The Apple TV is new — like brand-freaking new. Still, the system has officially been jailbroken with the SHAttered exploit previously used for iPod touch 4g hacking. This opens up a big door for all sorts of apps although the only one available right now is the native Lowtide.app. Thanks Dev-Team. You just gave everyone something to do this weekend. [Dev-Team via Engdaget] → Read More
With the new AppleTV coming out later this month there’s been quite a bit of discussion about if it would be running on the new iOS system, or something else. The good news is we now know – configuration files in the iOS 4.2 beta have confirmed that the AppleTV will be running iOS. → Read More
Sony may have already started to block the various methods of cracking the PS3 wide open, but that doesn’t mean release groups haven’t taken advantage of the situation. A quick search on any type of “release” site will reveal no less than 20 ripped and fully playable PS3 games. → Read More
PS3 mods are coming from everywhere now. The latest method is similar to the earlier USB exploit. Instead it uses certain handsets to do the dirty deed. The list of supported devices is rather short, but it couldn’t be easier if you have the right handset. → Read More
Ready for iPod Nano Round Six? Because, as of Apple’s media event this morning, it’s a reality — and it’s completely different from every Nano that came before it. We spent some time with the new Nano this afternoon. Want to get inside our heads on the matter? Join me after the jump for my first impressions on this lil’ guy. → Read More
Not the biggest story in the world today—it is transfer deadline day, after all—but it looks like the big Sony PS3 modchip courtroom smackdown has been delayed by a few days. The judge who was supposed to preside over the case didn’t show up today (it’ 9pm in Sydney as of this writing), thus the hearing has been moved back to Friday, September 3. → Read More
Anyone who thought Sony was simply going to sit back and allow that “jailbreak” dongle to be sold with impunity, ja! Sony, in Australia, has convinced the courts to place an injunction on the sale and importation of the dongle there. No homebrew and/or piracy for you, Australia. → Read More
In the endless game of cat-and-mouse that is iPhone jailbreaking, sometimes the mouse needs to take a break. Not because it’s tired, mind you — but because it doesn’t want to show the cat where it’s hiding its cheese before it gets a chance to eat it. Early this morning, the iPhone Dev Team (the guys behind the discovery of the vast majority of iPhone jailbreak methods) announced that they won’t be working on a jailbreak for iOS 4.0.2. → Read More
You might want to hold off on jailbreaking your PS3, particularly if you spend much time online. Turns out that Sony can detect the software ID used by the program used for jailbreaking, and then ban your PS3 remotely. What’s the solution? Either don’t use your hacked PS3 on the Playstation network, or don’t use the hack on it in the first place. TGDaily reported that some of the people who created the hack in question are warning people not to go online while running the software. Of course, you might not need to go online since you’ll be able to run backup copies of your PS3 software, but consider this fair warning. → Read More
Using just a USB drive and a software exploit, the PS Jailbreak apparently does what so many have tried doing before it: allowing unauthorised software — including backups — to run on the PS3.
The beauty of the exploit is that it makes the PS3 run games just like it’s a debug console. This means you can run your legitimate backups from either the internal HDD, or over USB from an external one. This is obviously a neta-o-rama trick, and one that PS3 users have been wanting since Firefox was still cool.
Best of all? It runs on any firmware version, and only when the magic USB drive is inserted in a port, meaning you won’t void your warranty using it. → Read More
A newly discovered security flaw puts any device that runs iOS, including the iPhone and iPad, at risk! At risk from what, you ask? An evildoer could remotely take control of your device, leaving you holding a hunk of plastic that you have zero control over. Symantec, which first discovered the security flaw, says Apple needs to patch the vulnerability ASAP, lest the bad guys cause a bit of havoc. → Read More
The dastardly geek’s favorite new pastime: jailbreaking Apple Store iPhone 4s with the help of comex’s new one-click, in-browser Jailbreak solution. Jailbreaking your own iPhone? Totally legal. Apple’s display units? Probably not so much. [Hat tip to reddit's blindingdawn for having balls of steel] → Read More
You kids n’ your iPhones… you got it so easy these days. Why, I remember in my day to jailbreak your phone you needed the blood from 3 albino chickens, the pickled fingers of a giant panda, and ground eunuch horn… Now all you have to do to jailbreak your iPhone 4 is go visit www.jailbreakme.com from the device itself, then follow the instructions that appear on-screen. Of course, you can’t do this if your running anything newer than iOS 4.0.1 — so all you devs are out of luck. [via BGR] → Read More
No idea how this will fly in court, but here we go. Apple says that jailbreaking your iPhone, while now as legal as can be, will still void your warranty. Besides, said Apple, the number of people who actually go to the trouble of jailbreaking their iPhone is so small that it’s really not worth getting too excited over. → Read More
Today’s adjustment of the DMCA has far-reaching legal implications, which will only be evident after a few weeks, months, or even years as various parties exploit them however they can. I’m going to let the experts play in that sandbox. But one of the new rules seems to have had a specific target in mind: Apple. To wit:
“(2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset.”
The language is a bit confusing, but the end result is the legalization of jailbreaking your phone and side-loading apps. Not that it was ever illegal, although some Apple store employees thought otherwise. Now that it’s been made official, however, one might reasonably expect a bit of give from Apple on this point, since they have taken such great measures to prevent such actions. But I’m pretty sure that apart from a little lip service, Apple will continue with the exact same policies, with the sort of blithe arrogance that simultaneously compels and repels consumers. → Read More
It’s no longer illegal under the DMCA to jailbreak your iPhone or bypass a DVD’s CSS in order to obtain fair use footage for educational purposes or criticism. These are the new rules that were handed down moments ago by the U.S. Copyright Office. This is really big. Like, really big. → Read More
As you probably remember, Geohot – George Hotz to his parents – is the kid who unlocked the original iPhone and, over time, became one of the foremost experts on iPhone unlocking and jailbreaking. A few days ago he announced an iPhone 4 jailbreak but, in an addition to the post, he states he’s probably not going to release it and may quit the scene. Another good man dead and gone. Why is he quitting? Mostly because of the trolls. → Read More
So we know that IOS4 will be coming to older phones, but of course certain features like iMovie are planned for just the iPhone 4, and not previous models. Well, it turns out that you can run iMovie on older phones, they just have to be jailbroken. I’m not going to go into the technical details, you can get those from the video – so enjoy! [via Lifehacker] → Read More
There’s a trend that’s been disturbing me lately. When the topic of modding or jailbreaking comes up — say, in the wake of the iPad announcement, or Sony’s restrictive PS3 update — there is an outcry. Who am I to tell Apple what’s best for their devices? How can I in good conscience urge others to void their warranties or break license agreements? And why should anyone care when only a small proportion of people hack or jailbreak their devices? These questions are natural, because a few years ago they wouldn’t even be possible. What reason would you have for breaking open an first-generation iPod, or hacking an original Playstation? The question of “unauthorized software” on System 9 and Windows XP was plainly moot. But as the capabilities of the PC, console, and phone have expanded, so have their magisteria. And as their power grew, so did their chains. These chains were so light before that we didn’t notice them, but now that they are not only visible but are beginning to truly encumber our devices, we must consider whether we are right to throw them off. The answer, to me at least, seems obvious: no company or person has the right to tell you that you may not do what you like with your own property. → Read More
