DFU mode "disabled" by OSX 10.5.6 update

Some tips from the iPhone Dev Team on how to overcome this issue:

DFU Issues in OS X 10.5.6

Lots of users have been experiencing problems with the use of DFU mode after applying yesterday’s 10.5.6 system update.

We believe this behavior is due to a kernel bug not a specific countermeasure by Apple. Possible fixes are (try at your own risk!) -

1. Replace the following plugin kexts from within IOUSBFamily.kext with the ones from 10.5.5 and then rebuild kextcache (if you don’t understand this, then you shouldn’t attempt it!)

/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBHub.kext

/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/IOUSBCompositeDriver.kext

2. Use a USB hub in-between the DFU device and the Mac and insert/reinsert the iPhone’s USB cable.

3. Use a PwnageTool created .ipsw on Windows! Oh the irony!

QuickPwn

Some links on QuickPwn:

http://www.macgeekblog.com/blog/archive/2008/08/21/quickpwn-tutorial-easy-jailbreak-for-202-fw.html

http://www.touchpodium.com/2008/08/21/quick-pwn-your-phone-a-guide-to-quickpwn/

Some quirks about PwnageTool

When an application crashes on the iPhone and even causes it to immediately reboot, you would no longer see the Apple logo... instead its replaced by a bitten pineapple! That's the hackers little prank, and its a little annoying afew a while (yes, my iPhone has rebooted that many times already).
You can get around this by repeating the PwnageTool process again but digging into the Advanced settings instead, and unchecking the two custom logos. The resultant custom firmware will have the Apple Logo at bootup restored.

One other thing about PwnageTool is that it automatically builds in the Cydia application installer.
From some reports on the web, like Hackint0sh.org and everythingicafe.com, some of the stability and performance issues cited by users on firmware 2.0 have pointed fingers at Cydia for running its own version of BSD Subsystem on the iPhone.
I'm considering to try the Advanced mode again to remove Cydia, and see how it runs. Will update this blog when its done. In all honesty, I am very happy with using the AppStore, and will be ok with not using Cydia or Installer to run 3rd party apps.

And lastly, while not directed at PwnageTool, I have noticed that iTunes keeps throwing this this weird alert everytime I connect the iPhone to the USB dock: "An update to the carrier settings for your iPhone is available. Would you like to download it now?"

Whether you select Cancel, or Update, nothing really happens. It might be only applicable to those units on official networks, in that it updates the APN settings for the data transmissions, IP addresses, etc. But that's no use to me, and thankfully it causes no harm. No word yet on how to avoid this annoying little critter, but at least it hasn't stopped my phone from working!

PwageTool 2.0.1 - It Works!

1st Generation iPhone successfully hacked to run a custom firmware that combines official 2.0 firmware (VPN, Contacts search, Push email for Exchange and MobileMe webapps, AppStore applications) with the classic Installer.app homebrew scene!

PwnageTool, developed by the iPhone Dev Team, is a very slick piece of software, currently only for Macs. As long as you have the correct firmware for your model (1st gen iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPod Touch), and you have both bootloaders 3.9 and 4.6, it mixes them up into a custom firmware that you "restore" onto your iPhone via iTunes. I found it easiest to get the whole package from a torrent site demonoid.com. If you would rather not torrent, then skip below and follow the instructions on the two blog sites I mention further down that have screenshots documenting the steps.

PwnageTool 2.0.1 w/ Firmware 2.0 + bootloaders for 1st Gen iPhone :
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559508/

PwnageTool 2.0.1 w/ Firmware 2.0 + bootloaders for 3G iPhone :
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559510/

PwnageTool 2.0.1 with Firmware 2.0 for iPod Touch
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559506/

(I cannot vouch for these, as they are 2.0.0 not 2.0.1)
iPod Touch Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559516/

1st Gen iPhone Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1558434/

3G iPhone Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1558435/


The steps are clearly documented with screenshots at these two blog sites below. Make sure you read them thoroughly and repeat until you have a clear idea of what to do next.

http://coachhowland.blogspot.com/2008/07/pwnage-20.html
http://www.macgeekblog.com/blog/archive/2008/07/19/pwnage-20-jailbreak-iphone-3g-now.html
And here's the original website from iPhone Dev Team: http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/42931306/pwnagetool-2-0-1#disqus_thread

Once you've done that, you will see that your iPhone is now on 2.0, but with the very welcome icon of Cydia on it too. Cydia is a repository application installer, like Installer.app. Currently homebrew apps that ran well on 1.1.4 are not compatible with 2.0 yet, so give the developers some time to convert them over. But to be really honest, most of the apps you saw on Installer are already available on the official App Store too (both the good and the bad!)

Don't forget to sync over your media and also setup MobileMe on your iPhone! (http://www.apple.com/mobileme/setup/iphone/mac.html)