Today at Apple’s “Let’s rock and roll” event in San Francisco, they officially announced the updated iTunes, releasing version 9 today.

iTunes 9 comes with Genius Mixes, with more than 54 billion songs to choose from, helping consumers find new music that relates to current library. Apple also announced Genius DJ built into iTunes 9 that seeks out songs and creates a playlist for endless possibilities, great for parties.

iTunes 9 also improves syncing with devices, for your iPhone and iPod Touch. Users can sync by artists, playlists, genres, and more possibilities. Apple also announced that iTunes now offers Home Sharing, allowing users to copy songs, movies, TV shows and more, for up to five computers around your house.

iTunes 9 comes with a built in application sorting feature for the iPhone and iPod Touch, allowing users to customize the layout of their device directly from their computer, without having to painstakingly move dozens of applications and games around. The built in feature should make users organize their devices a little easier.

Download here: Apple iTunes v9 Windows XP & Vista x86 (88MB)

Apple releases 3.1 iPhone & iPod touch firmware

Apple has announced the release of iPhone and iPod Touch firmware 3.1, available for download later today. The free download, for both iPhone and iPod Touch 3.0 users, is said to improve battery life.

The 3.1 firmware will improve video editing on the iPhone 3GS, that won’t overwrite the original clip when editing videos, preventing the loss of the original film. The new developer API’s allows third-party applications access to the videos and edit them, without having to use Apple’s editing tools for the iPhone 3GS. The update is said to increase the boot time of devices. The device will now vibrate when moving icons around to different locations.

Apple also included a “Fraud Protection” toggle switch for browsing, now available under the settings for Safari. The firmware update allows Voice Control over Bluetooth now. Users can also organize their icons through iTunes without having to move them around on their device.

Download v3.1 for iPhone 2G – iPhone1,1_3.1_7C144_Restore.ipsw (241MB)

Download v3.1 for iPhone 3G – iPhone1,2_3.1_7C144_Restore.ipsw (242MB)

Download v3.1 for iPhone 3GS – iPhone2,1_3.1_7C144_Restore.ipsw (306MB)

Get them while they are hot!

Remember this is still beta software, so usual rules apply, no complaints ifanything goes wrong and use the tool at at your own risk! 

Download here!  SHA1 = 8e1ed2ce9e7e473d38a9dc7824a384a9ac34d7d0

NB: Using QuickPwn does not update the firmware itself, this tool is designed to ‘Pwn’ (the ability to install future custom non-Apple firmwares) , ‘Jailbreak’ and install Installer or Cydia on a given device. If your device is running 2.0.1 and you QuickPwn it, it’ll still be running 2.0.1, although it will now be Pwned and Jailbroken, similarly if your device is running 2.0.2 and you QuickPwn it, it will then be running 2.0.2 but the device will now be Pwned and Jailbroken. It will also activate (not unlock) devices that are being used outside of their intended territories and cannot be activated using iTunes.

If you want to update to 2.0.2 then use the normal iTunes update to get to 2.0.2 and then use QuickPwn to Pwn, Jailbreak and Activate, remember that the 2.0.2 update includes a baseband update for the 3G iPhone, so depending what your long term intentions are for the phone, update wisely, of course in the upcoming PwnageTool application you’ll be able to create a custom ipsw without the baseband update enabled.

Our Mac GUI whizzes in the team are working on a graphical Mac OS X version of QuickPwn and also adding some nice little tweaks to the next release of PwnageTool. As soon as these are finished and tested, we’ll let you know, but don’t hold your breath and refresh for these, the release is not imminent.

Again, no updates from our baseband hackers with regard to the unlocking of the 3G iPhone.

Step 1: Shift+Restore your iPhone to v2.0.2 firmware

If you want to update to 2.0.2 then use the normal iTunes update (Shift+Restore) to get to 2.0.2.

Step 2: Download, Unzip, and Run QuickPwnGUIv120.exe

Browse to the downloaded v2.0.2 firmware file…

Step 3: Follow the onscreen guide to Jailbreak, and Activate your iPhone.

Step 4: Use BootNeuter to Unlock

If needed, you can download BootNueter using Cydia, and install THAT to unlock your 1st gen iPhone

neuter, unlock, do not change bootloader settings, and then flash!

What gives???

You will also notice that you can’t edit, add or remove any of the email account settings at all.

Reason for the Problem

This is caused by the sync of the backup from iTunes. The permissions on the mail folder are incorrect. The folder is supposed to be owned by “mobile”, but instead it is owned by “root”. This causes the application to crash, sending you back to the dashboard.

The Solution

The easiest fix is to run bossprefs (which you can install using Cydia), click more, and click “fix user dir permissions”. You may need to reboot.

You can also SSH into your iPhone, and take ownership of the folder directly – but this is the advanced way!

WinPwn 2.0.0.4 has been released for the iPhone 2.0.1 firmware and it includes Installer 4 beta support.

Download link: Winpwn_2.0.0.4_Setup.zip

Release Notes

- Support for both 1.1.4, 2.0, 2.0.1
- Root partition resize support
- Installer support
- Support for WinXP and Vista 32/64bit.

Notes:

- You MUST do a full uninstall of winpwn before installing the new version
- Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes ( Currently 7.7)
- WinPwn uses 300MB of ram at peak due to the ipsw being extracted in memory
- You must first click browse and load an IPSW to use WinPwn (i thought this was clear)
- For 2.0 only the *5A347_Restore.ipsw files are valid. The 345 image will not work
- If you see Failed to load image catalog/payload catalog, this is fine and won’t cause problems
- If you already have service with AT&T do not activate or install Youtube Fix

Download, Install, and Enjoy!!!

Step 1. Download PwnageTool 2.0.2 here.

Step 2. Backup your iPhone to iTunes

Step 3. Open iTunes, and from the iPhone -> Summary tab, download (do not update) the latest iPhone firmware 2.0.1 (iPhone1,1_2.0.1_5B108_Restore.ipsw).

Step 4. Open PwnageTool 2.0.2.

Step 5. Select iPhone and click on next arrow.

Step 6. Select the iPhone1,1_2.0.1_5B108_Restore.ipsw

Step 7. Select Yes to create an .ipsw restore file.

Step 8. Select No if you don’t have an iPhone contract with an Apple appointed Cellular Service Provider.

Step 9. Wait while the PwnageTool builds the Custom IPSW file.

Step 10. Enter your Password when prompted and wait for the new IPSW build to finish.

Step 11. Select Yes if you have Pwned your iPhone before.

Step 12. Turn off your iPhone.

Step 13. Close PwnageTool.

Step 14. Close iTunes.

Step 15. Place your iTunes is Recovery Mode. Do this by doing the following:

- After you turn off your iPhone, unplug it from your Mac.
- While holding the Home button, plug in the cable.
- Still holding the Home button, wait for iTunes to open (you should also see the Steve Jobs cartoon on your iPhone screen).

Step 16. On your Mac, select Check to identify your device.

Step 17. While holding the Option button, click Restore.

Step 18. Select from Finder the Custom IPSW file created by PwnageTool on your desktop (iPhone1,1_2.0.1_5B108_Custom_Restore.ipsw).

Step 19. Select whether to Restore your iPhone from a backup or Setup as a new iPhone.

Step 20. Your iPhone will reboot and you’re done!

Link: Jailbreak the new 2.0 iPhone software Video

In other news, well… actually the same news, the next version of the PwnageTool, v2.0.2 is undergoing final checks and will be packaged, signed and should be uploaded to the devteam’s website within the next few hours! This will be available via the PwnageTool software updater that is built in and checked when you start PwnageTool, we’ll also publish a link here for direct downloads.

As always, there is a WARNING:

Warning: If you care about the possibility of a GSM/3G unlock in the future (there is no unlock available as yet), do not update your 3G device with iTunes unless you do it via PwnageTool 2.0.2 (this means you’ll need to create a custom .ipsw with PwnageTool 2.0.2 and install it using iTunes) – If you have updated over the last few days with iTunes, you’ll still be able to Jailbreak using PwnageTool 2.0.2 but it may reduce the chance of you being able to unlock the Phone to be able to use a SIM card from all carriers in the future.

Enjoy !!!! And Good luck for any upgrades…

What’s new with this firmware?

Apple only lists “Bug Fixes” amongst the changes. Early claims:

- Backup process for the iPhone is much faster.
- Netshare still works
- SMS typing faster

Various reports are coming in…

“I just updated took about 15-20 mins”, “Seems a little faster though”, so give it a try and let us know.

Jailbroken, Unlocked? To update or not to update?

We’ve been reading some comments in our previous post and certain people have been a little bit excited and hastily updated using yesterday’s iTunes firmware update without getting the information first

We don’t see any major problems with the release that Apple made, but we have not released an update for PwnageTool for it as yet and therefore PwnageTool 2.0.1 will currently not work!

If you absolutely can’t wait then original (2G) iPhone owners can update using iTunes if they really need to, but you’ll lose third-party applications that rely on the Jailbreak, although it is reported that the 2G device remains activated, we have not clarified this.

3G owners can in theory update, but you’ll lose the jailbreak, and you should only carry out this update if you always plan to use the 3G phone with the original carrier, but be warned that there is a baseband update that occurs during this update that could impact the ability to unlock the device (if and when an unlock becomes available), we have not fully tested this baseband update as yet, but we think it is better to be safe than sorry, officially unlocked SIM-Free iPhone 3Gs will always remain unlocked with the updates you apply from Apple, but again the jailbreaks will be lost.

Remember, from a jailbreaking point of view the update process is always reversible, but this isn’t the case for the 3G baseband, so your intended long term future use for the phone should help you decide what you do. If you always going to use the 3G phone with the original carrier then baseband updates are fine, if you are not then hold off.

As soon as testing is finished a PwnageTool update will be released that will allow you to safely update either device with all current PwnageTool features still in place and you’ll have the option to disable the baseband update.

The current version of PwnageTool is 2.0.1 and it does not support the latest ipsw (2.0.1) versions.

~Reported from The unofficial, official blog of the “iphone-dev team”.

So, What to do?

If your 3G iPhone is on a regular contract and you always plan to be with the carrier then you can update but you will lose the jailbreak and access to third party (non AppStore) applications.

If your 3G iPhone is not on a regular contract and you plan to use it on an alternative network to the carrier that supplied it then do not update unless you do it with the impending PwnageTool update.

We will release an update to PwnageTool when the testing has been completed and all applied changes have been checked for safety.

Applications for iPhone

iPhone applications are unlike anything you’ve ever seen on a mobile phone. That’s because they leverage all the groundbreaking technologies in iPhone — like the accelerometer, Multi-Touch, 3D positional sound, and GPS. And they’re only a tap away at the App Store.

iPhone in Enterprise

With support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, iPhone 3G delivers push email, calendar, and contacts. And it uses enterprise-grade networking with Cisco IPSec VPN and WPA2 Enterprise support. So now the most revolutionary mobile device ever is also the ideal phone for business.

MobileMe Support

With a MobileMe subscription, all your information stays up to date everywhere. MobileMe keeps your email, calendar, and contacts in sync on your iPhone and any computer. Any changes you make on your iPhone are sent over the air to the MobileMe “cloud,” then automatically synced with your Mac or PC