Zibri, the Italian programmer of the now famous ZiPhone unlocking tool for the existing 2G iPhone, has promised an unlock for the iPhone 2.0 firmware while explaining that the new firmware leaves out some much requested features.
ZiPhone, the iPhone unlocking tool by Zibri, is well known – or should be – by anyone with an iPhone they’ve already unlocked, or would like to.
Zibri wasn’t the first to unlock the iPhone, nor was he the first to release an easy unlock method. But his ZiPhone software made it incredibly simple for iPhone owners to update to 1.1.3 or 1.1.4 firmware and unlock their iPhones in around four minutes on the PC or Mac
As the countdown continues to the launch of the iPhone 2.0 firmware/software, as well as the oft-predicted and much expected 3G iPhone, Zibri has admitted to being a bit bored after hacking the pre-release iPhone 2.0 firmware.
He has shared the news that Apple will likely release a new version of iTunes to coincide with the iPhone 2.0 firmware release, which will also mean a new version of ZiPhone will emerge.
However Zibri says he “will have to rewrite ZiPhone to support the new “mobiledevice” framework.”, which means we should not, repeat not, “expect a new ZiPhone version shortly after the official 2.0 release” because “it will take some time to rewrite and to fully test it.”
Of course, that’s usually the case when Apple launches new firmware versions, as the hackers figure out what new protections Apple has put in place and work hard to open it up to anyone that wants to unlock their iPhone.
In screenshots at Zibri’s site, we can see that his iPhone has the pre-2.0 firmware loaded, and he shows a contact search feature, something that has been known for a while now would appear in iPhone 2.0 firmware.
Zibri also says that hacking the iPhone pre-2.0 firmware has already been done, but the making it ‘easy to use’ for the rest of us part of the software “will need some time”.
So, what has Zibri shared about the “gold” pre-2.0 firmware, which Zibri believes is feature complete?
Zibri says that, over the past few days, he has been “busy disassembling and analyzing what we could call a "gold" 2.0 firmware”.
Zibri says it’s “gold because it's expiration date is the 4th of June so all features are there already.”
Naturally, Apple could be leaving certain features out of the pre-2.0 firmware versions it has released to surprise us all, but if Zibri is right, pre-2.0 firmware is a solid indication of what we’ll expect in the real 2.0 firmware.
Zibri says that the full 2.0 firmware won’t have MMS, won’t have cut and paste, won’t have any new applications (because of the iPhone App Store for authorised third party applications), and really only seems to include Exchange email synchronisation with Microsoft Exchange and the App Store itself.
However there is one other thing Apple did change: security.
Zibri says: “Yes, Apple tightened iPhone security (their security not yours) a new crypto algo has been introduced (and promptly defeated as expected).”
Zibri believes the 3G iPhone “will share almost the same firmware of the actual iPhone, so, again, no big news. I wish the community could react to all this and start developing on the actual firmware version but I know that will not happen.”
Is Zibri about to sell the ZiPhone project?
Zibri also says he’s had a “big proposal to acquire ziphone [but] I will not let you down”, which doesn’t tell us whether he will “sell” ZiPhone or not, but does suggest that whatever happens, ZiPhone will still be available.
Zibri also asks people commenting on his blog to “Please stop complaining about your bricked phone if you used other methods [than Zibri’s own free ZiPhone software]”, and urges ZiPhone users to “keep donating if you want this project to live.”
So... the big surprises for the iPhone 2.0 firmware seem already well known, with the true surprises set to be with the 3G iPhone itself, and the rumoured inbuilt GPS, HSDPA 3G speeds, a 5 megapixel camera and a potential FM radio.
Other rumours have suggested different form factors for the iPhone, while we’re still waiting to hear about better Bluetooth support so A2DP headphones are supported, Bluetooth keyboards are supported, and whether or not iTunes will finally allow notes to be synchronised... or not.
5 weeks to go until June 9. Five weeks until we learn of the 3G iPhone’s fate. 5 weeks until our questions are answered.
Just like the Cylons, Steve Jobs has a plan. The search for the fabled 3G iPhone goes on, set to unite humanity as never before, while the forces of Apple seek to destroy market demand for all other mobile phones.
Will the 3G iPhone be revealed? The 2G iPhone is known... but it seems the 3G iPhone still lives in secret...
To be continued..
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/18040/1103/
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