BigBoss's SemiTether Updated - More Stable, New MobileSubstrate

Submitted by Dan; October 31, 2011


A few days ago, BigBoss released SemiTether, it would allow users to jailbreak iOS 5 and have some protection when their device reboots when not near a computer. To recap, iOS 5 is tethered only. Meaning, once you jailbreak and installed all the stuff you care for, you reboot your device, and it will no longer boot. You will be either stuck at apple logo forever, or you will get to itunes restore screen. When this happens, you must to hook up to your computer and use redsn0w just boot feature which gets you rebooted successfully again. Pain in the ass. SemiTether, semi-resolves those issues by allowing your device to boot but have limited functionality. Better than nothing, eh? This new version -- v0.9.1 -- includes Saurik's new mobile substrate, no more daemon patching or restarting. Changes include:

1. Much more stable with new mobile substrate
2. Can patch safari so it works in the non-jailbreak reboot mode
3. App to monitor the status of your semitether and reapply. Check after cydia installs.

Here's what you can and cannot do when you're in a semi-tethered boot state. Meaning, when your device has crashed, rebooted and you're no longer "jailbroken":

• Can use phone, sms (text messages)
• Can use every other stock app on iphone.
• Cannot use mobile safari
• Can use other appstore web browsers such as atomic web browser
• Cannot use mail app. You could install a gmail app from appstore or such instead.
• You cannot use any jailbreak tweak, app, cydia until you boot tethered.
• While in the semitether booted state, you should not add a jailbreak ios5 notification such as sbsettings to notifications during this state or your device will be stuck in a respring loop until you get home to boot tethered.

To install this, add the following repository to cydia: http://thebigboss.org/semitether. Note: after install, you will have to reboot your device, so make sure you are prepared at a computer to reboot tethered with redsn0w or just home button out of cydia and manually respring until you get home. This is a beta so use at your own risk!


Tags: iPhone Jailbreak, SemiTether