I've recently seen many topics about jailbreaking, mainly ones about jailbreaking the iPod touch. I thought, "Hey, why don't we have a place where people can go to get quick information about jailbreaking?" So I made this topic.
If you are new to jailbreaking, do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have. I have been jailbreaking my device and my friends' devices for several years now, so I know a lot about the process.
If you're not new to jailbreaking (i.e. you've already jailbroken) and just want some tips about, say, what software you should download, again, don't hesitate to ask.
Note: I know absolutely nothing about jailbreaking Android devices. However, if there is a community member out there willing to volunteer to be our Android expert, it would be greatly appreciated. Miga and Lugnut1206 have volunteered to be our Android experts! Thank you Miga and Lugnut.
FAQWhat is jailbreaking?In order to give the most apt definition possible, I'll simply directly quote the Wikipedia article on jailbreaking:
Computer software privilege escalation, a jargon expression for (the act of) overcoming limitations in a computer system or device that were deliberately placed there for security, administrative, or marketing reasons; also the description and set of technical instructions necessary to achieve a specific jailbreak or a software item designed to achieve a jailbreak.
With regard to iOS jailbreaking (iPod touch, iPhone, iPad):
iOS jailbreaking, overriding the software limitations on the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad designed to preclude the use of applications beyond control from the device's manufacturer
Is jailbreaking dangerous?No. There is absolutely no risk to jailbreaking your device. If your device stops working for some reason after jailbreaking, you did something wrong, it is not the fault of the jailbreak. If, after you've jailbroken, you install a stuffton of software packages that are beyond incompatible with each other and it bricks your device, that's also your fault. So maybe I should've said
no, jailbreaking is not dangerous, as long as you don't do anything blatantly stupid. If you are not sure about something,
ask me about it before doing it. Really the only downside I can think of is the fact that it voids your device's warranty. However, this is no big deal because, should your device need repair from the manufacturer, you can simply restore its original firmware and the manufacturer will not be able to tell you ever jailbroke your device, thus keeping your warranty valid and active.
Is jailbreaking difficult?Not at all. In fact, jailbreaking is so easy, it can be done in under five minutes (assuming you can properly follow instructions).
Is jailbreaking legal?Yes. Jailbreaking mobile devices
is 100% legal. Jailbreaking gaming consoles like the PS3 or Xbox, however, is
not legal (at least not yet), so don't do it (at least not yet).
What's the difference between a tethered jailbreak and an untethered jailbreak?A
tethered jailbreak requires that the device be connected to a computer each time it needs to be booted into a jailbroken state. An
untethered jailbreak allows the device to be powered off, powered up, and rebooted without having to use the assistance of a Macintosh or PC. A
tethered jailbreak is a process that takes place on a computer, effectively re-jailbreaking an iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone without losing data or restoring via iTunes. Trust me, you do not want a tethered jailbreak. If that means you have to wait another week or so for your favorite jailbreaking software to release an untethered version, believe me when I say it's worth the wait. I've used tethered jailbreaks before and while they're not horrible, it's an absolute pain in the ass to have to connect my iPod to my computer every loving time I want to turn it on and off.
Before I continue, MAJOR loving NOTE: Do NOT talk about a certain app whose name starts with "I" and ends with "s" and has ten letters. I already got banned once for talking about it in another thread, so just don't even mention it.
RESOURCESHere are a few essential resources for jailbreaking (these are for iOS devices
ONLY):
greenpois0n - iOS 4.x only
DOWNLOAD HERE (Windows) OR
HERE (Mac)redsn0w - iOS 2.x, 3.x, 4.x
DOWNLOAD HERE (Windows) (**NOTE**: Windows 7/Vista users must run redsn0w as administrator under compatibility settings for Windows XP) OR
HERE (Mac) (There is also a Linux version but it's not out yet. When it's released I'll be sure to put the download link here.)
Those are the two most-used jailbreak programs. If you'd like to use a different one, or if you're experiencing difficulties with either or both of those, go check out
BigBoss' jailbreak table. It contains all the necessary information for jailbreaking your device.
MORE INFOSaurik - one of the biggest names in jailbreaking. He is the owner and creator of
Cydia (pronounced SIH-dee-yuh) and Telesphoreo Tangelo, the largest jailbreak software repository. (Cydia's website is mobile-formatted which is why it might look kind of strange when viewed on a desktop or laptop.)
BigBoss - another huge name in jailbreaking, and another very large repository of some very cool stuff.
Wikipedia article on iOS jailbreakingList of every single iPhone firmware version ever released and their downloads
JUST JAILBROKE?Confused about what to do now that you've jailbroken your device?
Well, to start, you should download the following apps:
- MxTube (native YouTube downloader)
- iFile (like Windows Explorer for the iPhone/iPod touch)
- BytaFont (allows the changing of system fonts)
- WinterBoard (lets you choose what themes/packages to enable)
- SBSettings (change brightness, turn Wi-Fi and Airplane Mode on/off, view list of currently running processes, all from any app where the status bar is visible; no more exiting an app and navigating all the way over to your Settings app just to change the brightness!)
(there are more but I'll have to add them later because I have to go do other stuff right now)
Examples of some cool stuff you can do with a jailbroken iPhone/iPod touch:
- Install OpenSSH and access your iDevice from your computer with your favorite SFTP client (WinSCP is a good one).
- Download any type of file you want directly in MobileSafari with Safari Download Manager.
- Access and modify any file with iFile.
- Don't like the limit on the only 12 apps you can put into a single folder? Download Infinifolders and solve that issue.
- Change the entire theme of your device to suit your desired look with the hundreds of themes on Cydia's Theme Center.
- Many other things that I can't think of right now (feel free to suggest things to add to this list).
I can tell you how to do any and all of the above items.
USER SUBMISSIONS/SUGGESTIONSBest Themes
-Smoog
-Glassklart
-Accendo
-Minislider
-Alit
-iGlassSol
-TimeofDay
Best Springboard Mods
-Barrel - Changes page-switching animation.
-SleepFX - Gives a graphical effect on sleep mode.
-Winterboard (durr) - Allows themes.
-InfiDock - Best dock customization app.
-CyDelete - Delete cydia apps like normal ones!
-Graviboard - Shake your iDevice, and play with the icons falling about!
-Veency - Hosts a vnc server on your iDevice.
add rockbox and ipod linux to the post
alternate OS's for older ipods
So, if you have any other questions whatsoever, don't hesitate to ask me here in the thread or via a PM. I'll be glad to answer your questions.