iPhone Dev Team

The iPhone Dev Team is a group of engineers in the 'iOS' (previously iPhone OS) community which has developed a number of tools to enable use of applications not authorized by Apple Inc on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and to enable use of the iPhone on GSM carriers not contracted by Apple. These applications provide owners with the ability to sidestep the limitations placed on the devices by the manufacturer, allowing for activities such as deep customization and easy international roaming. The group and their tools have become emblematic for these activities,^[1] which are termed jailbreak and SIM unlocking respectively, to the extent that the Electronic Frontier Foundation have made them the primary example used in their petition to create a DMCA anti-circumvention exemption for jailbreaking^[2] and Apple executive Greg Joswiak (Vice President iPhone Product Marketing) has quoted them in his countering comment to the same petition.^[3]

As of 2008, the Dev Team's tools had been used on at least 1.6 million devices worldwide.^[4]

Ultrasn0w

Ultrasn0w is a program created by the iPhone Dev Team which serves as a Carrier Unlock for jailbroken iPhones. The current supported baseband versions for 3G/3GS for this unlock tool are 4.26.08, 5.11.07, 5.12.01, 5.13.04, and 6.15.00. The only current supported baseband for iPhone 4 GSM is 1.59.00. (The "baseband" version is called the "modem firmware" version in the iPhone Settings app.)

Redsn0w

Main article: Redsn0w

Redsn0w is a program which allows users to 'jailbreak' their iPod touch, iPhone and iPad by using various exploits. The first version released was 0.7 to jailbreak iOS 3.0 on the iPhone 2G/3G and iPod touch 1G/2G. Since then, a new version was released with every firmware update.

The newest version, 0.9.9b8, supports the tethered jailbreaking of iOS 5 and iOS 5.0.1 except for the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S.

PwnageTool

Main article: PwnageTool

Issues

The Dev Team's latest release, ultrasn0w 1.2, uses the same AT+XAPP command exploit found in the 05.13.04 baseband by updating the iPhone's baseband to version 6.15.00 (found in the iPad 3G). This change cannot currently be undone.

Despite claims of scrupulous testing, this baseband update has caused sporadic GPS functionality with a portion of devices. Wifi issues some assume is a result of the baseband update are really due to a lingering wifi issue Apple has in their own supported iOS code.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ Iwatani, Yukari (2009-07-06). "The Apple iPhone 3GS Hacking Debate - Digits - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/07/06/the-iphone-3gs-hacking-debate/. Retrieved 2010-04-10. 
2. ^ http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2008/comments/lohmann-fred.pdf
3. ^ http://www.copyright.gov/1201/hearings/2009/transcripts/1201-5-1-09.txt
4. ^ http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2008/responses/jay-freeman-saurik-54.pdf

External links

• iPhone Dev Team blog