The Cat and Mouse game is back - Apple vs iPhone Dev Team

By Aaron Besson at 9 July, 2008, 11:21 am

Back in November 2008, when the iPhone was launched in the UK, Steve Jobs said that “It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” when asked about hackers unlocking the iPhone. “We try to stay ahead. People will try to break in, and it’s our job to stop them breaking in.”

Well it looks like the cat and mouse game is back on with the iPhone 3G and firmware 2.0, and so far Tom seems to be kicking Jerry’s arse - so far.

Apple has found a new way to strike back, and this time it seems to be working. By making the iPhone 3G widely available in over 70 countries by year end, and by making it extremely difficult (and expensive) to get an iPhone 3G without a contract, it will be available for purchase to most people who ended up buying a 1st gen and unlocking it. Allot of people will simply not need or want an unlock cause they can now purchase an iPhone from their local carrier as use it with full service and benefits. They have also managed to discourage one of the main players in iPhone unlocking - GeoHotz.

The Dev Team have been dropping hints recently that they are onto something. Many (myself included) think that they have totally blown the doors off iPhone firmware 2.0 for first gen iPhones. I think they have successfully re-compiled PWNED and BootNeuter to unlock the 2.0 baseband and maybe even work with the iPhone 3G baseband (if they have managed to get a hold of an iPhone 3G - and from the number of blogs and tech sites that have been doing reviews and 3G iPhone unboxings - I think they have one by now).

AppleInsider claims that the build number of iPhone Software 2.0 shipping on iPhone 3G handsets that will go on sale Friday is ‘5A345. BUT- Sam over on Hackint0sh says “AppleInsider is wrong. Wait 2 days please..”
Others speculate that only the first batch of iPhone 3G will have this 5A345 build of 2.0, after that it will be a more secure version (maybe that’s why stores and resellers are getting such low supplies). Makes me wonder - Have the Dev Team unlocked the Gold Master 5A345 or have they gotten some other trick up their sleeve?

But what about Installer and the AppStore?

It’s been made pretty clear that the current build of Installer will not run on iPhone firmware 2.0, and I am guessing that apps distributed/signed for the AppStore are not going to work on Jailbreaked iPhones either (nor allow purchasing from countries not recognized by iTunes). SO a new Installer is needed, and I have heard through the grape vine that this is in the works. (if not completed already).

But will the new Installer run allow you to install AppStore Apps? Who Knows, All I can say is that I really hope that 2.0 is unlockable for those wanting and needing Exchange Email support. But the main attraction to iPhone firmware 2.0 is the AppStore, and I believe that without a legit activated iPhone, running 2.0, you are not going to be able to purchase from the AppStore. - I hope I am wrong.

All I can say is thank god I have an iPod Touch, so I can try out the new apps and games from the AppStore. I will wait until the dust settles to see what I am going o do with regard to upgrading my beloved unlocked iPhone.

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