Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) released the Surface RT on October 26, and according to reports, the device has already been jailbroken by dedicated hackers. The device has restrictions placed on it that limit its functionality. This is unusual for a Microsoft device, but follows the pattern set out by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and other firms in the last five years.
Interestingly, one of the first uses the jailbreak has been put toward is the emulation of an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) operating system, which was never officially launched. Apple’s Rhapsody OS was originally touted for PCs, then for Servers, the operating system never garnered an official release, but some of the technology it utilized ended up in the firm’s OSX platform.
The hacker responsible for this dubious feat is the Irishman, Steve Troughton-Smith. He said that his reason for emulating the forgotten operating system was that Windows 95 was “too boring”. There are more useful applications for the jailbreak which may attract some users to the device.
Applications that have not been specifically designed for the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Surface Windows RT can be installed onto the device after it has been jailbroken. The jailbreak is available to the public, but at this stage it is still a tethered jailbreak.
That means that users will have to start up the program that allows them to perform whatever operations they want, every time they turn on their Surface. The jailbreak is available on this link for Surface users.
It is hoped that the jailbreak will add usability to the Surface RT, increasing sales for the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) device. The company has not yet reported official sales numbers, but it appears that the devices did not perform as well as hoped over the holiday season.
So, whether you’d like to run a non-approved application, or emulate a full blown ancient operating system, Windows RT Surface is the tablet for you.
