Jeff Benjamin

Jeff has been with iDownloadBlog since 2010, acting as resident video specialist, and tutorial expert. He earned his degree in Computer Network Systems back in 2001, but decided Cisco routers and the like just weren’t for him. Since then, he’s been heavily involved with online writing. He’s written for numerous tech and video game sites since the late 1990′s, and has a knack for explaining things in a simple, clear, and concise manner. Jeff works primarily from the east coast on his Retina Macbook Pro, and shoots video with a Canon DSLR. During downtime he likes to travel the world, visiting the various Apple Stores across the globe. You can email him at jeff [at] idownloadblog.com and follow him on Twitter @JeffBenjam or on Google+.

How to easily access photo exif data on iOS

Searching for a quick way to access meta data for photos stored on your iPhone? If you're jailbroken, then a new Cydia tweak might be just what the doctor ordered.

PhotoExif is a recently released tweak that makes it easy to access photo meta data using the photo app's share button. Take a look inside for the full video walkthrough...

Metroon theme brings Windows 8 to the iPhone

A certain theme entitled Metroon has garnered all types of publicity from outlets that normally don't cover jailbreak apps, tweaks, or themes. Perhaps that has a little to do with the fact that it's one of the first Windows 8 styled themes to appear on the iPhone?

At any rate, we've decided to take Metroon for a spin. What we found was a solid DreamBoard theme that will set you back $1.50 on Cydia's ModMyi repo. But is it deserving of the hype?

This jailbreak tweak lets you tell time using vibrations

Many people will think this tweak is completely devoid of usefulness, and to an extent I agree, but you have to admit that the idea and execution is original, and well done.

VibeTime is a jailbreak tweak available on Cydia, that allows you to tell the current time using vibrations. That means that it's totally within the realm of possibilities to tell the time without pulling your phone out of your pocket.

Sure, not many will find a real world use for this, but the idea and execution is pretty interesting...

The developer of ‘DreamCoin’ has an extremely vivid imagination

DreamCoin is one of those jailbreak tweaks that is so goofy, you almost can't stop yourself from laughing out loud. As you can probably tell from the video within, even I was barely able to contain myself.

DreamCoin is nothing more than a glorified Activator toggle that sits on your Home screen. You can assign it one "dream" aka, an Activator action, and execute said action by tapping the coin residing on your Home screen. Dreams? Coins? Is this real life?

An easier way to mute your iPod touch or other iOS device

The fact that the iPod touch lacks a physical mute button, shouldn't prevent one from muting their device in style. A new jailbreak tweak, entitled TapVolumeToMute, allows you to do just that.

Even if you have an iOS device with a physical mute button, this is a tweak that you still might want to give a go. That's because it allows you to easily mute your device with a quick tap on the volume heads up display. More details inside...

Popular ‘Barrel’ tweak updated with new mode

All you have to do is just say the word Barrel, and people take note. Yes, Barrel, the staple jailbreak tweak, and arguably one of the most compelling reasons for jailbreaking your iDevice when it comes to visual modifications, has been updated.

The new mode (transition), is called Whirl. It's safe to say that mere screenshots don't do Barrel, or this latest update any justice. On that note, head inside and take a look at our full video breakdown...

How to add a Google Chrome inspired Omnibox to Safari

As you all have probably figured out by now, I'm a huge fan of Google Chrome. There are many reasons why I prefer Chrome over any other web browser, and one of the foremost reasons has to do with the Omnibox.

The Omnibox in Google chromes combines your normal address box with a search box for an all encompassing box that conveniently performs both functions. Other browsers have been slow about adopting this obvious improvement in navigation, but at least Apple is starting to show some signs that they plan on heading in that direction — Safari on OS X Mountain Lion features an Omnibox, after all.

When it comes to iOS, though, Safari is still lagging a bit behind. Even the iOS 6 beta version of Safari lacks this feature. That's where this new jailbreak tweak plans to step up to the plate. Safari Omnibar is a recently released tweak that adds an Omnibox to Safari, whether Apple plans to do so or not.

How to search Cydia from Notification Center

There's a new widget available that allows you to initiate a Cydia search via a Notification Center widget, and it's appropriately titled Cydia-SearchNC.

This free download can be enabled via the Notifications panel in the Settings app, and doing so creates a handy search field directly in Notification Center.

Check out our video walkthrough that showcases how this jailbreak widget performs, after the break...

A simple tweak that prevents Home screen bookmarks from being deleted

How many times have you mistakenly deleted one of your Home screen bookmarks on your iOS device? If that has happened to you in the past, then you may want to check out this new jailbreak tweak called BookLock.

Unfortunately, the developer of BookLock felt that this functionality was worth a $1.00 on Cydia's BigBoss repo. A dollar for a tweak that features nothing more than a single toggle to prevent Home screen bookmark deletion? Seriously? My advice to you is to just be careful when deleting items on your device...

How to create your own custom pop up alert on the iPhone

Let's just file this one under the "who in the world would ever find a use for this?" category. MakeMyPopup is a brand new jailbreak tweak that allows you to create your own pop up notifications on the iPhone.

The problem with MakeMyPopup isn't that it only allows you to create one singular pop up notification. It isn't that pop up notifications are ugly, and have all but been replaced by banner notifications. The issue with MakeMyPopup is that it does absolutely nothing; it has no usable function outside of the fact that it fakes your own customizable pop up.

The question stands to be asked: Just who would use this? Would you?

How to add a tab button to the Notes app

No matter how many times I attempt to find an alternative to the Notes app, I always find myself migrating back to it eventually. I'm not sure why this, but I think my mind is simply programmed to go for the Notes app when I need to jot something down.

If you're a jailbreaker, then you can rely on one of the many jailbreak tweak developers to implement enhanced features into the Notes app. NotesTab is the latest such example of a jailbreak tweak that adds a specific enhancement to the bare bones app — in this case a handy tab button for quick indentions.

‘Check’ allows you to select a range of emails more efficiently

Check is a new jailbreak tweak that allows you to select a range of emails on the iPhone or iPad's stock mail app in a more efficient manner. Instead of selecting each email one-by-one, Check utilizes a new tap and hold shortcut to make it simpler to select a range of emails.

If you're an avid email user on the iPhone or the iPad, and you happen to be jailbroken, then you should definitely check out our hands-on video walkthrough...