The InformationWeek -- Blogs
Welcome Guest. | Log In| Register | Membership Benefits

Over The Air

Topics:   Mobile

  • Email this page E-mail this page
  • Print this page Print this page
  • Bookmark and Share
  • icon

G1 Android Phone Fully Jailbroken


Posted by Eric Zeman, Nov 5, 2008 10:30 AM

Just last week some coders figured out how to unlock the HTC G1 from T-Mobile's network. Now, some innovative tinkerers at the XDA Developers Forum have figured out how to gain full access to the G1's code and jailbreak it entirely. Full instructions for freedom inside.


When the iPhone was first jailbroken, the process was not for the faint of heart. The process involved numerous steps and a degree of expertise in understanding code. In fact, some of the first jailbreaks required modifications to the hardware of the iPhone itself. Yes, soldering was required.

Now, anyone who has 20 minutes to spare can jailbreak their iPhone. Just download the Pwnage Tool from the iPhone Dev Team and have at it. It really is as simple as clicking on a few selections here and there.

The new jailbreak for the HTC G1 discovered by the XDA Forum members is not that easy, not by a long shot.

Here's how it works. First, download PTerminal from the Android Market. You can use telnet on the G1 through your PC. Log in as root and you can get into the system directory. Here's what the rest of the steps entail:

  • Turn on WiFi in the G1 (Settings > Wireless Controls > Wi-Fi). Make sure you're connected to a network.
  • Start up PTerminal (search in the Market) and you'll get a prompt once its launched.
  • Enter cd system and hit Enter.
  • Enter cd bin and hit Enter.
  • Enter telnetd and hit Enter. You've now started telnet on your G1.
  • Enter netstat and hit Enter. You'll now see your G1's IP address. You can also find this in the Settings > Wireless Controls > Wi-Fi > and click on your network you're connected to. It will show you your IP.
  • Start up Terminal on your OS X machine, or bring up a command prompt on your Windows box. Type telnet [your.ip.address.we.just.found] and hit Enter/Return. So, if your IP was 192.168.1.101, you'd type telnet 192.168.1.101 and hit Enter/Return.
  • You are logged in as root now. To remount the system file as read write, type mount -oremount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system from the Terminal/Command Prompt and hit Enter/Return.
Once you do all that, you'll gain full system access and the ability to read and write to the operating system. The coders involved mention that an application similar to the Pwnage Tool will be created eventually. So if you want to jailbreak the device, but don't quite have the chops to go the true do-it-yourself route, you can always wait a little while to see what becomes available in the coming weeks.

« Microsoft Offers Free Software, Cloud Platform To Startups | Main | Google Axes Yahoo Deal »



Sign Up Now
For InformationWeek News Alerts




This is a public forum. United Business Media and its affiliates are not responsible for and do not control what is posted herein. United Business Media makes no warranties or guarantees concerning any advice dispensed by its staff members or readers.

Community standards in this comment area do not permit hate language, excessive profanity, or other patently offensive language. Please be aware that all information posted to this comment area becomes the property of United Business Media LLC and may be edited and republished in print or electronic format as outlined in United Business Media's Terms of Service.

Important Note: This comment area is NOT intended for commercial messages or solicitations of business.




 
Mobile Video


Sign Up For The Over The Air Newsletter
Every Friday, our experts and analysts explore the business, strategy, and management issues most important to mobile and wireless technology.

Sign up for our free, weekly newsletter today!

Newsletter Archives


 

  1. Think Parallel 2010, Five Years of Multicore
  2. It's All In the Strategy, It's All About the Design
  3. How To Do Parallelism Without Getting Egg On Your Face


Join The InformationWeek Group On LinkedIn


  1. More Anti-Virus Fail
  2. Windows 7 Is Really That Good
  3. iPhone OS 4.0 Reported To Feature Multitasking


  1. Google's Tim Bray Hates Apple's iPhone
  2. Global CIO Quick Take: Oracle & Iron Man 2 Seek Super CIO
  3. FCC Broadband Plan Ready For Congress
  4. Bacteria Trail Betrays Identity Of Computer Users
  5. AT&T Adds Web Services For Feature Phones
  6. Congress Targeting Defense IT Acquisition Reform

 

  Ars Technica
Boing Boing
Channel 9 Forums
CRN Blogs
Dr.Dobb's Portal: Blogs
Engadget
Gizmodo
GrokLaw
  Lifehacker
Schneier on Security
Slashdot
TechCrunch
Techdirt
Techmeme
Valleywag

  DECEMBER 2008
NOVEMBER 2008
OCTOBER 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
AUGUST 2008
JULY 2008
JUNE 2008
MAY 2008
  APRIL 2008
MARCH 2008
FEBRUARY 2008
JANUARY 2008
DECEMBER 2007
NOVEMBER 2007
OCTOBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007