iPhone Firmware

Five days after Apple released the 3.1.3 iPhone OS update the Dev-Team has countered with PwnageTool version 3.1.5, making a jailbreak of the latest firmware possible. This software currently only runs on Mac OS X, and works by updating your firmware to 3.1.3 with a custom IPSW file.

If you are already running the official 3.1.3 firmware on your device the jailbreak will not work. Dev-Team also reports that unless you have a problem with the reporting of your battery percentage, there's probably no good reason to update. If you're already jailbroken/unlocked with 3.1.2 you can use PwnageTool to safely update to 3.1.3.

Apple has made the iPhone OS 3.1.3 update (7E18) available and as usual users can update their iPhones and iPod Touch devices via iTunes. The list of bug fixes and security improvements includes this item: Improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS.

Could this mean that users plagued with widely reported battery problems have finally received a fix from Apple? Ever since the 3.1 update, some users have complained of drastically shortened battery life on iPhone 3GS models. Maybe the meter is the problem- we will keep you posted.

Developers have already started digging into the iPhone OS 3.2 code now that Apple has released the latest SDK in connection with the iPad. There are several hints that increased functionality is on the way in future iterations of the iPhone.

Some of the highlights in the code include ways to accept and decline a video conference, switch a video feed from camera to camera (front and back?), and run a video call in full screen mode or in a window. Could it be that a front-facing camera is on its way to the 4G iPhone for video calling?

Not at this time. The recent iPad software development kit (SDK) released by Apple features iPhone OS version 3.2. However, an update to the iPhone developer website has explained that this firmware 3.2 is currently iPad-only:

Note: iPhone OS 3.2 does not support iPhone and iPod touch devices. It only runs on iPad.

No. At this time reports have indicated that first generation iPhones (also known as 2G) will not support firmware version 4.0. iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and the fourth-generation iPhone hardware will all support the new operating system.

iPhone OS 4.0 has been described by some sources as making the iPhone act more like a full-fledged computer.

Next Wednesday Apple will announce several new products at its special media event in San Francisco. Pictured is the invitation the company sent out to selected media outlets today.

Sources inside Apple have reportedly confirmed that iPhone OS version 4.0 will be announced along with a new touch screen tablet computing device. In addition, Apple will be announcing iLife 2010 software that will support multi-touch.

Plenty of users are anxiously awaiting an update to iPhone firmware. Problems with OS 3.1.2 such as battery drain and needing to reboot the device to get a 3G signal have yet to be addressed by Apple.

It's been over three months since the last update. What gives?

Ready to download 306 megabytes of Apple iPhone update? If you're looking for a fix for your outrageous 3.1 battery drain then keep looking.

Apple has released 3.1.2 firmware (skipping 3.1.1 altogether) but the bug fixes they have included might not help everyone. The most significant problem that 3.1.2 fixes is the so-called "coma" or "zombie" bug, where an iPhone refuses to wake from sleep.

One of the most common problems reported with the iPhone 3.1 firmware update is significantly reduced battery life. Apple has noticed the issue, and some AppleCare employees have sent requests for more information from affected users.

Until now, Apple has recommended that 3.1 problems can be solved either with a hard reboot or a complete restore using iTunes. The restore method results in a reset iPhone and the owner has to reconfigure settings from scratch.

Apple has released version 3.0.1 of the iPhone OS software. This fixes the recently revealed SMS security flaw. The security hole was illustrated on Thursday by Charlie Miller at the Black Hat 2009 conference in Las Vegas.

iPhone owners can download and install the 3.0.1 update using iTunes immediately. Left unpatched, the problem makes it possible for iPhones to receive malicious binary programs through SMS messages without the user's knowledge.