14 DAY TRIAL // Developer Vitaly Parovishnik has rolled out version 0.5 of its ipswDownloader application, adding a new ‘Apple info’ button that brings up the release notes and relevant documentation links for all iOS releases to date.
A simple tool designed to make downloading IPSW (iOS software update) files easy, ipswDownloader boasts a simple interface that provides every bit of information a user may need when downloading a certain version of the iOS for iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.
The tool allows users to grab any iOS firmware version starting with the initial 1.0 ‘iPhone OS’ build and now adds info on every release straight from Apple, according to Parovishnik.
The tool has become extremely useful not just for those looking to quickly grab an IPSW to restore their software to its original state, but also for people who are curious about what each software update did, what devices it targeted, and so forth.
For example, by choosing iPhone OS 1.1.1, we were reminded that it came with a big warning from Cupertino saying “Apple has discovered that some of the unauthorized unlocking programs available on the Internet may cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software.”
“IF YOU HAVE MODIFIED YOUR iPHONE'S SOFTWARE, APPLYING THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE MAY RESULT IN YOUR iPHONE BECOMING PERMANENTLY INOPERABLE,” the warning continues.
According to the info chart, Apple told customers almost four years ago that “Making unauthorized modifications to the software on your iPhone violates the iPhone software license agreement, and the inability to use your iPhone due to unauthorized software modifications is not covered under your iPhone's warranty.”
As avid Softpedia readers will recall, this marked the beginning of the cat-and-mouse game between Apple and the jailbreak community.
In addition to the Apple info button, ipswDownloader 0.5 also adds new menu tools, new languages, and sha1 info. The release also fixes the download status, and other minor issues, according to its developer.
The app is also available on Windows.