Tag Archives: Activate

[iPhone] HowTo Activate and Unlock using QuickPwn 2.1

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I. Abstract

This is a short HowTo since all of you by now know how to use QuickPwn, don’t you? in short: QuickPwn is an Après-Tool. Means: you let iTunes 8 do the update process and use QuickPwn afterwards to “open” your device. Note:

  • 2G iPhones can be jailbroken and unlocked
  • 3G iPhones can be jailbroken, but not unlocked
  • iPod Touch 1st generation can be jailbroken
  • iPod Touch 2nd generation can not be jailbroken

Our article will not cover the iPod Touch, but the iPhone.

II. Requirements

III. Warning

Jailbreaking and unlocking is illegal to be performed with iPhone devices that are part of a current agreement (mostly 12 or 24 months). You would violate your contract by jailbreaking and unlocking! Don’t do it.

  • If you’re updating: all your Cydia and Installer.app based applications will be lost and need to be installed again!
  • Make sure you make a backup of your data!

IV. Update iPhone firmware

  • connect your iPhone with your PC
  • start iTunes 8
  • choose your iPhone (under devices)
    itunes-01.jpg
  • hold the shift-key (on your keyboard) and do a mouse-click on the Update Button – a file-open window will pop up like this:
    itunes-02.jpg
  • locate the downloaded firmware 2.1 (named: iPhone1,1_2.1_5F136_Restore.ipsw) and open it
  • iTunes will begin to update your iPhone automatically
    itunes-03.jpg

    itunes-04.jpg

    itunes-05.jpg

    itunes-06.jpg

    itunes-07.jpg

    itunes-08.jpg
  • After having updated the iPhone will reboot. If you are using an already Pwned iPhone it will remain activated and unlocked, you only need to jailbreak.

IV. QuickPwning it :-)

  • Let your iPhone plugged to your computer
  • Close iTunes
  • Start QuickPwn 2.1-1
  • You will be greeted with the Device Detection screen, click the right-arrow to proceed:
    quickpwn-01.jpg
  • on the next window, click the Browse button to locate your iPhone1,1_2.1_5F136_Restore.ipsw firmware:
    quickpwn-02.jpg

    quickpwn-03.jpg
  • QuickPwn will check if the firmware matches the version currently running on your iPhone and will allow you to proceed (click the right-arrow):
    quickpwn-04.jpg
  • the next windows allows you to select, what you want to install. We recommend to install both Cydia and Installer.app. If your iPhone has not been unlocked until now, here you can also choose to simunlock it. As we are quite conservative: we never change the boot logos, but this seems to be a matter of taste. After having selected, click the right-arrow button to proceed.
    quickpwn-05.jpg
  • For safety reasons, QuickPwn will remind you to leave your iPhone plugged to your computer, click the right-arrow button to proceed
    quickpwn-06.jpg
  • Read and follow the instruction on this window very carefully! QuickPwn will help you counting!
    quickpwn-07.jpg
  • After that, QuickPwn will take control and perform the following actions automatically:
    quickpwn-08.jpg

    quickpwn-09.jpg

    quickpwn-10.jpg
  • When all the tasks have been completed, QuickPwn has finished.
    quickpwn-11.jpg
  • Your iPhone will perform some more actions for the next few minutes. It will show it is changing the NOR and so on and will reboot then.

After having rebooted your iPhone will be perfectly jailbroken and unlocked

V. Final words

Guys, we hope we could clarify some more things here than others did. We appreciate your comments on this. Kudos to all of you and remember to consider our sponsors, they really got the coolest offers ;-) Kudos fly out to the iPhone Dev Team! Live long and prosper, guys.

[iPhone] Apple Sells Unlocked 3G’s in Hong Kong (update)

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As of today Apple sells their new iPhone 3G factory unlocked in Hong Kong. The Apple Site explicitly says:

“iPhone 3G purchased at the Apple Online Store can be activated with any wireless carrier.”

Prices will vary from 5,400HK$ for the 8GB model (695US$ or 476€) and 6,200HK$ for the 16GB model (798US$ or 547€). This obviously is the end of Apple’s strategy of exclusive carrier linking of their iPhones.

We want to remind you that import taxes will apply when shipping from Hong Kong to either the US or Europe. So this would not be a bargain. You’d better wait a couple of weeks, probably Apple will apply this new selling strategy to other markets as well in the near future. Next step should be to license visual voicemail to any carrier worldwide and make it a standard in cell phone communication.

» Find more information on the Apple Hong Kong page…
» See our iPhone 3G “Factory Unlocked List” list here (update)..

applehongkong.png

[iPhone] Windows QuickPwn 2.1 Released

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Eventually the iPhone Dev Team released QuickPwn 2.1 for Windows. They really don’t seem to sleep never. It supports firmware 2.1. It jailbreaks, activates and unlocks iPhone 2G devices and jailbreaks iPhone 3G. It sadly still does not unlock iPhone 3G. Using is very straightforward. Kudos to the Dev Team :-)

» Download QuickPwn here (sha1 f8124d0e8f31f64ef3272de8fbc679e1dd1f93a7)

[iPhone] Workarounds for Issues with PwnageTool/QuickPwn for Firmware 2.1

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We read all over the net and found some solutions to the most common issues that occurred. If you are kinda conservative user, we’d recommend not to update to firmware 2.1 and wait until a PwnageTool and QuickPwn update has been released. Since the iPhone Dev Team is reacting very fast, this should take only some days.

Known Workarounds:

Error 1600 and Error 6: restore with stock firmware 2.1, then QuickPwn (you may then put into restore mode and install custom IPSW, but it’s not necessary- credits to “HomeGrown”).

Error 1600: when Pwnage asks, if already pwned your device, answer NO, no matter if you pwned if before or not (credits to “Maurofoto”)

Error 1600: let iTunes download firmware 2.1 again (you may delete it from the local folder if you already downloaded it via iTunes. Folder on a Mac: ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Update/), then exit iTunes, prep a custom IPSW using Pwnage, delete the iTunes downloaded firmware from the above mentioned folder again and copy your custom IPSW to that folder, but name it exactly as the original firmware was named (credits to “Markat”)

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[iPhone] QuickPwn 1.0 for MacOS X released

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Our fellow iPhone Dev Team yesterday finally released QuickPwn for MacOS X. Sadly the Dev Team in the first place only provided a .torrent link (get torrent here) for distribution. We will come up with further details soon. For now: there are no reports about bugs about this version for Mac ,yet. Use “Archive Utility” to unpack, otherwise permission may be screwed up. Thumbs up for the Dev Team.

SHA1 sum: QuickPwn_1.0.0.tbz (via torrent) = 22ee0d6814a6bac9b1b9a8c7715dd714bd6bb449

[Update] Download QuickPwn 1.0 for Mac from these mirror locations now: RapidShare and iPhone-Hacks.com.

[iPhone] PwnageTool Release Candidate 3 and QuickPwn Beta updated

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Our beloved iPhone Dev Team yesterday released updated versions of QuickPwn for Microsoft Windows (now with improved Windows 64bit handling) and PwnageTool for MacOS X (fixes the permission issue, mentioned here). If you have PwnageTool installed yet, it should bravely auto-update.

We had no time yet to test neither the Windows version nor the Mac version. Firmware 2.0.2 is reported to be only a series of bugfixes. People report, their devices run a little smoother. If you don’t encounter problems running your current iPhone / iPod Touch firmware, we would not recommend to update right now. It is rumored Apple will the release stable firmware 2.1 in september.

» Windows QuickPwn RC3 Download here…
» MacOS X PwnageTool 2.0.3.1 Download here (mirror here)…

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[iPhone] PwnageTool Release Candidate and QuickPwn Beta available

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Our fellow iPhone Dev Team is unrestingly working for the entire iPhone/iPod Touch community. The team today released a release candidate of their well known PwnageTool (version 2.0.3), that now supports firmware 2.0.2 5C1. PwnageTool 2.0.3 is only available for MacOS X.

Moreover they released another Beta of the QuickPwn tool. In contrast to PwnageTool QuickPwn lets you simply update your iPhone using the internal updater of iTunes. After that QuickPwn helps you to activate, jailbreak and unlock (only for iPhone 2G). QuickPwn is available for Microsoft Windows only. It is not recommended to use it in a virtual machine, since USB ports may not be running in real time.

If you are using your iPhone not only as a gadget, but as a productive device: we recommend to not use either PwnageTool Release Candidate or QuickPwn Beta right now. You may stick to iPhone firmware 2.0 or 2.0.1 for another week. Once the final version of one of the tools is available we’re gonna release a simple step-by-step tutorial.

Big shouts from Germany ;-) fly out to the iPhone Dev Team.

»  iPhone Dev Team: QuickPwn for Windows and PwnageTool for Mac

[Update] In forums people report problems with the mail authentication (Mail.app) after running Pwnage 2.0.3 RC. Although a manual solution for this issue is simple (have SSH installed and chmod 0777 /var/Keychains Shouts to Nettwerk), we don’t recommend to update now.

[iPhone] iPhone 3G Proxy Unlock Available in Germany (update)

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Update July 27th, 2008: In their testing program Juma found issues with some european carriers using 3G technique. In contrast to other SIM proxy manufacturers, Juma does not want to sell solutions that don’t work 100% on either GSM or 3G/UMTS networks. Customers who had already ordered got full refund on saturday and sunday. Anyway: we heard Juma is researching these issues to come up with a solution as soon as possible

It finally seems to be true. We already reported that unlock specialists from Brazil and from Vietnam independently from each other announced they can unlock the new 3G iPhones using a proxy SIM solution. But nobody (at least in Europe) got such proxy SIM into their hands.

Anyway here seems to come the real deal: a working proxy solution hit the streets of germany as of today. It is called iPhonix and is manufactured by Juma FZE – a trading company located in Dubai. As initial offer iPhonix will cost 50€ (about 80US$), instead of 59€. Sadly the product page seems to be available in german only by the moment. We already ordered a product sample, but as we don’t have it yet: we can’t confirm, but the german Magazine MacBug does (see german article here). Update: This currently does not work with any german carrier!

On the following video you can see a white iPhone 3G running with german interface. The iPhone 3G is obviously carrier locked (most likely to the german T-Mobile D1 net). After inserting the iPhonix proxy it connects to the carrier of Dubai (Etisalat) – obviously roaming. Anyway this is not the best video to convince german customers. We’d better seen checking out a T-Mobile SIM and putting in an O2 or Vodafone card that does not work and then after using the proxy… You know what I mean… And where is the making calls… Anyway see their promotion video here:

[iPhone] HowTo Activate and Unlock your iPhone using Pwnage 2.0

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Article is outdated. Find newest Jailbreak and Unlock HowTo for iPhone Firmware 3.0 here.

Note

We need to stress: respect the laws of the country you live in. For instance as german citizen with a T-Mobile Germany plan and iPhone you are not allowed to jailbreak or unlock your iPhone. T-Mobile is not kidding in this topic, as we’ve all seen with the sipgate sue (we reported here). This tutorial is in no way meant as an invitation to do things that are in violation of your contracts. We cannot be held responsible for bricking your devices. You do everything at your own risk and responsibility. Thanks.

I. Abstract

Pwnage Tool 2.0 is the newest tool to unlock and jailbreak “old” iPhones (iPhone 2G) and jailbreak “new” iPhones (iPhone 3G). It is developed, maintained and provided for free by the iPhone Dev Team. The Dev Team already provided Pwnage Tool 1.0 (see recent tutorial here).

This tutorial is for Mac users only who previously activated and unlocked their iPhones using Pwnage Tool 1.0. The release of Pwnage Tool 2.0 has been delayed in the last few days because of several bugfixes and issues that occurred during latest test. As we’ve used Pwnage Tool 2.0 in the last hours on some old iPhones, we can say: in contrast to Pwnage Tool 1.0, we encountered some problems with Pwnage Tool 2.0. Keeping that in mind it is your own risk to prolly brick your iPhone. We cannot be held responsible for your actions.

II. Preparations

A Microsoft Windows version of Pwnage 2.0 has not yet been released. Get yourself a Mac, it really is time to switch :-)

You need to download and install a couple of programs

  • download and install Pwnage Tool 2.0.1 (here or here) / Updated links to new Pwnage 2.0.1
  • download bootloaders.rar (for legal reasons, we can’t provide a direct download link as we are in Germany. Do a simple Google search for bootloaders.rar)
  • update to iTunes 7.7 (using Apple Software Update)
  • download iPhone Restore Firmware 2.0 (here)

III. Fasten your seatbelts

Before taking off, we highly recommend to do the following preparations on your iPhone:

  • backup/synchronize current calendar and address book using iTunes
  • backup current SMS using Syphone (download here)

In case you didnot, we highly recommend you read our tutorial about activating and unlocking iPhones with firmware 1.1.4 (see here).

IV. Take off

…into the wide open world of unlocked and jailbroken iPhones.

  1. Start Pwnage Tool 2.0, and click OK.

  2. Choose Expert Mode

  3. Select iPhone 2G, and click the blue arrow

  4. After clicking the blue arrow you will see a window like this:

    Note: we encountered errors when browsing for the IPSW firmware that we manually downloaded several times:

    We circumvented this error by letting iTunes download the firmware. But be careful let iTunes only download the firmware. Don’t choose download and install!!!

  5. When Pwnage feels like the Firmware is the right one, it will show this picture, where we can manually change some settings. We highly recommend to change nothing but the Cydia packages. We even leave the pictures the same.

  6. Inside the Cydia packages menu we recommend to choose these files for download:
    OpenSSH, Cydia Installer, and Cydia's Source Set. These files will automatically become downloaded in the background.



  7. Make sure you select the above downloaded Cydia packages. Under Select packages you can check them, in case the packages are not pre-chosen for including into your custom IPSW. Then click the blue arrow again.

  8. After having clicked the blue arrow again, we may choose new logos. We recommend to leave these as they are and click the blue arrow again.

  9. Pwnage Tool 2.0 feels we are ready and shows “Build” with a checkmark. We click the blue arrow again and can already smell the pwrn.

  10. You may provide the bootloaders now, by clicking No to search the web for them (we only show the 4.6 bootloader question, in fact there will be same question for the 3.9 bootloader).


  11. After having chosen the bootloader Pwnage needs to know where to save the custom IPSW file. It will show a picture similar to this:

    After having chosen the target filename and folder, Pwnage will submissively begin its work.

    At a specific point of work, Pwnage will require your admin password. This is due to a limitation of access to the filesystem.

  12. After working some minutes you will be shown this menu. Since we are all obedient Pwnage users (aren’t we?) we already had used Pwnage 1.0 before. And therefore we choose Yes.
  13. Pwrnage Tool will wish us the best for our recovery and wants to be quitted:

V. Approach for Landing

  1. As our odysee thru iPhonitis is not over, we need to start iTunes (we have our iPhones connected!). And we choose the iPhone menu in iTunes (looks like this picture:)

  2. We need to restore our 0wn firmware, therefore we need to hold the ALT key and press Restore Button. We will get a dialog, where we can choose our custom firmware:

  3. iTunes will begin its work of extracting and restoring our custom firmware. This process will take some minutes. Don’t disconnect during this period. You would have an expensive brick then.

  4. After restoring successfully the custom firmware to your iPhone your iPhone will reboot and eventually show a screen that indicates that the baseband is currently in process of getting unlocked:

  5. After the baseband flashing has been finished, your iPhone will reboot again and will show up with firmware 2.0. We hope you enjoyed your flight with incomplete-news airways. We wish you a good stay on Eff-Doubleyou-Two-Dot-Oh. We recommend to pick up your baggage in the claim area.

VI. Baggage Claim Area

  1. You may now decide to set up your system clean and configure everything anew or simply choose to restore your old settings (like eMail-accounts, calendar, photos, muzaq, and videos):

  2. After having clicked Continue you will see this picture. It depends on how many things you had saved on your iPhone and how much space it’s got. Our 4GB testmodel only took about 5 minutes to get all settings restored:

  3. After restoring the settings your iPhone will reboot…
  4. To get back your EDGE settings, simply follow our tutorial here (see part II.)_T_H_E__Z_E_N__W_A_Y_ . In firmware 2.0 the EDGE menu is now called “Cellular Data Network”).

VII. Final words

Congratulations. You’re finished now. In case any of you got questions, don’t hesitate to ask below in our comments section. We hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Thanks for your attention. Big shouts fly out to the iPhone Dev Team. You guys simply rock our hearts…