UPDATED: Install Pirated AppStore Apps On Your iPhone [Jailbreak Superguide]

Sayam Aggarwal (4:49 pm PDT, Jul 26 2010)

UPDATE: I was initially a little surprised by the vociferous reaction to this post about installing Installous, an unofficial App Store for pirated apps. The instructions are a quick Google search away and we’re hardly the first to publish an Installous how-to.

I guess we raised a few red flags — like putting “How To Pirate Apps” in the headline and including a half-hearted disclaimer. The intent was for it to be part of a comprehensive Jailbreaking Superguide that deals with all the things people want to do when they jailbreak their devices, including playing around with Installous.

The intent for the Superguide is to be straightforward and frank — a one-stop shop for everything people want to know about jailbreaking. We don’t condone piracy, but it’s a fact that a lot of people jailbreak their devices to experiment with things like Installous. I find it dishonest and hypocritical when publications skirt around issues like this; like publishing BitTorrent guides and pretending that no one’s going to download a pirated movie.

However, it’s obviously disingenuous to say we condemn piracy in a post that shows readers how to pirate software. Personally, I’ve always believed publishing information is one thing and acting on that information is another. I’ve always liked publications that informed me about things we’re not supposed to do. I can then make my own moral decision whether to act on that information or not.

But while pirating is something people indisputably do when jailbreaking, it was a misstep for us to actually include a comprehensive DIY. Whatever our intentions, it teeters on advocacy, and was thoughtlessly disrespectful to the many app developers out there who make their livings off of programs we admire and think people should pay for.

As our readers have pointed out in comments and on Twitter, we crossed a line here. CultofMac.com isn’t some modern-day Anarchist Cookbook. We support developers and enjoy their many wonderful creations. Saying there are ways out there to install cracked apps is one thing, showing people how to do it is another.

So my apologies to readers for misjudging this, and to developers for being insensitive and opportunistic.

Also, please don’t attack the author, Sayam. This was my idea, not his. He’s a freelance writer and I commissioned him to write it, so please don’t be mean to him.

– Leander.

PS: The BitTorrent link to “pirate” copies of my Cult of Mac book posted in the comments is actually a publisher-sanctioned seed. No Starch Press turned it into an e-book and seeded it. So please help yourself, it’s free and legal.

See TorrentFreak: Publisher Posts Mac Books on The Pirate Bay

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185 comments »

Jake B
The ‘authior’ is a 16 year old kid. No doubt he ahs never had a job in his life.
Flipping idiot.
Brjingle
WHERE IS JOHN BROWNLEE !? SOMEONE BURN THAT FAGGOT FIRST
Random guy
“We support developers and enjoy their many wonderful creations.”
YEAH SURE, we enjoy their creations without paying the .99$ those bastards are asking.
This is how you support developers? Screw you.
seriously
Encouraging piracy…..nice job wired and cult of mac. Pathetic.
http://twitter.com/goobimama goobi
For what it’s worth, I know that the author does not pirate apps. Not even to try them out. This was just him reporting on the technical procedures to go about it.
Cult of Mac was still wrong to commission and publish it, but just thought you should know.
Shutupwiners
Shut up you fucks. Whose site is this? Oh wait NOT YOURS! if they want to post that, or a picture of lobotomizing hookers, it is THEIR right, to do so! Stop complaining about this, any halfwitted jackass with an ounce of smarts could look up how to jailbreak and install installous!!! You think this makes them special? If the are going to make a guide would you like it to be halfass? Thats like leaving out peanut butter in a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich! Stop crying about the content they post, and get your own blog, you whiney sacks of waste!!!
Paul
Well this is what “open” is really all about. “Open” to steal developers hard work. “Open” to make it easier to steal your information! “Open” to ruin it for everybody except for the hackers and thieves.
Do you really want the front door of your house to be “Open” 24 hours a day?
Jackface
I’m glad Leander has backed down on this but the fact it went up in the first place, and that he commissioned it, just goes to show what a hack he is.
I am in no way surprised that he’s never had an Apple-sanctioned interview for any of his ‘dirt dishing’ books, especially that highly disappointing read “Inside Steve’s Brain” which in no way managed to achieve anything close to what the title purported.
Hey ho. There’s a reason I don’t come back to this crappy site unless they do something idiotic and get linked to from the better Apple sites.
Bi0
Leander, Calculate how much pageviews you had on that article and multiply it with 1.99$ (average price of paid apps in the appsstore) and you will get the amount you owe us. It is enough we have to deal with “cracking community” and retards that justify it and now we saw how a high profile mainstream site can make our jobs even harder.
And really I don’t buy your reasoning and justifications for this. It was your idea? I really doubt it. You are not THAT stupid. All the respect I had for you and CoM is gone.
Jindo Fox
You guys are really too much. Backpedal much? I’ve already unsubscribed. There are plenty of other Mac sites out there.
You say:
PS: The BitTorrent link to “pirate” copies of my Cult of Mac book posted in the comments is actually a publisher-sanctioned seed. No Starch Press turned it into an e-book and seeded it. So please help yourself, it’s free and legal.
See TorrentFreak: Publisher Posts Mac Books on The Pirate Bay
From The Pirate Bay:
lkahney at 2008-03-09 19:48 CET:
NOTE TO SEEDERS: If you can, I’d appreciate it if you’d stop seeding this version of the book. I jumped the gun on this. The book isn’t quite ready to go. There’s no cover and no .nfo file. I’ll be posting a new PDF early next week.
d
You guys deserve the lawsuit you will be getting from Apple. I am no longer a reader of your crap.
http://www.metzener.com/ Dave M.
Thank you Leander for removing the post you commissioned on how to pirate App Store Apps under a jailbroken iPhone. I appreciate you reasoning for publishing it in the first place, but if you really wanted a comprehensive Jailbreak Superguide, you could simply state that it’s possible as you pretty much are now.
Sure, it’s easy to get info on pirating software on the Internets, this site doesn’t need to contribute to this.
I’ve never really understood the reason for stealing the hard work of developers all to save a mere $0.99, yet there are plenty of pirated copies of $0.99 software out there. If you don’t want to pay full price for software in the App Store, just wait a few weeks or so, the developer is likely to put the app on sale or even give it away for free for a short time. There are plenty of apps in the store to help notify you of apps that have gone on sale. Plus there is AppShopper.com.
Gazoobee
Dude, the reason people are upset about this article is because it’s illegal. It’s called “aiding and abetting the commission of a felony.” You are providing step by step instructions for an illegal act which depending on the details could even be a federal crime.
Just because the guy down the street has an article about an illegal act doesn’t make it legal. This is supposed to be a legit blog/magazine etc., and now you’ve committed a crime and don’t even seem to care about it.
sharing is caring
Other sources for the full article
http://bit.ly/c4Cm3j
or
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or
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or
http://bit.ly/bWb1mi
Direct Links:
http://bit.ly/awM0zo
or
http://scr.bi/dl1CzG
enjoy
Rodrigo
Sorry, but when Leander says that writing this article wasn’t the 16-year-old-guy, but his, it’s even worse…
I guess I’m gonna stick to some other blog, something more ethical. You should’ve remembered about this before allowing this article to be written…
CoM no longer on my bookmarks, nor on my respect…
hahaha
I knew this would happen. I already copied this artical and saved it, so it doesn’t matter to me if you take this down, I still have it. Ausome!
Jason
A half-hearted “disclaimer” followed by a half-hearted “apology.” The fact that you were initially “surprised” at the reaction in the comments speaks volumes — with the exception of a few trolls, the reaction was uniformly negative. Are you really that out of touch?
At any rate, a real apology wouldn’t spend half the time deflecting blame — first by saying other sites post the info, then by saying that you’re just providing info and readers can make the moral judgment for themselves whether to pirate.
I think I’m done with this site too. What a shame.
Graham Aker
Join us now and share the software;
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.
Hoarders may get piles of money,
That is true, hackers, that is true.
But they cannot help their neighbors;
That’s not good, hackers, that’s not good.
When we have enough free software
At our call, hackers, at our call,
We’ll throw out those dirty licenses
Ever more, hackers, ever more.
Join us now and share the software;
You’ll be free, hackers, you’ll be free.
http://www.AnEclecticMind.com/ Maria
As someone who earns her living on intellectual property rights (i.e., copyrights), I’m appalled that Cult Of Mac should so clearly be promoting software piracy.
Piracy — in any form, for any reason — is theft and a potential reduction in the income of the copyright holder.
luiz
well,
I’m out as a iphone game developer!
over time you will NOT have more apps or games to steal!
DCJ001
Leander wrote:
“please don’t attack the author, Sayam. This was my idea, not his. He’s a freelance writer and I commissioned him to write it, so please don’t be mean to him.”
Sayam is a 16 year old child. Many children, when empowered with today’s technology, will do whatever they can do to get the job done, disregarding ethics and laws. When you commission children, like Sayam, to author articles on your website, Leander, you should take care to ensure that whatis sais through you, on your website, is managed responsibly.
You’re not required to remove these articles. But they represent who you are and what you do, Leander. And I believe that removing Sayam’s articles is the responsible thing to do.
Charlie
Vociferous? Leander: I had bought your book. Ending it all with a link to your book, though free, only shows your real you. Pitiful. We never stop learning how small we are.
Vincent
Thanks for the half-hearted apology. I still hope that AISO.net will consider ending their hosting of CoM for TOS infringement.
I have reported CoM for this (and also breaking the law) and will encourage others to do the same.
Jay Carr
Hey folks, he apologized and took the article down. It’s time to leave enough alone. I, for one, appreciate the gesture and applaud Leander for doing the right thing.
Ben
Shame on you, Cult of Mac.
A not so angry person
Bit of an odd series of reactions imo. The info has been on the web for quite a while and given the responses here, noone would dare pirate an app/jailbreak a phone.
So what’s the biggie?
Brian
People are disgusting, sticking up for a multi-billion dollar company that doesn’t give a damn about them. Bunch of sheep crying just because someone posted a how-to guide on pirating apps.
Frank
Really? People need to get off their soapbox and quit whining already…and SHAME ON YOU for caving to these treehuggers! Put your guide back up, grab on your ballsack, and show that you have a pair for crying out loud. I’m disgusted that you guys cave so easily!
dipshit
Brian, you fucking retard, pirating applications does not do anything to the multi-billion dollar company. It hurts the application developers, some of whom are one-man shops. Dope.
http://www.women-golfers.com/ Alexhr
I don’t like pirated software. Always some problems with it.
Honest
THIEF!!!!
Ben Taylor
My iPhone/iPad game Juice Belts has around 10 pirated copies downloaded per each actual sale. The game only costs a dollar! It is a little disheartening.
Ben Taylor
My iPhone/iPad game Juice Belts has around 10 pirated copies downloaded per each actual sale. The game only costs a dollar! It is a little disheartening.
Ben Taylor
My iPhone/iPad game Juice Belts has around 10 pirated copies downloaded per each actual sale. The game only costs a dollar! It is a little disheartening.
Treprex
screw apple, greedy bastards! and if you guys don’t like, kiss my &$@, loosers, I’ll do watever I want with my iPad, it’s mine, I payed for it.
thanks for sharing dude!

About the author

Sayam Aggarwal is a 18-year-old student living in India who has been an Apple fan for almost 5 years. He has worked with ModMyi, one of the leading iPhone communities, as an author for more than a year. He spends most of his free time on the Internet fetching the latest news regarding Apple and its entire product range. Follow him on Twitter!

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Posted in How-To, iPhone, iPhone Apps, iPod Touch, Tips & Tricks | Tagged: jailbreak superguide |