Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hacks, Software Update, Apple, iPhone
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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James Donevan said 2:38PM on 9-14-2007
"so don't hold your breath"
You won't have to hold your breath long. The UK iPhone launch is expected on Tuesday - which requires an International Keyboard and therefore the update. While not confirmed by Apple, every UK newspaper is running stories reporting the launch.
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Christina Warren said 2:46PM on 9-14-2007
With all the fears that this is all just going to devolve into a neverending game of hack and patch, the open source nature of iUnlock kind of works against it in this case, doesn't it?
I mean - I doubt that the iPhoneSIMFree is all that different from what the collective minds have put together in iUnlock, but I somehow don't see Apple or AT&T investing the time to reverse engineer that unlock solution, whereas having the source code readily available makes it pretty easy to devise a patch.
And the game continues...
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Sikachu said 2:59PM on 9-14-2007
International keyboard? I hope they would include 'Thai keyboard'
oops .. or do I have to wait until next year? :sob:
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S said 2:59PM on 9-14-2007
So, does this mean that phones that have been unlocked will now be locked again? Or would this just prevent future unlocks?
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Dave said 3:14PM on 9-14-2007
And this is why I have automatic updates turned off, and an entry in my hosts file to block my system from the update server.
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Michael Mastrole said 3:31PM on 9-14-2007
Where is ActiveSync Support?????
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Tom said 4:06PM on 9-14-2007
If it breaks the open source unlocks, it will most likely break iPhoneSIMFree, since iPhoneSIMFree probably ripped off all the work done by geohot & the rest of the open source community. And in fact, the open source version will probably be fixed quickly (if possible), and of course released for free.
I have no sympathy for anyone who paid money for an unlock and supported this slimy "company". I'm all for proprietary software in many cases, but in this case open source is clearly the way to go...
But really, as long as updates don't break 3rd party apps I'll be happy.
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Steve said 3:49PM on 9-14-2007
Give me something I can really use, like active sync and maybe some mms functions or at least the ability to forward a text message.
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Matt said 4:03PM on 9-14-2007
Christina:
Considering the unlock takes advantage of an exploit, I would assume that Apple would fix it regardless of it produced an unlock or not.
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Conor McGuire said 3:59PM on 9-14-2007
Very Very Interesting.
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HarmfulDose said 1:56AM on 9-15-2007
HMMMM, can't you just not update the firmware ???
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rp said 4:31PM on 9-14-2007
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.
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artifex said 4:35PM on 9-14-2007
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.
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Randall said 4:57PM on 9-14-2007
But what happened to 1.1.0, shouldn't that come before 1.1.1 seeing that it's usually how Apple works
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Reg said 5:47PM on 9-14-2007
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
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Josh said 11:12PM on 9-14-2007
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.
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euhnegro said 2:19PM on 9-15-2007
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!
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thomas said 11:17PM on 9-15-2007
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?
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Tom said 1:41AM on 9-16-2007
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.
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Jeremy said 8:16AM on 9-27-2007
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.
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