iPhone firmware 2.0 is live (plus hands-on)

That's right. If you've been dying for a round of Super Monkey Ball, now's your chance. The firmware is available only through a direct link, not iTunes, so if you want it, follow the read link to sweet, succulent 2.0 paradise. We're loading it up as we speak, so we'll let you know what's good ASAP. If you want to update, just download the file, then hold option when checking for an update in iTunes -- find the file and let the party begin.

Update: Okay, all systems are go! Updating with pics after the break. We're installing AIM and some other apps on to test -- we'll have photos in just a moment.

Update 2: Looks like our upload of Super Monkey Ball caused iTunes to crash out! We've got the wheel, folks.

Update 3: Alright, we've got it syncing again -- but it's taking forever. Hard to tell if this is due to apps uploading or not. It's like watching paint dry.

Update 4: Our bad -- music was syncing. Applications are up and running smoothly -- take a look at the new batch of pics in the gallery below. Also, the update has been tested on both a jailbroken and non-jailbroken phone and it's working as it should.

We've got more specific info on apps and changes after the break, so take a peak.

Gallery: iPhone firmware 2.0 is live (plus hands-on)

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[Via MacRumors]

So right now, it looks like AIM is working when the phone is sleeping, though it doesn't seem to alert you to new messages until you've woken the device up and checked AIM. Then they come at you rapid fire, which is a little unusual. Thus far, we have discovered no way to turn off the sounds in AIM. If you know the sounds, you know how annoying that is.

Push email is kind of working, though it doesn't appear to push changes from webmail to the phone (we can't check MobileMe yet since it isn't live), but Yahoo! Mail works just as badly as it did before.

Google Maps now has 3D buildings, which is a nice change, though little else seems to have been altered.

Most of the applications remain largely unchanged. Take a look at our App Store roundup post to see some more of the interesting downloads available.

[Matt @ Jul 10th 2008 9:19AM]

iPod Touch 2.0?

[aardWolf @ Jul 10th 2008 9:24AM]

Based on the name, I'd say no (it specifically says iPhone on it.) Plus, you have to pay for iPod Touch 2.0.

[mikejhitchcock @ Jul 10th 2008 11:07AM]

*******************************************************
How to update firmware to 2.0
*******************************************************
1. Download file from mac rumors
2. Open itunes
3. Bring up the iphone screen
4. Click on the "Check for updates" button while holding the shift key
5. Last step will pop up a windows browser, Select new .ispw file you downloaded
6. wait a very long time
7. enjoy!

[Ravi @ Jul 10th 2008 11:09AM]

Do these steps work for ipod touch also?

[mikejhitchcock @ Jul 10th 2008 11:12AM]

Yes they work for ipod touch but this firmware is FOR IPHONE ONLY... If you wanted to change your ipod touch version you need to download the ipod touch firmware wich isn't out yet.

[mike @ Jul 10th 2008 1:14PM]

when i hold option and click check for update it does it but i cant select anythign in the folder i downloaded

[cstarbird @ Jul 10th 2008 4:42PM]

No one has mentioned that you also need the newest version of iTunes for this update to work.

[Orris @ Jul 10th 2008 3:28PM]

Success. I was getting error(5), but all I needed to do was update to the latest version of iTunes.

[Oliver Soar @ Jul 11th 2008 2:51AM]

before you download the file on macrumours you have to go into Safari Preferences and there is a checkbox that says "Open Safe Files After Downloading" uncheck this box and when its finished downloading it will come up as a zip file. go to rename the file and highlight the .zip bit at the end and change that to .ipsw then youre done! it will change to an iphone software file and go to itunes then iphone, hold alt, click Check for update click the file click open and youve got urself a 2.0 iphone!

Remember have the lates tversion of itunes!

[Andy TGD @ Jul 11th 2008 6:23AM]

I'd just also like to make a prediction that the firmware for the iPod Touch will be crippled in some way when compared to the iPhone 3G. Apart from the usual phone-related hardware bits and bobs.

[OfflinePK @ Jul 10th 2008 9:20AM]

Does it work as well as Mobile Me?

[ib3nji @ Jul 10th 2008 9:21AM]

now the waiting game for a unlock :D

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 10th 2008 9:25AM]

It would be BEAST to have the installer app and the app store. That would be awesome.

[elbow @ Jul 10th 2008 11:02AM]

is this a new hep saying? "it would be beast?" Man, I feel old...

[Eric M. @ Jul 10th 2008 11:08AM]

@ib3nji

Thanks to your comment I remembered my iPhone is unlocked and NOT to install this, yet. haha

[JimReaper @ Jul 10th 2008 1:23PM]

Thanks Eric M. I was about to update when I saw your comment :D

[Carlos @ Jul 10th 2008 9:22AM]

No one has said anything about the upgrade for the 1.1.4, 1g iphone owners !!! whats the deal?, will it block our units, will there be a LIBERTY 2.0 ??....

[aardWolf @ Jul 10th 2008 9:37AM]

I'm installing on my 1g now...

[aardWolf @ Jul 10th 2008 9:44AM]

FYI, you lose all contacts, etc. I sync with my Mac at home, so I'll be without my contacts/ringtones/etc. until I get home tonight.

[Hunter @ Jul 10th 2008 9:23AM]

uhhh it's not live for me....

[David McGraw @ Jul 10th 2008 9:24AM]

click the link

[Chad @ Jul 10th 2008 11:51AM]

Click the "read" link as specified to download the file, then open that file with itunes to install.

[onelegout @ Jul 10th 2008 9:23AM]

Is this legitimate?

[Daza @ Jul 10th 2008 10:58AM]

Nah, it's an elaborate hoax. Damn, we had you going for a while!

[Hunter @ Jul 10th 2008 9:24AM]

oh never mind i should have read the post all the way through... looking forward to that link... lol

[blurry @ Jul 10th 2008 9:24AM]

What's the betting pool on the jailbreak release date for 2.0 firmware? One week? One day? 0-day? ;-)

[Jakob Henner @ Jul 10th 2008 4:37PM]

NOW! The guys at iPhone dev has just unlocked it (:

[mattm @ Jul 10th 2008 9:25AM]

Um can we please have the iPod Touch 2.0 today?

[JAmerican @ Jul 10th 2008 9:25AM]

Yay its Apple Day on Engadget... again.

Engadget, I think TUAW does enough reporting for Apple. Switch it up a little so that non interested readers don't take a 24-hr break from your blog whenever another Apple product comes out.

I'm expecting a low rank but it had to be said.

[ghostfish @ Jul 10th 2008 9:29AM]

I hate to mention Gizmodo, but they do have a URL where you can specify a not:apple tag to filter out all Apple posts at times like these. I don't think this can currently be done on Engadget though.

[JAmerican @ Jul 10th 2008 9:32AM]

I am not an anti-Apple person. I've owned Apple products. Just saying, make it more diverse. Today, they just posted like several Apple posts in a row.

[Jared @ Jul 10th 2008 9:32AM]

Agreed, 8 out of 10 of the most current stories are about the fruit company

[Reid @ Jul 10th 2008 9:34AM]

I agree that sometimes (frequently?) really absurdly unimportant Apple crap gets posted here. But I don't browse TUAW or any such sites because I don't care about the latest up-to-the-second rumors or gossip any more than you do.

What I do care about is legitimate news, early releases (like this), and so on. So I read Engadget as a source for the latest stuff, Apple or otherwise. I certainly wouldn't want to see Engadget skip over news like this one. I could do without the latest blurry unsubstantiated photos of a product that may or may not exist though :)

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Jul 10th 2008 9:34AM]

Engadget does have that link, if you've been reading engadget for a long time. They remind the people about everytime a MacWorld comes up.

[Lance @ Jul 10th 2008 9:36AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/20/tired-of-iphone-and-or-apple-news-on-engadget/

[AdamY @ Jul 10th 2008 9:51AM]

Does it make a difference that there's several Apple news stories floating about, or would it be better if they simply ignored them because they didn't make the site "diverse" enough for you?

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Jul 10th 2008 10:03AM]

At the end of the day, tomorrow is a big day for tech enthusiasts - Apple fan or not. The 3G iphone is a major product, as is MobileMe, and Engadget's coverage of similarly huge launches are likewise well-covered.

[max.karpiak @ Jul 10th 2008 10:20AM]

What do you want them to report on today? Do you think there's lots of stories they're just ignoring?

Any PR firm for any company with half a brain knows that they should wait 'til the next news cycle, because Apple will own this one.

[Skeepax @ Jul 10th 2008 10:18AM]

as at 10:20am EST Gizmodo first 5 stories are Apple related...can't get away from it!!

[DogGunn @ Jul 10th 2008 9:25AM]

And now we're back to the unlock!

[Matthew Dunlop @ Jul 10th 2008 9:27AM]

Is this offical? Were is this link coming from?

[Jim D @ Jul 10th 2008 9:29AM]

http://appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net/content.info.apple.com/iPhone/061-4955.20080710.bgt53/iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw

[intrglctcrevfnk @ Jul 10th 2008 9:29AM]

w00t! I restored my jailbroken iPhone for this! Can't wait till iLiberty gets this one figured out! App store and installer(or cydia) right next to eachother, living in unshackeled harmony!

[RadicalxEdward @ Jul 10th 2008 9:30AM]

http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_firmware_2_0_is_live

[steve @ Jul 10th 2008 9:32AM]

so, as I was downloading it, my DL speeds went from 1.2MB per sec to 500KB per sec. Looks like I got in right before the apple servers got pounded!

[Chris @ Jul 10th 2008 9:39AM]

Or you're using Comcast with ReadyBoost

[CharlieX @ Jul 10th 2008 10:23AM]

They're WAY down.... getting a whopping 27kbs right now....

[Matt Crain @ Jul 10th 2008 12:24PM]

I have Cox Communications with "SpeedBoost". Started at 3.1 MB/s and dropped to the standard 1.5 MB/s that's what always happens when I download anything.

[uncplayer23 @ Jul 10th 2008 9:35AM]

I downloaded the firmware but to no avail. It will not update. Can anyone else confirm this actually works?

[aardWolf @ Jul 10th 2008 9:38AM]

In Windows, hold Shift in iTunes while you tell it to check for updates. It will let you point directly to that file. In OS X, hold CMD.