iOS 4

Apple Quietly Removed the Stealthy Jailbreak Detection in iOS 4.2.1

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 17, 2017

According to certain device management vendors, Apple, without an explanation of any kind, has dropped its own jailbreak detection API from iOS no less than six months after releasing it. The reasons behind this decision are a mystery, as Apple has declined to comment on the decision to abandon the API in the release of iOS 4.2.1.

Apple's API let MDM (Master Data Management) applications access core information about the version of iOS running on any given device. Basically, the jailbreak detection API allowed certain applications to ask an iOS system if it had been compromised. Surprisingly, in the newly released iOS 4.2.1, that API is nowhere to be seen...

iPhone 4.2.1 Untethered Jailbreak Available Soon

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 8, 2010

Today, MuscleNerd unveiled the video of an iOS 4.2 untethered jailbreak that is currently in the works. This is wonderful news for everyone who wisely held off on upgrading their iPhones to 4.2.1.

If you noticed lately how Cydia mysteriously saves off your 4.2b3 SHSH files, well this exploit utilizes those. Patience is indeed a virtue! Check inside for full video displaying the untethered jailbreak running on an iPod Touch 4g.

ListLauncher Makes It Easier To Launch Your Apps From Spotlight

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 6, 2010

I've always been quite partial to Spotlight, I use it all the time to launch apps that I have tucked away in a folder somewhere, and I find that it is an extremely effective way to use my iPhone.

With that in mind, my ears always perk up whenever a tweak makes a claim that it can improve Spotlight, and ListLauncher is one such app. Just how does it work, and does it really make launching apps faster?

Graviboard Confines Your iPhone to the Rules of Gravity

Jeff Benjamin ∙ December 6, 2010

The developer of Graviboard, a jailbreak tweak that brings gravity to your Home screen, claims that it is "guaranteed to amaze your friends..." That's a pretty lofty guarantee to make, especially when it costs a moderate $2.99.

Does the tweak defy gravity, and live up to its billing? We take a look inside...

Enhance Your Typing Efficiency With 5-Row iOS Keyboard

Alex Heath ∙ December 5, 2010

5-Row Keyboard is a new jailbreak tweak that does just what the name describes: enables a larger, 5-row keyboard in iOS. All of the numeric keys are added to a top row of the iOS keyboard so that you don't have to constantly change the keyboard layout when typing numbers.

This tweak doesn't do much else besides what is obvious...

SBRotator Adds Landscape Mode to Your iPhone Home Screen

Alex Heath ∙ December 5, 2010

Most apps in iOS support both portrait and landscape mode. The iPad even supports portrait and landscape on the home screen. Apple has limited the iPhone's home screen to portrait mode only, but there is now a jailbreak tweak for adding landscape rotation to your iPhone's home screen.

SBRotator changes your home screen to match your iPhone's orientation, just like most apps will already do in iOS. If you have been dying to have this capability since you saw the iPad's rotated home screen, you should be very happy with SBRotator...

ScrollingBoard, The Ultimate Jailbreak Tweak for Your iPhone’s Dock

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 28, 2018

ScrollingBoard is a new Cydia tweak that let's you have scrolling, unlimited icons in your dock and folders, and addons in your dock (like iPod controls). What makes ScrollingBoard so interesting is that not only does it bring a few new features to your jailbroken device, but it also replicates the functions of other popular jailbreak tweaks in the process.

ScrollingBoard's main goal is to make your iOS device's dock as useful as can be. The native arrangement of icons on your home screen's pages is also available on your dock with ScrollingBoard. The addons and SBSettings integration that ScollingBoard brings to the dock also make this tweak especially worth the $1.50 price tag...

Tutorial: How to Install the New Cydia for iOS 4.2

Alex Heath ∙ December 4, 2010

Cydia was recently updated to support Apple's updated API's in iOS 4.2. This particular Cydia update was quite the major overhaul, and there is no option available (yet) within Cydia to update to the newest version automatically.

Besides iOS 4.2 support, there are several long-awaited improvements in this version of Cydia.

The most noticeable improvement in this update is a huge performance boost throughout the whole application. Everything is faster. Once Cydia does the initial restructuring and downloading after you first install the update, you should notice an immediate boost in speed as you navigate the app. That means less of the dreaded loading wheel and more of actually accomplishing what you want to do...

OpenNotifier Adds Custom Notifications to your iPhone’s Status Bar

Jeff Benjamin ∙ November 26, 2010

I think the majority of people are in agreement that one of the key features that the iPhone has lacked over the years, and continues to lack, is a competent notification system.

Sure we have push notifications, but those can be incredibly disrupting and intrusive. Then there's the app icon badges, which serve their purpose, but can quickly litter your homescreen with a mess of little red icons.

What's a guy to do to get some good notifications around these parts? Jailbreak, of course.

New Jailbreak App Adds 3D Transitions Between Your iPhone Pages

Jeff Benjamin ∙ November 24, 2010

According to its developers, Barrel is a jailbreak tweak that adds a 3D "cube" effect to your icon pages. The description surely fits the bill and doesn't disappoint, but the price may prove to be a stumbling block.

Take a look inside as I take a video glimpse at this latest Jailbreak App. Then you can decide for yourself if this visual tweak is worth departing with your hard earned cash...

DirectControl Gives You Quick and Dirty Access to Your iPod Controls

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 6, 2016

If you know me well at all, you know how much I love the jailbreak app SwitcherPlus. My infatuation with that app is well documented. The reason I like it so much is because it adds real value and benefit to the iPhone experience by making the task switcher more usable and intuitive.

Well, DirectControl is a lot like SwitcherPlus, that is, if SwitcherPlus went on a crash diet and lost like 100 pounds. In other words, it takes one feature that SwitcherPlus does well, and offers it to you in a single tweak. Does that make DirectControl any more or less compelling?

NotesFont brings iOS 4.2-esque Font Features to the iPhone Notes App

Jeff Benjamin ∙ November 3, 2010

Although I'm not a developer, I have been able to play around extensively with iOS 4.2 on my iPad. Let me just reiterate the sentiments that it is indeed worth the hype. With new features like AirPlay, it's understandable that that ability to switch your fonts in the Notes app is playing second fiddle to all of the other enhancements.

Although iOS 4.2 is right around the corner, Apple has been one-upped with the release of the jailbreak tweak, NotesFont. Not only does this tweak bring the ability to change fonts in the native Notes app, it offers a lot more fonts than what Apple is planning to offer...