Would anyone know if I need to save my SHSH if I have a factory unlocked handset?

Yes, you ALWAYS want to capture your SHSH blobs when the window is open, so to speak. The SHSH blobs have little (if anything) to do with the status of the lock.

Apple uses a validation server to check your "eligibility" for a particular firmware. Without the blob stored, you can never downgrade a firmware (if needed) because Apple only signs current firmware.

The SHSH blob is used when a spoof is leveraged of the Apple validation service (gs.apple.com) and entities such as Cydia run a server which can spoof. Cydia will also store your blobs for you, or you can save your own copy with a utility like TinyUmbrella.

So, the SIM lock is not directly related to the SHSH blobs in this instance, but there are often complications with SIM locks and different modem basebands in the various iPhone models, but I *THINK* that is not an issue for a phone which shipped unlocked to begin with (i.e. the "international" iPhones).

Hope that helps. Good luck.

-Rob

4S jailbreak def. 'coming soon'

http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/01/03/ip...-as-next-week/

Please note there is a difference btw jailbreak and carrier unlock. Yours is the latter, meaning any gsm sim card will work in your iPhone.

JB means you can install third party apps and not rely only on the apple app store.

Where folks get confused is when you have a locked iPhone, like most of us, if you want to carrier unlock, you usually first must JB. And of course JB is legal, whereas carrier unlock via a hack 'crosses the line'. ;)

I just upgraded my iPhone 4s from the stock 5.0 to 5.0.1 and used tiny umbrella to save my SHSH. Simple process, the upgrade was OTA and took about 5 minutes. The SHSH blob took a few seconds!

Hope this clarifies things.

Perfect. Thanks

"Until now, the only iOS 5.0.1 jailbreaks for A5 devices have been tethered, meaning the device would have to be re-broken every time it rebooted. "

Doesn't sound like a reliable source taking there has never been a tethered jailbreak for an iPhone 4s which is an A5 device.

The A5 jailbreak may be out next week. Saving SHSH blobs may now be a waste of time because apple changed to require an AP ticket as well (what theyve been doing with basebands for years).

Im saving them anyway with the hope they can figure out a way for us to go back a version if we need to.

For an iphone 4 (NOT 4S) are there any real substantive advantages (besides iCloud) to upgrading from 4.3.3 to 5.0.1 (with attendant hassles of re-jailbreaking and reinstalling two dozen Cydia apps)?

I've read some comparisons via Mr. Google and don't think that the upgrade is really worth it, but would like to hear from other FT users.

I've found it useful to save my blobs with every software release upgrade. That ensures I can drop back as needed. Typed from my ios4/ipad2 jail broken on a non-ATT sim. :)

Does cydia save these blobs in the cloud automatically?

4S Jailbreak out people. ^

You don't need much technical ability either - if you've been scared to jailbreak before, this is your chance to jump in!

Jailbreak remains LEGAL