Optional OS in the near future?

[xBrandonx]

Here is a quick rundown interview with the developers:

theiphoneproject: What does PWN accomplish for the users?

The Devs: Full independence from Apple’s vision on what the iPhone (and iPod Touch) can and cannot do. Currently it will allow you to restore to a jailbroken and unlocked state, and if you can figure it out - some extra cool stuff like Installer, Cydia, and other applications. You will eventually be able to backup your entire phone and restore to a state exactly the way you like it, restore straight to jailbroken state with installer, or even potentially install other OSes like linux (see iphonelinux.org) to your phone.

theiphoneproject: Why should I use this instead of ZiPhone? (or any other method in that case)

The Devs: Because it is the first time you can fully take control over your device. Previous solutions such as ZiPhone rely on exploits to break into an existing installation of iPhone OS, and install stuff into your device that way. Those approaches are fundamentally different from ours, in that they attempt to correct what Apple’s restricted in the OS after the fact, and only have limited power in what they can do to it. Our approach takes full control of the lowest layers of Apple’s device, and allows a much safer kind of jailbreak, that uses Apple’s tried and tested restore mechanism. It will also allow much more when hackers realize all the new possibilities this method opens up and start taking advantage of them.


theiphoneproject: Can you give us an overview of the process?

The Devs: In all honesty, it’s quite simple. This is the first release of Pwnage, and the process of building an IPSW is thus far only supported on Mac OS X. The first thing to do is make sure you have the Official IPSW of the firmware you are running (eg. If you are running 1.1.4, download 1.1.4). Now open the Pwnage tool, and click “Browse .ipsw” and browse to the firmware file that you just downloaded. Next you click the “iPwner” button, and watch as PWNAGE patches the iPhone bootlader, making it possible to circumvent any code signing checks. After this, your iPhone will reboot. As the iPhone reboots, exit the Pwnage app, and reopen it.

Here is where the magic happens, once the phone has rebooted, click on “IPSW Builder,” and you are presented with a list of the building options (jailbreak, unlock, etc..) including the all new “BootNeuter,” the ultimate iPhone unlocking solution. Once you have customized your IPSW, hit OK and let Pwnage build the restore file. Next we head to iTunes, option+click on the restore button, and navigate to the custom ipsw that you just created,. Hit OK and we’re done! iTunes will restore the iPhone to the state of your choosing (Be it jailbroken, unlocked etc…).

Credits: asap18, bgm, Bugout, bushing, chris, dinopio, drudge, Fred_, ghost_000, gray, kroo, MuscleNerd, netkas, np101137, planetbeing, pr3d4t0r, pumpkin, pytey, roxfan, sam, Turbo, w___, wizdaz, Zf.

Special thanks: Geohot, cmw

[maatn]

sounds rly good. just need an iphone... will travel to us soon =)

#IPHONE-DEV, IRC, Cyberspace. March 30, 2008

The expected release of the Mac OS X version of “PwnageTool” has been delayed until sometime next week.

Legal enquiries were made to the DevTeam about the validity and legality of the contents of the tools, we would like to stress that no third-party copyrighted software will ever be released by the DevTeam.

Also, initial feedback from Beta testers has indicated that a few small changes and additional features should be developed.

Another major request from the Beta testers and demo viewers is that the team brings forward the release of the Windows version, with the feedback that has been received the team has decided to expedite the release of the Windows tool for a dual platform release sometime next week, iPod touch support will also be finalized.

The DevTeam would like to thank the users for being patient and waiting for the upcoming release.

The video presentation that was released yesterday has been viewed over 100,000 times in 24 hours proving the overwhelming demand for the application.

To summarize :-

    *
      Pwnage Tool Application releases sometime in the next week for Mac OS X 10.4.x, 10.5.x and Windows.

    *
      The tool contains revised logos and icons.

    *
      PwnageTool does NOT ship with any Apple licensed software, Intellectual Property, trademarks, logos or images.

    *
      As my Mother would say “If you are going to be late, arrive with flowers”.

ENDS

source: www.iphone-dev.org