Whereas PCs run software, the preferred term for embedded software—that is, software that runs on devices instead of computers—is firmware. These files usually contain an update for Mac OS X as well as the baseband firmware , the software that runs the modem, which is independent of the version of system software on the phone. When you activate an iPhone for the first time in iTunes, or when you unlock the phone for use on any GSM service provider, you are modifying the baseband firmware. Just like a conventional computer has a BIOS which is in control of the computer before Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X is loaded, and is built into the hardware of the machine , the iPhone has a bootloader , or bit of software that runs before the operating system and determines which software to use during bootup.
In fact, the iPhone has two of them. The main CPU has a bootloader called iBoot, also known as the recovery bootloader. This software tries to load the system software.
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If it cannot, or if the phone is in recovery mode Restore and Recover Your iPhone , then it asks to be connected to iTunes. The baseband bootloader is the software that runs on the baseband and loads the baseband firmware. Figure shows the different operating software on the iPhone. OOB or OOTB means out-of-box or out-of-the-box; it describes a phone that is brand new, not activated, jailbroken, unlocked, or otherwise molested. The term is used to describe models of phones that ship with particular software version. Thus, some earlier phones were coveted because of their flexibility in downgrading and upgrading to different system versions and unlocking.
However, restoring does not reset any baseband firmware alterations. Virginizing your iPhone Enter DFU Mode puts it in the exact same software state that it was in when you bought it, including resetting your baseband firmware back to factory settings by relocking it. Virginizing is a prudent choice for those returning their phones under warranty, as phones that are serviced in a hacked state may be denied warranty service.
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Which hacks you can do? It depends on what software version your iPhone is running. A software update from Apple can include a number of things: updates to the operating system Mobile OS X , new baseband firmware, and updates to the iBoot bootloader Learn the Language of iPhone Hacking. So, before you can make your iPhone do new tricks, you need to know your firmware version and whether the hack you intend to apply will work with that version.
The most common first hack after opening your iPhone is jailbreaking, which lets you reconfigure the iPhone operating system and install unsigned third-party applications. However, some people may want to unlock their phone so that they can use it with any GSM carrier. These two hacks, jailbreaking and unlocking, depend on the firmware and the baseband, respectively. As time goes by, each new version will close some doors to hacking and open some others.
Trying to hack one version with a procedure that was designed for a different version will result in an unsuccessful hacking attempt. Chances are good that the upgrade will, intentionally or unintentionally, temporarily render various hacks inoperable. Optional Bootloader versions iBoot, the OS bootloader, and the baseband bootloader.
As of this writing, there are four models: the original iPhone released June and iPod touch released September , the iPhone 3G released July , and the second-generation iPod touch released September The original iPhone has a mostly aluminum backing with a small black plastic area. The iPhone 3G has a shiny black or white plastic back. The original iPod touch has no volume controls on the top left facing the device.
The second-generation iPod touch has volume controls.
The firmware version can be found either using iTunes or directly on your iPhone. On your iPhone, open the Settings menu and scroll down until you see General. Tap on General and select About from the top of the list.
The Version field will give the version of your software i. A comprehensive list of firmware and baseband versions can be found at www. You can see some of these in the tables on the following pages. The other is the baseband bootloader that runs before the baseband firmware; it is responsible for security checking and updating the baseband. The main reason to identify your bootloader is for situations where you need to virginize your phone and return it to factory condition. Table shows several of the factory bootloader versions. Original iPhones phones that came out of the box with Version 1.
Generally, the tools that modify your bootloader will tell you what version you have. If you get a secondhand phone and you need to take inventory of your versions, however, there are several utilities that will tell you what you have. Finding out your bootloader version is slightly more complex than finding your firmware or baseband version.
You should receive output like this:.
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An alternative and slightly easier method to determine your bootloader involves using the BBinfo from www. You download the application from www. Alternately, add www. Tables Table and Table show some of the iPhone firmware and baseband versions throughout the ages. This was the first iPhone firmware version.
When the iPhone was first made available to U. This update was released on July 31, New iPhone hacks and ideas began appearing everywhere on the Web, giving owners myriad ways to customize their iPhones beyond what its factory settings had to offer. This update was released on August 21, It provided a few minor bug fixes to help the iPhone function a little better.
Luckily, 1. New hacks began emerging at a jaw-dropping rate as more and more computer-savvy owners took interest in unleashing the full potential of the iPhone. As a result, 1.
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A wide array of new features and improvements was offered in this update. The most notable new feature was the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store application, which allowed users to purchase new songs from iTunes right from their iPhones. However, these improvements came with a price.
Upon updating to 1. Fear that the damage was permanent sent the iPhone hacking community into a panic. Fortunately, a solution was devised by the collaborative efforts of a number of brilliant hackers, and crisis was averted.
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Although this success brought a glimmer of hope for hackers, there was still one big problem with the 1. A temporary stalemate was in effect between Apple and the hacking community. Nevertheless, this hindrance just forced hackers to come up with more clever approaches. A way to jailbreak was found by using a vulnerability in how the iPhone processed.
The pinnacle of this effort was the iconic www. In addition, unlocked iPhones experienced the same difficulties as they did with the previous update. Despite the inconveniences caused by 1. In the following months, a way was found to preserve jailbreaks performed on a 1. To kick off the new year, Apple released yet another update on January 15, As with Versions 1. Aside from this expected inconvenience, this update added a number of useful new features.
Released February 26, , this update added a few subtle things to the 1. The Bluetooth and camera features were slightly improved. Unlike many of the previous firmware versions, 1. Most of the hacks used on previous versions still worked on 1. Accompanying the release of the new 3G iPhone on July 11, , this new firmware version added many useful features. One of the most notable was the highly anticipated iTunes App Store, which allowed users to add third-party apps Install Third-Party Apps to their iPhones without having to perform a jailbreak Open Your iPhone or iPod touch to Customization by Jailbreaking.
However, this version also basically reset the jailbreaking progress—the hacked Installer. Apple released this update on August 4, This new update fixed some minor bugs and sped up the software. Apple released this update on August 18, Like its predecessor, 2.
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Released September 12, , this release required and was released with iTunes 8. It added features like Genius automatic smart playlists and increased speed and stability of applications across the board. Released November 21, , this added bug fixes, Google Street View, and over-the-air podcast downloads. Released January 27, , this update made Safari more stable, fixed some Mail bugs, and upgraded the firmware to resist YellowSn0w, the 3G unlock application.
These baseband versions were for the most part unnoticed, as they were released before an unlock was reached. It was with 1.