Redsn0w 0.9.14b2 released, downgrades baseband on more iPhones

The iOS hackers at the iPhone Dev Team have released Redsn0w 0.9.14b2 for Windows and OS X. The latest version of the popular jailbreaking utility brings two major improvements.

Redsn0w 0.9.14b2

First, there’s now support for downgrading the baseband on a wider range of iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS models. This makes it possible to unlock an iPhone so it can be used on a different wireless network — something that’s not possible with the most recent basebands.

Second, there’s a new DFU IPSW option.

DFU stands for Device Firmware Update, and when your iPhone or iPad is in DFU mode it allows you to connect it to a computer to transfer code without loading the full operating system. This is how you can install custom code on a jailbroken iOS device.

Anyway, normally you enter DFU mode by pressing the power and home buttons in a certain combination, but the iPhone Dev Team says a number of folks with broken home or power buttons were complaining that they couldn’t get it to work.

Now you can use Redsn0w to create a custom IPSW file that will allow you to enter DFU mode even without entering the right button pushes. Note that you’ll be stuck in DFU mode until you use Redsn0w or another device to return to normal operating mode.

Brad Linder

Brad Linder is editor of Liliputing and Mobiputing. He's been tinkering with mobile tech for decades and writing about it since 2006. Brad has also worked with NPR, WHYY, PRI, and AOL.