Tethered Jailbreak iOS6 A4 DEVICES ONLY

iPhone Dev-Team have just updated Redsn0w, adding full support for final public release of iOS 6 on select devices with official version of Cydia, along with tons of new features which are detailed after the jump.

Redsn0w 0.9.15b1 for both Windows and Mac not only adds support for tethered jailbreak of iOS 6 on A4 based devices, but also for re-restoring and downgrading of select devices from iOS 6 to an older firmware, or in case of re-restoring, from iOS 5.x to iOS 5.x.

Supported devices:

First and foremost, it is important to note this is a tethered jailbreak and is only meant for devices boasting an A4 processor (or below), namely: the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and the 4th-gen iPod touch. Devices with A5 (iPhone 4S, iPad 2), A5X (iPad 3) and A6 (iPhone 5) processors are not supported at this point. Hacktivation + baseband preservation support has also been added for iPhone 4 and 3GS.

This latest version of Redsn0w does not require the user to go through the trouble of downloading and pointing the app to the iOS 6 IPSW for the jailbreak (the older version of Redsn0w, as mentioned in our previous jailbreak iOS 6 guide, required manual IPSW selection). Instead, the latest Redsn0w recognizes the firmware already installed on your device, downloads the required files and proceeds with the jailbreak. It’s that simple. Cydia, as mentioned above, is now also included as part of this Redsn0w’s release.

Instructions on how-to jailbreak iOS 6:

1. Redsn0w 0.9.15b1 can be downloaded from here (Windows | Mac).

2. Download iOS 6 from here, and update your A4 powered device to it. (check out this post if you want to read on how to update to iOS 6 the right way. Those of you who rely on unlock please read the note below before proceeding with the update.)

3. Start Redsn0w. Run it in Administrator mode if you are on Windows. OS X Mountain Lion users need to start it by Ctrl-Click on the Redsn0w icon and then selecting Open from the new menu.

4. Click on Jailbreak, select Cydia and enter DFU mode when Redsn0w prompts you to with the help of onscreen instructions. Once the device is in DFU mode, Redsn0w will start jailbreaking the device using limera1n exploit. When done, select “Autoboot this device when it connects in DFU mode” option to enter tethered mode for the time being.

After a short while, the device will reboot with familiar Cydia icon on the home screen.

Note for iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS Ultrasn0w unlockers: You will first need to preserve your older baseband to be eligible for unlock. Click on “Extras” option and then select “Custom IPSW” option. Select the required iOS 6 IPSW file for your device, and let Redsn0w make the custom firmware for you. Once done, enter Pwned DFU mode by selecting “Pwned DFU” from Redsn0w’s Extras option, and then restore to this custom firmware.

How to boot your device tethered on iOS 6:

Since this is a tethered iOS 6 jailbreak, you will need to boot your device in a tethered mode every time the device is turned off and back on. Booting in tethered mode is easy, and can be achieved using Redsn0w: click on the "Extras" from the main screen and then simply click on "Just Boot" option. Follow the on-screen instructions. Once done, you will be rebooted back into tethered-jailbreak mode.

Cydia on iPhone 4, running iOS 6

New re-restore features have also been introduced by the Dev Team in this version of Redsn0w. It now allows third-gen iPad and iPhone 4S users to RE-restore to any version of iOS 5.x even if Apple is currently not signing the software, provided that your SHSH blobs are saved for iOS 5.x, and the device is currently running iOS 5.x (not iOS 6) that too updated via iTunes, not OTA. iPad 2 users will also be able to downgrade if they have blobs for both 4.x and 5.x saved – even from iOS 6. The A4 based iPhone 4, 3GS and 4th-gen iPod touch users can of course always downgrade to an older firmware for untethered jailbreak provided that they have SHSH blobs saved for the firmware they want to downgrade on (instructions here). Instructions on how to re-restore the above mentioned devices from iOS 5.x-to-iOS 5.x are detailed here.

Why iOS 6 Disappoints and Makes Others Happy?

For many, this evolutionary step in iOS 6 has been welcomed with enthusiasm. However, there remain quite a few number of people who are disappointed in iOS 6, and its general lack of change/new features.

My perspective on why that is: 

I was looking over the "iOS version history" page on Wikipedia, and through my own memory (as I've had an iOS device since the first iOS). Each successive major iOS since iPhone OS 1.0 has included some major OS wide changes that were clearly worthy of a title as the "next iOS." For example, 2.0 added the App Store and the ability to install apps... a huge fundamental OS wide change. 3.0 added OS wide features of Copy/Paste and Voice Control for 3GS, which I think is a fundamental change (though I'm not sure how easy/hard it is to implement Voice Control). iOS 4.0 added multitasking... again, a huge fundamental OS change. iOS 5.0 added a Notifications bar (finally!) and Siri and iCloud, which would all have required at least some level of programming. 

6.0 added... Maps and a better Siri?

The major "features" that Apple highlights for each release, you may notice, has gone down in quality. I mean, just look at the 10 new "major" features they highlighted for iOS 6... one of them is FT over 3G (only for 4S). Really? that is a highlight/major feature of a major software release? I remember when it took Skype a simple x.x update to enable 3G video chat, and AT&T a simple update to enable MMS. 

If any pattern has been established over the past 5 years, it is that each x.0 release has included some fundamental, OS wide new features to justify the naming of it being iOS x.0. But this I just fail to see in 6.0.

While I welcome the cool new features in iOS 6, I also think that many of these "features" were put in for change's sake, while others were done with no practicality in mind. For example, why change the Phone's dial pad from a nice black color to a playful/toy-ish white color? Or the Camera app to have a black banner, as well as the redesigned stores, or the Music app, etc. People who say "If it's not broken, don't change it" should chime into these things. The thing about 3D... it's just impractical. I know for sure that I'm not going to be using 3D except for maybe when I'm bored and waiting in line or something. Street View on the other hand is a whole lot more practical as it actually helps in figuring out where a store is located or how it looks at a specific address. However, I will hold off on the new Maps until I see it in my hands/they are done with beta testing of it. 

It is because of these problems that many see Apple as not really putting a whole lot of effort into this iOS. I mean, really, without the Maps update, this update is truly only worthy of an iOS 5.x title, even with "200 new features" (keeping in mind that some of these "features" are just slight changes/redesigns). (I'd also like to point out that they added the camera button on the lock screen with a 5.x update, so I don't see how or why they couldn't have added the new Phone reminder feature in also with a 5.x update... but, I'm no developer so I'm a bit ignorant here). 

It is because of this that many, including me, are complaining about Apple's lack of innovation in the iOS. As for expecting... I found out about iOS 6 being released the day before WWDC, so apart from Maps I was not expecting any changes. Yet, I was disappointed by the general non-change in the iOS, with changes being mainly "enhancements" and cosmetic. While I welcomed these changes, I don't think they were worthy of the iOS 6 branding. Merely a 5.x. 

It is because Apple has decided to call it iOS 6 that Apple has created a problem for itself: and that is that it fails to live up to expectations of having OS wide features/changes with each successive x.0 update... a pattern that Apple created itself.

All The Little Things About iOS 6

In honor of this post, I decided we should make one for iOS 6. , but what are the little things?
UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who discovered unknown or un advertised features. I have tried to compile the information into this one post. If there is anything that you think has been left out of this or any incorrect information please PM me. 

Maps/Navigation
* Road names that you're turning onto are in blue, street names you can turn onto are in green.
* The road you are on is under your position in blue.
* Whenever you approach a turn it goes from 3D view to overhead view to give you a clear view of the turn then back again after the turn is completed.
* Direction road signs fly up and away and another flies in from underneath to take it's place when completing a step.
* You can't have hybrid (satellite + road names) or satellite map tiles while navigating (turn by turn).
* Siri continues to give directions while on the phone even if using a headset (she transfers to the headset). Obviously she gives directions if music/podcasts/audio is playing (volume is lowered slightly and she is REALLY loud)
* Being able to say, "take me home" and have her start to navigate to your home address is beautiful. You really don't need to touch it at all. 

Features Slide
Below is the slide of some of the 200 features from the iOS 6 Keynote.


Reminders
Manual reorder of reminders
Manual location entry for reminders

Share Buttons
Share buttons now use a grid like way to select where you want to share (iMessage, email, twitter, facebook, etc) instead of popping up as a list.
EX: 

iMessage
In iMessage you can set the caller ID for replying and for starting a new conversation (they can be different). 
New option allows you to only alert you for iMessages from people in contacts (meaning a text/iMessage from an unknown number won't notify you)

Alerts
Can now receive Amber alerts.
Also must receive Government Emergency Alerts.

Music App
Music app has been changed to look more like the iPad Music app
Podcasts can be shared via email.

Mail App
Per Account Signatures 
No longer shows you the progress of mail sending and it now immediately makes the sent whoosh sound even though it's still sending

Contacts
Search all fields in Contacts

App Store
App Download Process Shows up in Store with option to Open when complete.
Installed Apps also have the "open" button instead of "installed"
Downloading an app no longer pushes you back to the home screen.
An app that has been updated will get a blue ribbon overlaid in the corner that says "New" (similar to a newsstand item).
App Store has new look.
If downloading a free app there is no longer a need to enter a password.
In some places you can quickly swipe through apps in the app store on iPad. Works with related apps, more apps by the developer and apps on the featured page. Click for Example


Dictionary
Personal dictionary in iCloud (presumably syncs with Mountain Lion)

Settings
Bluetooth can be toggled on/off from settings without having to go into general.
New icon.
3 new Wallpapers
Use as Wallpaper share option in Photos

Clock App
Is on iPad (Previously in iOS 5 there was no native clock app on the iPad.)
On iPad clock app temperature shows up along with time.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Siri
Location commands work worldwide.

Other
Alarm can now be set with a song. 
EX:

Will there be an iOS 7?

I feel that the tentpole features for iOS6 both bombed. iOS Maps is no longer referred to (by Apple) as “the most beautiful, powerful mapping service ever” and Passbook's real world use hasn't really become the kind of industry changing application that Apple was promoting. 

The rest of iOS6 is a series of adjustments that don't really amount to a major OS update. 

This whole OS seems to lack the focus and attention to detail that Apple has been known for in previous iterations.It's as if they were too busy working on something else.

I think Scott Forstall has pulled the bulk of his team into working on the next big OS and left a smaller team to address this maintenance update that is iOS6. It no doubt takes more than the single year cycle for the iOS team to re-write the OS from the bottom up to look and feel brand new and to adjust to the new realities of what consumers want in a smartphone.

iOS7 will probably bring into coherence the changes that Apple has been making since iPhone OS 1.0. Right now the home screen, Siri, Notifications Centre, and Passbook all feel separate, as if they were added in (they were). But one thing is clear: the original idea of a bunch of icons on a home screen is no longer the only way or even the main way that people are interacting with their iPhones. 

- Siri has the potential to become the main user interface with the assistance of the touch UI. For the silent types, Siri could become integrated into the Search screen. Just start typing your instructions and SilentSiri™ will respond. When in the search screen, Siri would listen for her name should you decide to speak. This would be a great driving mode where calling up Siri would mean you just have to ask for something by calling her name.

- App Store with Apps, Services and Widgets. Some apps are single purpose or would work better if integrated into iOS rather than as their own app. Some of them could become services, or plug-ins if you will. Do we really need a Yelp app if it can be built into Siri and Maps? Do we really need stocks and weather apps if they already exist as widgets in Notification Centre? Isn't Fandango (or other movie theatre apps) not less intrusive and works better as a service in Siri? Why look for and open an app if you can just ask Siri to perform the task that that app is good at? 

- Passbook as a collection of single purpose apps. Following up on the idea from the previous point, Passbook has the potential to completely replace several apps. A Starbucks pass now displays your QR code for payment but what if you could do more? What if a ZipCar pass served as your car key but also allowed you to book a car near you? Passbook has the potential to become a holder for every day use apps that are simple enough that they can run in Passbook instead of as their own app. Heck, if you look at it that way, Passbook could in another universe be the way to launch apps, instead of icons. 
If Passbook takes on a leadership role in iOS, then perhaps it could be brought up by swiping from below. 

You'd have the main UI elements within a swipe:

- Swipe to the left Search screen screen, you'd have a universal search and Siri.
- Swipe from the top, you'd get the Notification Centre with widgets
- Swipe from below you'd have Passbook with it's collection of daily use mini apps. 

Despite my best intentions as a fan of iOS, I can't help but admit that UI with the icons on a home screen are becoming a bit stale. Apple has never been know as a company that sits still and rests on their laurels. Look at the iPod Nano. Look at the entire iPod line. Apple killed both by moving to the next generation before its competitors could catch up to the current one.

I believe something big is coming, and I think we'll see it in iOS7.