Free at Last

So I'm an Apple geek. So what? Just because I love my Macs and iOS devices, doesn't mean I take my marching orders from the Grand Poobah in Cupertino. Continuing the story I began in my previous post, my iPhone and iPad go with me wherever I go. As an independent IT consultant/contractor, I rely on them to track my schedule, time charged to customers and keep notes from every job I do. I would describe them as indispensable, but far from everything I need. As much as I love them, I wouldn't even consider showing up at a customer's site without my MacBook Pro. If not in hand, its in the back seat of my car, just in case. All to often, I need a network sniffer, wifi stumbler, an ethernet connection or just a good ol' terminal, none of which are allowed in the iOS App Store, at least none with any useful functionality. Sure, there are lots of apps that do pieces and parts of these tasks, but nothing really powerful and useful to a professional like myself. Apple just won't allow those types of "weeds" in their walled garden. The iOS SDK (Software Development Kit) just doesn't provide the necessary functions and coding an app outside the SDK is a sure-fire path to rejection by the App Store gatekeepers.

I certainly understand their reasoning. After all, iOS devices are designed for consumers, not gearheads like me. It just makes commercial sense to take all steps necessary to insure a smooth, consistent, reliable user experience for 95% of their customers. Still, Apple could give "superusers" the option to install third-party apps outside the App Store, but I estimate that will happen sometime after Jesus returns. It just doesn't fit Apple's M. O.  So, what's a person like me to do?

Jailbreak!

Thanks to some very clever folks, anybody can modify their iOS device to allow installation of apps from any source. Now the disclaimer: Do this at your own risk, Apple will frown on this at the Genius Bar and although this is completely legal, your warranty may be voided. Now that that's out of the way, I don't hesitate one millisecond to recommend evasi0n.com.  The evasi0n app (there's a version for Mac, Linux and Windows) is a simple tool to jailbreak any iOS device and works with the current iOS release (6.1.2).  The entire process of downloading and running evasi0n, following the simple instructions to jailbreak your device and waiting for a couple of reboots takes less than 5 minutes. So far I've jailbroken 4 devices, 2 iPhone 5s, an iPhone 4 and an iPad third gen.  All four were running iOS 6.1.2 and all went without a hitch.

Now, my iPhone is a perfectly-functional wifi sniffer and my iPad has a terminal app that is as useful as the one on my Macs.  That's just the beginning. I can now browse, create and delete files on all my devices like they were just another node on my network. I can download files in Safari and save them any number of places on my device or in the cloud. I can Facetime and download apps larger than 50 MB over 3 & 4G thanks to a $2 app that lifts the built-in restrictions.  I can also stream Amazon InstantVideo and HBO Go to my AppleTV via AirPlay, something taken away from users because Apple is in the middle of a pissing contest with various media providers.  Now, I can modify my user interface in more ways than I could possibly know or describe short of creating a small encyclopedia volume. Unlimited apps within folders, folders within folders and a custom settings drop-down are the ones I like best, but there are as many permutations as grains of sand on the beach.

Just like a real computer.

I still haven't left the MacBook Pro at the office, but it does stay in the car more since I acquired all these new capabilities. After all, iOS is just a slimmed-down version of OS X optimized for minimal resources and maximum battery life. Its lack of functionality has little to do with resource constraints and much to do with Apple's tailoring. Besides, all jailbreaking does is remove artificial restrictions built into the operating system. After using this most recent jailbreak for two weeks, I've noticed no decrease in battery life or reliability, just a two-fold increase in capability. I'm not saying jailbreaking is right for everyone, just that its a proper solution for me. There certainly isn't any technical barrier.  My 14 year-old daughter jailbroke her iPhone with no assistance, so I'm pretty sure anyone reading this will have no problem at all. So what if Apple doesn't like it. After all, these devices belong to us.  Jailbreaking is just a way to say, "Thanks for all your help and protection Apple, but I'll take it from here."

The MacTexan Podcast #4 is UP!

Podcast #4 "Our Favorite Apps" is up.  We discuss the iOS4 jailbreak and several Mac apps we just can't live without.  You can get it here.  You can also download it, or better yet, subscribe to our feed in iTunes (link opens iTunes).  You can also search the iTunes store for "mactexan".

iOS4 Jailbreak!

There's an iOS4 jailbreak available and it's by far the easiest I've ever done.  Just point Mobile Safari on your iOS4 device to http://www.jailbreakme.com and follow the instructions.  My iPhone 4 took just a little over a minute to jailbreak and reboot.  Viola!  Cydia installed and all the non-Apple-approved goodies available.  Just one word of caution:  DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!  Apple has already stated that despite the recent DMCA ruling, jailbreaking voids your warranty.

The "Jailbreak" Mentality

I’m a BIG fan of jailbreaking my iPhone and iPod Touch.  I mainly like monkeying around with the GUI on the devices but there are tons of apps available through Cydia, Rock and Icy that, for whatever reason, are not “blessed” by the overlords at Apple.  I’ve found most of these to be reliable and safe, but there’s always the exception and I install them at my own risk.  I’ve been jailbreaking since the first jailbreak was available for the first-gen iPod Touch and have successfully jailbroken every iDevice I’ve owned including first and second generation iPod Touches, the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS.  Every device I own is now jailbroken running the latest OS, 3.1.2.

I find I can do so much more with a jailbroken device that it is always a quandary when Apple releases an OS update.  I have to decide if Apple’s new features outweigh the features I enjoy with a jailbroken device.  I usually wait until a jailbreak is available before upgrading, but it is still a pain in the ass.  Call me stubborn, but I have a big problem with Apple’s attitude.  After all, I paid for these devices (which are really computers) and I don’t like anybody telling me what I can and can’t do with them.

I love my Macs, but I can’t imagine a scenario where I would even consider buying one if Apple were as onerous with them as they are with the iPhone and iPod touch.  All you Mac owners out there:  Can you imagine a world where you couldn’t even change the wallpaper on your computer?  Or browse for files?  How f*%^ked-up is that?  Apple will void the warranty on my iPod Touch if I jailbreak it.  I get that.  They shouldn’t be responsible for things out of their control.  But what if my device is out of warranty or I choose to tell Apple to shove their warranty?  I paid for this damned thing.  Why can’t I install whatever I want on it?  ITS MY COMPUTER!

Obviously, I’m not alone.  The jailbreak community is alive and well with new, quality software released every day.  My iPhone has a cool theme complete with custom rotating wallpaper, a five-icon dock and a bunch of cool sounds to replace the tired offerings from Apple.  Oh yeah, they don’t let you change them either.  A^#holes.

The word from GeoHot is jailbreaking is getting tougher with each OS release.  It has gotten to the point that the latest devices require tethering to reboot after they’re jailbroken.  That sucks.  Thankfully, even my 3GS (purchased in early July) is not in that group or I’d seriously consider towing the Apple line like a good little sheep.  As much as I love jailbreaking my iPhone, an un-jailbroken iPhone is still better than any other smartphone available.  That won’t be the case for long.  These new Android devices are looking mighty tasty.  I admit to being somewhat of an Apple fanboy but I don’t live under anybody’s boot!  I strongly suspect there are many others who share my opinion.  It will be interesting to see if Apple can continue putting up phenomenal numbers when the iPhone isn’t the only smartphone game in town.

Simplest iPhone/iPod Touch Jailbreak Ever: blackra1n

I love my iPhone and iPod Touch.  They’re terrific right out of the box, but spending $20-30 on a few productivity and travel apps have made them a nearly indispensable part of my daily workflow.  I’m one to never be satisfied though.  The geek in me recognized early on just how powerful the underlying technology is and the Texan in me got really pissed when Apple wouldn’t let me use it to its fullest potential.  Jailbreaking my devices has been the norm since two weeks after I purchased my first-gen iPod Touch.  The thought of some California vegan telling me how I can and can’t use my computer is enough to make me want to hack my devices even if jailbreaking had no other benefit whatsoever.  Shove the warranty if necessary, I just want to do things my way.  But I’m not here to discuss philosophies.

I’ve been playing the cat and mouse game with Cupertino since version 1.0 of the iPhone OS and never have I jailbroken any iPhone as easily and quickly as I did with blackra1n.  I was going to post instructions, but that is really a waste of time.  If you can click one button while your iPhone or iPod Touch is attached to either a Mac or Windows machine, you can jailbreak your device in about two seconds.  No big downloads, no time-consuming restores, just reboot your device and the blackra1n app is installed.  Tapping it gives you the opportunity to install Cydia, Icy, Rock and other app repositories of your choosing.  From there, its the wild west; freedom from Apple repression.  Sick it to the man!

I know, it’s a little melodramatic, but fun nevertheless.

So far I’ve used blackra1n to jailbreak my iPhone 3Gs, my iPod Touch 2G, iPod Touch 1G and my daughter’s iPhone 3G.  None were jailbroken at the time and all were running the 3.1.2 OS.  Now, all my idevices belong to me again.  By the way, I donated $25 for the great tool.  If you like it, you should too.