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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Teen Hackers Foil New iPhone Limits

Hackers use school vacation to best Apple's engineers and 'jailbreak' new phone

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(Newser) – A group of teenage thorns in Apple's side have been the first to release "jailbreak" software for the latest iPhone 3GS, the Wall Street Journal reports. The hackers, in the latest round of what Steve Jobs calls "a cat-and-mouse game with his top engineers," created software that lets iPhone users unlock their phones and download applications not approved by the company.

The teens say they decided to step up when an older group of hackers opted to sit on their jailbreak software until the next iPhone model is released. Apple—which warns that jailbreaking invalidates warranties—has a copyright case pending on phone modifications, but the teens insist they're doing nothing wrong.  "Apple doesn't have the right to tell me what I can put on my phone," said one 15-year-old boy. "I only do hacking that helps people."

The new Apple iPhone 3GS is shown on display at the Apple store in San Francisco last month.
The new Apple iPhone 3GS is shown on display at the Apple store in San Francisco last month.   (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
A customer transfers data to an Apple iPhone 3GS he purchased at an Apple Store on launch day in New York last month.
A customer transfers data to an Apple iPhone 3GS he purchased at an Apple Store on launch day in New York last month.   (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
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A lot of people bought their phones expecting to jailbreak their phones, and now that we have the capability to do it, we should let them. A lot of people have thanked us.
- Ari Weinstein, 15

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5 comments
VIEWING:
 
AClotfelter
Jul 7, 09 2:29 AM CDT
What a toy... I love that you need a hack to install non Apple-approved software... Reply
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+3
Jojo
Jul 7, 09 2:31 AM CDT
Totally agree with the hackers. Apple wants to own everything and everyone. They want you to buy their toy but not make any changes to it, when it's a changeable device. Once upon a time that would have been considered monopolization. Reply
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+7
ack
Jul 7, 09 9:24 AM CDT
Imagine if your computer could only run approved software? Yikes. I understand the logic -- it guarantees quality. Unfortunately, it also kills diversity, especially when Apple is denying apps not for technical reasons (which makes sense) but because it doesn't like some apps. Too damn bad. Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jul 7, 09 10:35 AM CDT
i.e., Skype (WiFi only, not G3). Q: Would the jailbreak allow usage of Skype AND once jailbreak is initiated, will one be able to reinstall original OS and perform upgrades... then install latest jailbreak?
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
IN RESPONSE:
drgonzo12321
Jul 20, 09 7:44 PM CDT
Wrong forum ...
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