GSM iPhone 4 handsets targeted though no specifics are given; hackers surprised

May 26, 2012 16:10 GMT  ·  By

Without any warning, Apple has changed the build number on the iOS 5.1.1 IPSWs being downloaded from its servers, indicating that a revision was in order. Strangely, handsets already equipped with the iOS 5.1.1 builds released on May 7 aren’t offered the new build as a replacement update.

Confirmed as a release targeting GSM versions of the fourth-generation iPhone released in 2010 at Apple’s annual developer gathering, iOS 5.1.1 Build 9B208 carries no changelog and doesn’t apply to devices already updated to the old build distributed worldwide earlier this month.

The release got hackers thinking. The well known iOS jailbreaker iH8sn0w wrote on Twitter: “Was just about to push sn0wbreeze 2.9.4 and Apple pushes 5.1.1 (9B208) for the iPhone 4 (GSM) only. I wonder what changed...”

Perhaps not coincidentally, the new iPhone Software package, or IPSW, is being served up just one day after famed hacker Pod2g released his Absinthe 2.0 untethered jailbreak for the iOS 5.1.1 firmware. For now, there are no reports to indicate that Apple’s new build thwarts existing jailbreaks.

The original iOS 5.1.1 was released three weeks ago with improved reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut, improved syncing of Safari bookmarks and Reading List, as well as several security patches.

The update was pushed out for all devices that support iOS 5, starting with the iPhone 3GS and ending with the third-generation iPad with Retina display.

However, as noted above, the new iOS 5.1.1 9B208 targets only specific iPhone models introduced by Apple two years ago - the GSM iPhone 4, whose Antennagate problems have caused a PR nightmare for the Cupertino-based technology giant.

Those interested in downloading the new iOS 5.1.1 Build 9B208 manually can do so at this here link.