iJailbreak?
 

I don't think there's any rule about talking iDevices and Jailbreaking - if there is, I'm sure a mod will remove this.

I see the new jailbreak for iDevices is to be released today. The bigger question is: is there any reason to want to update from version 5.1.1 which I have now, to version 6.1? The last I heard was that the version 6 maps are a bit unconventional (ie they move towns around a bit), but I'd assume that's been fixed by now.

I would hazard a guess that yes there is a rule. Its covered in the general rule of not talking about bypassing mechanisms .... whether such bypassing is circumventing software license keys, jailbreaking phones or otherwise.

You should also realise that jailbreaking is a double edged sword that has disadvantages, for example, you loose many of the inherent security mechanisms of iOS when you jailbreak it. You may also encounter bugs and glitches that you would never encounter under normal operating conditions.

Most technically savvy people consider the security risks of jailbreaking (plus the risk of "bricking" your phone) outweigh any purported benefits.

Apple are working hard on maps, and there are also countless other map apps you can run on a non-jailbroken phone (including Google, which I believe has made a comeback).

It's a bit 6 and half a dozen with jailbreaking - it's bypassing a phone restriction to allow you to do things the makers don't want you to do (e.g. installing unapproved applications, changing icons etc.) BUT, as mentioned above, it does open you up to potential problems - as you have removed some of the OS safeguards.

Updating to 6.1 from 5.1.1 gives you a few changes - most notably the Maps as you rightly say and, even though you can install Google Maps now, Apple do not allow you to change the default applications. So opening up a link in a different application will always open Apple maps instead of your preferred choice.

Apple Maps are still very much an inferior product to the Google version IMHO.

With a jailbroken phone you can change the default behaviour so the phone works more as you want it in that respect.

You could always jailbreak your current version and save the SHSH Blobs to allow you to restore to 5.1.1 if you didn't like 6.1 (using RedSnow)

Thanks for that!
Yes, mixture, I do know about iDevices and the risks of jailbreaking. However, I don't hack about in the depths of the system: I just run some non-Apple-approved apps that I find extremely useful.

I decided that since the iPad does mostly laptop-type stuff, I'd update it first and see what that did. That was a bit painful: it decided half way through the update to have hiccups and require a "reinstall" which meant all my data and mail settings vanished. No problem ... they were all backed up before I started. Actually, yes, a problem because Apple backup on iPads isn't very complete. It copied all the Apps back to the iPad, but not my settings. "Please enter the password for..." - the password is in a file on the iPad (protected) but it won't let me access that. Memory is a wonderful thing when needed - I found the copy of the passwords file on the desktop.

There didn't seem to be any noticeable difference in the way 6.1 worked (apart from some rubbish maps, as noted), but I sorely missed SBSettings, Infinidock, WiFiFoFum, and a few others. I'm now leaving it to download the necessary: Cydia is (understandably) extremely busy right now.

I don't think I'll bother to update the iPhone. It works just fine and all the Cydia apps function as they should.

FYI i'm still on 5.1.1 and I have no intention of either jailbreaking or upgrading to version 6.x until they fix maps (which no they haven't yet)

I jailbroke my Apple TV2 and what a difference it made. I can now stream youtube clips and movies direct through software called plex. There is also other software such as xbmc that would be useful for the more technical minded. All in all it's a great way to watch/listen/view your stuff unlike itunes which is limited. I haven't bothered with upgrades as I believe in if it works why fix it!

I upgraded my already jailbroken iphone 4s from 5.0.1 to 6.1 then jailbroke it again using Evasi0n. Had been holding off waiting for a new jailbreak which was timely as I was finding more and more apps weren't backwards compatible to 5.0.1.

Was simples and the only issue to date is the Apple wx app didn't work for me. I see there is a new release of the jailbreak so I will probably do that again at some stage and sort that out.

As with all of these things just take a backup prior to jailbreaking and you can always go back and reinstall if needs be.