Basics of jailbreaking an iPhone

[iluvifone]

I'm just curious if someone could elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of jailbreaking an iPhone 4.

My understanding so far:

Advantages:
-install apps that are not in app-store/certified by apple, therefore making your iphone highly customizable
-install pirated apps (read an article about this on google, not sure if i understood it fully, but basically you can download 'full version' apps (much like you can for Windows)) and install them for free.. Can someone clarify that? so basically, I can search and find a torrent for the $50 tomtom app and just install it, like that?


Disadvantages:
-voids warranty I believe, but isn't jailbreaking reversable by simply doing a clear/restore on your iphone to original settings (incase in need of repair by apple)?
-forces you to stay on that current iOS version; if you update, you lose your JB

Surely there are more points to add to both lists, could someone please care to help me?

Thank you

 

[appleguy123]

Free wifi tethering is an advantage.

 

[iluvifone]

Free wifi tethering is an advantage.

For the USA, yes. Free in Canada.

 

[kas23]

-voids warranty I believe, but isn't jailbreaking reversable by simply doing a clear/restore on your iphone to original settings (incase in need of repair by apple)?

You can restore your settings back to the factory settings easily, but doesn't this erase all your app's data (like Todo lists/alerts, ebooks loaded onto apps, saved games, bookmarks in alternative browsers, etc.)? I guess you could restore from a back-up after doing a fresh restore, but wouldn't that back-up be a jailbroken version (your last iPhone back-up)? Is there any way to restore from a previous non-jailbroken back-up? By grabbing one off of time machine?

 

[staccato83]

If only there were an iPhone Hacks section that contained numerous threads discussing the advantages/disadvantages of jailbreaking ad nauseum.

 

[eastercat]

-install pirated apps (read an article about this on google, not sure if i understood it fully, but basically you can download 'full version' apps (much like you can for Windows)) and install them for free.. Can someone clarify that? so basically, I can search and find a torrent for the $50 tomtom app and just install it, like that?

Understand that it's against the rules to assist you with pirating software. We're not helping you with that.