Windows Phone 7’s Future… JailBreaking

April 11, 2010 | By WenWP

wp7jailbreak With all the new changes WP7S is bringing, many of them unwanted, we may need to do something to rectify the situation. On the iPhone this is called Jailbreaking, and it is quickly becoming the future for our OS.

There are not just one reason for Jailbreaking the next line of WP7S phones, but many. The problem arises: how easy will it be Jailbreaking our device, because unlike the iPhone, we have some security.

Reason #1 for Jailbreak: Non-Microsoft Approved apps

In the next version of WP, we will not be allowed to install applications that Microsoft did not approve. That means if XDA members make something that is outrageously awesome, we will not be able to install it to our device without it going through Microsoft for their approval.

That new features is the worst, and makes no sense for MS to include… and you know what that means. JAILBREAK!

Reason #2 for Jailbreak: No Multi-Task

Many people (including me) have made fun of the iPhone for this feature, and it seems the table has turned. MS has announced to us that they will not be including Multi Tasking in their next mobile OS. That means you will not have the ability to monitor the accelerometer in the background while reading your e-mail for example.

That means we will need Jailbreaking to bring this back. Microsoft says it will lower performance, but I think it’s for the better.

Reason #3 for Jailbreak: Customizable UI

Customizing UI is one reason I LOVE Windows Mobile, but Microsoft is taking this feature out, and say we do not need it anymore. That statement “We do not need it” is still to be determined, but people like me get bored easily with things that are too simple or do not change, and with this new customizability removed from the OS Windows Phone 7 will be the same throughout, and nothing will separate HTC from Toshiba or any other maker other than hardware that will also be similar. This will also make Windows Mobile less than Android, which has this feature, and it does it very well and slightly easier than Windows Mobile currently does.

This can also be changed with our devices being Jailbroken.

Reason #4 for Jailbreak: File Access

Being able to access our SD card folder is the key to doing many things in Windows Mobile currently, but that will change with WP7. MS is taking this out for… well I do not really know why, but without this features, we will have that much less control of our phones.

This is not really a big reason, but I think it is very important to some.

Reason #5 for Jailbreak: Change System apps

Being able to change something you do not like is a great feature of Windows Mobile, but MS does not want that for Windows Phone either. Many might not understand “changing system hooks”, but most understand changing the default keyboard, dialler, skin, media player,and so on. That means if you do not like the keyboard… tough break, you have no choice in this matter. You do not like the dialler, haha, use your house phone, MS does not care, and they are not a phone carrier.

That feature to me is the most serious, but it is just one of many.

I think when WP7 is released, and these features are not implemented iPhone owners get the right to tease us and make fun of us for a whole day, because these are all things that apple iPhone users can do now and it is sad we will be losing the features. The worst part is, WP7 will have a great security system, so that means we will not easily be able to have a Jailbreak created, which will make life harder for us “Power Users”.

It is clear however that if our readers will be using Windows Phone 7, jailbreaking will certainly be in their future.

About Wen M

Working for WMPU is awesome. Love to write personal articles, and I do it very often. I am the reviewing editor (self appointed), so you will see alot of reviews and giveaways from me. I own quite a few devices not just Windows Phone but Android and others. I live in Minnesota, USA and love traveling to other places.

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Tagged jailbreaking, windows phone 7

iHab

I don't you PowerUsers, why you are stuck with a sucks Company like MS, we all did like the WM and i am a power user of it tell now, but lets be realistic WP7 is not WM ideology that all we did like, this all features you are talking about is found in Android.
For me Android = the New WM and better WM

http://intensedebate.com/people/peterfares peterfares

Very true. I moved on and am loving it.

http://twitter.com/Arktronic @Arktronic

I can tell you that reason #4 may not be such a good idea, if at all doable. It was mentioned at MIX that the (user-inaccessible) SD card's space and the phone's internal memory, if any, are shared. So, when an app puts something into its isolated storage, it may or may not end up on the SD card. Screwing around with that could easily cause a bunch of apps to stop behaving normally because their stores could get corrupted. And this is assuming that this proposed file access app can actually interact with the decrypted file system.

Also, may I propose using different terminology than "jailbreaking"? Let's differentiate ourselves from the Apple people a bit, shall we?

Kris.

how about "forwarding"?
where forwarding our phones back to the future/2010
http://intensedebate.com/people/JKingDev JKingDev

Then call it another disadvantage of WP7. I want control over what goes on my file system where. What If I wanted to store some things on one sd card and some things on another? What if I want to remove my SD card to share files? Right now I use an SE X1, but have another phone for when I got out somewhere that I'd rather not bring my nice phone. Simply swap SIM card and take out SD card and put it in my other phone so my music and important files still come with me. I also currently enjoy plugging in my phone to a comp and getting USB mass storage access to it. Easy to share files. None of this possible with WP7. The SD card is now basically a part of the phone. Take it out and you have no idea what files/datastores you are removing?

All WM needed was a rewritten UI. Two steps forward, 10 steps back. Goodbye microsoft iphone, hello Android. Shame, cause I like all other MS products (exchange, windows, office, ect) and the integration was nice. With Android I will need third party software to integrate with exchange as well as WM did. Small price to pay for all the benefits of Android.

Nitaino

I am scared to changed to Android OS if I don't like Windows Phone 7, or WebOS ONLY! ONLY! if htc make the hardware. I really like the WebOS because is so elegant and Android is getting hot

http://intensedebate.com/people/peterfares peterfares

Try Android, it is VERY good and carries on all the ideologies of the old Windows Mobile.

drphysx

Just get an Android device.

#1 No need for jailbreaking, everything just works.

#2 Show Microsoft how much you hate that they betryed you power users.

#3 Nobody's working against you. If you use jailbroken phones, updates will revert the hack, and you're stuck again.

#4 Say "go fuck yourself" to Microsoft for trying to copy the iPhone, instead of completing their work on what could have been the best mobile OS ever, Windows Mobile 7.

nuke1

How about you go f*ck yourself for no reason whatsoever.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Lennard Lennard

I see the android evangelists are out today en masse.
Brian

Did you ever think that jailbreaking is exactly what they are counting on. Those people that aren't tech savy can have they're locked down device. Those of us that like to tinker can jailbreak and make some real magic happen.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Foamy Foamy

I've been hoping for this. How amazing would it be if MS made jailbreaking just hard enough to keep out the people who need a locked down device but easy enough for old WM fans? If jailbreaking basically unlocked WP7 to be like WM6 it would be the greatest phone OS ever. I also think that MS is intelligent to have considered this as xda is a major reason WM^ has lasted so long. Obviously they cant say or even hint that it is their plan but the difficulty and benefits of jailbreaking will be enough of an answer.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Lennard Lennard

you might actually be right. I remember when they released the emulator and people took a dive in it and started finding out and unlocking a whole slew of things. Microsoft response was that they knew people were going to do that. so yea, they might just do it in such a way that it's not so much a hard job to "unlock" hidden undone features.

jay

how silly, people got pissy when WM6 was out and they wanted something different. Now that WP7 is on it's way, people want it to look how it did before.

and another thing, iPhone's so-called "multi-tasking" is almost exactly like what WP7's proposed to include, yet because Apple says it's "multi-tasking," the world will believe it is.

loseover4

I completely agree with you. WP7 and iPhone OS4 have the same "multi-task". While Ms says " No, we dont have multi-task", Apple says " we invent it". I kinda like it. Just put a task manager in WP7. That's enough

GP007

Like with copy & past (which they are working on), a task switcher is something they can add quick but, and this is the key point, it has to fit into the new UI. They are, from what I've heard, looking at a better way to get both of those working (which is why multitasking is limited for now).

I think both are coming, and MS has ideas for a good, smooth working task/app switcher in mind. They have to get the base OS and other features done first though.

Goel

Except, iPhone OS 4.0 has is background services which can be used by apps to still functioning on the background when using that services.

Compare to WP7, app like Pandora does not work in the background.

Dont believe it? SEARCH in Google!! It came straight from Microsoft mouth.

GP007

That can change from when that engadget artical was made, over a month ago, and the time we get new phones. Of course things don't work (back in March) when this was STILL AN ALPHA.
loseover4

you know what, Pandora just work with Music Hub, and then it can play in the background. Google it !!!

Murani

I'm sure someone from XDA will find a way to jailbreak the WP7 OS. More power to them for accomplishing this feat. I'm a customizer who most would consider a power user and i'm not the least bit antsy to customize and jailbreak the WP7 OS. I'm going to use it as MS intended it to be used and see where it goes. If I don't liket then there is always alternatives. Changing things just to change things always seemed like a weak excuse for doing anything.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1396735180 Gustavo Abib

can never compare wm7 android, android is horrible, only is google lovers foam, but has a horrendous interface

Goel

First of all, there is no WM7.

Do you mean WM6.5.3? How do you compare its interface vs Android 2.1?

How do you say Android interface is horrendous? Have you ever seen or used it? If yes, what do you think is better interface?

GP007

And when you talk about the Android UI do you mean the real base UI or the pretty HTC Sense eye candy and HTC made widgets that actually make it look good? Just like HTC does for WM6.x phones as well.

The fact is, the basic Android UI isn't anything groundbreaking or revolutionary. It's closer to the iPhone than WP7's UI by miles, yet people seem to call WP7 the clone?

HD2

Personally, I dun see how much better Android is. It's base UI is like crap! Look at its clock! Is awful looking!

And what's so special about Android? It is nothing but also an icon based OS like iPhone! Yes, it has widgets, but how much can u place on such a small mobile screen?? I will rather have a home screen which I can pin whatever apps or notices I want, w/o the screen limitation. And that's call tiles which WP7 will have it.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1396735180 Gustavo Abib

the android interface is most of the bunch if it wasn't for the htc layer is aburriria, and if I have an android and seems very little buzzing, full of problems as the nexus

Goel

I used to browse and look for any news or blogs regarding Windows Phone 7.

But not anymore. I just switched from WM6.1 to Android (HTC Desire) and I am very satisfied with its flexibility and freedom.

Think about it, why would you want WP7 with its all restrictions???

While you can get Android and have much more features, flexibility, freedoms, apps, multitasking, file access, copy paste, whatnot.

Even iPhone 4.0 is much better option compare to WP7.
Nick

No prolem there … Android here I come. Nick
Kalif

STOP

Just because Microsoft has decided that Windows Phone 7 will have a walled-garden app store, doesn't mean you should jialbreak it to escape.

Uncle Ballmer is going to be the policeman that decides what apps are good for you and which ones are not. Windows Phone 7 will be everything that Uncle Ballmer has always wanted.

Imagine if you wanted to download an app that breaks someone's DRM. Do you think Microsoft will host this app on its Marketplace store? No way. Ballmer will decide this app is not good for you. That should be the end of the discussion.
LordDeath

If a company forces me to jailbreak MY (!!!!) phone I simply will not buy such a device. I just can't reward them for treating me like some retarded tech-jerk. Sure, I think that Android is still not as good as WM6.5.x, but at least I am free with such an OS.

nuke1

Then WM you shall remain on forever.

http://www.facebook.com/jsthedeveloper Jaroslaw Stadnicki

Maybe some smart xda-guy will build own ROM based on WinCE and we will be used CE based devices. With hacked SPB, Manilla, etc ui. This will solve all our problems
http://www.facebook.com/Bugblatter Bug Blatter

WP7 isn't for power users, it's for the iPhone crowd, the ones who don't jail-break.

I'm afraid that the name WMPowerUser is going to become pretty innaccurate once WP7 is released. You could change it to WPPowerUser, but frankly they won't really exist in the same way.

The real question is where those of us who like WM will go. Some will stay with WM even though it's effectively been deprecated, after all it's seen very little development for many years so what's changed?

I don't know much about Android but right now it seems like the best option for making use of the power of modern devices. When the time comes for me to upgrade I'll see where we're at. If it becomes available for the HD2 I might just give it a go.

If HTC does buy Palm then that could be a game-changer. Imagine what HTC could do with Web OS! HTC likes to build devices for enthusiasts like us, so hopefully they'd leave the OS wide open to customisation.

Time will tell, but right now the chances of my next phone running WP7 seem pretty remote. That's not because WP7 is bad, it's because it's firmly targetted at a different type of user.
WP7

The WP7 Home screen is enough to make me want to gag… WHY? A bunch of rectangles/squares, dynamic or not, is not an aesthetically pleasing design by any stretch of the term. However, I realize that SOMEONE must have thought it was a GOOD idea… that's one of the reasons why customization of the UI is so important to many of us- we want to be able to have our devices look the way we want (different from others, UNIQUE).

I don't care for Android- I guess I will get several HD2s to tide me over until something better comes along.
PhillylBusta

Why are you guys down ranking the Android converts. I still have a HD2 and hate the path WP7 is going. Don't bet that Microsoft will be more lenient on jailbreaking either since WP7 is so intertwined with XBOX Live. I don't want to get banned from XBOX Live for fucking installing Swype because Microsoft is being a bitch like Apple. All of you guys (me included) shitted on the iPhone for reasons 1-5, don't be hypocrites and apologetic like the iSheep, speak with your wallets.