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3.0 firmware release expected at 10am PT/1pm ET, quick Terminal tip to check

Hey, iPhone 3G owners: Please do not download the 2,1 firmware files listed below. They are for the 3G S and will not work on your phone. Read the whole post for details. The correct firmware for the 3G will start with "iPhone1,2" instead.

If you were up all night waiting for the new iPhone OS to arrive, you're in good company -- we were too, until we began getting Twitter reports from users in Hong Kong and Sweden that the local carriers sent out SMS alerts to their customers suggesting when they could download 3.0. Those times both align with a 10 am PT/1 pm ET go time, and that's when we're calling it for now; Engadget concurs. That's why you're still seeing 2.2.1 as the most current version in iTunes; the new version hasn't been released yet.

Those with a command-line bent and an inability to wait without doing something can launch Terminal and type in the following every few minutes to see whether 3.0 has launched, rather than repeatedly clicking the Check for Upgrade button in iTunes (note that the up-arrow in Terminal reloads the previous command):

curl -s -L http://phobos.apple.com/version |\
grep -i restore |\
grep '_3.' | open -f

The results will look something like URLs ending with this:

iPhone2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw
iPhone2,1_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

The model number indicates which unit has downloadable firmware. As of right now, only the iPhone 3G S firmware has been updated. That's the 2,1 iPhone model. Yes, the 1,2 iPhone 3G model was considered a revision of the first generation 1,1 iPhone as it only had moderate hardware changes. The two iPods are 1,1 and 2,1 for the first and second generation.

(No, for those wondering in the comments, you cannot download the 2,1 firmware and install it on your iPhone or iPhone 3G -- it will only work with the 3G S.)

To download, copy the URL and paste it into Safari's download window or use any other favorite method to retrieve the firmware. Then hold the Option key and click Update in iTunes. Navigate to the firmware (the ipsw file), select it, and 3.0's good to go. Of course, you can also download directly through iTunes as soon as the update is available.



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Hey, iPhone 3G owners: Please do not download the 2,1 firmware files listed below. They are for the 3G S and will not work on your phone....
 

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Mentok

It's good to see 'our lady of jailbreak and unix tools' back at TUAW. Whatever happened at ars, they don't deserve you.

As to the budding AAPL intern, your opinions are your own, you'd fit in nicely over at AAPL with their off-shored assets and their 'not invented here' mentality. Before you rag on me for ragging on AAPL all the software companies do it.. and AAPL is the least offensive about it.

As to the rest of you, it's your choice to run something offa da torrentz or to give AAPL their small due. $10 is a pittance for piece of mind, and it's the same deal that you'll do in September when you either take the risk or get Snow Leopard. AAPL's not nickel & diming you, they're trying to keep people employed.

Think about it: one whole version up of the software for... $10? At most? Pay the nice folks at Cupertino for their hard work. If you really want to see *how hard* then download the *free* iPhone SDK. Seriously.

Finally, if I were you I'd read those other forums about the jailbreak and see how it's going for the early adopters. That's what I'm gonna do.....

June 17 2009 at 3:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mentok's comment
Erica Sadun

Thanks for the kind words. I still love all the people at Ars. Conde Nast is simply having major financial issues and layoffs hit the majority of our team. Jacqui, Chris, Jeff, etc. are all great people to work with.

June 17 2009 at 3:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

Now we wait for app devs to update their files so I can finally use that push notification!

June 17 2009 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
richd

once i download the folder then what would i do.

June 17 2009 at 1:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
richd

need help. downloaded file and now cannot update in itunes, cant find ipsw file

June 17 2009 at 1:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to richd's comment
Brian

I would just try using your pc/mac's computer search bar and put the extension name in there... At least that is what I would do. Any other suggestions?

June 17 2009 at 1:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

A little over 50% complete. I'm just glad it's moving at all. I've be accustomed to waiting till the next day to D/L these updates. (Come on guys share the bandwidth, : P).

June 17 2009 at 1:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Unknown

Started out fast, but I now have 34 minutes remaining (60 MB of 230).

June 17 2009 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
vinforever

It's downloading at 1:24pm EDT.

June 17 2009 at 1:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

D/L time is about 13 minutes for me. So far, so good. Hopefully, there will be no unnecessary server crashes as I'm downloading.

June 17 2009 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
James Dooley

Yahoooooo!!!

230 MB and about 10 minutes to download - wow!

I love being a nerd!

June 17 2009 at 1:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to James Dooley's comment
thexburning

being able to click an update button makes you a nerd?

June 17 2009 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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