iNdependence v1.2.3 enables latest firmware on some unlocked iPhones [Update 2]
October 17th, 2007 at 11:30am madgunde
Disclaimer of liability: The information provided in this article is provided as-is and without warranty for information purposes only. Art Of Geek is not responsible for any damage you may cause to your hardware or software as a result of this information. Also please note that performing any of the steps outlined in this article will very likely void your iPhone’s warranty. It’s recommended that you sync your iPhone and backup any photos or other data before performing any firmware updates or restores. Proceed at your own risk!
[Update 2] A lot has happened in the iPhone hacking world in the past week. On October 10, the iPhone Dev Team published detailed instructions for jailbreaking and activating iPhone firmware 1.1.1. Within 24 hours, the folks at iPhoneSimFree, confirmed that their unlock solution in conjunction with the iPhone Dev Team’s hack would enable unlocked phones to be fully operational running the latest firmware. They also released an update to their SimFree application which repaired iPhones that had previously been bricked due to corruption of the baseband radio firmware caused by some of the free unlock solutions. I can confirm that the combination of hack and iPhoneSimFree does in fact work, and quite well.
The main problem is it a very lengthy process and I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone without at least a basic understanding of Unix terminal operation. It’s also risky–one small mistake could mean having to start all over from scratch or worse, permanently damaging your iPhone. I performed the operation on my iPhone, and it took the better part of half a day to complete, with lots of waiting and a fair share of frustrating moments. The instructions make some assumptions about your level of knowledge, which will require you to fill in the blanks yourself in a couple of steps. I also found a slight error in one step dealing with the jailbreak operation which I found I had to skip in order for the jailbreak to work. The solution also leaves you with an inoperable YouTube application, which is a bummer. Otherwise, the operation was a success*, but the ordeal made me hesitant to go through it all again with my wife’s iPhone, so I decided to hold off updating hers until an easier solution became available.
Thankfully for me, my wife and other Mac users holding off updating their iPhones, a new version of iNdependence for Mac OS X (currently version 1.2.3) makes the process of updating your iPhoneSimFree unlocked iPhone much easier, and much less risky. It’s still a multi-step process, but the documentation, located in the application’s Help menu, is very well written and the entire operation is handled by the application in conjunction with iTunes–no terminal commands required! Better yet, iNdependence activates your iPhone correctly so the mobile YouTube app works!
Here are screenshots of iNdependence’s five tabs (click each to enlarge):
Before using the app to update my wife’s iPhone (firmware 1.0.2), I wanted to test the solution on my own iPhone already updated to firmware 1.1.1. Following the easy instructions provided by iNdependence 1.2.3, I restored and downgraded iPhone back to firmware 1.0.2, then proceeded to update back to firmware 1.1.1, activate and jailbreak. The entire operation took about 1-1/2 hours, but I was taking my time, making sure to read each instruction more than once just to be safe. When I was finished, I had a fully functional* unlocked iPhone running firmware 1.1.1, that still supported the installation of third party applications.
Last night I used iNdependence to update my wife’s iPhone from firmware 1.0.2 to 1.1.1. It took about an hour, and the steps were the same, only I was able to skip the firmware downgrade steps, since her iPhone was still running the older 1.0.2 firmware. The update went without a hitch, and she is now happy that her iPhone is just as up to date as mine. Since I’ve performed the update on two iPhone’s now, I’m confident in recommending iNdependence 1.2.3 to those of you who have iPhones that were unlocked using iPhoneSimFree’s solution provided you are somewhat knowledgeable about computers and are comfortable following detailed instructions.
Please note that this solution is currently only tested with the iPhoneSimFree unlock solution, and from what I’ve read DOES NOT support any of the other software unlock solutions. My understanding is that iPhones unlocked using the free unlock solutions (AnySim, iUnlock) will be returned to a locked state once updated to firmware 1.1.1. There is some news reported today about an updated free unlock solution that supposedly works on iPhones that have not had their baseband firmware tampered with yet. Unfortunately, I can’t vouch for it since I haven’t used it, so proceed with caution. Since the commercial iPhoneSimFree solution is the only software solution that not only has survived the 1.1.1 firmware update, but even managed to repair iPhones that were damaged by other solutions, it may be worth paying the $60+ just for the peace of mind, at least until the other solutions can prove themselves.
* Note: There is one little glitch that exists regardless of whether you use the manual or iNdependence method to update your hacked iPhone’s firmware to version 1.1.1: the iPhone keeps forgetting the EDGE APN settings (Settings–>General–>Network–>EDGE) every time you reboot your iPhone. Thankfully, there is a relatively easy fix courtesy of the Hackint0sh forums which entails manually entering the settings in the /var/root/Library/Preferences/com.apple.carrier.plist file.
Update 1: It appears that the voicemail waiting indicator no longer works on firmware 1.1.1. I just noticed I don’t get the little red dot indicating voicemail is waiting. I’m not the only one either, there’s a forum topic on the issue at the Hackint0sh forums. This is a bummer, and could be a major issue for some. I’ll continue to research the issue and will post an update if/when a fix is found.
Update 2 - 11/5/2007: The voicemail indicator has suddenly started working again. First time I noticed was on Saturday, Nov. 3. Since I haven’t changed anything on my iPhone, I’m going to assume that Rogers has done something on their end to get it to work. My guess is they have enough iPhone users on their network that called and complained that they found it worthwhile implementing a fix. Regardless of the reason, it’s all good now. Let’s just hope it doesn’t stop working again…
Entry Filed under: Apple, Gadgets, Macintosh, Software, iPhone
19 Comments Add your own
1. C | October 17th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Thanks for the detailed post. I haven’t bought the iPhone yet so I guess I am better off waiting some more. I hope an easy (and proven) method for brand new iPhones shows up soon.
2. C | October 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
iPhone is for sale at a couple of stores in Toronto for $699. I asked two stores and they said the phone is unlocked and works with any sim card.
3. madgunde | October 25th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
@C
Seems kinda pricey, considering you can drive across the border and get one from Apple for $399. A $300 markup just to have it unlocked is way too much in my opinion considering it’s less than an hour’s work to unlock.
4. C | October 27th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Yeah it’s too much. I decided to get it from the US and try to unlock it myself. The problem is I do not know which method to use. Any suggestions? I wouldn’t mind spending some more money if this would translate to an easier unlocking method.
5. madgunde | October 27th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
I’d recommend spending the $60 or so for iPhoneSimFree. I provided a link in my Sept. 12 article titled iPhone unlocked, operating on Rogers Wireless in Canada
6. C | October 28th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Thanks a lot! I really appreciate all the help.
7. C | October 29th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I read your post and it seems that I need to activate the phone before I jailbreak it. How do I do that. I will be buying the phone from the Apple store in Buffalo. How do I activate bypassing the ATT activation?
I am also using a Mac by the way and I hope I don;t have any problems with iPhoneSimFree.
8. madgunde | October 29th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
As I mentioned in the article, step by step instructions are in the iNdependence Help Menu. You may also want to investigate the new easier solution reported on here and here.
9. C | October 29th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Thanks for the links!
10. madgunde | October 30th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
After looking into it a bit, I don’t think the jailbreakme.com solution that I linked to in my previous comment is of use to unlockers. Since you use Safari on the iPhone to access the web-based jailbreak method, and you can’t access Safari until you’ve activated your iPhone, AND you can’t activate your iPhone without jailbreaking it, you’d have to activate and jailbreak using something like iNdependence, just so you could jailbreak it again using jailbreakme.com. It’s pointless. Might as well let iNdependence jail break it and leave it at that.
Jailbreakme.com does offer two benefits however, but they are minor at best: 1. it supposedly patches the tiff vulnerability, thus improving iPhone’s security, and 2. it installs Installer.app on your iPhone automatically, saving you from having to install it manually using SFTP or SCP commands.
For people in the US with a legitimately activated AT&T SIM in their iPhone, jailbreakme.com provides a very simple method of jailbreaking and getting Installer.app on your iPhone. For the rest of us, there’s still iNdependence which works very well.
11. C | October 31st, 2007 at 12:54 am
Hi there madgunde. I am reading tutorials and guides for the past few days and I am getting more and more confused. I found one that is easy to follow (and tailored for Mac users). The first step is the jailbreak/activate and install AppSnapp:
http://www.hacktheiphone.com/111/iphone_step_1.html
Second step is installing a few applications (Community Sources, the BSD Subsystem, OpenSSH and Services):
http://www.hacktheiphone.com/111/iphone_step_2.html
Step 3 is unlocking. He is using iNdependence and anySIM 1.1:
http://www.hacktheiphone.com/111/iphone_step_3_mac.html
I have a few questions:
1) Do I really need step 2? All I care is unlocking the iPhone for my wife to use as a phone with Fido and as an iPod.
2) for step 3, do I download iNdependence on my computer or directly to the phone?
Please excuse my probably stupid questions but I really don’t want to destroy a $400 gadget.
-C
12. madgunde | October 31st, 2007 at 9:25 am
@C
Wow, I stand corrected from my previous post (#10), they’ve managed to find a way to set up WiFi and access the web even before the iPhone has been activated! That’s pretty impressive. Thanks for those links!
To answer your questions:
1) Do I really need step 2? All I care is unlocking the iPhone for my wife to use as a phone with Fido and as an iPod.
I believe you do need step 2, as those components may be required for AnySim to do it’s thing. But don’t worry, installing them is very easy (thanks to Installer.app), and they can be removed just as easily once you’re done, if you want (again, using Installer.app). Believe me, step 2 is by far the easiest of the three, and only requires you to tap some buttons.
2) for step 3, do I download iNdependence on my computer or directly to the phone?
You download and run iNdependence on your Mac, not your iPhone. It’s a drag and drop install, just drag it to your /Applications folder on your Mac.
13. C | October 31st, 2007 at 11:36 am
Thanks madgunde. I think I follow steps 1 and 2 clearly and with your help I will manage to get step 3 done as well =).
So I download iNdependence and drag it to my Applications folder. When I run it, I have to have the iPhone connected and make sure iTunes is NOT open. Is that right? Also, which SIM card do I have in the phone? The AT&T for activation and then switch to the Fido one for the unlocking process?
And one last question (I promise). After you unlock with anySIM (or iPhoneSimFree) can you just switch to any SIM? I am travelling to europe and have a european SIM for those trips.
If all goes goes I will try and unlock tonight!
14. C | November 1st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
Just an update for anyone who is interested, you can now activate, jailbreak and unlock the iPhone without the use of a computer. You can find the steps at:
http://www.hacktheiphone.com
I need to find out which card you need to have in the phone for this process and when to switch the sim cards (if you need to switch for the unlock) and I will be trying the method. I will post here my experience if it’s ok with madgunde.
15. madgunde | November 1st, 2007 at 5:19 pm
@C
Put your Rogers SIM card in the iPhone for the whole process.
Cheers!
16. C | November 4th, 2007 at 3:51 am
Finally! I was able to unlock the iPhone successfully. What a great gadget! I think I will be buying one for myself now…
I used the method that doesn’t require the computer. It went very well, no problems at all.
I would like to thank you madgunde for all your help through these posts.
17. madgunde | November 4th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
@C
Congrats and thanks for posting about your success!
18. C | November 5th, 2007 at 12:24 am
I am now thinking of purchasing another phone and unlocking it with iPhoneSimFree in order to learn both methods (and to increase my chances of not bricking the phones with future updates). Anyone bought from http://www.iphoneanywhere.ca/ ? Are they reliable? The price is 55.95 CAD.
PS: I was reading your older posts and my first phone was the SE T68. I got it in 2002 I think for more than what the iPhone costs now!
=)
19. Art Of Geek » 1.1.3&hellip | January 26th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
[...] Updated to firmware 1.1.1 and jailbroken/activated using iNdependence. [...]
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