iPhone firmware 1.1.1 has brought in a great deal of disappointment for iPhone owners, not only did it partially brick the unlocked iPhones (apparently maliciously) where the unlocking mechanism of the iPhone Dev Team was used it also has made all the cool iPhone hacks unusable.

Apple seems to have missed the pulse of the iPhone owners as what made the iPhone truly revolutionary was not just the iPhone but was also because of the cool iPhone applications that were released by the iPhone hacking community.

Lets have a look at what's on offer with iPhone 1.1.1 in comparison to the hacked iPhone.


As can be seen below, folks at Wired have put together a very cool at-a-glance checklist image (based on ) which gives a good comparison on what the iPhone 1.1.1 has to offer in comparison to the hacked iPhone (firmware 1.0.2). The breaking news on iPhone's firmware update bricking unlocked iPhone's and making iPhone hacks unusable has seen a overwhelming response; I must admit I haven't observed so must disgust shown by Apple's lovers before.

It might be foolish for Apple to think that they have won the cat and mouse game Steve Jobs talked about recently as it is killer applications like YouTube or Google Maps on the iPhone or SlingPlayer Mobile on Nokia N95 that will make them revolutionary. Its not just the hardware that will be enough to achieve greatness but you need software too to compliment the hardware.

Hacked iPhone VS iPhone 1.1.1

Here is a list of iPhone hacks and applications which had made the iPhone truly revolutionary so far:

Carrier and Cheap Roaming:

You could use any GSM provider SIM with the options mentioned below:

anySIM 1.0.2 - Free GUI based iPhone SIM unlock tool: 

After approximately two and half months of hard work, the iPhone Dev Team have achieved their objective of unlocking the iPhone, they have just announced the free GUI based iPhone SIM unlock tool called "anySIM" for complete freedom from AT&T. For more details click here.

iPhoneSIMFree - iPhone software-only SIM unlocking hack:

After quite a few delays resulting in many doubting the authenticity of the hack which resulted in numerous videos to prove that it was for real, the software-only unlocking hack from iPhoneSIMFree is finally available for individual iPhone users via four online retailers across the globe. For more details click here.

Instant Messaging:

MobileChat: Native Instant Messaging client for iPhone:

Hackers @ Twenty08 have released the latest iPhone hack called "MobileChat" which is the second native IM client since ApolloIM was released. Click here for more details.

Apollo IM: First unauthorized Instant Messaging client for iPhone:

iPhone hacking community has been busy releasing native iPhone applications after the first "Hello World" application. The latest iPhone hack is interestingly the first native iPhone instant messaging client called "Apollo IM". Apollo v1.0 also supported AIM, ICQ, and MSN with Jabber expected soon. Click here for more details.

Retrogaming:

Release Candidate 1 of Nintendo emulator for the iPhone released

The iPhone hacking community had brought the Nintendo emulator to the iPhone couple of weeks back, however, it was still early days for the iPhone hack. Nervegas has been working on enhancing it and the iPhone hacking genius who had taken stepwhite's iPhoneNES program and rewritten to make it to make it run fast has just released 0.99.00 version of the release, ready for prime-time or to put it more appropriately, Release Candidate 1 for NES emulator is now available. Click here for more details.

Command Line:

ssh on iPhone:

Over at the #iphone channel at irc.osx86.hu, the thoroughly awesome NerveGas has figured out how to enable ssh on the iPhone without using restore mode. The secret lies in overwriting an existing binary and plist to trick the iPhone into calling chmod on the Dropbear ssh server and making it executable. Follow this link for more details.

Remote Desktop:

VNSea:

VNsea is a graphical (duh) VNC client for the iPhone and presumably the iPod touch, based on Chicken of the VNC for Mac OS X. Follow this link for more details.

Global Positioning:

Latest iPhone Hack brings Navizon's Virtual GPS to iPhone:

One of features missing from the iPhone's rich feature list is a Global Positioning System (GPS), which is now rumored will be available only in the 2nd generation iPhone sometime next year along with 3G support. However, if you have already bought the iPhone and can't wait then there is some good news for you as an alternative is now available. The latest iPhone hack has made it possible to bring Navizon's Virtual GPS to the iPhone. For more details click here.

Voice Recorder:

Steve Jobs promises iPhone voice recorder, hacker delivers:

If you did not find the iPhone voice recorder which Steve Jobs had promised when he announced the iPhone in his Keynote address in January, don't worry as Erica Sadun from Tuaw has just developed the latest iPhone hack, the iPhone voice recorder. Click here for more details.

IRC:

IRC on iPhone:

If you are one of those who are hooked on to IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and are on the lookout for new applications for your iPhone, then there is some good news. Folks at GearLive have published a tutorial to help you get IRC running on your iPhone. Click here for more details.

eBook Reader:

iPhoneeBooks

A native eBook reader for the iPhone. Capable of reading HTML and plain text stored on your iPhone. Click here for more details.

File Browser:

iFuntastic v2.5 now also has a iPhone file browser

One of the coolest hacking tool to be released for the iPhone has been iFuntastic as it bought GUI  to iPhone hacks thus making it possible for the not so technically inclined to use them. We had v2.1 which had the capabilities of adding custom ringtones, changing carrier logo and reordering application icons on iPhone's home screen. bitSpilt, has now released v2.5.0 of the tool with a new feature: a full iPhone file browser. For more details click here.

Note: Office reference and Delete menu items has not been covered due to lack of information, in case you can any information on these hacks please do share them them in the comments.

And now lets have a look at the new features introduced with iPhone Firmware 1.1.1:

  • iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
  • Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
  • Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites of music controls
  • Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
  • Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
  • Stocks and cities in Stocks and Waether can be re-ordered
  • Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
  • Support for TV Out
  • Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
  • New Passcode lock time intervals
  • Adjustable alert volume

I guess other than iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store (which too you can live without) nothing earth shattering to really convince anyone to update your iPhone with this latest firmware in case they are enjoying the iPhone applications mentioned above or have unlocked their iPhone.

I would agree with Brian Lam of Gizmodo that it is understandable from Apple's point of view to try and block users from unlocking their iPhone's as it directly impacts their revenues from fees with AT&T (though), but there isn't any justification to wipe out the cool iPhone applications especially when they haven't really delivered anything significant with regards to applications for the iPhone since its launch.

I read somewhere an article which had the subject line of the firmware fiasco as "iPhone Hackers - 1 and Apple Engineers - 1", in my opinion for Apple Engineers to be given 1 point they need to turn all those red crosses into green ticks.

If you are iPhone owner it would be great to know in the comments if you stuck with your hacked iPhone or you updated your iPhone to firmware 1.1.1 and the reason for making that choice.

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