Back in the earlier days of jailbreaking, TinyUmbrella was an invaluable tool. Used to extract certain device-specific files and preserve them for safe-keeping, its primary use was to create pseudo servers from which iOS users could restore / update to software that Apple was no longer signing. Put simply, Apple stepped up to the mark, essentially nullifying the usefulness of TinyUmbrella almost completely, but now, its author has defiantly outlined his intention to restore it to its former glory.
TinyUmbrella serves as a great example of how popular pieces of software can quickly fall off the map. Barely spoken of for nigh-on two years now, it was quickly cast aside once its sole purpose – to save tickets for local restores – was no longer functioning as advertised.
As per a blog post on the TU website, the progress being made far exceeds your typical software update. In fact, this is a complete rewrite from the ground up, and with the jailbreak scene enjoying quite a renaissance with iOS 8 after a couple of hit-and-miss years where things, at times, appeared bleak, this is a very exciting piece of news.
As the post notes, the all-new TinyUmbrella will iron out the many kinks that some will still recall encountering with past editions:
This version supports the saving of all device tickets: OTA and IPSW, update and restore. Although local restores have been hindered (basically stopped) there will be methods in the near future to allow restoring our devices using these tickets that TinyUmbrella saves.
So, there you have it in black and white. Local and OTA restores and updates are not, it seems, just a distant memory, and while there’s no ETA on the second-coming of TinyUmbrella as yet, we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any updates.
Of course, there’s a lot of real estate to be negotiated between announcement and general release, so we’re not getting too excited just yet. With that said, looking at the wider landscape – three jailbreaks for iOS 8, a Cydia alternative in the works and now the rebirth of TinyUmbrella – it appears that even after all these years, jailbreaking is running stronger than ever.
We’ll let you know if we hear more re TinyUmbrella or indeed jailbreaking as whole, so stay tuned!
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