iPhone v1.1.2 breaks jailbreak -- coming to the UK on Friday

When we first got our hands on the UK iPhone back in September, it was already running the 1.1.1 firmware. The same firmware which helpfully bricked a number of hacked iPhones Stateside upon later release. Now T3 is claiming that the UK iPhone -- set for release on November 9th -- is kicking 1.1.2 under the glass. Besides support for French and German keyboard layouts and characters, the other notable change is the shuttering of the TIFF exploit used to jailbreak and then install (and unlock) third party applications on the 1.1.1 iPhone and iPod touch. With the possibility that Apple might release 1.1.2 globally with the UK launch on Friday, consider yourselves warned. It's not like there's a lot of incentive for you to update anyway (remember, it's optional) what with the latest jailbreak simultaneously exploiting and then plugging the TIFF exploit to keep your browsing safe. For whatever it's worth, the February SDK isn't too far away -- perhaps you should wait 'till then to get right with The Steve.

[insertAlias @ Nov 4th 2007 4:04AM]

To preempt any bitching...
Like Thomas said: "(remember, it's optional)" it is an optional update. If you have jailbreaked (or jailbroke, I'm not sure which) your phone, or added (and want to keep) 3rd party apps, DON'T UPDATE YOUR IPHONE!

Just don't come complaining that apple broke your phone because you ignored all advice and updated anyway.

[Josh Warner @ Nov 4th 2007 6:04AM]

The post says that in the UK (and, one may presume to generalize worldwide in the near future) NEW handsets will be coming with 1.1.2 out of the box. That is not optional in any way, shape, or form. You are correct for people that already own one; you are incorrect in trivializing Apple's actions here. They "fixed" the "security hole" that was letting people have freedom with their product, so from the near future on out unlocking is going to be a good deal more difficult with new iPhones.

[just a resident cynic @ Nov 4th 2007 6:30AM]

I can't confirm its status against jailbreaks, but from what i've seen at work the units will indeed come with 1.1.2 (and in case anyone is wondering what happened to the 4gb iphones.... seems like they are being used as the in store demo units)

......but you never heard that from me m'kay

[paul34 @ Nov 4th 2007 3:55PM]

Indeed. Hell, I'm still running 1.0.2. There's really no need to update at the moment...

[Kurian @ Nov 4th 2007 4:23AM]

I can understand the need for signed code on a PSP, Xbox360 or PS3. Because the sole purpose of them is to play original games (And Sony graciously lets the PS3 run unsigned non-games = fuck you Microsoft).

But this is a bloody PDA. Its meant to run applications. WTF do they even lose by implementing signed code protection.

And dont give me that BS about unlocking causing them losses. Such people wouldnt have bought an iPhone at all if it wasnt unlockable.

Just like Sony's PS2 sales in Asia will be 0 units if not for pirated games.

[Kurian @ Nov 4th 2007 4:24AM]

I meant "gain" not lose.

[404error @ Nov 4th 2007 5:45AM]

It may not cost them sales but it would certainly piss off AT&T

[Hawkman @ Nov 4th 2007 9:46AM]

It's not a "bloody PDA", it's a phone - and billions of phones are sold every year without the ability to run additional applications. This is one such device.

Just because it runs OS X, doesn't mean it should be able to run Photoshop. If it ran a custom OS - like iPods always did - would everyone feel the same way? Blatantly not; compare the complete lack of a fuss that iPods couldn't run apps with the total outrage that the OS X-based iPod touch was locked down. Double standards much?

I say this a UK resident who desperately wants the new firmware cracked open so I don't have to sign up with the jokers at O2. I have no right to _expect_ that, though.

Not to mention that eventually applications will be allowed on the iPhone anyway. Seriously, sometimes I just want to bang heads together.

[Ignacio @ Nov 4th 2007 10:16AM]

"Just because it runs OS X, doesn't mean it should be able to run Photoshop. If it ran a custom OS - like iPods always did - would everyone feel the same way? Blatantly not; compare the complete lack of a fuss that iPods couldn't run apps with the total outrage that the OS X-based iPod touch was locked down. Double standards much?"

Yeah, tell me: how would you type or move a pointer on a classic iPod? That is the BIG difference: input methods. The iPhone and the iPod have them, the other iPods can't really do much more than "play media", but the multitouch screen + wifi makes them a far more interesting "general purpose" devices. Also, having Steve Jobs say "it runs OS X" seemed to make that point even more clear, that's why everyone was so upset about the lack of support for third party apps.

[dagamer34 @ Nov 4th 2007 1:08PM]

You people forget to realize what kind of information you store on your phone. Phone numbers, names, addresses, e-mails, SMS messages. If a program were to run rampant on your iPhone and upload that data a little bit at a time, you'd be fucked. Do you really want that?

As much as I'd like to stick it to Apple for not having 3rd-party apps, more importantly, you want a secure SDK otherwise millions of spam coming to you is a LOT fucking worse than not being able to play Tetris of an NES game.

[Kurian @ Nov 4th 2007 3:46PM]

Symbian phones for YEARS have not had any kind of bs like this.

[BoredOne @ Nov 4th 2007 5:10PM]

"404error @ Nov 4th 2007 5:45AM
It may not cost them sales but it would certainly piss off AT&T"

Apple is making almost 500 dollars per contract with AT&T. Don't act like Apple doesn't have a horse in this race.

[Cagrino @ Nov 4th 2007 5:06AM]

Here we go again. Everyone has been warned!

And yet, come Friday the 9th there will be dozens of people complaining that Apple bricked their iPhone.

[bugmat @ Nov 4th 2007 2:18PM]

Fair enough for ppl who already own iPhones...the ones who want one and want to hack it are plain out of luck. eBay it is woohoo :| Stop looking at the trees and see the forest.

[Andreas @ Nov 4th 2007 5:28AM]

I just hope that when the software boom on iPhone finally launches, officially, that the jailbraked phones are compatible to use official iPhone software.

[bugmat @ Nov 4th 2007 2:38PM]

Best comment I've read so far - I hope Jobs reads this.

[wslcrew @ Nov 4th 2007 5:52AM]

I wonder what will happen to my unlocked iPod Touch if I install this update... If they brink my iPod like they did with iPhone, wouldn't that be illegal since it's just a music player and there're no contracts to limit my use?

[Mark Deab @ Nov 4th 2007 7:20AM]

I have the same problem, but I'm sure there something in the Terms and Conditions/EULA.

[insertAlias @ Nov 4th 2007 1:30PM]

No. The reason is they clearly warn you when you do an update that you may render your device inoperable if you have modified the operating system.

The other reason is that it is an optional update. If apple pushed it out without asking you first, then you might have a point, but they do ask you if you want to update.

The third reason is because apple has no obligation to predict or code for all the crazy hacks one might do. Also, since this isn't an unlocked iPhone, just a touch, it shouldn't get bricked. You will most likely lose all your apps.

To summarize, you have no one to blame but yourself if update your jailbraked Touch and loose all your apps.

[billy @ Nov 4th 2007 6:25AM]

OK, Big Question for some clever person to answer:

If I buy an iPhone in the States, and go back to UK and try to activate on O2, will it work, or is it somehow region/AT&T locked? Could it be a case of simply downloading the latest update then activating?

thanks

[Panathas17 @ Nov 4th 2007 7:35AM]

Beats me! Sorry!

[ThePengwin @ Nov 4th 2007 8:03AM]

i wouldn't put money on it. Most consumer electronics are region dependent.

Its bloody stupid but i guess thats just another way for the big guys to stay in control.

[Chrisphillers @ Nov 4th 2007 8:41AM]

If you unlock it it will work in the UK - its the same phone basically. I have seen quite a few people (admitedly geeks!) with US iphones using british sim cards.

[engadget @ Nov 4th 2007 6:33AM]

But like France, carriers in the UK have to unlock a phone if a user requests (although the carriers can levy a fee for this). Its all part of the same EU law.

[MJ @ Nov 4th 2007 11:35AM]

I assume that is the case, but on O2s iPhone section on their website it says this:

"At the end of the 18 months you'll continue to subscribe to one of the iPhone tariffs until you give us 30 days notice to cancel. In order to keep using the iPhone you'll need to continue your payments on your iPhone contract."

So basically going off that, if you end your contract after the minimum period, the iPhone is useless. I find this to be a bit of a joke myself.

[Philipp Eigenmann @ Nov 4th 2007 7:22AM]

Not sure if people realised... but 1.1.1 already supports french and german characters on the keyboard... when pressing "a" for instance, just keep pressing until the menu shows up for ä.à etc.

Looking forward to the german and french dictionary though!

[Amaechi @ Nov 4th 2007 9:34AM]

dude, mercí. Was his announced at all? How'd you figure it out?

[t-bone @ Nov 4th 2007 12:15PM]

I don't remember an announcement about that. I accidentally discovered it with L first.

[John Hyland @ Nov 4th 2007 8:34AM]

Does any of this effect the iPod Touch jailbreaking? Will new shippings of iPod touches include a new firmware? Cos i am going to get one for christmas, But was wondering if i should buy now to get the 1.1.1 firmware...

[peestandingup @ Nov 4th 2007 9:15AM]

"For whatever it's worth, the February SDK isn't too far away -- perhaps you should wait 'till then to get right with The Steve."

Oh, lets see exactly how this SDK thing plays out first. Im willing to bet its still gonna be super tight & controlling with fees surrounding it.

[Kizorblade @ Nov 4th 2007 10:34AM]

I don't think there will be fees, I mean look at Xcode for the Mac, it's free =)

[ssuk @ Nov 4th 2007 10:12AM]

I'd like to remind you all that I called this bullshit when 1.1.1 came out. Thank you.

[Khris @ Nov 5th 2007 11:07AM]

I'd like to remind you that you're a wanker.

[yakapo @ Nov 4th 2007 10:25AM]

I'll just wait until the hackers get a hold of the factory unlocked firmware that Apple will be required to put on some of the phones they sell in France. in the meantime I'm using 1.1 and it works just fine. I don't give a shit if they add some new feature like automatic periods in the next 1.1000002 firmware.

I have difficulty understanding why there are posts defending Apple. We should be able to choose any carrier we want. I paid for the phone. Don't tell me they didn't make money on it when you can buy a dual core laptop for the same amount of money. If they give me the phone for free, I'll sign a contract.

[Constable Odo @ Nov 4th 2007 12:19PM]

Since the locked carrier is the way Apple set it up in America, you should just follow the set rules for the time being.

However,.....if you like the French way so much, then why don't you just move to France. That way we'll all be happy. Oo-lah-lah.

Most of us aren't defending Apple. We just don't care much to listen to bitching by users who knew from the beginning the iPhone was locked, that's all. Then again, that's just my opinion.

There's any number of things I don't like about America as a taxpayer, but I don't walk around the streets cursing America. I do have a choice of leaving or trying to reform issues I dislike. Reforms take time, so maybe you should just wait for things to change. Eventually the government might enforce unlocking after a certain time period. You never know.

[snitch @ Nov 4th 2007 11:59AM]

I just hope that they really get a fix for the safari crashing bug now that the iPhone has the dianostic tool install from 1.1.1 because its starting to piss me off

[Karl Viklund @ Nov 4th 2007 12:11PM]

Good. Very good by Apple to address this hacking.

[Moorio @ Nov 4th 2007 12:20PM]

Good? What... for you?

Tell me, how do unlocked iPhones affect you in any way?

[Moorio @ Nov 4th 2007 12:21PM]

Good? What... for you?

Tell me, how do unlocked iPhones affect you in any way?

[sean.boots @ Nov 4th 2007 2:14PM]

That's a really neat invention, but I don't think this is really the place to advertise it. I know there's a prize for page views in that contest, but nobody likes spam.

But still - keep up the inventing! I would definitely buy the iEye.

[Matt @ Nov 4th 2007 2:36PM]

According to reps I have spoken at carphone warehouse US handsets will not work...however they would say that wouldnt they. Anyway I am happy to buy a device and run it thru O2. I am sure that when the SDK ships the quality of apps will be much higher.

[xbit @ Nov 4th 2007 3:45PM]

As someone who once worked in Carphone Warehouse, do not trust a word they say! They pay pretty much minimum wage + commission. All the staff want to do is sell you whatever phone they have in stock or will give them the most commission.

Typically if a phone isn't in stock then they'll say it was buggy and the operator has withdrawn it. If they're busy, they'll tell customers that all PAYG phones are out of stock, since contract phones earn them a lot more commission.

CPW and Phones4U staff are worse than used car salesmen.

[matt byrne @ Nov 4th 2007 3:00PM]

"At the end of the 18 months you'll continue to subscribe to one of the iPhone tariffs until you give us 30 days notice to cancel. In order to keep using the iPhone you'll need to continue your payments on your iPhone contract."

Here in the UK, not offering this phone on PAYG will kill it, simply because people only tend to pay for PAYG phones or get whatever's free on contract. Having a phone price plus an exorbitant monthly payment will put it beyond your typical Samsung/LG/Razr buyer.

[alex @ Nov 4th 2007 3:10PM]

Will this firmware also distroy iNdependence's method of "Activating" the iPhone on 1.1.2 or will fresh users be able to activate in this way to use iPod etc from out of the box?

[Oli @ Nov 4th 2007 5:26PM]

I also wonder if Independence will work on the 1.1.2 firmware iPhone.

Apple may have fixed the TIFF exploit BUT that does not mean that they changed anything else which would stop Independence working...

I guess we will see next weekend - I am sure the hackers will download the updated firmware.

One thing I do wonder is if this firmware is going to be put out to EVERYONE in the world or ONLY those with European iPhones? That will be interesting to see!

[g-mack @ Nov 4th 2007 9:48PM]

There is nothing to prevent users from restoring software from 1.1.2 down to 1.0.2 through iTune.... then using Independence or jaibreakme.com for jailbreaking the phone

The Tiff exploit will always be available once you downgrade...and there is NOTHING that can be done about that.

[Momo @ Nov 4th 2007 6:04PM]

wonder if this updates the baseband

[pathogen @ Nov 4th 2007 6:32PM]

More importantly whats in the update. If it's the fabled Itunes radio I would give up my apps to have streaming radio.

[pathogen @ Nov 4th 2007 6:32PM]

More importantly whats in the update. If it's the fabled Itunes radio I would give up my apps to have streaming radio.

[gvr4wd @ Nov 5th 2007 7:49AM]

another round of updates and hacks? I'm keeping 1.0.2...