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So, what’s the deal with the iOS 8 jailbreak anyway?

Published Sep 18th, 2014 5:30PM EDT
iPhone 6 iOS 8 Jailbreak

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For some iPhone and iPad users, jumping aboard iOS 8 is not an easy decision — not because they’re worried about whether their older iOS device can deliver a great experience with the new software, but because they’re currently enjoying an iOS 7.1.2 jailbroken device. As is always the case with fresh iOS releases, jailbreak users are advised against installing the new update (in this case iOS 8) on devices that can’t be restored to an older, jailbreak-able, iOS release. But jailbreak hackers are apparently already at work on the first iOS 8 jailbreak, iJailbreak reports.

FROM EARLIER: 11 iOS 8 features Apple ‘stole’ from jailbreak apps

The Chinese PanguTeam organization, which successfully released an iOS 7.1.2 untethered jailbreak not too long ago, revealed on Weibo that it’s already working on an iOS 8 jailbreak.

“[Reminder] Just 1 day before iOS 8 official release, guess that devices except iPhone 4 can’t be restored with 7.1.2 firmware. If you want to jailbreak please grab the last moment. For iOS 8, we are already on the way,” a translation of the team’s message says. It’s worth pointing out that the iPhone 4 can’t be updated to iOS 8 in the first place, though the team might have been referring to the iPhone 4S.

Previous reports have suggested that iOS 8 beta jailbreak efforts are off to a promising start.

Even so, it’s not clear at this point when an iOS 8 jailbreak should be expected, especially since jailbreak hackers have yet to handle an iPhone 6 model and also because a major iOS 8 update is right around the corner. With Apple poised to enable Apple Pay in October and turn on additional iOS 8 features that aren’t working yet, an iOS 8 jailbreak is likely not to be released in the very near future, as Apple could use the upcoming iOS 8 update to also patch the security holes used to jailbreak it, like it’d done so many times in the past.

Meanwhile, jailbreak fans should check out these 11 iOS 8 features that Apple “stole” from jailbreak apps.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.