On a bone stock iPhone, the Messages app sports a plain background — either black when using dark mode or white when using light mode. If you’ve ever craved something with a bit more pizzazz than that, then you’d be out of luck.
Fortunately for jailbreakers, running a bone-stock setup isn’t necessary, and a newly released and free jailbreak tweak named ChatWall by iOS developer Chr1s offers an effective way to change the Messages app’s background to virtually anything you want.
iMessage has become such a strong part of the Apple ecosystem that it leads many to stay "locked in", keeping them away from the primary alternative, Android.
More and more frequently, iPhone and iPad users are being pushed by Apple or third parties to take advantage of two-factor authentication or text-messaged short codes to confirm their identity when logging in to apps and services.
These messages can add up over time, especially if you use many apps and services that you log in or out of frequently, resulting in excessive conversation buildup in the Messages app.
Many iPhone users spend absorbent amounts of their time in the Messages app, and that’s not surprising given just how explosively popular text messaging has become over the years. Given that fact, it’s easy to see why someone might desire more customization options with respect to an app they use all the time.
Fortunately for jailbreakers, iOS developer CreatureSurvive is out with a new and free jailbreak tweak dubbed ChatUI that offers a smorgasbord of seemingly limitless customization for the native Messages app that comes pre-installed on iPhones and iPads alike.
Ecosystems aren't new. And companies trying to "lock" customers into them isn't, either. Companies want retention, customers that stick around. Finding ways to make that happen is crucial. And yet, some people still appear be shocked by this.
There's no doubt that Apple's been leveraging iMessage to keep customers from switching over to Android, using the proprietary messaging protocol as a powerful lock-in mechanism.
Apple's services are not immune to outages. And today a range of services are experiencing outages and issues, according to Apple itself.
Earlier today, there was a report circling that said Apple is developing new HomePod smart speakers. And not just a replacement for the original HomePod that Apple has discontinued. No, these devices will reportedly feature screens and cameras in some capacity.
One of my biggest pet peeves when using Apple’s Messages app to send Photos to contacts via iMessage or MMS is that you have to jump through hoops just to open the Photo Library picker.
Users will either tap on the Camera shortcut and then launch their Photo Library from the ensuing Camera viewfinder interface, or they’ll tap on the App Store button to view installed iMessage extensions and visit the Photo Library via the dedicated Photos button.
It’s not uncommon for nosy onlookers to peer at your phone screen from over your shoulder as you enjoy a text message-based conversation with one of your friends or loved ones. Albeit creepy, such is life.
Apple’s iOS mobile operating system takes this fact into account, offering a handy feature in the Messages app’s notification settings that can hide message contents from your Lock Screen’s notification banners under various circumstances. But if that’s still not enough privacy for you, then a newly released jailbreak tweak dubbed LeaveMeOff Pro by iOS developer Plat-Ykor could be worth checking out.
If you use Instagram and share links in iMessage, you may have noticed an issue with previews. It's been a problem for a bit of time now, but the social network says a fix is in the works.
As of iOS 14.5, you can share lyrics from Apple Music via iMessage and Instagram Stories, as first discovered by MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci.