There are so many tools, some for Mac OS, others for Windows, different versions... Complicated. So let's summerize a little bit.
If you have iPhone 3G, you'll be able to install 3-rd party non AppStore applications (through separate applications called Cydia and Installer) and run these applications. If you have old iPhone, in addition to that you'll be able to unlock the device (use with any carrier).
There are two methods: quickpwn and custom firmware method. First one is for quikly pwning and jailbreaking the device without restore. You should use it if you have unlocked device or an AT&T contract.
If you are Windows user:
Go for WinPwn. The current version is 2.5.0.2 (also called 2.5 beta-2). Download here. It supports both iPhone and iPhone 3G, firmwares 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2. You can use either quickpwn or custom firmware method.
There is a separate QuickPwn tool for Windows. The current version is RC3. Download here. Do you need it? Yes, if you want to quick pwn and you do not like WinPwn (or you had problems with it).
If you're using Mac OS:
Go for PwnageTool. The current version is 2.0.3.1. Download here. Works with 2.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2 firmwares using custom-firmware method.
There is a version of QuickPwn tool for MAC OS. The current version is 1.0.0. Download here. It works only with firmware 2.0.2. Do you need it? Yes, if you want to quick pwn.
QuickPwn is not a replacement for PwnageTool, they are different tools and provide different features, QuickPwn is for quickly pwning a device, whereas PwnageTool is designed to custom build and tailor the ipsw production process, both tools will be actively developed in the future.
QuickPwn for Windows is updated. Support for all 2.x firmwares is added. So now you can QuickPwn and jailbreak the device if it is running 2.0, 2.0.1 or 2.0.2.
DevTeam reminds that it is still beta software, so usual rules apply, no complaints if anything goes wrong and use the tool at at your own risk!
Using QuickPwn does not update the firmware itself, this tool is designed to ‘Pwn’ (the ability to install future custom non-Apple firmwares) , ‘Jailbreak’ and install Installer and/or Cydia on a given device. If your device is running 2.0.1 and you QuickPwn it, it’ll still be running 2.0.1, although it will now be Pwned and Jailbroken. It will also activate (not unlock) devices that are being used outside of their intended territories and cannot be activated using iTunes.
If you want to update to 2.0.2 then use the normal iTunes update to get to 2.0.2 and then use QuickPwn to Pwn, Jailbreak and Activate, remember that the 2.0.2 update includes a baseband update for the 3G iPhone, so depending what your long term intentions are for the phone, update wisely, of course in the upcoming PwnageTool application you’ll be able to create a custom ipsw without the baseband update enabled.
It is available for download here, but beware this is still beta software. It is fairly self explanatory and easy to use. You’ll still see a command-line window popping up when the actual QuickPwn process takes place, but the device and ipsw selection is handled by the GUI.
DevTeam created a quick solution for jailbreaking an iPhone. It is called QuickPwn. It is in beta, so be careful. It will allow you to pwn (jailbreak) your device very quickly without restoring!
Who should use this tool? This is for those that are not planning to restore. It’s not clear what the activation state is after the process therefore, I only recommend this for those that have a contract carrier or an unlocked phone already.
If you are on a stock device and using AT&T or a contract carrier, this is the perfect jailbreak for you. You will not lose your contacts or have to do any backups. Finally, if you are going to restore anyway, especially if you need to unlock a 2g, you may as well use winpwn or such.
Currently QuickPwn requires your device to be running version 2.0.1 of the iPhone/iPod firmware. And it runs only on Windows. This requirement will change in a subsequent release.
Many visual enhancements and fixes in regards to source and packages display.
Fixed an issue with failing installs with dependencies under some circumstances.
Fixed a bug causing package information to be displayed incorrectly (size 0 bytes) on the first access, or when the custom information HTML page (such as packages from Big Boss' repository) was not displayed.
When updating a package, and one of its dependencies also has an update available, the dependency will be updated as well.
The package icons will only be downloaded when on the Wi-Fi to help you save on bandwidth.
The repositories are being refreshed upon Installer.app launch so you always stay on the bleeding edge with the updates. This is exeperimental behavior and we're not yet sure it will make it to the final release.
Fixed a script command Confirm that was returning invalid button index for the "OK" button.
Lots and lots of both cosmetic and internal application core fixes that improve the overall performance, presentation and stability of the application.
Community Sources package is updated. It now includes a repository for modmyifone.com (lot's of stuff there) and iphone-notes.de (BSD Subsystem and OpenSSH), as well as numerous carrier bundles and other useful stuff.
Apple has just seeded iPhone 2.1 beta 4 to developers—uninteresting, really, except for the fact that the push notification service has been pulled from the release "for further development."
Targeted to hit your iPhone in September, the push service allows apps to receive notifications (internet data) in the background while they're not running, a godsend for AIM and other messaging apps. Hopefully this doesn't mean it'll be delayed.
After WinPwn 2.0.0.4 release users are able to try Insteller 4 beta. The repositary mechanism was changed and applcations should support new firmware (> 2.0), so old ones will not work. Here is the list of new repositaries:
Rip Dev - http://i.ripdev.com
Big Boss - http://apptapp.thebigboss.org/repofiles/installer4/
iSpazio - http://repo.neolinus.org/ispazio/
German - http://sendowski.de/iphone
gPda - http://gpda.ru/r
Andy Dam: http://repo.gafoogle.com/
Ste Packaging: http://repo.smxy.org/installer4
ModMyiFone.com: http://i.modmyifone.com/
Just a reminder, Installer is in beta. So we adwise you to use Cydia.
iPhone OS 2.1 beta 3 is now available and is to be used for testing only. View the Pre-Installation Advisory for iPhone OS 2.1 beta 3, Readme, and Release Notes before installing the new versions of the iPhone OS and SDK. As a reminder, pre-release software is Confidential Information and is subject to the terms outlined in your Registered iPhone Developer Terms and Conditions with Apple.
Again, there were 8 betas released for 2.0 between March and July. If Apple keeps this up, could we be looking at a September release for 2.1?
PwnageTool 2.0.2 is out. It will support new firmware 2.0.1. It will jailbreak and unlock the old iPhone and jailbreak new iPhone 3G. Here are the download links:
Installer 4 Beta is included, it is added in any mode by default. The main installer package management interface within PwnageTool isn’t enabled yet, and will report that installer.app isn’t available, but the actual Installer.app package is added as a default option in both modes.
The latest Cydia is also enabled by default. We recommend to use Cydia, not Installer.
This applicatin allows users to watch and what is more useful download (and watch later) youtube videos. It was popular, now it works with 2.0 firmware. Version 1.5a beta is avaliable through Cydia.
Just a week after the first iPhone 2.1 beta seed, Apple has released another 2.1 firmware release to developers. The new version appears to include several bug fixes.
"This is the second beta of the iPhone SDK targeting iPhone OS 2.1, including bug fixes to iPhone OS as well as an early implementation of the Apple Push Notification Service API. This API is not yet integrated with a live push server."
Apple created a new IPhone firmware version 2.1 beta. Of course DevTeam tried their Pwnage on 2.1 firmware. Here's a screenshot of 2.1 running on an unlocked iPhone 1G:
So far Pwnage has worked for 1.1.4, all eight (!) 2.0 betas, 2.0 itself, and now 2.1 beta1.
Apple is already providing developers with a new iPhone firmware beta with enhanced location-finding that could lead to true navigation as well as the roots for background push services.
The one of new features is update to core Location - it can now recognize the cardinal direction of an iPhone with GPS as well as its velocity, both of which are ingredients necessary to providing turn-by-turn directions. The additions confirm statements recently by Apple's Greg Joswiak, who rejected earlier claims that iPhone 3G's GPS antenna wasn't powerful enough to handle navigation and in turn explained that "complicated issues" are holding the device back from serving as a true navigation unit.
Apple is also implementing a rough version of its background push notification service in the 2.1 firmware. Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference, the feature lets third-party native programs receive data such as alerts or new messages without actively running. The measure saves processing power without interrupting some apps that depend on constant access to the Internet.
The inclusion of this early version of the code alludes to the 2.1 update becoming public at the same time as the push notification service itself, which is tentatively due for September. In the meantime, Apple and its US partner AT&T are known to be testing iPhone 2.0.1, a maintenance release that likely fixes some of the outstanding bugs with the initial 2.0 release.
First of all I'd like to say we all want to use legal IPhones and operators. So everything written below is for testing purposes only . Hopefully this technology will be avaliable on all IPhones sold worldwide. You also might need to recover your IPhone, so make sure you backed up all your data. I personally did everything without any problems and needs to recover. Everything you do is your responsibility, etc...
So let's start, because it's worth it! It's just one evening and you will be able to create your personal Java application, compile and run it on the IPhone, and amaze all your friends .