June 5, 2010

How To Unlock an iPhone


A step-by-step guide to unlocking the iPhone's SIM card and making it available to other cell carriers' networks.

Cyrus Farivar,Friday, September 14, 2007 05:00 PM PDT, PCWORLD

If you're one of the million people who've purchased an iPhone since the end of June, you probably signed up with Apple's exclusive carrier in the U.S., AT&T, when you activated your phone. That means your iPhone identifies itself to AT&T's network using an AT&T SIM card, a smart card that's located in a small tray between your iPhone's sleep/wake button and its recessed headphone jack.

But what if you're planning a trip to Europe and rather than paying AT&T to use the networks of its European partners, you want to take advantage of the favorable rates and local phone numbers offered by replacing your AT&T SIM card with a pre-paid European card? Or what if you'd prefer to use T-Mobile as your cellular provider, rather than AT&T?


In the past month several groups have announced that they've found a way to "unlock" the iPhone, allowing it to use a SIM card from any provider. (Keep in mind that this is only half the story: the iPhone uses the GSM radio band for its communications, meaning that it'll only work with providers that use the GSM network. In the U.S., that means T-Mobile and AT&T.)


In August, a group of hackers demonstrated a method for unlocking SIM cards and sold its software to resellers, who in turn began selling it to the public for as much as $100 last week.
But another group has came up with its own hack that, with the help of some free, open-source software, lets you unlock your iPhone in about an hour, free of charge. Below, I'll show you how it works - and it does work, because I've used this technique to unlock my own phone. (One important caveat: Certain AT&T-only features, such as Visual Voicemail, will not work when you're connected to other cellular networks.)


Before we get started, you'll want to disable the iTunes helper application that may get in the way of the installation. Make sure iTunes is not running, then open OS X's Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder of the Applications folder. Search for or scroll down to iTunes Helper, select it, and then click on the Quit Process button in the top left of the screen. You'll also need your iPhone, your data cable, and a Wi-Fi connection to the Internet.
(If you haven't already activated your iPhone with AT&T-and aren't planning to-you need to conduct a fake activation. To do this, you'll need to follow the excellent instructions at ModMyiPhone and download and install a program called iNdependence.)

Install AppTapp

Apple doesn't support the installation of third-party applications on the iPhone, but the enterprising developers at NullRiver have created a program called AppTapp that will let you install including chat clients, games, and other pieces of software - including those that are needed to unlock your iPhone. (For more detailed instructions on using AppTapp, see our iPhone Hacking Kit.)
Download and install AppTapp. Once you run the program, the first thing it will do is ask what version of the firmware you're running. If you've just updated your iPhone, you probably have Firmware 1.0.2-select that and click on Continue.
Assuming all goes well, you should get a screen that begins with the words: "Congratulations! You have successfully installed AppTapp Installer onto your iPhone." You should then find a new application on the iPhone's home screen called Installer.


The next instructions will require downloading some applications from the Internet to your iPhone-so make sure your iPhone is connected to a WiFi network. Launch the Installer program, and you'll see a long list of various applications that you can install. Scroll down, then select and install-in order-Community Sources, BSD Subsystem and OpenSSH.

Perform the GSM Unlock

First, download and install Unlock.app, lockdownd, and Cyberduck.
Then go to the iPhone's General settings and set Auto-Lock to Never. Next, you'll need to get your iPhone's IP address on your local network. To do this, go to Settings: Wi-Fi and click on the blue arrow next to the network that you're connected too. Write down the IP address, as you'll need it for later.


Now, open Cyberduck and click on the Open Connection button in the top left of the window. In the connection window, type the IP address that you just noted. Make sure that SFTP (SSH Secure File Transfer) is selected, and that you are using Port 22. For the username, type root, with the password of dottie.


Once connected, navigate from /private/var/root to the main directory by choosing the / item. Next, navigate to /usr/libexec and drag the file named lockdownd (the one you downloaded earlier) into it. It will ask if you want to overwrite the existing file-click on Continue to do so.


Now, in Cyberduck, drag the Unlock file from the Mac's desktop into the /Applications folder at the top of the main window. Once that's done, turn off your iPhone and remove the SIM card, then turn your iPhone back on and choose the application on your iPhone called Unlock.
Assuming everything went smoothly, there should be a white screen that says "All files found. Ready to go. Press Start." Once you press start, it will take about 20 minutes for all the files to install.


The progress messages will appear at the top of the screen as it progress-once you see "Completed" then you're finished. Insert a new SIM card of your choosing into your iPhone. Congratulations, you've just unlocked your iPhone!
(If you're planning on using a T-Mobile SIM card in your iPhone, you'll want to modify the iPhone's settings. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the ModMyiPhone tutorial to make sure the settings you enter conform to your T-Mobile data plan.)

The aftermath

One Macworld editor tried this approach - minus the faux-activation step - on his iPhone and was able to insert a T-Mobile SIM card from a co-worker and get the iPhone up and running on the T-Mobile network, as if it were her phone.
(To swap SIM cards in your iPhone, insert an unfolded paper clip into the small hole in the top of the iPhone, next to the headphone jack. This will open the iPhone's SIM card slot, allowing you to remove your AT&T card and replace it with a different one.)


We don't know if future Apple iPhone updates will break this functionality. But if you're about to embark on a European vacation, or if you avoid downloading those iPhone updates, this method will allow you to use the SIM cards of other cellular providers in your iPhone, provided that those providers also use the GSM cellular radio frequencies.
[Cyrus Farivar writes for MacUser, The Economist, National Public Radio, Slate, and others. He is proudly using his new iPhone on T-Mobile's network in Oakland, California.]

1998-2010, PCWorld Communications, Inc.


June 4, 2010

The First 10 Steps to Modding the iPhone

The First 10 Steps to Modding the iPhone

Warning

There are some things you should know before you perform anything on this site. There is obviously some risk involved here, but everyone I know of has been able to restore their iPhone by using iTunes. I’ve heard no report of anyone damaging their iPhone by modding it.
  • This site is not for those uncomfortable around computers, and especially the command line or Terminal. If you aren’t sure about something on here, then I recommend stopping what you are doing and hooking up your iPhone to iTunes and signing up for a contract with AT&T.
  • You risk voiding your warranty.
  • Any modifications you perform on your iPhone, including bypassing activation, will be reset if you should install a firmware update provided by Apple. It’s a matter of redoing everything you previously did to get your iPhone back the way you had it once you update.
  • Read the instructions in their entirety. Do not read into the instructions, follow only what is there. If you can’t follow directions, you may may damage your phone requiring a replacement from Apple.
  • I am not responsible for your results if they are less than what you expected. You assume all risks. I recommend seeking help in iPhone hacking forums or in the irc room. Check my links page to find them.
  • If you have not activated your iPhone via AT&T, then you will lose the ability to use your YouTube icon following the instructions on this site. This ability may be restored by the hacker community, or if you should decide to restore your phone via iTunes and sign up for a service contract with AT&T.
  • If you have not activated your iPhone via AT&T, then you will not have visual voicemail or YouTube access unless there is another iPhone that is properly activated via AT&T in your family plan.
  • If you have not activated your iPhone via AT&T, I have noticed Yahoo mail does not work with the iPhone in a modded state. This may apply to all other mail access like Gmail .mac, AOL et cetera.

The reason I made this page is because sometimes instructions get pretty lengthy and they don’t need to be. When I posted my first tutorial on here there were, and still are, 10 steps that must be performed before you can perform your first mod on the iPhone, at least according to the way I write.

Every time I wrote a tutorial about a new mod, I always started it off by repeating those 10 steps. In an effort to keep the page length down, and the reader happy, I’ve decided to not post those introductory steps on future tutorials. Once you perform these 10 steps, you won’t have to again. So if you should happen to read any tutorials of mine and are surprised when they start off at step 11 instead of 1, you’ll know why. I’ll provide a link to this page from the tutorial.
So here they are, “The 10 Steps”

Step 1.

Make sure your iPhone is docked and charged.
iPhone

Step 2.

From iTunes, make sure you have a backup of your phone and all settings (if you want to keep them). Simply connect the iPhone to your computer and iTunes will sync your iPhone. Automatically backed-up information includes text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, certain network settings, and other preferences.

Step 3.

Press CTRL ALT DEL which will open up the Windows Task Manager. Click on the “Processes” tab and ensure both iTunes.exe and iTunesHelper.exe are not running. If they are, then highlight their names one at a time and click the “End Process” button.
iPhone
Just click Yes at the pop up warning.
iPhone

Step 4.

Make sure the iPhone is on.

Step 5.

Create a folder called phonedmg at your root (C:\) level. Click the “Start” button then click “Run…”.
iPhone
Type: cmd and click the “OK” button.
iPhone
You are now using what Windows calls the command shell. Type: cd\ then press enter/return. You should see the C:\> prompt.
iPhone
Type: mkdir phonedmg then press enter/return.
iPhone

Step 6.

Download the software restore file from Apple. Click here. Once the file is downloaded, most browsers may automatically decompress the file and leave a folder called iPhone1,1_1 on your desktop. If your browser did not do this, and you have an .ipsw file instead, then rename the extension to .zip and decompress it yourself.
Note: do not place newer firmware files in this folder! Use the file from the link I have provided.
To rename the file you can just click on the file once, and then once again (do this slowly) and the name of the file will become editable showing you its full name.
iPhone
If the file does not end in “.ipsw”, you’ll have to turn on file extension display by going to the Tools menu -> Folder Options -> View tab -> and then uncheck the box for “Hide extensions for known file types” then click the “Apply” button.
iPhone
Right-click the iPhone update file and choose “Rename”. Give it the “.zip” extension and press enter, and confirm that you want to change the extension.
iPhone
Click “Yes” at the pop up warning screen.
iPhone
Now double-click the file to open its contents. Extract the contents to the phonedmg folder.
iPhone

Step 7.

Place the software restore files you downloaded from Apple (the iPhone1,1_1 folder) into the phonedmg folder. Do not place the whole folder in here, just what’s in the folder.
iPhone

Step 8.

Download the “Jailbreak” program here. Put this file into the phonedmg folder.
iPhone

Step 9.

Download the iPhoneInterface (v 0.3.3) program here. Put this file into the phonedmg folder.
iPhone

Step 10.

Download the iTunesMobileDevice.dll from here. Put this file into the phonedmg folder. You have now completed all the initial preparatory steps needed to mod the iPhone. You will never have to repeat these steps, provided you do not delete anything in the phonedmg folder.
iPhone

Source: http://www.iphone-hacks.com/iphone-tutorials/the-first-10-steps-to-modding-the-iphone/
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Untethered Jailbreak for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

Spirit – Untethered Jailbreak for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch
Posted by Noskire, May 3, 2010

Awesome! Those of you that’ve been waiting for a Jailbreak for the iPad and an untethered jailbreak for the iPhone and iPod Touch — it’s here — no more waiting on Geohot. That’s right — Spirit is here to satisfy those needs. Spirit jailbreaks all current devices: iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch on firmwares 3.1.2, 3.1.3, or 3.2. Spirit, however, is not a carrier unlock tool — it only jailbreaks said devices.

    Requirements

        * Any iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch on firmware 3.1.2, 3.1.3, or 3.2.
        * An activated device: one not stuck on the Connect to iTunes or Emergency Call screen.
        * Any version of iTunes 9 (including 9.1.1).
        * Syncing with iTunes before trying this highly recommended.

Note: On iPad, all this is still sort of beta. Some packages in Cydia, not designed for iPad, might screw up your system and require you to restore. Be careful.

Download Spirit:
Spirit Jailbreak for Windows Download
Spirit Jailbreak for Mac OS X Download

- source: spiritjb.com



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