One-step method for adding third-party apps to iPhone 1.1.1, iPod Touch debuts

A new process for jailbreaking and allowing the installation of non-sanctioned third-party applications to the iPhone has debuted. It's called AppSnapp, and is unique in two respects: it automates the process on iPhones running software/firmware 1.1.1 (previous methods were multi-step), and it can be completed purely using the iPhone; no interaction with a Mac or Windows computer (as with previous methods) is required. The process will jailbreak the iPhone or iPod Touch then push Installer.app to the device, which contains a catalog of native applications that can be installed directly over a WiFi or EDGE connection (see our Applications page for more instruction on Installer.app).

In order to perform the procedure, you simply need to navigate to http://www.jailbreakme.com on an iPhone or iPod Touch, then click the "Install AppSnap" button at the bottom of the page. After a few seconds, you will be presented with the "Slide to Unlock" screen (if you have your iPhone set to "lock" quickly, you may need to press the home button after the screen goes dark). After sliding to unlock, you'll have the "Installer" icon on your screen.

1. The first thing you should do is tap the "Installer" icon, then tap "Sources" and install the "Community Sources" package.
2. Next you'll want to install the BSD Subsystem and OpenSSH, also under "System."
3. Finally, you'll need an application launcher. There's XLaunch under "System" and others. Note that some of these utilities require an iPhone and won't work on an iPod Touch.

For further information, see our iPhone native applications guide.

Though this particular method for jailbreaking the iPhone makes use of a TIFF overflow exploit, unlike the previous multi-step method, the developers of AppSnap claim that the process also patches the vulnerability after exploiting it.

The full feature list, from the developers:

• Jailbreaks iPhone/iPod Touch on 1.1.1
• Patches Springboard to load third party apps
• Activates non-AT&T iPhones automatically, while leaving already activated phones alone
• Fixes YouTube on non-AT&T iPhones automatically, while leaving already activated phones alone
• Installs Installer.app v3.0b5 on the iPhone/iPod Touch
• Fixes Apple's TIFF bug, making your device MORE secure than it was without AppSnapp.

There are even instructions for getting to Safari (so the process can be run) on a non-activated iPhone.

[Thanks to Nicholas "Drudge" Penree, one of the hackers who worked on this project, for alerting us to this new process]

Feedback? info@iphoneatlas.com.