iPodXS

You may be considering whether or not to jailbreak your new iDevice. If you are an above average user and like to be able to completely personalize your device then jailbreaking is definitely for you.

 

Pros

Root privliges for your iDevice

Complete theming for your device

Access to apps and tweaks not available in the Apple App Store

Lets you add things to your device that Apple doesn't approve of

Cons

Voids your Apple warrenty (Even though you can just restore to reinstate the warrenty)

Have to wait for updates to be jailbroken

Speed decrease in device if to many tweaks are installed (mostly noticed on older devices)

Once you jailbreak your device there are a number of terms you need to know.

Jailbreak - The process of bypassing Apple's restrictions and gaining root access to your device.

Untethered - You will be able to keep your device in a jailbroken state without having to re-jailbreak even when you power off or respring. The most recent jailbreaks are almost always untethered.

Tethered - A jailbreak condtion that requires you to have to re-jailbreak your device everytime you power down or respring.

Unlock - The process of allowing your iPhone to work with different GSM carriers.

Baseband - The firmware version of your sim card.

Firmware - The iOS version that your iOS device is running. For example my device is running on iOS 4.1.

SpringBoard - The main screen of your device, you can access it by pressing the home button.

Repo/Source - They can be found in Cydia > Manage > Sources. Sources can be added to find more packages to install on your device.

Re-Spring - The process of restarting SpringBoard on your device. This can be done with the application SBSettings.

DFU Mode - When your iDevice is in a state of restore mode.

SSH - Secure file transfer between your iDevice and Computer. Require you to have the application Open SSH installed.

SHSH Blobs - A file that allows you to restore to a previous iOS version. They can be saved using Cydia or tinyumbrella.

Bricked - Your iDevice will not boot, if you have this problem email info@ipodxs.com for help.

Below is a list of jailbreak tools ordered by firmware version

iOS 4.1

Greenposi0n - Mac, Linux, Windows http://www.greenpois0n.com

Limera1n - Mac, Windows http://www.limera1n.com

PwnageTool - Mac

iOS 4.0, 4.0.1

Jailbreakme 2.0 - Web http://www.jailbreakme.com

Redsn0w - Mac, Windows

iOS 3.1.2, 3.1.3

Spirit - Mac, Windows, Linux http://www.spiritjb.com

Blackra1n - Mac, Windows http://www.blackra1n.com