About That Siri Port On Older iOS 5 Devices…

by Ahmed Omar on October 21, 2011

Couple of days back we’ve posted an article telling you that Siri will be ported to all older devices running iOS 5 and that it won’t need an iPhone 4S jailbreak to get files from the device. However, it was still unclear if this developer has really ported Siri on the iPhone 4 or not. It wasn’t also confirmed (or proved) if he had successfully connected Siri to Apple’s servers on the iPhone 4.

Cydia showed + Siri means iPhone 4

Now, Joshua Tucker of ModMyi, who is a beta tester for the Siri port which JackoPlane is currently developing, came up with a about Siri port.

1. Who is currently working on this port?At this current time, the people that are working on this particular port of Siri are Jack (@Jackoplane) and iH8sn0w. Joshua Tucker of ModMyi is the outside beta tester for this particular version.2. What devices will be supported?

Currently, the port is being tested on an iPhone 4. However, the end goal is to port on all devices. At this time, we can not make any promises to when those will be, however the iPhone 3GS is looking promising outside of just the iPhone 4 at the moment.

3. Are we in need of any beta testers?

At this time, Jack and the team working on the port (including myself – beta testing wise) are not in need of any testers at this time. Asking if that is possible is not the best idea – if we do need more people, we will extent that opportunity out when the time comes.

4. When will this port be released?

We are not specifying an ETA at this time. The reason being is because we do not want to miss our expectation if we were to same something. Note that as soon as possible, we will release that information. For the time being however, there’s no decided or even thought up date for releasing this to the public.

5. How will this port be distributed?

There are numerous ways of distributing this particular port, however it’s a matter of how the files end up being compiled as well as cost. Cydia has been suggested many times and that is a viable option. However, we’re not limiting ourselves to just that venue as the tables may turn. At this particular moment in time, where this port will be distributed is currently undecided. Those of us that are hands-on with the work are always entertaining new ideas and will decide the venue when the time is right.

6. Will it be free or paid?

This is still undecided. This particular component is highly reliant on how we distribute this piece of software. Again, as the above, we’re thinking through it thoroughly to ensure the best for all. The reason why it may be required to pay (if not donate) is because there are hosting related costs that will need to be taken care of when the time comes.

7. When you say that there are “legal issues” to be deal with, what do you mean?

Because Siri is Apple’s product as well as copyrighted, one can’t just release these files and not get away with violating the law. When the news of Jack’s work as well as my involvement began, the files I had were strictly Apple’s. Thus, if we had given those files out then we could possibly be viable for copyright infringement and as many of you know from people like geohot, that’s no good in the hood.

8. What’s the current status of the port?

Because when we were first testing it and the legality of the whole ordeal, we’re are starting from the ground up. Re-writing code and that sort of thing to avoid copyright infringement. At this current stage, performance of Siri is just as good as on the iPhone 4S.

9. When will a video be released?

A performance video will be released tonight to show that the speed of Siri has been greatly improved. As for a full fledged video, that will be here in the next few days.

10. Is a jailbreak required to install Siri on a non-iPhone 4S device

Absolutely; no question.

11. Any update on the untethered jailbreak for iOS 5/iPhone 4S

We know nothing more than the public does. It’s not worth asking because we have absolutely no idea.

12. How does the Siri port connect to Apple’s servers?

When you first activate an iPhone 4S, when you enable Siri, Apple’s servers basically says “Oh, you’re an iPhone 4S. You’re clear.” Since we don’t have that luxury, we have to intercept the data that is being exchanged between devices to initially “trick” Apple’s servers into thinking that the device is authorized. So, imagine that what we have setup is a middle man.

iPhone 4 (in this case) sends out commands to Apple’s servers, we intercept and change the data, send to Apple’s servers, and Apple’s servers goes “Cool beans.”

13. What is required to host this type of capability?

We won’t really go into this because the process is not something that you can easily explain. However, as you guys have mentioned in chat, hosting this particular server to intercept data will cost money and will be the venue for all users to use Siri without an iPhone 4S.

14. Even though you can’t give an ETA, is it days, months, years, lifetimes, millenniums, never?

Weeks.

15. Is the authentication process made just one or every time?

Anytime you request from Apple’s servers, it performs a method of authentication.

16. What’s so special about the iPhone 4S and its connection with Siri?

There is nothing special about the 4S that makes it so that Siri can only work on that chip. Nothing is hardware accelerated in regards to Siri.

17. When you say that authentication is required, what does it take?

Not releasing this information at this time.

Moreover, Tucker posted a video showing Siri speed on iPhone 4. It’s working very well and not laggy at all.

JackoPlane posted a screenshot which he claimed to be from his iPhone 4. The screenshot shows Siri fully working and answering him, so it does mean that he got Siri connected to Apple’s servers.

The developer said that he will post a video tomorrow showing Siri fully working on the iPhone 4 and connected to Apple’s server. The new video of tomorrow (if true) will be something REAL and NEW.

We’ll surely post the video on CydiaHelp, so stay tuned on , or so you can get the news once it’s here.

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  • Joshlan

    This is so wrong; if you really like Siri then please get a iPhone 4S and support what Apple are doing and Steve’s legacy.

    Hackers by charging and profiting through Apple’s servers deserve no respect at all.

  • SIRI iPhone 4

    I respect Apple, I respect hackers too, because it’s SO frustrating to buy a whole new phone that costs like 800$ because of ONE app? I would BUY the app separetly, but I don’t need a new phone. I respect you guys for making this! I’m really thankful!

  • AlexThibo

    “If you find this post useful, please recommend it on Google, retweet it, or like on Facebook”

    Or follow JackoPlane on twitter to get these news 1 days before they tell you on the web.

  • humbug68

    strange then that you have such a strong opinion on it yet you are browsing a website dedicated to jailbreaking ? laughable realy

  • Rqei

    I wasn’t sure if I was going to get the iPhone 4S, but, after using it now, I can honestly say that it’s a lot faster! the webpages/applications load a lot faster! I do agree that it should have been an option for the iphone 4 and older devices.

    I hope the JB community will be able to get this working on older devices, but, I’m thinking there are going to be too many issues with connection, authentication, this will be a issue down the road..

  • Slashcammas

    Agree

  • skrea

    I already supported Apple by buying their hardware; what I decide to load and run on my bought-and-paid-for hardware has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting Apple. Apple’s market valuation is second only to Exxon (and briefly eclipsed even them); I don’t think my failure to ‘upgrade’ simply for a software application is really going to hurt Apple. Oh, and “Steve’s legacy”?? give me a break…

  • Joshlan

    I’ve not been here before, google brought me here on a unrelated topic. Sorry, did I just stepped into a dark corner of the internet? This is not a thieves den I hope.

  • http://twitter.com/YehiaHaddad Yehia Haddad

    i wish apple will make it work on i4 without any jailbreak ..

  • Gv

    any newS? when it will be released?

  • Scoob

    I hope you know jailbreaking is not illegal and we have supported apple by buying their stuff sorry I don’t want to give into a corporations marketing scheme of not releasing software for their older users, blame Apple if anyone.