As the new iPad hits the streets, hackers are already working on methods to jailbreak Apple’s latest tablet. Jailbreaking allows you to access files and settings that are normally hidden, which is something you have to do if you want to install apps that aren’t available in the App Store — especially apps that dramatically change the behavior of your phone or tablet.
You probably can’t use existing tools such as older versions of redsn0w or sn0wbreeze to jailbreak a 3rd generation iPad.
But the folks at the iPhone Dev Team have confirmed that the method used to jailbreak the iPad 2 running iOS 5.0 still works with iOS 5.1 — and that’s the operating system that will ship with the new iPad.
The latest iPad also features a new processor and other changes that could present a challenge to hackers, but according to the iPhone Dev Team, folks are exploring at least three different approaches toward jailbreaking the tablet.
Update: At least one of those methods works. The new iPad has already been jailbroken, although there’s no estimate on how long it will be take before the tools for jailbreaking the tablet are ready for the public.
