Jailbreaking iOS 5 Device via Redsn0w: 5 Essential Points

The eagerly anticipated iOS 5 is here and so are steps to jailbreak it. Different tools, like Redsn0w and FastRa1n v5.0., have made their way online, to assist users with the jailbreak of both tethered and untethered versions of the new iOS.

Jailbreaking an iPhone, or any other device running iOS 5 for that matter, allows the user to get root access to the device, so that he can install unauthorized apps. Jailbreaking will allow the user to move away from Apple's strict App Store policy that prevents the user from installing those unauthorized apps, for reasons like content issues.

Jailbreaking an iOS 5 device helps the user download unofficial content from Cydia. Users will now not need to manually supply their device's IPSW file and the jailbreak procedure, via Redsn0w, will become fast and efficient on any iOS 5 device. However, users must note that neither the iPad 2 nor the iPhone 4S are included in the list.

However, it is important to keep a few things in mind before jailbreaking a device; improper jailbreaks could cause serious problems later. Here are five key points the user will need to remember while jailbreaking via Redsn0w.

Tethered Jailbreak Only

The user will need to know that this is only a tethered jailbreak of the device. This, however, comes at a cost as the user will need Redsn0w to Just boot tethered now and will need it to use Cydia and Safari. If Cydia or Safari crash when they are opened, that's because the user didn't boot tethered.

Having 06.15 Baseband on 3GS:

If the user has 06.15 Baseband on his 3GS, the Redsn0w will get him past the iTunes restore error that he might get when using the stock IPSW. It is advisable to keep the IPSW handy depending on the way Redsn0w works.

Unlockable Basebands

If the user chooses to preserve unlockable basebands, it is important that they stay away from jailbreaking. The user is most likely to lose his unlockable baseband when he tries to install iOS 5.

Jailbroken Apps

This process is only intended for developers of jailbroken apps. There are just too many broken components (Apple's official apps, third-party App Store apps, Cydia apps, MobileSubstrate apps, etc) for this to be useful to anyone other than those genuinely looking to fix bugs in their iOS 5 jailbroken apps.

Redsn0w is for Pros

In order to get past all activation screens, the user will need to be an iOS developer with a registered Universally Unique Identifier (UDID) and it advisable not to pirate Apple software. It is to be noted that registered developers with Macs can only develop iOS apps.