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A jailbreak for iPhones, iPads and iPod touches running the latest iOS 6.1 software has been released by crack hacker group evasi0n. But is it safe? Should you do it? And what will it let you do? Let’s take a look.
evasi0n jailbreak – Which devices are supported?
According to the documentation supplied with the jailbreak, any model of iPod touch, iPhone or iPad running iOS verions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.2 or 6.1, including the iPad mini.
This is an untethered jailbreak too, which is hugely important part of making a jailbreak usable for everyday folk. Tethered jailbreaks rely on a connection to a computer to work each time they’re booted. The devices can’t fully load the jailbreak themselves with a tethered jailbreak.
In short, this is the real deal, as it is untethered.
iOS 6.1 Jailbreak – how to install it
The evasi0n jailbreak is fairly easy to install. From the evasi0n website, you can download installer packages for Mac, Windows and Linunx.
These zip files feature a standard readme.txt file and an installer programme (in Windows and Mac variants). Clicking on that file is the scary bit.
Hook up your iOS device to your computer and get the programme running and there’s little more you need to do, aside from hitting the jailbreak button.
iOS 6.1 Jailbreak – Is it safe?
Jailbreaking your phone or tablet is never entirely safe. If something wrong happens during the process, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with a bricked (dead) chunk of tech. And if you take it to the Apple store and they twig what you’ve done, you’ll be out of luck.
Jailbreaking an Apple device violates the terms of service Apple has put in place, and invalidates your warranty. It’s a tricky business. The maker of this hack evasi0n strong recommends creating a backup of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch before proceeding, as a form of safety net.
What does a jailbreak enable?
The main aim of a jailbreak is to open a closed system to let it run unsigned code. Within the walled garden of iOS, this means you can install apps other than those in the iTunes App Store.
Perhaps the best known way to get other apps onto a jailbroken iOS device is with the third-party app store Cydia. Although jailbreaking is commonly perceived as simply a way to get pirated apps and games on your iOS device, Cydia offers a great many apps that let you tinker with and tweak the way your iPhone works.
For example, Quasar supercharges the multi-tasking function in iOS, letting you run apps in resizeable windows on an iPad. It is about as close as you can get to Windows or Mac OS X while using an iOS device.
iBlacklist gives you full control over who can, and cannot get into contact with you. You can block someone completely, or even block any number you don’t know. It’s like Do Not Disturb, only much more powerful.
You can fill in gaps Apple has left, too. RetinaPad uses the highest-quality art assets available when rescaling iPhone apps and games on an iPad. Did you know that as standard, the lower-quality iPhone 3G-grade assets are used? No wonder upscaled apps look so ropey, eh?
You can also get gaming emulators on your iPad or iPhone. These include apps to get classic SNES games running. Although emulators are legal, the free distribution of commercial ROMs is not, though.
iOS 6.1 Jailbreak – Is it worth it?
Whether it’s really worth jailbreaking your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch depends on your own temperament. If you are an unrelenting gadget geek who loves to fiddle with tech, jailbreaking is a way to make your iPhone as customisable as an Android phone – and more besides.
However, if you only have a passing interest, the faff of the whole ordeal and that it means you can’t simply upgrade your software when Apple drops an update into iTunes may mean it’s more hassle than it’s worth. Have you jailbroken your iPhone or iPad? Let us know your experiences in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
