14 DAY TRIAL // As Apple fans should know, Apple delivers iPhone and iPod software updates under the form of an IPSW file. While iPhone software updates are always free, some iPod updates (such as those for the iPod touch) are paid. And while neither software update should be applied by customers without authenticating with Apple via iTunes, there’s a place on the Internet where users can seemingly grab all important iPod and iPhone software releases to date, for free.
We don’t encourage readers and owners of an Apple device to use this method and grab the IPSW update / restore file typical to their device, although we do find it interesting that such a place exists, even offering iPod touch update / restore files that are typically paid downloads.
In other words, “iPod2,1_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw” (for example) can only be obtained by the owner of a second-gen iPod touch by connecting the device to iTunes and requesting the update from Apple. Should the owner’s firmware version be 3.0.x, Apple will require around $5 for the update to OS 3.1.x. Should the respective device be running a firmware version older than 3.0, Apple will require around $10 as an upgrade fee.
Felix Bruns’ site likely isn’t the only place where one can find iPhone and iPod IPSW downloads. However, iPod touch IPSW update / restore files are typically harder to find than those for the iPhone, perhaps because it can be considered pirated software, since Apple requires a fee for the download. Moreover, while the links for iPhone IPSW downloads stemming from Apple’s servers are public (therefore free), the same thing cannot be said about iPod touch firmware updates - an iPod touch user has to authenticate their device in iTunes and pay the required upgrade fee (if necessary) in order to get their hands on the .ipsw file.
To be perfectly clear, iPhone users must also update via iTunes (not by other means), although reverting to an older version by selectively restoring in iTunes is a practice condoned by Apple. As such, users are allowed to keep older versions of the IPSW update / restore file typical to their device on their computer’s hard drive.