Custom v3.1.3 replicates look, some features

One of the lesser-known iPhone "teams" dedicated to hacking and modifying iOS devices has released Whited00r 5.1, a heavily customized and modified version of iOS 3.1.3 that brings the look and feel of iOS 5 to all iOS devices, all the way back to the original first-generation iPhone and iPod Touch. The team have added features from iOS 4 and iOS 5 such as folders, custom backgrounds and reminders and made them work under the "iOS 5" style v3.1.3.

Many owners of original equipment -- which has long since passed by any warranties or contract restrictions -- have taken to "jailbreaking" and unlocking the devices in order to customize them. The Whited00r 5.1 consolidates many of the most desirable customizations, such as folders and a fake "iCloud" (actually using Dropbox as a back-end) that backs up game data, and wraps in a custom look based on iOS 5 that doesn't sacrifice much speed to achieve a decent percentage of the features later iOS device owners enjoy.

The customized version of 3.1.3 Whited00r uses does entail both a large amount of copyright infringement as well as a security risk (since it relies on exploiting security holes in 3.1.3 to work as well as opens the door to malicious apps). Users will also be taking a risk that the transformation will be unsuccessful, leading to a bricked unit.

The team's own forums have numerous bug and problem reports as is often seen with any unofficial hacks, though others report success. As the devices the Whited00r project is aiming for are otherwise seen as too slow and out-of-date for anything but basic services, owners are often unafraid to experiment on them. Because of the heavy use to many of Apple's own trademarked terms such as "iCloud" and "Newsstand," however, it is possible that the team could run afoul of Apple's legal department.

A number of features are still missing, however, because they genuinely rely on technology built into later devices to function. There's no Notification Center, no direct App Store link (replaced with Safari-based links), no genuine iCloud and no genuine Newsstand among other items. The Cydia store (a popular destination for unofficial apps) is included as a substitute for the App Store.

The iPhone or iPod Touch does not need to have been previously jailbroken to work, the jailbreak process is included in the custom firmware. The hack does not use Winterboard and is optimized for the low RAM requirements of the older devices, and thus the "5.1" version runs just a bit slower than a native 3.1.3 installation would, making the iPhone or Touch considerably faster than some previous customization methods.

The developers are soliciting PayPal donations for the project but Whited00r 5.1 is otherwise free. The same team previously put out a customized 3.1.3 version that mimicked iOS 4. They are promising a major announcement tomorrow (Jan. 19th) about a Whited00r "series" but the 5.1 version is available now for both locked and unlocked iPhones (2G and 3G) and iPod Touch (first and second generation only). It works with both Windows-based and Mac-based iTunes. A guide is available on the website with strict rules for a successful installation.

by MacNN Staff