Gestr is a brand new jailbreak tweak that allows users to assign gestures to a specific app and launch the app using the assigned gesture. The tweak, which is available for $0.99 on Cydia’s BigBoss repo, uses an Activator action to engage the screen used for inputing gestures.
In the end, Gestr probably isn’t a tweak that will significantly speed up app launches on iOS, but it’s undoubtedly a cool way to do so. Have a look inside for our video walkthrough, which showcases how it works.
Once you install Gestr, you won’t find any preference panel for the tweak in the stock Settings app. Instead, you’ll need to venture into the Activator preferences to assign an Activator gesture to launch the Gestr interface. I, as I typically do, assigned a double-tap of the status bar to Gestr.
Launch the Gestr interface by executing the Activator Gestr, in my case, the double tap on the status bar. The Gestr interface is a dark screen with two buttons at the top for clearing a gesture or assigning a gesture to a particular app. The body of the Gestr interface is a writing pad for inputing your gestures with a finger. Gestures are denoted by a lime-green line on the screen, which follows your finger movement.
To assign an app to a particular gesture, you’ll first need to launch the app in question. For example, you can launch Safari, and then execute the Activator gesture to launch the Gestr interface. Once you do, you’ll need to tap the Assign button in the upper right-hand corner of the Gestr screen, and then draw your gesture on screen. This is the gesture that will be assigned to launch Safari.
Whenever you want to launch Safari using gestures, invoke Gestr via Activator, and draw the gesture you assigned to Safari. Safari should immediately launch. You can continue to assign as many gestures as you want to as many apps. You can also clear gestures by launching an app and tapping the clear button after invoking the Gestr interface.
Gestr is a tweak that’s a bit difficult to explain in writing, so I highly recommend that you watch the hands-on video walkthrough of the entire process above. If you want to take Gestr for a test drive, then you can do so from Cydia’s BigBoss repo.
Gestr costs $0.99, and while I can’t say it’s a tweak that improves my workflow, it’s something nice to show off to friends. Let me know what you think about Gestr below.