.1, you may only be able to use a tethered jailbreak.. which means that the jailbreak needs to be reapplied every time you power down your iPhone. If you let the battery run to zero or restart your iPhone then you will need to reapply the jailbreak by connecting to your computer (tethering) and running the jailbreak app again.

guil

have a look at this for what tool to use
http://jailbreak-me.info/

Buceph

What happens with iTunes once you've jailbroken something? Do you still use it, or is there something else that you use.

Basq

Buceph wrote: »

What happens with iTunes once you've jailbroken something? Do you still use it, or is there something else that you use.

Typically nothing really happens.. you can still use it as normal. Although NEVER update to a new firmware or new version of iTunes before finding out it's implication on your jailbreak.

But if you downloaded a pirated version of an app on the AppStore, it may detect it on a sync and remove it. But I'm gonna keep "schtum" on that sort-of-carry-on.

snappieT

For delivery reports, install the iPhoneDelivery package in Cydia. It's not in a default repo, so you'll need to add http://iphonedelivery.advinux.com/cydia/ (in Cydia) first.

Creamy Goodness

redsn0w is the best jailbreaking method.

Frank Spencer

Many thanks for your guide basquille. I was thinking about jailbreaking but was a bit apprehensive about it but your advice seemed so simple that I went for it. It was so easy and I love it. It opens serious doors.

Thanks again!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Frank Spencer wrote: »

Many thanks for your guide basquille. I was thinking about jailbreaking but was a bit apprehensive about it but your advice seemed so simple that I went for it. It was so easy and I love it. It opens serious doors.

Thanks again!

I will be doing this later on today, looking forward to seeing the changes it makes now :cool:

Basq

No worries lads..

.. jailbreaking really is a breeze!

Much more easy to comprehend than the Android equivalent of "rooting".. "rooting" isn't too bad but all that goldcard stuff confuses me no end!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I have just done this.
My iPhone is on 4.2.1 and was a week 36 phone.
So does this mean anytime the phone is switched off, I must connect it to my pc to jailbreak it again?
I presume if I switch the phone off, and then just turn it back on, I can just use it normally without it being jailbroken?! Apologies for the newbie questions
Any essential things I should do first seeing as I have it installed now?!

54kroc

I don't think so Bryn, Safari doesn't work unless you use redsnow to boot thethered.
I just keep my ipad powered all the time to save the hastle.

Also have you started cydia yet? As you have to restart and boot therthered after cydia updates.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

cork45 wrote: »

I don't think so Bryn, Safari doesn't work unless you use redsnow to boot thethered.
I just keep my ipad powered all the time to save the hastle.

Ah that's a bit crap
Is safari the only thing that doesn't work once the phone is turned back on without using redsnow to boot thethered?

cork45 wrote: »

Also have you started cydia yet? As you have to restart and boot therthered after cydia updates.

Yeah I started it up while it was still connected to the pc

guil

the phone won't boot unless ya run redsnow again

omb0wyn5ehpij9

guil wrote: »

the phone won't boot unless ya run redsnow again

I just turned my phone off and back on and everything seems to be working......

guil

what iphone is it and what jb did ya use, afaik 4.2.1 is tethered only at the moment

omb0wyn5ehpij9

guil wrote: »

what iphone is it and what jb did ya use, afaik 4.2.1 is tethered only at the moment

It's a 3gs on 4.2.1 and it's a week 36 phone

guil

thats crazy if its definately on 4.2.1

omb0wyn5ehpij9

guil wrote: »

thats crazy if its definately on 4.2.1

Yeah it's definitely on 4.2.1!

guil

lol i'm baffled, what jailbreak tool did ya use

omb0wyn5ehpij9

guil wrote: »

lol i'm baffled, what jailbreak tool did ya use

Use the link in basquille's post earlier in the thread!!

guil

ah it must be the old bootrom you have

omb0wyn5ehpij9

snappieT wrote: »

For delivery reports, install the iPhoneDelivery package in Cydia. It's not in a default repo, so you'll need to add http://iphonedelivery.advinux.com/cydia/ (in Cydia) first.

How do I do this?!

guil

start cydia, go to manage then tap sources, tap edit and then add, type the above address into the box and tap add source, when its finished tap on the repo in the sources list and scroll down to the package

omb0wyn5ehpij9

guil wrote: »

start cydia, go to manage then tap sources, tap edit and then add, type the above address into the box and tap add source, when its finished tap on the repo in the sources list and scroll down to the package

Thanks a million

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I must admit, I'm very underwhelmed since I jailbroke my iPhone. Apart from delivery reports and sbsettings, I really haven't found anything that has been worth it

guil

theres a world of different things ya can install and mess around with, check status notifier
it shows emails, texts, missed call etc beside the battery, bitesms is a sms app and ten times better than the original, press a volume button and then tap the volume display and a quick compose box comes up, even on the lock screen
this is my current theme

whitelightrider

Hey folks,

Im seriously looking at jailbreaking my iphone. Bought it back in March and its on 4.2.1.
What are the downsides of doing it? It was mentioned above that you have to run something if you turn off and on your phone? Does that mean it has to be connected to the laptop to do this?

Blazer

whitelightrider wrote: »

Hey folks,

Im seriously looking at jailbreaking my iphone. Bought it back in March and its on 4.2.1.
What are the downsides of doing it? It was mentioned above that you have to run something if you turn off and on your phone? Does that mean it has to be connected to the laptop to do this?

yep..although a untethered jb is due out very very soon,...

whitelightrider

Sc@recrow wrote: »

yep..although a untethered jb is due out very very soon,...

Thats a real downside. So in the event my phone ever does get turned off (which would be seriously rare) Id have to connect it to the laptop to power it back on again.

Blazer

whitelightrider wrote: »

Thats a real downside. So in the event my phone ever does get turned off (which would be seriously rare) Id have to connect it to the laptop to power it back on again.

it is...not as bad as it seems as it's very rarely I'd actually turn mine off barring an app requesting it..

It looks like the untethered jb by comex is out in a matter of days so my advice is hang tough.

whitelightrider

Sc@recrow wrote: »

it is...not as bad as it seems as it's very rarely I'd actually turn mine off barring an app requesting it..

It looks like the untethered jb by comex is out in a matter of days so my advice is hang tough.

Will do. Thanks Sc@recrow. Really want to jailbreak it but its worth waiting a few more days.

Jakmeehan

There could be an untethered jailbreak later today according to MuscleNerd on twitter... See here.

This tweet suggests it could be released later today?

toby2111

New to the whole jailbreaking thing,interested in giving it a go.Just updated to 4.2.1-has that untethered jailbreak been released yet?

Jakmeehan

toby2111 wrote: »

New to the whole jailbreaking thing,interested in giving it a go.Just updated to 4.2.1-has that untethered jailbreak been released yet?

Which model have you got?

toby2111

iphone 3gs,baseband 5.15.04.

Jakmeehan

toby2111 wrote: »

iphone 3gs,baseband 5.15.04.

Do you know if it is old or new bootrom?

If not, go to Settings>General>About and post here the Serial Number and Model

toby2111

Serial number-87009YJ23NP
Model-MC131B

Jakmeehan

toby2111 wrote: »

Serial number-87009YJ23NP
Model-MC131B

Looks like you have new bootrom I'm afraid

Still no untethered jailbreak, only a tethered jailbreak with redsn0w

toby2111

Ah Ok,thanks anyways.Hopefully there'll be one released soon,cheers