iPhone OS 3.1.3 sees 14% adoption in 6 days, new hack released
A new study has found that 14 percent of iPhone users upgraded to iPhone OS 3.1.3 in less than a week of availability, while a new hack to exploit Apple's latest update has been released.
Released last Tuesday, iPhone OS 3.1.3 was a minor update, bringing a battery reporting fix, fixing an issue where third-party applications would not launch, and patching a number of security holes. In its first six days of release, an estimated 14 percent of users opted to upgrade, mobile ad group Medialets reported Monday.
As of Feb. 6, most iPhone users -- 72.3 percent -- were still running iPhone OS 3.1.2, while 3.1.1 has 0.8 percent of users, and 3.1.0 has 4.6 percent. About 13 percent of total users are running a version prior to 3.1.2.
The company also noted that it saw a 13 percent drop in installs of 3.1.2, meaning 87 percent of the upgrades to iPhone OS 3.1.3 came from users who were already running the latest version of the mobile operating system.
The statistics were obtained through developers' applications the service tracks through the App Store.
Following the release of the latest iPhone OS upgrade, the Dev Team, which is the leading group of hackers that work to "jailbreak" the iPhone and allow users to run unauthorized code, released their latest hacking tool. Dubbed PwnageTool 3.1.5, the Mac OS X software allows users to upgrade to Apple's latest release while preserving a jailbreak and carrier unlock.
Last summer, the first jailbreaking tool for the iPhone 3GS was released. Apple later quietly updated the iPhone 3GS to thwart potential hackers, but a workaround was discovered in November.
Last year, Apple posted a job listing to hire a new iPhone OS security manager to help lock down its mobile operating system. While jailbreaking an iPhone can allow unauthorized capabilities such as multitasking and custom wallpapers, it can also be used to pirate software from the App Store.
Released last Tuesday, iPhone OS 3.1.3 was a minor update, bringing a battery reporting fix, fixing an issue where third-party applications would not launch, and patching a number of security holes. In its first six days of release, an estimated 14 percent of users opted to upgrade, mobile ad group Medialets reported Monday.
As of Feb. 6, most iPhone users -- 72.3 percent -- were still running iPhone OS 3.1.2, while 3.1.1 has 0.8 percent of users, and 3.1.0 has 4.6 percent. About 13 percent of total users are running a version prior to 3.1.2.
The company also noted that it saw a 13 percent drop in installs of 3.1.2, meaning 87 percent of the upgrades to iPhone OS 3.1.3 came from users who were already running the latest version of the mobile operating system.
The statistics were obtained through developers' applications the service tracks through the App Store.
Following the release of the latest iPhone OS upgrade, the Dev Team, which is the leading group of hackers that work to "jailbreak" the iPhone and allow users to run unauthorized code, released their latest hacking tool. Dubbed PwnageTool 3.1.5, the Mac OS X software allows users to upgrade to Apple's latest release while preserving a jailbreak and carrier unlock.
Last summer, the first jailbreaking tool for the iPhone 3GS was released. Apple later quietly updated the iPhone 3GS to thwart potential hackers, but a workaround was discovered in November.
Last year, Apple posted a job listing to hire a new iPhone OS security manager to help lock down its mobile operating system. While jailbreaking an iPhone can allow unauthorized capabilities such as multitasking and custom wallpapers, it can also be used to pirate software from the App Store.
Comments
The auto update only run like once a month (I think), it'll take a while for everyone to know about the upgrade.
I plugged my iPhone into my iMac to sync some stuff and it instantly alerted me of the available update.
2) With this update you no longer need to jailbreak or unlock to enable tethering.
My desk is such a mess, I don't know where my sync cable is \
Been there done that. It would be nice if this could be done via wifi too.
1) I hope the iPod Touch gets on the free iPhone OS update path. I think it would be financially beneficial as the update allows for newer apps to be bought and less time supporting older OSes.
2) With this update you no longer need to jailbreak or unlock to enable tethering.
I totally missed the tethering ability! Quick idiots 'how to' guide please.
Been there done that. It would be nice if this could be done via wifi too.
Yeah that would be nice. I had thought that the iPad would at least have wireless sync, but I guess not. Oh well. I have a sync cable in my truck (for charging it) if I really want to install the update, but I should really just clean my desk up.
The process is so easy and painless. I was alerted as soon as I plugged my iPhone in. Is there a large group of people who don't sync their iPhone with their PC?
I totally missed the tethering ability! Quick idiots 'how to' guide please.
Go to help.benm.at on your iPhone. However, as stated when you go to the site on your iPhone some people are having a problem with their AT&T profile. I'm one of them. They're working on it. Note that the site isn' the same if you access from Mac OS X.
Oh that's not until June?????
I did get an unusual hang on one of the virtual keyboards in Safari but I don't know if it is a chronic problem.
In any event here is to Apple moving forward with iPhone OS.
The Great iPhone/iPod/iPad Fragmentation continues . . . .
Huh?
It's just an update to the same OS.
With every second word in the jailbreak-related portion of the article being "hacker", "exploit" or "unauthorized", I was 100% sure Dan Dilger had written it. I was shocked to see he got Katie Marsal doing it too, unless she happens to be "Prince McLean"'s sister.
What exactly is wrong with such wording?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3743
As designed by Apple, the iPhone OS ensures that the iPhone and iPod touch operate reliably. Some customers have not understood the risks of installing software that makes unauthorized modifications to the iPhone OS ("jailbreaking") on their iPhone or iPod touch. Customers who have installed software that makes these modifications have encountered numerous problems in the operation of their hacked iPhone or iPod touch. . . .
Apple strongly cautions against installing any software that hacks the iPhone OS. It is also important to note that unauthorized modification of the iPhone OS is a violation of the iPhone end-user license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.
The scary thing is coming across so many people that have never updated any iPhone they have since they bought it. I have found many, especially PC users.
Even if that was true, I can understand them. You can only update in iTunes and that thing is a dirty pig on windows; it is a horrible experience.
With every second word in the jailbreak-related portion of the article being "hacker", "exploit" or "unauthorized", I was 100% sure Dan Dilger had written it. I was shocked to see he got Katie Marsal doing it too, unless she happens to be "Prince McLean"'s sister.
If you're going to attempt to slam Dilger, then please get it right. He hammers Microsoft and all pundits who trash Apple. Hackers, exploiters and unauthorized, not so much.