how to edit a ipsw release type

You cant do that.

 

Are you saying that you're not a developer, but want to install and have all of the features? If So see this thread?

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1176686

Otherwise, the answer is no you can't do that.

 

Can't he at least try? If nothing else, to amuse us a little on a Wed. afternoon.

 

How can you start trying if you can't start no where?

 

Lol
Will make the day go by faster so why not

 

You can't modify the needed file as it has been compiled. Once iOS 5 has been installed the file can be reached. Hence the need to jailbreak to modify it.

 

Apple protects the HELL out of these firmwares man. So, unless you are a VERY talented programmer, don't look to be able to do this.

This would take some moderate/advanced hacking and then some RIDICULOUS programming skills to pull that off. Besides, if you modified the file, it would essentially be jailbreaking anyways, which you said you don't wanna do.

Listen man, my point is that even if you are a semi talented programmer, there are a TON more programmers that are MORE talented and have tried and failed to do this.

If it was easy, there would he HUNDREDS of modified IPSW files out there that didn't require jailbreaking or UDIDs.

 

iOS software goes through a process with apple called "signing" where the software version is checked with Apple to make sure it is valid software...since apple is not yet signing non-beta versions of iOS 5, you can't trick the phone into thinking you have such a release, as it will never get the ok to install. The software knows that what you are trying to install does not yet exist

 

Authentication to install a given firmware version happens on Apple's servers (or something pretending to be Apple's servers), not on the iTunes/phone side.

For normal releases, Apple signs what they deem the current version. To install older firmware, something has to pretend to be Apple's authentication server and you MUST already have saved your SHSH blobs (the authentication signature than only Apple can generate) for the specific version of the firmware you want to install that you saved back when Apple was still signing that firmware version.

For the beta, your individual device's UUID must be registered to a dev account with Apple. When you install the beta, the UUID is sent to Apple to have its eligibility determined before the appropriate signatures are produced. You'd have to have something that pretends to be Apple's dev authentication servers.

So either way, it's not a matter of changing the ipsw file, it's a matter of reproducing authentication from Apple. I consider doing so to install a previous version of firmware to be reasonable and legitimate. Trying to get an unauthorized copy of beta firmware that is covered under an NDA is not.

If you want iOS 5 Beta that badly, just pay up for a dev account, behave within the limits of the legal NDA contract that you signed, and do something constructive like filing bug reports. If I understand correctly, the part about editing the version info is so that it will activate on the cell network; the UUID authentication, which has to be circumvented for this to work, happens before the restore even takes place.

The beta is for developers to have apps ready for you and to do testing so that you have a reasonably bug-free experience when real deal is released. Until then, you have a very mature and stable version to run. This entire process is for your benefit. Why bite the hand that feeds you?


EDITED TO ADD:
The link above does just that: faking authentication from Apple. I don't know from the description exactly how it's achieving it, but somehow SHSH blobs have to be obtained. If I understand correctly, the editing of the version info is for purposes of activating on the cell network; the UUID authentication happens before the firmware restore even starts.