I’m an elevator jailbreaker. I have jailbroken a few times only to go back to stock with each new firmware update, only to be tempted some time later with the urge to jailbreak once again. There’s just so many benefits and great apps available for jailbroken iPhones that eventually I cave to my own internal form of peer pressure and do it.
However, as I drool over some of the apps that are now available, I’m noticing a distinct trend that really wasn’t as prevalent last time: Paid jailbreak apps. I’m not sure that I want to invest in them, and here’s why.
Now, I’m no cheapskate (well, a little bit of one), and would absolutely drop some coin on a few of the jailbreak apps that I’ve seen reviewed; but one thought always comes back to haunt me: What if Apple is successful in preventing jailbreaking with the next firmware release? Obviously the potential exists, as does the potential to lose all of the cash you’ve spent on jailbreak apps – unless you’re willing to go without the new firmware update indefinitely. That I am (at this juncture) patently unwilling to do, as I am hoping/praying for Apple to fix the WiFi issues that plague us right now. With Apple reportedly looking for a new “sheriff” to lock down the “jail” and prevent jailbreaking, suddenly the game of cat-and-mouse between Apple and the devs who figure out a way to jailbreak each new release seems to have taken on a new tone.
What do you think? Will Apple succeed in preventing jailbreaking with their next (or a subsequent) firmware release, forcing those who have purchased jailbreak apps to make a hard choice? Or do you believe that the devs will always find a way to liberate each new release? Is it worth it to buy jailbreak apps even if eventually you are forced to live without them? Let us know how you feel in the comments section!
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FIrst!
Yes, I think Apple will find a solution that stops jailbreaking, and by then (next June) we’ll be on another iPhone iteration.
With my jailbreak apps, Backgrounder, Inspell, 3GUnrestrictor, Overboard, Attachment saver, iFile, SBSettings, Snappy, Action Menu, Safari Download Manager, Spotbright and YourTube (mostly ‘paid for’ apps), my iPhone is rapidly approaching what it should be.
I’m sure that Apple will add some of the features the jailbreak apps to a future firmware release, but it will always be the jaibreak developers that push the development and usage of the iPhone.
Currently running on 3.1.2, I can’t think what Apple would add that would make me update and lose my jailbreak (apart from the functionality of all my jailbreak apps!). At a total a cost of around £30, the jailbreak apps are well worth the money, even if Apple prevent them working at some time in the future.
The three apps that keep me coming back on my second generation iPhone are Video Recorder (paid), Google Voice, and the ring animal tones (silly).
As a jailbreak developer, this is something that is always haunting me in the back of my mind… what if I can no longer jailbreak? Without jailbreak, or more specifically, without complete access to my device, I would move away from the iPhone platform.
However, I don’t think that this should prevent people from supporting jailbreak development. Most for-pay jailbreak software run about the same price as AppStore apps, which is usually less than the price of a fast-food meal. And while many AppStore applications get used just once then forgotten, jailbreak software tends to provide functionality that people wish to use on a regular basis.
To think about it another way, consider this: you want to buy something, say a new computer. You could buy it now, or you could wait and see if a new model comes out. A new model could come out the day after you decide to purchase the previous, but then again it might not come out for quite a long time – and in all the time that you waited, you could have been enjoying a new computer. I think that the same is true for jailbreak software… except that jailbreak software is much less expensive.
Saying that Apple will ever fully succeed in patching out jailbreaking is like saying that Microsoft will ever defeat piracy. I think your pretty safe with your jailbreak purchases. You may have to wait an extra month or two to install the latest patch, but it’ll show up eventually.
In my point of view, I have also paid for AppStore apps that I have played with for some weeks and uninstalled. They didn’t last more than a FW version. In my every day use, I’m sure I’m more using LockInfo, SBSettings (ok it’s free) and some others JB apps. I have paid for SwirlyMMS that is not useful anymore or Intelliscreen (that I replaced by LockInfo). We are talking about 1 to 10$ apps. It’s not an investment I want to amortized (not sure about that translation) over 2 years. They will last the time I’m using them and have no problem to pay for it. And even better, most of these apps comes with a trial. It’s not true for AppStore apps that are sometime not available in lite version. My 2c.
I don’t believe for a second that Apple will ever be able to completely shut down jailbreaking. Try to name 2 platforms that are TOTALLY imune to hacking. The need to access high level operations for troubleshooting, repair, simply assigning a phone # requires a way in, no matter how well you guard the door there will always be someone trying to circumvent that guard. The only way to keep someone from accessing a door is to not have a door.
I have no issues that push me to jailbreak my phone. Not even minor ones.
I think it depends on the reason why people jailbreak at all.
If the reason is some kind of lofty freedom we-are-not-accepting-locked-iPhones thing, then people will always do it. It’s a challenge – so they do it.
If the reason is to combat bug fixes that are not currently addressed by the firmware, they will stop as soon as Apple fixes them, which they eventually always do, even tho it may take years.
I don't think Apple will ever be able to prevent jailbreaking…. There will always be someone out there that will find a way unless Apple hires someone like George Hotz, then we might be in trouble…. I am new to the jailbreaking community & I now realize why everyone jailbreaks their iPhone. I have to say I jailbroke my phone for 2 reasons: to get Google Voice & Overboard. I have paid for only 2 apps so far Overboard & PogoPlank. I will prob. try and not go beyond that just in case I do need to switch back. I also love to customize my screens & sounds. If Apple would give me more customization, some sort of Expose style app, & Google Voice I would be satisfied…
Doi need to remind you that once the hardware is jailbroken the device is able to permantely jailbreak. And you can always downgrade to a firmware that is previously jailbroke…As long as there is a buck to be made on jailbroken apps their will always be hackers to do it… If anything the paid apps are securing the future of jailbreaking especially with apps that will never be released like tethering apps and 3g unrestricters.
I don't think the 'as long as there's a buck to be made' has much impact on this subject at all. The best and most dedicated iPhone hackers have always worked for free on their projects.
I use Categories, SB Settings and Grip. I do not think that the paid JB Apps are compelling enough to get my money. I can and am doing OK without them. Apple will eventually come up with an anti-jailbreak solution, or will employ Geohot, and we’ll be back in the box.
I want to jailbreak only to run multiple apps. It pisses me off that Apple won't let me decide which apps to run, if I want to run the battery down in an hour that's my choice.
My only and favorite paid jb app is ‘myprofiles’. I would not upgrade firmware just to keep this app and it adds a huge ammoumts f functionality that I can’t go without
I just paid for BITESMS if I lose it in March-June time frame, I’ll still be happy I bought it. They gave me a real demo period, and a real app, and I am HAPPY to reward their solid effort and marketing approach.
Unfortunately, I disagree with the many comments stating a jailbreak will always be available. Technically, that may be true. However, an un-tethered jailbreak not being possible is very very likely in the very near future. For many people, this simply does not work unless they pay for or build some type of tether device and carry it around with them everywhere. If we go back to ONLY tethered jailbreaks being available, I expect a very real decrease in number of jailbroken devices which in turn will cause a large decrease in the number of development time being spent on jailbreak applications. The scene will always exist to some degree, just like there are still people hacking their Ataris to make them do new things. I believe it is not far from being a small hobby niche, though.
That said, right now, I have no problem at all paying for my jailbreak apps. I have purchased quite a few and almost all have been more than worth it. Apps like iRealSMS, Lockinfo, iFile, Safari Download manager, and others have saved me WAY more time than the app cost and have made my life much easier. There are many more jailbreak apps that cost nothing at all but make the iPhone worthwhile. I love the phone and its potential, but without jailbreak it's simply that. Potential. The day Apple succeeds in preventing future convenient jailbreaks is the day I start seriously considering other devices.
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