Hmm….Let’s get started shall we?

To Jailbreak or Not To Jailbreak

To jailbreak is to, in my view, “free” the device from it’s restrictions.

Before the arrival of 2.x, it enabled 3rd party apps. Now with the AppStore making its appearance, it is medium for applications that developers release which go against Apple’s many restrictions. This includes theming, interactions with other apps such as Music Player (TTR is a notable example), and much more.

Let us make this one issue clear
The addition of the AppStore is great for us users, higher quality apps and more, but with jailbreaking comes a multitude of options becoming available. This side by side relationship is what draws me to the entire process.

Options

1) Applications Oh So Heinously Prohibited By Apple -With jailbreak comes many new, exciting applications.
I’ll list a few to just to validate my point for any skeptic out there

Available
BossPrefs – Toggle SSH and other Processes On and Off.
Mobile Terminal – Terminal Client
NES – NES Emulator
gpSPhone – Gameboy Advanced Emulator
Quake4iPhone – Quake Emulator
MacMan – Pac Man type Game
Buzzer – Music Quiz. Randomly Plays Tracks from your Library
MxTube – Native YouTube Download Client
PocketTouch – App to Control Mobile Music Player by Gestures
dTunes – Allows Files Downloaded via Plugin; both Music and Videos
Categories – Place Icons into Folders to Organize your Springboard
AptBackUp – Backs Up Cydia App List and Reinstalls upon Restore in One Step
Winterboard – Themes
Safari Download Plug-In – Enabled Downloads Directly
OpenSSH – Allows file Access to Device.

UpComing
PwnPlayer – Music Player
iSoulseek – iSlsk for 2.x, download music
gfinder – Mobile Finder (Unrestricted and Many New Features)

*Taken from the article here

2) Themes, Themes, Themes – While most maintain that this shouldn’t even have an impact, I for one am fond of having a bit of personalization and customization on my device which is to my liking.

3) Rebellion eh? – Any effects of the jailbreak become undetectable through a restore, so the fact that it voids your warranty is redundant

4) Oh Noez! Problems! – Believe it or not, problems do arise.
Before Quickpwn became available for 2.x, I lived with the firmwares only to encounter the notorious no music bug as well as being stuck at the boot logo. While various “I thinksies solution” became evident, I was able to use SSH (OpenSSH when Installed) when the jailbreak was released. Now my device is working perfectly.

In some cases, Apple isn’t going to equip you with the solution as in the above situations so having file access can be invaluable.

5) Cracked Apps – A topic I’d prefer to avoid due to its illicit nature, but why not >_>

While the use of jailbreak in order to use cracked apps is widespread, it is nonsensical (fun word I know) to assume all who jailbreak are using this process in order to use cracked applications. Many other options out there, some stated above.

Well since my counterpart went into the ethics I assume I have an obligation to pursue all objectives into the discussion.
Ethics
Legality: Illegal
*No getting around it, it’s theft. This isn’t the case as in ROMs in which you “apparently” don’t keep them for over 24 hours. Similar to music except exempt from enforcement of those in possession.
Although, the likelihood of getting caught is slim next to nothing (No one ever caught to my knowledge)

My Views (Feel Free to Disagree, It is My Views) – I’ll be one to admit that I do have a few applications that have been obtained through other means.
My reasons span from my utter reluctance to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars for applications that in my point of view don’t deserve its outrageous price tag to a “demo” to whether it is worthy or not.

An example would be the simple application Frogger that was available, at the time, for $10. Yes, Frogger for $10. I refuse to be the sucker of Konami Digital Entertainment just so they can, in their capitalist nature, scam the ignorance of a consumer who happens to own an iPod Touch.
How a company actually has the gall to believe it can price gauge consumers in such a way is ridiculous.

Next, the “demo”. If I see a game that I am unsure about, I’m not going to spend my earned money to go in blindly and purchase an application. I’ll see if it is, in my point of view, worth the money spent.

While I do respect the developer and their work, they still have an obligation to show a fairness in pricing to the consumer. While their market audience is mostly children who own an iPod Touch or iPhone, that allots no right to price unfairly or extraneously.

So x6blues is the AntiChrist Right?
Before all of you go to get your pitchforks and chase me out of town, I would just like to let you know that I have spent 150 dollars on the AppStore and that is what is contained on my iPod for the most part

If you’re skeptical of the “demos” section and my adherence, an example would be the application Koi Pond, I downloaded it for free, saw it’s worth, and then proceeded to purchase it. That is an application that I feel exemplifies fair pricing and quality that a company should strive for.
(I would have bought it for an even higher price just because its worth is so much more)

*I hope in the future cracked applications can be avoided in discussion just, as stated, their illicit nature and there is much more to the iPod Touch, hacking, etc than cracked applications.

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Hope you enjoyed