If you thought jailbreaking was just for the iPhone 5 and iPad, think again: Windows and the Microsoft Surface have been busted out of jail.
The crafty folk at XDA Developers have come up with the jailbreak, handily packaged into a batch file that you run each time you turn the tablet on, so you can install apps that haven't been aproved by Microsoft.
The jailbreak exploit works on Windows RT, the tablet version of Windows 8 found in the Surface and set for a range of tablets from (a small number of) other manufacturers. RT is designed for the low-powered ARM chips found in tablets. It's a stripped-down version of the software that only runs apps from the Windows Store, unlike the full version of the software that allows you to install any app you fancy.
Applying the jailbreak allows the tablet to run apps that didn't come from the Windows Store, although applications designed for a computer's x86 processor won't work on the tablet unless recompiled for the ARM architecture.
The full version of Windows 8 is set to appear on a tablet in the shape of the Microsoft Surface Pro, which is expected in the US this month but is yet to have a British release date confirmed. Meanwhile the different versions of Windows 8 have caused enough confusion to see the Samsung Ativ Tab cancelled.
Have you upgraded to Windows 8? What do you think? And what do you think of Windows 8 tablets? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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anonymous 14 January, 2013 18:20
Would the jailbreak have an impact on the device's warranty? If it would have negative impact on the warranty, then I wonder what is the reason of jail breaking! Just wondering.
anonymous 14 January, 2013 22:07
Windows RT is a the same windows OS at heart as always, they've only written enough on the ARM to make the tablet work properly, I'd expect to see the full windows and win server working on ARM in the next 5 years... To make it a safe environment and lower their notoriety of viruses and malware, they disabled software installing which doesn't have a valid MS store certificate. You have to disable this when testing apps in development, but you are free to install your app. There is a warning however, they make you agree that you won't use it for anything other then testing store software, and tell you they know if you're using it for other reasons. I guess XDADev's method uses the same way to install apps as MS designed it to do. I wouldn't say it's a hack per se, I think MS left this open puropsely. They know they're well liked for being a more open system..
anonymous 30 January, 2013 18:19
I currently own a Windows Surface and love it. Just like anything it has its down sides such as slightly slower response times and limited app store. The upsides have already out weight anything I was concerned about when buying the surface. the gestures seems alien compare to an apple device but once I got used to it I don't know how someone else have built in such great gestures. It has, from what I have found, the only true multitasking and works brilliantly. the keyboard is much more comfortably space than any other by far and you never have to hassle with connecting it. biggest up side is I can truly be productive on it and not simply consume media, which it also does fairly well. Just like any first gen device I hope to see windows work out the flaws in future iterations but I am happy to say I own one for now.
Also when you jailbreak will you be able to download external applications on the desktop as long as the are not for x86?