SwitchBoard.app

SwitchBoard.app is one of Apple's internal utilities. It's a simple launcher of other utilities. Generally, it's the same set of applications (new test apps are created to test new features). It's usually located in the /AppleInternal/Applications folder along other internal applications. It usually finds the applications it needs to load in /AppleInternal/Applications/SwitchBoard/.Currently, there is no SwitchBoard binary available for public.

SwitchBoard and diagnostic utilities are copied onto the device during restore from special firmware bundles which are seeded only to Apple official service centers. It may be installed onto devices through PurpleRestore. Switchboard and its internal utilities are, in fact, present on all iDevices during manufacturing. The utilities run extensive tests on the devices, including sensors, thermal measurements and more - and only when all tests pass do the devices go through a final stage, which involves removing the debug utilities and installing the stock version of iOS.. This was made evident by a wave of alleged "prototypes" to have hit eBay during the fall of 2014. The "prototypes" in question were various iPhone 6 devices that, for one reason or another, did not get formatted fully, and thus remained with a full image of SwitchBoard, root access (via SSH running on the device's USB interface), and a full suite of debug utilities.

Gallery

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  iPhone 3GS running Sierra 7C108b

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  iPhone 4 running Inferno(?) 8A2130h

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  iPod touch running Inferno 7C1023e

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  iPad running SwitchBoard

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  iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS

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  The iPhone 6 running SwitchBoard

The file structure of SwitchBoard.app

Entitlements.plist SwitchBoard Info.plist SwitchBoard-Settings.plist PkgInfo _CodeSignature ResourceRules.plist com.apple.SwitchBoard.plist