Synching Jailbroken and Non-Jailbroken Iphones from Same Computer

March 13, 2010 1:36 PM

Going on vacation, I'll jailbreak my old iPhone so it can accept a local SIM for voice/data. I need to figure out how to set up the synching...which I'm slightly hesitant about because my regular in-use phone is (and will remain) non-jailbroken.

I own a 3GS iphone which I'm currently using, plus a 3G which I plan to sell. Neither is jailbroken. My computer only "knows" the 3GS phone at this point.

I'm going on vacation to a country where I know I can buy a SIM card with a pretty inexpensive voice/data plan that works for iPhone. Yay.

I THINK I need a jailbroken phone to accommodate this, though. So my plan was to jailbreak the 3G (I hate to lose the 3GS' video recording and the compass, but I don't really want to jailbreak the newer phone).

After jailbreaking, I need to figure out how to synch the jailbroken 3G so it has pretty much the same info (calendar, bookmarks, contacts, apps) as my 3GS. And, when I get home, I need to note what data needs to go to my 3GS and...uh...figure out a way to do that (shouldn't be tons of data).

None of this is rocket science, but there's scant info out there about jailbroken and non-jailbroken phones both synching off the same computer, and I'm worried about potential snags. Any thoughts?

I'll be turning off mobileme during the trip because 1. I'm guessing it doesn't work with jailbroken phones, and 2. I wouldn't want to use up my data bandwidth allocation on that synching (though I hate to lose "find my iphone").

posted by jimmyjimjim to Technology (9 answers total)

Fundamentally, a jailbroken phone is no different to a regular iPhone with regards to functionality and what it can 'do'. So MobileMe will work exactly as it does on your non-jailbroken 3GS, but as you've observed it may well swallow your bandwith allocation.

There are two ways of setting up a new iPhone. One is to restore from a backup of a previous iPhone, which you would do if you got a new iPhone, or your old one broke, or whatever. It'll offer a backup of 'jimmyjimjim's iPhone', you restore, and everything's great. However, in your case there's no need to do this. You can set up the 3G as a new phone and simply tell it to sync your bookmarks/calendars/contacts/apps/etc, and it'll get to it. The only downside to this is that you won't have the SMS and call log data from the 3G or the data from the apps themselves — so the app will work, but as if it's the first time you've used it (which, to all intents and purposes, you are). You could technically go for the first option I mentioned, but I've never tried this and I don't think iTunes is going to be able to keep two devices in identical sync when they're changing the backup each time. If it goes wrong, you're also in for quite an organisational headache.

So, the rub therein largely lies with keeping two phones in sync with each other, rather than off the data on your computer, which should be easy as can be. The jailbroken iPhone will connect up and behave just as it would if it weren't jailbroken, with the only difference being that it's unlocked. Of course, if you do anything more complicated with the jailbreak then YMMV.
posted by jaffacakerhubarb at 2:02 PM on March 13, 2010

thanks, JCH

Given that I don't intend to use the 3G further after my trip (i.e. there's no more complex juggling/synching going on than the steps mentioned), then I guess what you're saying is that this is really, like, the easiest thing in the world. I can live without call records and app prefs on the 3G.

one thing:

"Of course, if you do anything more complicated with the jailbreak then YMMV."

There is a step, and I forget the term, that's almost always done with jailbreaking and makes the phone work with other cell companies/SIMS. obviously, I'll be doing that. But I'm assuming your'e assuming that.

Otherwise, no, not getting all fancy with the jailbreaking, or loading all sorts of special warez. I just mostly want google maps and telephone :)
posted by jimmyjimjim at 2:08 PM on March 13, 2010

Hmm...just found this: http://ask.metafilter.com/145092/Some-Jailbreaks-End-in-Divorce

indicating that it may be feasible to un-jailbreak the phone upon my return home, which means I could bring my 3GS, not sweat the synch, and have use of compass and video. That'd be a lot easier.

I guess I'd need to wait for the next iphone OS update to appear, though, since the thread indicates it's the upgrading that plows over the jailbreak.
posted by jimmyjimjim at 2:18 PM on March 13, 2010

I did this last year in Australia, and it's really easy. Once you jailbreak it you have the ability to unlock it which is what you need to do to put in a new/reloadable SIM card.
posted by bendy at 2:18 PM on March 13, 2010

Indeed, it is pretty easy. (Although not for a 3GS!)

It's just called 'unlocking'. I meant YMMV more as a caveat, like if you had a burning desire to install something that turned an iPhone into a corkscrew or photon torpedo launcher. Given that the iPhone's raison d'être is to carry your information and media around, any modifications that prevented that would probably be frowned upon! :)
posted by jaffacakerhubarb at 2:21 PM on March 13, 2010

bendy -- yeah 'Unlock", that's the term! Did you unjailbreak it when you got back?


JCH --

"Indeed, it is pretty easy. (Although not for a 3GS!)"

Uh-oh. Ok, I'll go surf the jailbreak sites and see what's up with the 3GS.

I would actually be willing to sacrifice a lot if I could turn my iPhone into a photon torpedo launcher. I mean, screw text messaging and all....
posted by jimmyjimjim at 5:08 PM on March 13, 2010

Haha, you and me both. I can shorten the search for you with regards to the 3GS. If you've got OS 3.1.2 or older loaded, it's easy. If you've got 3.1.3, it's pretty much impossible at this point.
posted by jaffacakerhubarb at 4:29 AM on March 14, 2010

There may or not be a way to downgrade from 3.1.3 to 3.1.2, but the instructions mostly seem to assume you're already jailbroken...
posted by jimmyjimjim at 6:13 AM on March 14, 2010

You jailbrokeners seem like experts. Riddle me this ; is there any way to use AT&T Pay-as-you-go credit to pay for iPhone service? Can I slip a goPhone SIM into a "jailbroken" iPhone?
posted by shipbreaker at 5:19 PM on March 15, 2010