Help! FW Update : iTunes & FW Version Issues?

[crashnburn_in]

Help! FW Update : iTunes & FW Version Issues?

 

This chart shows the Release Sequence with dates and version numbers for iTunes and iPhone Firmwares:

 

Picasa Web Albums - Abhi

 

Typical Update Process involves the following steps-

 

• SyncBackup of iPhone FW A by iTunes X

• JB/Unlock by some Tool

• Restore FW B by iTunes X

• SyncRestore iPhone FW B by iTunes X

 

Now here there is a huge gap between what I currently have & where I need to go.

 

iTunes: 8.2

iPhone 2G: 2.2

 

Now, I know 8.2 can handle Backups for 2.2.

 

My fear is there might be some issues / incompatibility between iTunes versions / iPhone FW that are too far apart.

Now, I am wondering if it might mess up my

• iPhone

• Backups

• Cracked IPAs

• Cydia Apps

• Any other Settings / Data

 

I am wondering which of the following is what I need to do:

 

1) I update to iTunes 9.0.3 / 9.1 assuming and hoping it safely works with 2G 2.2

(I am wondering if that would be with / without cracked apps).

Anyone experimented with that?

 

• Update iTunes X > Y

• SyncBackup of iPhone FW A by iTunes Y

• JB/Unlock by some Tool

• Restore FW B by iTunes Y

• Sync Restore iPhone FW B by iTunes Y

 

2) I update to iTunes 9.0.3 / 9.1 in the middle assuming & hoping it does no mess the SyncBackups & SyncRestore Data i.e. SyncDATA is handled / managed across versions

(I am wondering if that would be with / without cracked apps)

 

• SyncBackup of iPhone FW A by iTunes X

• JB/Unlock by some Tool

• Update iTunes X > Y

• Restore FW B by iTunes Y

• Sync Restore iPhone FW B by iTunes Y

 

OR

 

3) Do I need to do some R&D to determine which special sequence involving multiple versions of iTunes works best? Especially given the order of / releases and Release dates of iPhone FW & iTunes.

 

ALSO:

Cracked Apps / .IPAs that are in iTunes & on iPhone… How do I ensure they survive when I go across from a:

2.2 FW: Mobile Substrate (Some pre-AppSync that allowed Cracke IPAs)

to

3.1.x FW: AppSync for Installd