Filed under: iPod Family, Hacks, iPhone
iPhone: Testing the 1.1.2 Jailbreak
After a really late night, I had the privilege of being able to test some of the jailbreak software this morning. This is not the final jailbreak software. That will involve using a nice graphical user interface. For now, I'm invited to use the ugly command-line stuff, which is still a great opportunity. Starting in 1.1.1
The key to the 1.1.2 jailbreak is to prepare your system in 1.1.1 before you upgrade. This meant I had to downgrade from 1.1.2.
I quit iTunes and connected to my iPhone using iPhuc. It's not an especially recent version of iPhuc but it did offer two key features: enterrecovery and filecopytophone. Using iPhuc, I typed "enterrecovery", let my iPhone do exactly that--enter recovery mode--and quit.
Update: Heads up everyone. The general purpose post-upgrade tool has not been generally released. If you oktoprepped and upgraded you are fine--the tool will follow soon--but you really don't want to do that until the tool gets released.
Next I unzipped my ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates/iPhone1,1_1.1.1_3A109a_Restore.ipsw file. Despite the name, it is actually a zip file.
I relaunched iPhuc, and from there, I issued a filecopytophone command with one argument, the WTF from the unzipped Firmware/dfu folder, namely Firmware/dfu/WTF.s5l8900xall.RELEASE.dfu. To finish with iPhuc, I entered "cmd go". I then restored my phone to 1.1.1 with iTunes and navigated to jailbreakme.com to perform the jailbreak.
Preparing the 1.1.1 iPhone
Remember that these are the same people who brought you jailbreakme.com. So don't be surprised that preparing for the 1.1.2 upgrade involves nothing more than installing a single Installer.app package. Head over to the tweaks category and install OktoPrep. It takes just a second and once done, you see the message in the picture I show above. I tapped OK and quit Installer.app.
Next, I upgraded to 1.1.2. Since I manually downloaded the ipsw file last night, in iTunes, I option-clicked Check For Update. (Windows users use shift-click instead of option-click.) The update went smoothly without incident and I soon had a very nice 1.1.2 iPhone.
Jailbreaking
The next step uses the new software. I ran a command-line Mac version of the software but by the time you do this, it should have a lovely one-click user interface. The software connected to my pohone, uploaded Installer.app, SSH and the core files, and then read, updated, then wrote the flash image.
Finally, the software prompted me to enter a new password (up to 8 characters) for my unit. A few seconds later it told me that my process was done and that I should reboot. So I did.
The New 1.1.2 Screen
I was expecting Installer.app on my screen. What surprised me was the SSH Icon. Without any work, a simple SSH application appeared on my screen, making it easy for me to immediately enable secure shell access. I launched the app, switched OpenSSH from OFF to ON and waited about 30 seconds as it generated my keys.
Then, at the terminal command line, I removed my home .ssh folder--so I wouldn't have authentication errors with my keys--and ssh'ed in. This being a first release, my initial password did not work but "alpine" still did. Since the BSD Subsystem was still not yet in place, I returned to my iPhone, launched Installer and got that and the Erica Utilities installed.
From there, it wasn't hard to simply start using the iPhone the way I always and normally do. The version I tested did not yet have SpringBoard scrolling but that will be added before the GUI goes live. Here's a gallery for you to enjoy. The one downside: some of the Installer.app items will not install because they "require Firmware Version 1.1.1".
Gallery: 1.1.2 Jailbreak Gallery
Next: The iPod Touch.
This is going to take some time because I don't have the 1.1.2 software downloaded yet. I've loaded Installer and am applying the OktoPrep. Now it's time to try the upgrade. I'll be back in approximately 158 MB.
Reader Traveler_UK asks: Did you have to downgrade because you had already upgraded to 1.1.2. Yes. And if you get a new-in-box 1.1.2, you'll have to do the same.
12:45: iPod touch is now upgrading to 1.1.2.
1:00: iPod touch hack is done updating. I'm told to reboot. I do so and CONFIRMED: the iPod touch now has 1.1.2, Installer.app and SSH.app
I have yet to have a 1.1.1 application fail to run under 1.1.2.


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Alex McKee said 12:11PM on 11-09-2007
Awesome! I really want a iTouch version (if this isn't) to come out soon. I don't care about it being command line, because I did the original iTouch jailbreak before it was easy. :)
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Traveler_UK said 12:21PM on 11-09-2007
Did you have to downgrade because you had already upgraded to 1.1.2? Or will we have to do a similar upgrade/downgrade process to that required when unlocking virgin 1.1.1 phones?
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DistortedLoop said 12:25PM on 11-09-2007
Wow, fantastic speed on breaking this one. Great job to all involved.
Personally, I just have no interest in 1.1.2. What does it add that I need? Nothing as far as I can tell, maybe we'll no more soon. 1.1.1 was different, as it had some important fixes for me.
Meanwhile, staying at 1.1.1 until the apps I want are compatible with 1.1.2 seems the very prudent thing to do.
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Peteo said 12:33PM on 11-09-2007
Please read the story before you post!
"The key to the 1.1.2 jailbreak is to prepare your system in 1.1.1 before you upgrade. This meant I had to downgrade from 1.1.2."
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XavTheMac said 12:38PM on 11-09-2007
For Ipod Touch, I don't get the point of upgrading to 1.1.2 if you have a jailbroken 1.1.1. Does the new firmware bring something more than just editable events in calendar ???
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rTwelve said 12:49PM on 11-09-2007
So do 1.1.1 apps work in 1.1.2? I want to upgrade and 'break my touch asap but I want to make sure I can run all my apps.
Including the iPhone ones.
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Mobilehavoc said 12:50PM on 11-09-2007
Erica,
The problem with this is you went from 1.1.2 to 1.1.1 using a restore before doing this Jailbreak+Update 1.1.2 process.
So you essentially were using a clean jailbreaked 1.1.1 phone...
What I really want to see is how the Oktoprep + 1.1.2 update + Jailbreak handle an iPhone running 1.1.1 with existing apps, themes, dropbear ssh, etc. etc.
Anyway for you to test that out for us using another jailbreaked 1.1.1 iPhone?
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Sebastian said 12:53PM on 11-09-2007
but.. what do you use? an AT&T sim card? i want to know haw can i downgrade to de 1.0.2 so i can unlock it and update it to 1.1.1.
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Joe said 1:07PM on 11-09-2007
What app did you use to jailbreak 1.1.2? iJailbreak? I prepared my 1.1.1 iphone, but iJailbreak doesn't see my iPhone, do I need to connect it with iPHUC first?
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MyPhone said 1:24PM on 11-09-2007
Erica,
If you do this process with an iPhone that has 3rd party apps in var/root/Applications, will those apps survive the update to 1.1.2?
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insane_for_iphone said 1:27PM on 11-09-2007
hey
can this be upgraded from 1.0.2 after downloading OktoPrep in 1.0.2 or first i have to upgrade to 1.1.1.
thanks
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Dan said 1:44PM on 11-09-2007
ugh. enough with the extended news on the jailbreaks (I don't actually expect you to stop covering the issue - it is news, after all - but I'm so tired of reading about a cat-and-mouse game where neither the cat wins, or the mouse escapes.
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Kiwi Irwin said 1:52PM on 11-09-2007
I just tried installing Oktoprep then I updated and everything appeared to be smooth but all my applications are gone... and it didnt prompt me for SSH :[
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Kiwi Irwin said 1:55PM on 11-09-2007
I just downloaded Firmware 1.1.1 i'm option-downgrading now.
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Rob said 1:57PM on 11-09-2007
I get a "Script Execution Failed" error when trying to install OktoPrep.
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Cindy said 8:29PM on 11-29-2007
Where can i download the 1.1.1. firmware? I currently have 1.1.2. I want to downgrade! Please help
Willy said 2:10PM on 11-09-2007
@Matthew:
An Apple blog that "would not support / aid / document hacking Apple hardware" is not objective at all.
But the micro-updates like this do get a little tiring.
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Doug said 2:13PM on 11-09-2007
Dear Dan,
Stop reading.
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Kiwi Irwin said 2:17PM on 11-09-2007
Ugh, How do i iphuc 1.1.2 to downgrade :[.
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Steve Denton said 2:37PM on 11-09-2007
Do you people actually use your iPhones for, like, I dunno...calling people? Or would that just be too boring?
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