Jailbreaking the Apple iPad

newsguy 0 669 Views

So after all the hype you've got an iPad, I guess you'll be wanting to break it then? Jailbreak it, that is, so as to set it free from Apple imposed restrictions and allow you to install non-approved software. Jailbreaking is popular amongst iPhone users, and has been since soon after the original iPhone device appeared on the scene, so it was only ever going to be a matter of time before the same thing happened to the newly launched iPad. After all, it uses a tweaked version of the iPhone OS. However, the Apple world has been taken somewhat by surprise at just how quickly the first successful jailbreaking has occurred. Heck, the iPad has only been on sale for two days and already it has been hacked, cracked and pwned by those in the know as this YouTube video footage reveals.

It is not known how many people have currently got a jailbroken iPhone, but it is doubtful that huge numbers of the 300,000 people across America who pre-ordered and took delivery of their iPads on day one will be wanting to void the warranty and start hacking the hardware so early in the ownership game. Not least as first iPad jailbreak appears to be something of a development demo rather than a commercial or even Beta product right now. What's more, given that this particular pwning seems to be based upon a bug that has been used to jailbreak iPhone OS 3.1 the chances are that it will get picked up and blocked sharpish by Apple, as is the way with such things. Traditionally there is a race to find and fix jailbreak bugs and exploits between the respective developers.

First reports of the iPad in the wild have been mixed with some suggesting it sucks somewhat while others are largely positive .

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As points out, early iPad jailbreaks are already appearing. Jailbreaking unlocks customization and non-App-Store software but brings tradeoffs: potential instability, security exposure, and service/warranty complications. Early releases are often proofs‑of‑concept or tethered hacks; the safest approach is to treat the first public tools as experimental and follow tested, well‑documented procedures.

  • Full backup: make a complete iTunes backup and copy/export photos, contacts and any irreplaceable data before attempting anything.
  • Record device details: note the exact iOS version and model/build — jailbreaks are firmware‑specific.
  • Verify the tool: only use a jailbreak that explicitly supports the exact device and firmware; read the release notes, follow the official instructions, and check hashes for downloaded files when provided.
  • Prepare recovery tools: have iTunes up to date on a computer, know how to perform Recovery/DFU restores, and keep a copy of the official IPSW if advised by the jailbreak documentation.
  • Know the tradeoffs: understand tethered vs. untethered boots, avoid unknown/pirate repos, and be prepared for possible performance or battery impacts.

If something breaks, standard recovery is usually a DFU/recovery restore through iTunes; that removes the jailbreak and returns the device to stock. For package/tweak crashes, most jailbreak frameworks provide a safe‑mode or recovery method; removing the offending package via Cydia or via SSH/terminal is a common fix. Error codes during restores are usually documented in FAQs for the jailbreak or in community threads — record the exact code and consult the tool’s documentation.

Summary: treat early jailbreaks as experimental. The main priorities are a verified tool, a current backup, and a recovery plan so problems can be reversed with minimal data loss. This note adds practical safeguards and recovery guidance to the original thread.

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