Filed under: Software Update, Apple, iPhone
Gear Live answers iPhone 1.1.3 questions
After last nights iPhone video post, Gear Live has answered the first batch of viewer questions regarding the iPhone firmware 1.1.3. In addition to posting the Q&A, they have included a picture of the "About" screen of the iPhone, which clearly shows "1.1.3" in the software version. When this story first broke, there were many skeptics (including myself). Either this a big hoax played on the internet public, or it's real. Last night, I spoke with Andru Edwards of Gear Live to get a little more information. Andru reassured me again that the firmware is, in fact, real; however, he could not share any other information than what is already posted at Gear Live.
Thanks Andru!


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jon said 8:49AM on 1-01-2008
I don't get the point of all this coverage. It's a minor firmware update. It's not like it's a brand new iPhone model. We'll all have it in a week or two anyway, no doubt.
Gear Live is really milking it for all it's worth.
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dieschwai said 9:13AM on 1-01-2008
Agree with Jon! What's the big deal? Looking forward to it and would appreciate if Gear Live would forward the update to those guys who will please us with a jailbreak instead of reposting those few fact over and over again!
Althanis said 9:46AM on 1-01-2008
Why this new firmware is getting major coverage is because it is expected that it will provide the means to unlock firmware 1.1.2.
If you've been keeping track of this stuff, you'd realize that software unlocked phones have been drying up for the past few weeks, as the ones with the firmware prior to 1.1.2 have all been selling out, and all the new phones are shipping with 1.1.2 which has so far been unlockable.
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Leonard Nimrod said 10:15AM on 1-01-2008
1) There is no reason to think that v.1.1.3 will make v1.1.2 more unlockable.
2) This is a big deal because it's adding new features, some of which people have been wanting since day one and some of which will just be cool to play with.
Q: How many cellphones have provided 3 updates in 6 months?
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Jon said 10:27AM on 1-01-2008
i'm not saying it shouldn't have been covered. I am saying that I think 3 posts in 3 days on TUAW plus numerous videos by the Gear Live guys is a bit excessive for a minor patch (minor as in version number).
P.S. #3, this does not help the unlocking community because Gear Live is not releasing any unlocking information.
Leonard Nimrod said 10:37AM on 1-01-2008
@ Jon,
The news is slow with these holidays upon us and we are anticipating MW'08 right around the corner.
What I don't understand is how is Apple not threatening to sue over this. They have litigated over a lot less and they know the guy's handle, picture and approx. location. It's the only thing that makes me think this is fake, but with showing several different Apple-like changes that do not appear to be the typical non-user-friendly achievement I don't see how this could be fake. Perhaps Apple knows this will spark more interest in the iPhone so to force the info to be removed would work against profits. I certainly don't know.
jake Moore said 1:38PM on 1-01-2008
Yes, it does help unlocking. If you had been keeping tabs on the 1.1.2 Unlock process, you would know that the iPhone dev team said that they can unlock the phone as soon as a new firmware was released.
KeynoteKen said 1:49PM on 1-01-2008
But don't they also say that the security hole they were going to use doesn't work with 1.1.3? This may give them the info they need, but now they can't utilize it (at least not in the way they were).
The funny thing is, though, they posted publicly "What We Need" and assumed that Apple wasn't going to block exactly that. It's not really cat and mouse if the mice are going to be writing their plans on the kitchen door... in plain cat language.
Mike said 11:25AM on 1-01-2008
Viral marketing anyone?
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KeynoteKen said 11:30AM on 1-01-2008
Was just watching the video and there was a "crash". Then, it's admitted that "this may not be the final 1.1.3 firmware". So all these posts saying it's "real" have been discounted by the video (possibly something that did come from Apple, but not the "real" 1.1.3 due to be released at some future time).
Also, when I saw the crash, the first thing I thought was "If I wanted to track this code in a non-obvious way, I'd throw unique breakpoints into each version that's released. Sure, that won't help if only still images are released, but if anyone does a video (and who wouldn't to "prove" how cool they are), and they try a certain set of actions on camera, I'd know who leaked it.
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chewbee said 11:32AM on 1-01-2008
"one of the biggest hoax's ever played on the internet public"
Seriously? An update to a phone?
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KeynoteKen said 11:36AM on 1-01-2008
Yeah, I was thinking that was lonelygirl15...
drunkenoaf said 1:41PM on 1-01-2008
I cringed at the apostrophe misuse.
Jettyboy said 11:42AM on 1-01-2008
I just want Apple to make the thing ring LOUDER!
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Norman said 12:05PM on 1-01-2008
why no damn 802.1 X support ... this is more than a shame, it's a blunt insult of costumers, it would cost them nothing to support it and they just don't do it. DAMN this would be SO IMPORTANT at university campuses and in hospitals ! WHY oh WHY does noone offer a solution?
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Alex McKee said 12:24PM on 1-01-2008
Anyone else notice the new background?
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David said 1:15PM on 1-01-2008
Yeah, I did. What's the deal? I was finally getting used to space.
Mr R said 12:59PM on 1-01-2008
Apple released this to keep the rumor sites distracted. It keeps everyone talking about the iPhone but is short on features. Apple plans a much bigger update that will blow away this leak. This sets expectations that they can beat. But its got enough to make us fall for it. Otherwise they would have done the cease and desist already. Or its fake. My guess is that its disinformation from Apple. I think to boost iPhone sales and customer loyalty the feature update will be bigger.
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RWhitney said 1:19PM on 1-01-2008
Yeah, I was getting used to the space background as well.
I am finding the blue easier to look at though.
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Hellmann said 1:43PM on 1-01-2008
I'm liking the new background color. Very cool and the page loads a lot faster too.
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