What is Jailbreaking?
Jailbreaking is done on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad so that the users of said hardware can download certain third-party apps and software-based additions otherwise denied by Apple. The content this process allows iDevices to use includes the following: application, operating system extensions, packages that include additional device functions, complete themes and essentially anything that Apple typically restricts. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 2010, the act of Jailbreaking was officially made legal inside the United States and the ruling was recently reevaluated. The verdict? Jailbreaking and other software modifications have remained legal. Users who partake in the process should be aware that doing so violates the warranty typically provided by Apple, however, a simple firmware restore via iTunes will set the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch back to its factory state and the so-called “Geniuses” at Apple’s Genius Bar won’t be able to tell the difference between a brand new iOS-based device and one that was recently Jailbroken.
Tethered vs. Untethered
There are two types of Jailbreaks – tethered and untethered. When an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is powered on, it loads Apple’s kernel automatically (the kernel is the connection between an operating system’s applications and its main storage – in this case, flashed memory). With a tethered jailbreak, the user needs the assistance of a computer each time they wish to reboot their Jailbroken iPhone to help patch this kernel. With an untethered Jailbreak, the device has the ability to patch this kernel on its own and doesn’t need the help of a computer, which is why untethered Jailbreaks are preferred by most users.
Why Jailbreak?
Originally, one of the major reasons for Jailbreaking an iPhone was to use it under a different GSM carrier by applying what’s known as a software unlock after the Jailbreak process. While this practice was very popular in the past, it has since faded due to a new unlock policy set in place by Apple and AT&T that states if the iPhone is out of contract, either company must unlock the device for use on other carriers.
However, currently the most compelling reason to undertake the process of Jailbreaking an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch is to gain root access and add additional features. Free from Apple’s guidelines, users with Jailbroken iOS-based devices can download extensions and customizations not offered in the App Store and can push their hardware to new limits. Users with knowledge in development cherish the process, as they are able to manipulate and modify the filesystem via the root access previously mentioned. To summarize – Jailbreaking allows for near-complete customization of one’s device, it’s completely harm-free, the process is reversible and, best of all, it’s 100 percent free!
Jailbreak Tutorials
Follow one of the tutorials listed below – separated by both firmware and device type – to successfully achieve either an untethered or a tethered Jailbreak.
The Latest Jailbreaks – iOS 5.1.1
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
Jailbreak iOS Devices
Jailbreak iPhone 4S
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Untethered *Not Available, Use Either Absinthe Or Redsn0w*
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Absinthe
Jailbreak iPhone 4
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0 Tethered Redsn0w
Jailbreak iPad 3 (The New iPad)
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
Jailbreak iPad 2
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Absinthe
Jailbreak iPad 1 (The Original iPad)
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0 Tethered Redsn0w
Jailbreak iPod Touch 4G
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0 Tethered Redsn0w
Jailbreak iPod Touch 3G
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0 Tethered Redsn0w
Jailbreak iPhone 3GS
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Absinthe
iOS 5.1.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.1 Tethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Redsn0w
iOS 5.0 Tethered Redsn0w
