Jailbreak - What are your experiences?

[IncarnateX]

I am considering a jailbreak on my iPad 2 3g, but would like to hear some experiences first. I am not going to use it for anyhing else than being able to browse and transfer files betweens apps that do not support pasteboard transfer.
I am considering this software for breaking: [mod edit: link possibly legally dicey] Any particular experience with that?

I have a comment to the legal side of it, though, because these guys one on hand claims it is legal to break it:

 
Is jailbreak Legal? How can I manage the iOS firmware, Apps and more without problem. Has Apple allowed users the use of jailbreak?

In 2010, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) determined that jailbreak process or jailbreak on Apple devices is totally legal Worldwide. The DMCA determined that the user or owner can do whatever he/she wants with the device because the product is his/her property. Although Apple sells the device, Apple can not do something against jailbreak.
You can do whatever you want with your device, you are partially FREE!
Without jailbreak you depend of Apple's terms, conditions and other annoying rules.
Obviously, Apple does not want the "Jailbreak" in your device. One reason is because they lose thousands of dollars when users get Paid Apps for Free. Other reason is: Apple doesn't want users editing and managing the firmware "hidden" codes or Script Structure.

On the other hand, I really don't like their attitude towards getting payed apps for free. While a jailbreak might be legal, downloading payed apps for free is unfair. I want to support the developers of apps, not rip them off. The apps are already as cheap as quality music software can be. Just had to say, but I am not trying to start a discussion here, so at the core of it: What are your experiences with jailbreaks?

Cheers

[Meffy]

I've removed the link as it could be legally dubious. Best to discuss the subject without linking to software, instructions, etc.

[IncarnateX]

I've removed the link as it could be legally dubious. Best to discuss the subject without linking to software, instructions, etc.

Fair enough. Lets just stick to the jailbreaking part since this apparently is legal. If it was not I wouldn't consider it at all.

[sonicflux]

There's nothing illegal about jailbreaking or linking to jailbreaking sites. And if you don't want to violate a copyright, then don't download unpaid apps. Seems pretty simple.

The only thing you need to be concerned about jailbreaking is voiding your device's warranty. It's just as easy to "un-jailbreak" as it is to jailbreak, so that's an extremely minor issue. The process takes less than ten minutes, and it's worth it just to get a toggle button to tuen Bluetooth on and off.

If you aren't happy with some features of your device that apple won't let you change, then you should absolutely jailbreak. I'm much happier with my iPad since I did it. It's a no brainer if you ask me.

[Meffy]

It's possible I'm being too cautious. If some other mod who knows ipad legal stuff thinks my decision should be reversed, go right ahead -- I will gracefully defer to the well-informed.

[mod4]

My ipad2 is jailbreak because i wanted to use a generic bluetooth phone for internet access, it works great . In 2010 us court ruled jailbreak was legal in us for educational use. I guess since no copyright laws are actually broken it legal. Circuitbending is that legal, taking a device and modifying the circuit. Warranty issue is another think, most electronic devices say modification voids warranty.

A word of warning Android users have been warned not to have superuser access on devices, some software is cached on device which can store your personal info. Most pda type devices dont have firewall or virus software, so its best not to have superuser access on any device that access the internet.

The payed app issue is about security, Apple test all apps some get on itunes and then get taken down, Google dont test apps at all, i would rather pay for a well written app then a ad ridden app.

As i dont trust wifi security i always use bluetooth as the device can be hidden from search and its a direct link to isp.

I was looking at accessing saved files to send to other apps but its not easy to do.

Best way to do this is create adhoc network on a phone and use wifi server with safari.

Was also thinking of buying a wifi hdd and saving files for access.

Its up to you if you want jailbreak , most warranties only last a year anyway.

[IncarnateX]

There's nothing illegal about jailbreaking or linking to jailbreaking sites.

Thanks for your input @sonicflux and @mod4. Maybe I will wait til summer when my warranty expires then.

To the above: it is true that there is nothing illegal about jailbreaking in itself but the guys linked do advertise heavily for downloading payed apps for free and in their video they promise to "show how" if you buy their product. If this ain't illegal it is at best an exploitation of the law IMO. I find it morally objectionable. Removing the link is quite OK with me because I want your general experiences anyway. Especially those considering potential crashes, apps not working, system breakdown etc.

Thanks again

[J.C]

I'm on iPad2, jailbroken since day one.

I don't care about downloading Apps for free, I bought all my Apps.

I had to use the iPad without Jailbreak for a month or so and I have to say that I would never buy one if they're no possibility of jailbreaking. Too frustrating. Ok for gaming and chatting but not for Music creation, except as a controller maybe.

I'd never go back to stock OS. Too frustrating. While jailbreakers had the possibility since the beginning to exchange Files between App, stock users had to wait until an independant dev invent some kind of protocoll (AudioCopy/Paste). Not even Apple thought about that!!

I try to compose exclusively on the iPad and iPhone and without Jailbreak it would be almost impossible...

[IncarnateX]

I'm on iPad2, jailbroken since day one.

I don't care about downloading Apps for free, I bought all my Apps.

I had to use the iPad without Jailbreak for a month or so and I have to say that I would never buy one if they're no possibility of jailbreaking. Too frustrating. Ok for gaming and chatting but not for Music creation, except as a controller maybe.

I'd never go back to stock OS. Too frustrating. While jailbreakers had the possibility since the beginning to exchange Files between App, stock users had to wait until an independant dev invent some kind of protocoll (AudioCopy/Paste). Not even Apple thought about that!!

I try to compose exclusively on the iPad and iPhone and without Jailbreak it would be almost impossible...

Know what you mean, Mate. I am tired of waiting for certain devs to arse themselves together to apply pasteboard transfer to their apps (despite many suggestions to do so). With iFile I am able to transfer what I want internally on the iPad. I just hope it won't be at the cost of functionality and security.

[J.C]

Well Like I said my device is jailbroken since april 2011 and I never had a security issue and functionality is just better than before.

I just have some crashes sometimes, but I never lost my work in a crash.

[Wormhelmet]

I haven't run into a situation requiring jail breaking my device. Mine stays as is. If there is something I need to do in an app that is unsupported, then I can pester the developer to implement it. As far as jail breaking to get apps, personally I am getting a thrill paying for all my music and apps. This stuff is being put out for very reasonable prices. Compared to looking at $400 - $800 applications to buy or a PC or Mac, these purchases are really nothing. I use app shopper to email me hen apps hit sale prices or have updates I am waiting for. It's nickel and dimming me, but at a reasonable rate.

[J.C]

+1

AppZapp is another very efficient to save $$$

[IncarnateX]

So I did it and iFile is great. Finally I do not have wait for devs to apply copy and paste, e.g. I just bought VocaLive and it rocks.

Now a word on those paid services out there who offer jailbreak. What they basically do is directing you to jailbreak software that already are free and then offer some support for it. You don't need their support since there are plenty of info on the net. Besides they advertise for downloading apps for free, which basically is an exploitation of a security issue. In other words: They stink!

However Apple is kind of asking for some of it if you really have jailbreak a device just to get acces to a basic file system. Hope they will get smarter in time.


Cheers

[Jace-BeOS]

i highly advise not adding any hacks like skins and whatnot. Don't change anything about iOS that iOS doesn't offer already. Then you wont run into problems. A friend of mine has an iPad. She let me play with it. It was not really an iPad any more because it was jailbroken and skinned and whatnot. It was slow and all apps crashed constantly. She had no idea because she got it from an ex boyfriend. So i restored it to factory defaults and it stopped crashing. Now she praises my efforts.

That's my experience on iPad. For iPhone, i broke two open for friends to use on T-Mobile, but not for any other reason at all. They use them in very basic ways and have no trouble at all that i've been told about. i don't jailbreak mine because i don't at all need or want to.

EDIT: three uses of "at all" makes me sound pretty dumb.

[zerocrossing]

Edit, I guess it is legal. Not sure why you'd want to though.