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With little fanfare (but a video from Bob) Apple has launched their iPhone 1.1.1 firmware update, and while it doesn’t bring such delicacies as Flash support there are nonetheless a few useful updates - not least the iTunes WiFi Music Store - and functionality tweaks to be had. However, in light of Apple’s warning regarding modified iPhones and the potential for unexpected bricking following the update, the 152.3mb download comes with some trepidation. Here’s the bad news: depending on how hacked your iPhone is, you might end up with a cellphone you can’t use.
Full update rundown and the latest on the brick situation after the cut…
Functionality-wise, 1.1.1 brings a number of tweaks and changes:
- iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
- Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
- Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites or 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 Weather 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
As it stands, though, there are multiple reports of unlocked iPhones refusing to recognise the AT&T SIM once the update has completed. While that doesn’t exactly break your iPhone entirely, it does render it unusable until you can get a replacement SIM from AT&T, and right now nobody knows exactly how accommodating the carrier will be.
If you’ve not gone so far as to unlock your iPhone, but have used Jailbreak to install third-party apps and custom ringtones, be aware that installing the update will block access to any of that content. Trying to re-jailbreak has no effect either, so you’re basically stuck with the standard iPhone functionality.
The hacking community is already working on a new version of Jailbreak to open up the handset once more, but right now we’d recommend holding off on installing 1.1.1 unless you really need the new features (or have never bothered hacking your iPhone in the first place).
Keep watching our Apple-obsessed sister site MY iTablet for the latest on the bricked iPhone saga…
Wow, that figures that apple would figure that out and in a quicky.
Do I need the latest version of iTunes in order to get the update? Because version 7.3.2.6 says that my 1.0.2 iPhone firmware is the latest?
I would assume for it to sync but you may need to wait, I never update my iTunes I always wait until like 3 or 4 versions later as it seems like new versions come out so often. haha
Any bets as to how long it’s going to take for someone to figure out how to hack the new version? :)
Actually, I wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Apple held back some “improvements” specifically to justify (from a PR standpoint) an early roll-out of an update.
They had to know the community would unlock the phone. And their deal with AT&T surely included that kind of discussion.
It will be a constant battle.
Yea, of course.
Plus I’m sure they will be keeping an eye out on those communities that have been making them.
Dammit apple! You have to upgrade your iTunes version in order to update the iPhone firmware. Good thing I have a desktop I can leave at the older iTunes version so I can make my own ringtones.
Despite all the negative issues with this new iPhone, I’m surprised how well it is really taking off.