Factory Unlocked 4.2.1: Pros & Cons of Updating to 4.3 or 4.3.1 esp when Jailbroken?

I just got an iPhone 4 from the UK and got it Factory unlocked via the IMEI/iTunes official Unlock method.

Its currently on 4.2.1 and I am wondering if I should update it before migrating everything on to it?

I want all the Cydia apps etc.. Especially SpringBoard, Full Bluetooth etc to work well on it.

What benefits / pros / cons would this entail?

Thoughts?

4.3.1 is reportedly buggier and uses more memory than 4.2.1 plus some Cydia tweaks don't yet work on 4.3.1

Save your 4.3.1 SHSH and stick with jailbroken 4.2.1 until Apple releases 4.3.2 (and it is jailbroken untethered)

My phone is now officially unlocked on 4.2.1. Do I need to worry about the SHSH & saving it?

What do I do to JB it and install Cydia?

You can't get a 4.2.1 SHSH any more, so keep that in mind when deciding to jailbreak (if something goes wrong you will be forced to restore to 4.3.1 or whatever iOS version you saved your SHSH for)

If you want to stay jailbroken (untethered) in the future, you do need a saved SHSH (4.3.1 or lower)

Originally Posted by Olethros

You can't get a 4.2.1 SHSH any more, so keep that in mind when deciding to jailbreak (if something goes wrong you will be forced to restore to 4.3.1 or whatever iOS version you saved your SHSH for)

If you want to stay jailbroken (untethered) in the future, you do need a saved SHSH (4.3.1 or lower)

Are you saying that I wont be able to Restore my Firmware to 4.2.1 and will be forced to go to 4.3.1 in case something goes wrong.. EVEN THOUGH.. I HAVE a FACTORY UNLOCKED phone?

PS: What do I do now to Jailbreak it? (The phone came with 4.2.1 - Should I get more details etc.. BB etc)

Yes that is 100% correct. If something goes wrong (even if you don't jailbreak) I'm saying that with the current tools available (outside Apple of course) - you can never restore to 4.2.1 again.

Apple uses SHSH to force people to upgrade to the latest iOS versions (even if like 4.3.1 they are buggy and bloated).

Ah! So this has nothing to do with the SIM Locking/ Unlocking status of the phone.

Please tell me that there is some trick to going down to 4.2.1? Some way..

PS: How do I backup/ save whatever SHSH I have so far?

There is *no* trick or way to bypass this, the only person who can sign a 4.2.1 restore is Apple (and they stopped doing that a day or so after 4.3 was released)

TinyUmbrella can save your 4.3.1 SHSH (which is the only one that Apple is currently signing)

Olethros - Please guide me & confirm if the order of steps is okay here?

Using some steps you had outlined from a previous upgrade/ update here..
http://www.hackint0sh.org/f207/120342.htm

MIGRATING FROM iPhone 2G 3.1.2 to iPhone 4 4.2.1

STEPS:

iPhone 2G 8GB 3.1.2
- Sync & Backup my iPhone 2G using iTunes 10.1.x & MS Outlook

1. Sync your iPhone and make sure this includes a full backup. Check in the filesystem to ensure that the filestamps and size reflect this.
2. Copy (and rename) or zip up (or some other way of making a copy) the whole backup (the folder and it's contents)
   

New iPhone 4G 4.2.1 - SIM Unlocked Orange UK (Factory IMEI based Unlock)

SHSH save using TinyUmbrella

Originally Posted by Olethros

There is *no* trick or way to bypass this, the only person who can sign a 4.2.1 restore is Apple (and they stopped doing that a day or so after 4.3 was released)

TinyUmbrella can save your 4.3.1 SHSH (which is the only one that Apple is currently signing)

iTunes Synch: Install Purchased Apps, Synch Contacts

I have a few apps that I purchased via iTines that really matter to me and some apps that are Free.
I want to ensure that I can move/install these apps to the iPhone 4. I dont want to Jailbreak etc/ Cydia until I can sync my Purchased Apps.

I am wondering if the following sequence works? or should be altered slightly?

1. Set up your iPhone 4 as new (Already Done. Setup iPhone 4 as a New Phone in iTunes. This was done for the IMEI based Facrory iTunes Unlock)
2. Sync your apps, music, contacts etc from iTunes again.

Will the purchased apps get synched here? What steps do I need to follow carefully here? (The whole Authorize/ Deauthorize thing for iTunes Computers & Devices)

Once my Contacts & Apps are A-Ok, I can do Music as well but its not a big deal.

Jailbreak Only using Green Poison for iPhone 4.2.1

1. Jailbreak using Green Poison
2. Install Open SSH etc and so on..

SMS Database: Insert via Funbox from Backup.

Another critical item was to Punch in the SMS Database. I am hoping that the 3.1.2 Database wont have any issues when extracted and added to iPhone 4

[*]Use a backup extractor tool to manually extract from the 3.x (upgrade) backup the files you want to preserve.[*]Copy them back to your iPhone with iFunBox or similar. Use SSH/SFT to verify that the permissions are the same.

I am assuming the Backup Extractor still works.

Originally Posted by Olethros

Restore lost and deleted iPhone files with the iPhone Backup Extractor windows
iPhone / iPod Touch Backup Extractor mac

I am thinking of moving up from 4.2.1 - What would be a good stable 4.x firmware at this point in time for the iPhone 4?

I would like to try iOS 5 but would rather wait it out until its bugs stabilize.

So is it worth going up to a MORE STABLE 4.x firmware right now wait it out for another 1/2 months for iOS 5 to stabilize and Cydia / JB apps to catchup and go straight for that?

I really appreciate your well educated suggestions. Thanks O