With the iPhone 2.0.1 OS firmware update already being pushed to millions of iPhones and iPhone 3Gs worldwide, it’s clear that keyboard lag has been reduced and overall system speed has been improved. But, are the benefits of iPhone 2.0.1 OS worth the drawbacks?
The iPhone Dev Team just recently released their PwnageTool 2.0 (and the subsequent PwnageTool 2.0.1) jailbreak solution for iPhone 3G and iPhone hardware. Unfortunately, the PwnageTool 2.0.1 was only intended for iPhone 2.0 OS. That means an upgrade from iPhone 2.0 to iPhone 2.0.1 OS will render your jailbreak solution useless – no more jailbreak apps, no more free activations, no more unlocked iPhones.
That last bit is what concerns us. The DevTeam will no doubt bring their PwnageTool utility up to speed with the iPhone 2.0.1 OS and bring back the jailbreak for users looking for free iPhone jailbreak applications – so, the jailbreak isn’t really something we’re worried about. But, the new iPhone 2.0.1 OS brings with it a new version of the baseband firmware, and that‘s worrisome. The DevTeam isn’t yet done hacking the previous baseband bundled with iPhone 2.0 OS in their effort to unlock the iPhone 3G, and this updated baseband throws another wrench in the works. Upgrading to iPhone 2.0.1 OS before the DevTeam has had time to sort out the finer-details of the new baseband could leave you with an iPhone 3G that can’t be unlocked.
“… be warned that there is a baseband update that occurs during this [iPhone 2.0.1] update that could impact the ability to unlock the device (if and when an unlock becomes available), we have not fully tested this baseband update as yet, but we think it is better to be safe than sorry…”
Of course, the iPhone DevTeam is working to release an iPhone 3G unlock solution soon (fingers crossed), and the updated PwnageTool will likely support iPhone 2.0.1 in the process. And, we’ve heard all these “iPhone can’t be unlocked after upgrade” concerns before – only to find out that the DevTeam managed to crack the baseband and unlock what was feared un-unlockable.
So, is the prospect of immediate performance gains worth potentially never being able to unlock that iPhone 3G?
Take this piece of advice from the DevTeam:
“…Remember, from a jailbreaking point of view the update process is always reversible, but this isn’t the case for the 3G baseband, so your intended long term future use for the phone should help you decide what you do. If you always going to use the 3G phone with the original carrier then baseband updates are fine, if you are not then hold off. …”
[Via: iPhoneDevTeam]