Jailbreak Apps

Flex allows you to create your own jailbreak tweaks [Video]

Two weeks ago, we showed you an upcoming jailbreak app entitled Flex. The app, the first of its kind, allows every day users to dig into the code, and create custom jailbreak tweaks — called patches — on the fly, with little to no programing knowledge.

Usually when you encounter ambitious apps like this, something is missing. Either the app looks amazing, but fails in execution, or the app looks a hot mess, but is solid from an executional perspective. With Flex, I was happy to find little compromise in either direction. It's a beautifully designed jailbreak app that's extremely functional as well.

To be frank, not everyone agrees that end-users should be able to wield such power, especially those with no programing background. Ultimately, that's going to be a decision you're going to have to make when considering whether or not to use Flex.

Wherever you stand, you have to be impressed that such an idea has been executed with this level of precision. Take a look at our full video walkthrough of the Flex beta in action, and see for yourself.

How to jailbreak iOS 6.1 final using RedSn0w 0.9.15b3

Let me just preface this by telling you this is probably not the jailbreak you have been anticipating, but for the sake of being completionists, we are showing you how to jailbreak a pre-A5 device using the final public version of iOS 6.1.

As you know, the final version of iOS 6.1 just dropped for all devices, and that means that Sunday, we should probably expect a jailbreak of the untethered variety to hit all iOS 6.1 compatible devices outside of the obstinate Apple TV 3 (update: we now know the jailbreak will be called evasi0n). In the interim, however, for those of you wishing to jailbreak Apple's latest firmware on a pre-A5 device, we'll show you how.

Check inside for the full video and written tutorial that guides you step-by-step through the process.

How to prepare for the iOS 6.1 untethered jailbreak

It's almost here, ladies and gentlemen. I know we say this before every jailbreak, but this truly is the most highly anticipated jailbreak to ever hit the community.

Just consider it for a minute: There a more devices supported with this jailbreak than ever before, and there are perhaps many people out there that have never had a taste of jailbreaking before who are anticipating their first time.

Couple this with the fact that it's been a very long time since we've had a jailbreak to begin with, and you can kind of see where I'm going with this. We're all very excited, but don't get into so much a frenzy that you forget to cover some essential basics when it comes to preparing for the iOS 6.1 jailbreak. Be prepared, and take these steps.

It looks like Sunday is Funday

Oh how we love this time of year. iOS 6.1 was just released, in what is widely expected to be the last step that the hacking team behind the upcoming jailbreak needs to proceed.

To further intensify the aticipation, MuscleNerd, 1/4 of the team making up the evad3rs, just teased about the possible day in which we could see the jailbreak released. What are you doing this weekend?

TinyUmbrella updated with support for iOS 6.1

With a new jailbreak impending, it's nice to see that notcom has updated his SHSH blob-saving utility this afternoon. TinyUmbrella now supports the newly-released iOS 6.1 firmware, as well as iOS 6.0.2.

The developer also says that he is still hard at work on a TU revamp, which will include auto-updating and "much cleaner code."

Jailbreak developer says 7 out of 8 users pirated his Remote Messages app

Remote Messages is a jailbreak tweak that allows users to access full SMS and iMessage functionality on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S from a desktop browser. It's a clever utility that allows the iPhone to run as a server, which creates a chat window front-end on desktop browsers. This front-end comes complete with support for profile pictures, attachments, and Emoji icons, as well as for sending and receiving texts. This utility is especially handy if you like to have your phone connected to a stereo away from your desk or if you prefer typing with a full keyboard and screen.

Unfortunately, it seems the $4.99 app is mostly popular with pirates. According to a Reddit thread by the developer, 7 out of 8 installs of Remote Messages are pirated copies...

Will Cydia packages need to be updated for the iPhone 5’s larger screen? Not necessarily

A lot of folks have been wondering what kind of impact the larger screen of the iPhone 5 will have on their favorite Cydia packages. According to Saurik, the creator of Cydia, the impact should be negligible.

One of the things that I really appreciate about Saurik, is that he's never too busy to take the time to explain his position, an idea, or to clear up a misconception. That's exactly what he did when a Reddit user complained about the potential lack of iPhone 5 compatible Cydia software...

Cydia developers rush to update their apps and tweaks as iOS 6.1 jailbreak looms

One way that I can always tell that a jailbreak is getting ready to be released, is when I see a bunch of apps and tweaks being updated to support the latest major firmware. That's exactly what's happened in the past, and that's exactly what's happening right now.

Since there's been no untethered jailbreak for iOS 6.x, most developers haven't bothered to update their tweaks and apps to support this firmware. Makes sense. That is all about to change, as soon as this week, even. Hence, many devs are scrambling to get the needed updates out to support the latest version of iOS.

‘Revelation’ reveals masked passwords on iOS

If you find yourself forgetting a saved password in your favorite browser, whether it be Safari, Chrome, or the like, then Revelation may come to your aid. But what if you forget a saved password in something like your Gmail email account saved within iOS? Revelation can help there, too.

As you can probably tell by now, Revelation is a new jailbreak tweak that allows you to see your otherwise hidden passwords in the clear. Not only will it prevent your passwords from being masked as you type, you can also go back and reveal saved passwords in their unmasked form.

Indeed, it's certainly a security violation, but if you find yourself up a creek without a way to reset your password, then Revelation may be a good last resort. Take a look at our video walkthrough inside, and decide if its something you might benefit from.

‘PDF Printer for Safari’ adds support for Maps, soon for any app

PDF Printer for Safari was a jailbreak tweak originally designed to allow users to 'print' from safari to PDF documents in order to neatly archive websites, but it seems the tweak has grown beyond its name.

The latest version of PDF Printer for Safari adds PrintKit integration, which is the native printing library on iOS. This library means 'printed' documents will save faster, users can now delete pages from the PDF on the fly, and the PDF Printer now works with the stock Maps app in iOS 5...

The future of jailbreaking is very bright

Last month, I posted a slightly controversial article entitled: 3 reasons why jailbreaking is waning in popularity. In it, I highlighted several points as to why jailbreaking was on a downturn. In hindsight, although I still stand by the post, I probably should have qualified my reasoning a bit better.

The real reason that jailbreaking is "waning" if you will, is because there simply is no jailbreak available for new devices. The recent bar graph showing jailbroken devices proves as much. I tried to say that, but I don't think it came across that way. Whatever the case may be, it looks as if that primary reason will soon no longer apply.

Hackers pod2g, planetbeing, and others have been working diligently on the iPhone 5/iOS 6 jailbreak for quite some time now. They've made great progress, as highlighted in Mike's post about the collaborative effort.

In fact, things are going so well, that one famous hacker in particular has just proclaimed that the future is looking bright for jailbreaking...

Carnitine allows you to activate Wi-Fi for select apps only

We've seen clever jailbreak utilities for enabling toggles in the past, but I really think the developer behind Carnitine are onto something special. Carnitine, in this case, is a jailbreak tweak that can enable Wi-Fi while select apps are open and not the biological compound.

Carnitine is brilliant because it enables Wi-Fi not from the command of a gesture, a timer, or a GPS location, but from right when you open any set app. The idea is Wi-Fi is there when you need it. Though the implementation in the initial version isn't perfect, for reasons I will soon explain, I would love to see Carnitine expanded into a larger tweak...