iOS

Pwn20wnd releases unc0ver v2.1.3 with bug fixes and improvements

Less than a week after launching unc0ver v2.1.1 to the general public, hacker and project lead developer Pwn20wnd has updated the iOS 11-centric jailbreak tool once again with bug fixes and improvements.

Pwn20wnd revealed the updated jailbreak tool Saturday morning via Twitter, adding that unc0ver v2.1.3 as an updated public release for all users rather than a beta intended for public testing:

YTMiniBarX rounds the corners of the mini bar in the official YouTube app

The official YouTube app is a must-have for many iPhone owners, whether they’re jailbroken or not. But if you do happen to be jailbroken, then you just might enjoy the freedom of customizing the YouTube app experience beyond what’s possible on a stock device.

A new free jailbreak tweak dubbed YTMiniBarX by iOS developer Wh0ba serves as a great example of this. As depicted in the screenshot examples above, this tweak applies a rounded corner mask to the YouTube mini bar to make it more aesthetically enjoyable.

Blurbe puts a darker spin on some of iOS’ blurred interfaces

Apple accentuates several interfaces throughout iOS with a blurred background to help bring the overlaying interface into focus; key examples include Control Center, Folders, and Spotlight search, just to name a few.

Albeit aesthetically attractive, Apple could bring these blur effects into the modern age with the help of a darker color scheme. Fortunately, that’s something that a new free jailbreak tweak dubbed Blurbe by iOS developer dpkg_ brings to the table.

NCFancy replaces the ‘No Notifications’ text in iOS 10’s Notification Center with storage info

While most of the jailbreak community migrated to iOS 11 several months ago, those still rocking the iOS 10 jailbreak will be excited to learn of a new free jailbreak tweak in town called NCFancy by iOS developer Wh0ba.

NCFancy was explicitly designed for iOS 10 users, and as depicted in the screenshot example above, it replaces Notification Center’s useless ‘No Notifications’ text with something you might appreciate more – a pair of widgets that display your handset’s storage capacity usage.

Video: former iOS chief Scott Forstall reveals tidbits about macOS & Apple TV development

Since his firing in 2012 over refusing to sign an apology to customers concerning the Maps debacle, Apple's former Senior Vice President of iOS software, Scott Forstall, has focused his energies on producing Broadway shows. Thanks to a rare interview with Scott published last week, we now have a nice glimpse of Apple's creative process during Steve Jobs's heyday.

Good Morning: A tweak that launches your favorite app before you wake up every morning

Many people, including myself, reach for their iPhone after waking up every morning to check their missed notifications and catch up on their favorite app(s). But how would you like it if your iPhone knew what you wanted to do every morning and prepared that information before you ever woke up?

A new jailbreak tweak dubbed Good Morning by iOS developer Justin Proulx is a brilliant first step in this direction.

In change of heart, Sileo Team says BigBoss repository can display one ad

Last Friday, the Sileo Team received backlash from prominent jailbreak developers and hackers because the Sileo package manager beta preview prevented the BigBoss repository from serving ads to its users. The situation gave rise to concerns that BigBoss could eventually cease to exist because the repository wouldn’t generate any revenue from its Sileo-centric user base.

Fortunately, the public spat involving several prominent members of the jailbreak community, including hackers and jailbreak tweak developers, appears to have paid off. A Tweet shared Monday evening by the Sileo Team demonstrates a slight change of heart and a departure from the original plan:

Launchtron is a side-oriented quick app launcher for jailbroken devices

iOS is an outstanding mobile operating system, but it often leaves a lot to be desired in the multitasking department, especially on the iPhone. Luckily, the jailbreak community usually has some sort of remedy for problems of this nature.

A new free jailbreak tweak called Launchtron by iOS developer Nepeta is just one of such remedies; it’s fundamentally a quick-access app launcher that you can summon from just about anywhere with a swipe. Furthermore, it can help you access apps more quickly than you could with iOS’ native App Switcher.

MessageBubbles brings a new look and feel to your messaging notifications

If you own an iPhone, then a significant percentage of your usage likely comprises of text messaging. Notifications for incoming messages typically stack up on the Lock screen until you acknowledge them, but if you fancy something that looks nicer, then you might appreciate a new jailbreak tweak called MessageBubbles by iOS developer Kurrt.

As the name implies, MessageBubbles replaces the Lock screen’s standard notification system with a unique message bubble-centric animation. In the screenshot example above, you’ll see how the background stays black as message bubbles from various apps roll into view. You’ll also notice how the message bubbles are color-matched to the app they originate from. This particular combination looks great on OLED displays, but also works on LCD displays.

Jailbreak tweaks of the week: FullMusic11, Harpy, Serene, and more

Jailbreak Tweaks to check out

Anyone with a jailbroken device will want to customize it outside of Apple’s stock parameters, and that means installing jailbreak tweaks to modify its stock behavior.

In this roundup, we’ll talk about all the jailbreak tweaks released from Monday, January 7th to Sunday, January 13th. As usual, we’ll discuss our favorite releases first and then outline the rest afterward.