Messages

New ‘Typecast’ tweak brings “now typing” and read receipt indicators to the fore

Typecast is a new jailbreak tweak that makes the "now typing" indicator and read receipt indicators associated with message conversations more prominent. Typecast is especially good when juggling multiple conversations at the same time, because it places the now typing indicators right on the conversation inside of the message list view.

If you've ever used TypeStatus, a similar tweak from which Typecast draws inspiration from, then you pretty much know what to expect here from a technical standpoint. But it's the way that Typecast presents itself, and the fact that it works with additional apps, that makes it warrant a look— even if you already use TypeStatus.

BIM: a new jailbreak tweak that lets you view links without leaving the Messages app

I've always lived by the idea that simple jailbreak tweaks make the best jailbreak tweaks, and BIM is the perfect example of that. BIM is a tweak that lends a convenient web browsing experience directly inside of the stock Messages app.

When someone sends you a link, tapping on it will open a web browser directly inside the Messages app. This means that you can check out the links sent to you quickly without needing to leave the Messages app for Safari.

How to fix issues connecting to the server during Apple Watch setup

Have you ever received the error message "there was a problem connecting to the server" during the Apple Watch setup process? This error may occur when you try to log in to Messages.

The problem with this error is that there's no way to bypass it from the Apple Watch app. Thankfully, however, there is a way to get past this error so that you can complete the Apple Watch initial setup process.

Couria: the best biteSMS alternative for iOS 8.4

In the absence of biteSMS, Couria has historically stepped in to help fill the large void left by the once venerable quick reply and quick compose tweak for jailbroken iPhones. Thankfully, Couria is really good at what it does, and arguably better than biteSMS in some respects.

I really like Couria's lightweight footprint. It's fast, easy to use, and fits the stock Messages app like a glove. For these reasons, it's hands-down the best way to use quick reply and quick compose with the stock Messages app.

Columba is a new quick reply and quick compose tweak for iOS

biteSMS is long gone, and as such, jailbreakers have been clamoring for an adequate replacement. Well, I've got good news and bad news.

The good news is there's another potential biteSMS replacement available for jailbroken iPhones. The bad news is it's nowhere near as polished as biteSMS and it's simply not ready for prime time.

Columba, as the tweak is called, is available for $2.99 on the BigBoss repo. Not only does it bring quick reply and quick compose to the table, but it also promises scheduled messaging and messaging templates. Have a look at our impressions to read our thoughts on the release.

iMessage crashing bug fixed in iOS 8.4 beta 4

An annoying bug that crashes your iPhone after a specific string of symbols and Arabic characters is received through iMessage or SMS from another party has been fixed in iOS 8.4 beta 4, as first reported by Italian blog HDBlog.it. The beta software was seeded to registered Apple developers two days ago. The iMessage crashing bug is tied to how iOS banner notifications process Unicode text.

Apple has offered a temporary bandaid solution of sorts until a proper fix is delivered. iDownloadBlog has posted a few potential fixes of its own, too. That being said, the iOS 8.4 software update will squash this pesky bug for everyone when it arrives on June 30.

Unsurprisingly, iPhone Messages bug crashes iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, WhatsApp, Twitter and Snapchat

An odd software bug which causes the iPhone's Messages application to crash and sends the handset into a respring after a certain text is received affects the iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, too. In addition, the text bug apparently affects third-party social and messaging apps that deal with text, including WhatsApp, Twitter and Snapchat, The Guardian newspaper learned today.

That's hardly surprising. The issue can be traced back to a specific series of Unicode characters, suggesting a bug in the text engine framework called CoreText that exists in iOS and OS X.

That would explain why third-party apps that deal with messages, like Twitter and Snapchat, were affected as they tap into Apple's CoreText engine to manage strings of text and layouts.

IneffectivePower and Unicode Suppressor will protect jailbroken devices from the “effective power” Messages bug

There is a new bug in iOS that resprings most peoples phones due to a low memory crash. It is caused by iOS's inability to render certain strings of Arabic characters which overloads the memory, causing resprings and reboots or safe mode on a jailbroken device. Simply explained, when someone messages you those characters and you get a banner notification, your phone starts kicking the bucket.

A few developers have stepped in and saved the day for jailbreakers. This isn't the first or second time the jailbreak community receives a security fix quicker than Apple is able to push one to stock devices. It's a great example of the argument that jailbroken iOS, in the right hands, can be more secure than stock.

How to get around strange Messages bug that crashes your iPhone

An odd bug that lets ill-minded folk send you a message which causes your iPhone to respring has been making rounds.

In case you missed it, a very specific string of symbols and Arabic characters sent through iMessage or SMS sends an iPhone in an immediate respring, causing the device to crash and quickly reboot, as first noticed on Reddit.

It's a serious issue which in some instances can break the Messages app on your iPhone so here are a few possible workaround solutions until Apple delivers a proper fix.