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iPhone firmware 1.1.1 may break unlocks

Mac Rumors is reporting that iPhone 1.1.1 is due soon (duh), and they say that it'll bring an International Keyboard, some extra settings for the Home button, the likely WiFi store update, and an update to the Modem Firmware. As usual, this is a rumor, so don't hold your breath-- this could be coming next week or next month.

But there is a little twist that Mac Rumors missed. An iPhone hacker birdie tells me that their open source software unlock actually patches the Modem Firmware to do its thing. Which means that if the Modem Firmware gets a significant upgrade, it's very, very likely that it's game over for the current unlocks.

Now, I'm not sure how iPhoneSIMFree's unlock works-- as far as I know, this might only affect the open source iUnlock app. But while Apple has said they're taking a neutral stance against hackers, AT&T may have pressured them to push back against an unlock. As we've known all along, Apple could choose to update the firmware and break any hacks so far, and with a large upgrade to the Modem Firmware, that could be exactly what they've done.

Mac Rumors is reporting that iPhone 1.1.1 is due soon (duh), and they say that it'll bring an International Keyboard, some extra settings...
 

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wachisnairis

aló! everyone, i just wonder how to put the new "version 1.1.1" in the oldest one "ver 1.0.2" there´s somebudy to know the way, the tutorial or video like this picture >>>> www.engadget.com/photos/o2-uk-iphone-gallery/404722/
to get ver. 1.1.1 in iphone.I´d really thnks any kind of info.

October 22 2007 at 3:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeremy

Does this update affect people that have hacked into their phones not to unlock their phone but to just add 3rd-party applications? Or will the update just erase those 3rd-party applications with no problem and just update the software? If anyone knows please respond so I know whether to restore factory settings before an update.

September 27 2007 at 8:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

It won't break it, sadly. We failed to hack the phone properly with that trick (my personal phone went fine, I used the guide on freeiphoneunlock, not the app) but my friend tried the app then and it didn't work, nor did the new app. It seems his modem firmware is broken and a restore didn't fix it. Looks like it's gonna last.

September 16 2007 at 1:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
thomas

Or, perhaps the better method is to hack the firmware update. I know on the HTC devices, you can change out radio firmwares, etc. So, if you know it will break your iPhone, isn't it possible to hack the firmware not to update the modem?

September 15 2007 at 11:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
euhnegro

International keyboard! Sounds good to me. But what would happend to the autocomplete feature? Does this mean the iPhone will increase its dictionary files? Like 1.8GB stored in the OS X?


I hope something is done to the autocomplete, I usually switch from English and Spanish when sending messages or emails with the iPhone. So writing in Spanish with an autocomplete in English can really screw you up.

Anyway just a thought!

September 15 2007 at 2:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nosidam

MacRumors got 1.1.1 and some of the updates from the $100 credit instructions at https://supportform.apple.com/200709/main?id=qp (scroll down to view the screenshots), and the Touch manual. Hardly a stretch to just say that the update will bring some Touch functionality to the iPhone.

September 14 2007 at 11:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R Muffet

Had the software unlock come out back in the 1.0 era, an update would already have broken it, just by the fact that it altered the baseband.

But there are degrees to which Apple can relock it: just as a natural consequence like this, or by changing a lot of things to force a whole new discovery method. Time will tell which way they go.

I expect 1.1.1 will also bring the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store...

...which has become a lot less interesting to me now that I've learnt they aren't supporting podcasts.

Have already sent approx 3 GB of feedback regarding this.

http://www.apple.com/feedback


September 14 2007 at 5:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Randall

But what happened to 1.1.0, shouldn't that come before 1.1.1 seeing that it's usually how Apple works

September 14 2007 at 4:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
artifex

Being neutral is not the same as deliberately trying not to break something. Being neutral just means you won't deliberately break it. But since they've not published any APIs or anything, they can change what they want and say, well, sorry your thingy broke.

Oh, and @5 Dave, one more reason to be thankful it's Apple and not MS, since Windows disregards the hosts file when trying to connect to its update servers.

September 14 2007 at 4:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rp

I don't think the issue is whether Apple intends to break anything, because I doubt they care that much. They're making bank from the unlock and other hacked apps, so there's no real reason for them to stop it. Do you really think Apple gives a shit about AT&T? Just look at how buddy buddy they are with their former "friend" NBC. This is business people, not Seinfeld. They have no friends. They will and probably already have done everything they can to make sure that they DON'T have to stop unlocks or hacks just because AT&T wants them to do it. It is highly unlikely that Apple entered a contract requiring them to bust their asses for AT&T's, not Apple's, benefit.
When Apple makes major changes to their OS, they seed the developers with those changes. However, Apple isn't allowing 3rd party apps on the iphone, so they aren't seeding their firmware changes. So, even though things will probably break, Apple isn't doing it on purpose, they're just making necessary changes. They shouldn't have to go out of their way to support hacked crap because they've already got enough on their plate as it is (copy and paste finally?? maybe? nah.....).
That's just how it goes when you're making major revisions to anything. Anyone who's used computers for a while understands that.

September 14 2007 at 4:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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