iPhone, iPad, iPod Forums at iMore.com

[kingcodez]

I know there's blackrain, but is that the ONLY option for 3.1.2?

I'm going to buy a used iphone 3GS next month, and I'd like to not have to tether when I reboot the phone. I need to JB and Unlock.

New 3GS' need a JB, but the OLD 3GS' with an old boot rom don't need to tether to reboot?

What is the main benefits of 3.1.2 compared to 3.0? I have 3.0 on my 3G now and its fine.

When im buying a new phone, how can I tell wether it has the new bootrom or the old one?
Can I go to Settings>General> then what?

[Greenchunks]

Originally Posted by kingcodez

I know there's blackrain, but is that the ONLY option for 3.1.2?

I'm going to buy a used iphone 3GS next month, and I'd like to not have to tether when I reboot the phone. I need to JB and Unlock.

New 3GS' need a JB, but the OLD 3GS' with an old boot rom don't need to tether to reboot?

What is the main benefits of 3.1.2 compared to 3.0? I have 3.0 on my 3G now and its fine.

When im buying a new phone, how can I tell wether it has the new bootrom or the old one?
Can I go to Settings>General> then what?

1. Pwnage tool will also work with 3.1.2, but I believe blackra1n is much simpler (I used blackra1n, so I am not sure about pwnage tool)
2. You are correct about the tethering for Old vs. New. The general rule of thumb is look at the 4th and 5th number on the serial, if it is 40 or higher, it will likely need to be tethered, but a few people have gotten lucky, don't plan on being one of those.
3. 3.1.2 has a number of fixes in it look at apples website or any number of sources to see what things it fixed/improved.
4. Settings>General>About>Serial Number

[big9erfan]

Remember, the serial number is only an educated guess, you cannot figure out the bootloader version without connecting it to a computer in recovery mode ...or...having it already jailbroken.

[jrdave2304]

I just got my 3GS from Best Buy on Saturday and got lucky enough to get the old bootrom. I have done a lot of searching around as far as the many jailbreaking tools and it looks like blackra1n is the only option I found. This has a good run down of what PwnageTool 3.1.4 works with: www DOT appsafari DOT com/software/10036/pwnagetool-314/

[kingcodez]

Ohh I see so I don't need a tether if I use ultrasnow then.
Ultrasnow is pretty simple as it is, it dosen't seem worth it to use black rain.

[Greenchunks]

Originally Posted by kingcodez

Ohh I see so I don't need a tether if I use ultrasnow then.
Ultrasnow is pretty simple as it is, it dosen't seem worth it to use black rain.

No. Ultrasnow is for unlocking, blackrain is for jailbreaking. They are not the same.

[LVCIFER]

Redsn0w and blackra1n are for jailbreaking on windows/mac.

PwnageTool is for jailbreaking on mac only.

Ultrasn0w/blacksn0w are used for unlocking on 3G/3G[s]. yellowsn0w and BootNeuter are used for unlocking the iPhone 2G.

Bottom line? If you have a new 3G[s], that uses a tethered jailbreak, there's nothingthat you can do right now. Geohot has already stated that he's waiting for 3.2 before he releases that expoit/jailbreak.

[jrdave2304]

Originally Posted by LVCIFER

Redsn0w and blackra1n are for jailbreaking on windows/mac.

PwnageTool is for jailbreaking on mac only.

Ultrasn0w/blacksn0w are used for unlocking on 3G/3G[s]. yellowsn0w and BootNeuter are used for unlocking the iPhone 2G.

Bottom line? If you have a new 3G[s], that uses a tethered jailbreak, there's nothingthat you can do right now. Geohot has already stated that he's waiting for 3.2 before he releases that expoit/jailbreak.

This. I think there needs to be a "sticky" topic listing what each jailbreak program can do (i.e., which phone it works on, which OS, tethered/unthethered, etc.). I've only been here a few days and I see the same questions asked over and over... not taking a shot at the creator of this topic

[maxxell]

Originally Posted by big9erfan

Remember, the serial number is only an educated guess, you cannot figure out the bootloader version without connecting it to a computer in recovery mode ...or...having it already jailbroken.

Can you elaborate on that first process with recovery mode? I have a relatively new 3GS and want to jailbreak, but not if I have to tether to reboot the iPhone. I want to know in advance whether that will happen, can you find out BEFORE going through the jailbreak process?

[kingcodez]

Yeah my bad I meant to say I'd use Pwnage tool to JB not ultrasnow, I know Ultra is for unlocking. I just forgot.

PWNage tool is pretty simple to use, if it dosen't work try it again.
I was overwhelmed the first time I did this stuff but it gets easier.