iPhone 3GS jailbreak, 'purplera1n,' hits Web
Just as America gears up to celebrate Independence Day comes news that iPhone 3GS owners are getting some freedom of their own.
This is the site for purplera1n, which enables the installation of third-party software not approved for Apple's App Store.
George Hotz, who you may recall as the teenage hacker who originally unlocked the iPhone, has let loose a jailbreaking app for the iPhone 3GS code-named purplera1n. It enables the installation of third-party software not approved for Apple's App Store.
For now, purplera1n is Windows-only (but not Windows 7) and requires the latest iTunes installed, as well as an iPhone 3GS with the 3.0 firmware. In a Friday blog post titled "I make it ra1n," Hotz says a Mac version is "coming shortly."
Hotz notes that he normally doesn't make tools for the general public and would rather wait for the iPhone dev team to do that.
"But guys, what's up with waiting until 3.1? That isn't how the game is played," he chides on his blog. "We release, Apple fixes, we find new holes. It isn't worth waiting because you might have the 'last' hole in the iPhone. What last hole...this isn't golf. I'll find a new one next week.
John Biggs over at CrunchGear is among those who have already given purplera1n a go and declares the jailbreaking process "amazingly simple."
Why do we get the sense jailbreaking is going to be part of a whole lot of Fourth of July agendas? But take note: Hotz does caution that purplera1n is in beta and suggests backing up your data before running the app.
Leslie Katz, senior editor of CNET's Crave, covers gadgets, games, and most other digital distractions. As a co-host of the CNET News Daily Podcast, she sometimes tries to channel Terry Gross. E-mail Leslie.

I still don't understand why people would buy a smart phone that can only download/install aps from one location in the first place.
'cause Apple says so I guess...
the App Store is much simpler, and because apps are forced to compete head to head for your attention reviews, they are less expensive and constantly updated.
for now, I'm willing to trade that for open source, but maybe as time goes on, I'll feel it's not a fair trade.
Other than paying for my service I haven't paid for anything else. I'm not forced to go to a particular store and only purchase what they have. Freedom to install whatever I want. I'd rather go looking for apps than be restricted to one store. No App store at all, just lots of free software. Of course, there are places you can purchase software from if you like, but free is fine by me.
http://www.handango.com/catalog/ProductDetails.jsp?storeId=2218&deviceId=1063&platformId=30&productId=98589
there are third party programs that allow you to take your music and pictures off."
There are Apple programs that do that.
yes but only for the 3G model and ipod touch for os 3
not the GS model
http://gizmodo.com/5303470/iphone-3gs-jailbreak-is-ready-you-just-cant-have-it-yet-thats-a-good-thing
A parent give their kid an iPhone and can restrict the kid to only install certain apps from the app store, a business that doesn't want a lot of un-needed data charges on their network restricts the apps to their own store. Or wide open to any app that you want to install.
the EULA is a horrible idea, for end users, one that I hope goes down in flames at some point(go psystar) soon.
thats why the iphone dev team fix won't work for the Gs model check their website even
and if it can do i have to first activate the iphone threw at&t to even run this program on the iphone?
i just dont want to buy a $200 iphone and find out that i cant use it.
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by lol1201230
August 5, 2009 2:36 PM PDT
- i have a problem . i live in UAE that is in the middle east . i have friend's in US and they will send me Iphone 3g . but they say you need to pay 500$ to unlock something so you can use the iphone in you,re country , so will the jail breaker unlock that number free ? so i can use the iphone without paying 500$ ?
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