Newer
iOS users may not realize it, but video recording, multitasking, copy/paste and
customizable notifications, among others, were initially only available to
people who jail
broke
their iOS devices to add unsanctioned features. Then little by little, Apple
integrated those functions into its mobile platform. Now, with iOS 7, the
company has done it again.
This
software version contains no ordinary features. In some cases, they're among
the most popular among jail breakers today. That means when Apple launches the
new software—on or around September 10—there will be fewer reasons to hack into
that iDevice.
Let's
take a look at which jailbreak tweaks can head to the scrap heap now, and what
remains in the balance.
Cydia Apps Killed By iOS 7
Jailbreaking
refers to hacking that breaks Apple's restrictions over an iPhone, iPad or iPod
touch. It allows users to access new or hidden settings with unofficial apps,
most of which come from Cydia, the primary repository of unsanctioned programs.
But
Apple is not amused. It has infamously tried to make jailbreaking illegal (to
no avail, at least for iPhones. iPads are another story).
And at every turn, it aggressively patches the security vulnerabilities that
make the hacks possible. All this posturing, however, may not be necessary. The
company already has its best bet to end jailbreaking, and it's a rather simple
solution: Just give users the features they want, so they don't have to hack to
get them.
Indeed,
as iOS evolves, it increasingly co-opts features that were once jailbreak-only.
In a few weeks, when iOS 7 launches, it will continue that tradition. Here are
some of the Cydia tweaks that Apple's new software update has
appropriated:
Auxo
(replaced
by Control Center and multitasking)
There's
no secret to the immense popularity of the Auxo iOS task switcher, which offers
live previews of active apps, swipe-to-delete one or multiple apps, system
toggles for quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and screen brightness.
SBSettings
(replaced
by Control Center)
Jailbreakers
in need of easy access to key settings have long relied on SBSettings. A
gesture summons SBSettings from the status bar. In iOS 7, Control Center offers
nearly the same functionality.
DeepEnd/3DBoard
(replaced
by new parallax effect)
iOS
7's new 3D parallax effect is a splashy visual that creates depth in an
otherwise flattened new environment. Move the iPhone around in your hand, while
keeping your eyes on the home screen, and you'll see what looks like two
different layers—one with the flat icons floating above a deeper-set wallpaper.
DeepEnd did it first, and a new tweak called 3DBoard does something similar.
But iOS 7 has effectively done away with the need for both now.
Clockify
(replaced
by Clock app)
iOS
7's home screen clock icon now keeps real time. Granted, this may not be the
most important feature, but plenty of people use and enjoy Clockify, and they
now have one less reason to stick with their jailbreaks.
UnlockFX
(replaced
by new lockscreen)
The
old lockscreen, which comes up upon waking the device, hasn't changed
significantly in six years. That's what drives many jailbreakers to UnlockFX, a
Cydia app that gives users a number of different unlocking animations that can
swirl, fly left, and move in other ways. Now the new official lockscreen offers
its own spin on things, letting users slide to unlock anywhere on the screen.
Plus, it also includes full notifications and Control Center access, so if
you're yearning for a change, the new stock screen should fit the bill.
Auto
App Updater
(replaced
by App Store)
Manually
installing updates for apps may feel like a chore. Auto App Updater, however,
made easy work of this, automatically handling the process when need be. No
more need for that now, since iOS 7 gives the App Store autoupdate features.
Multifl0w
(replaced
by multitasking)
This
one's an oldie, but a goodie. Multifl0w offers multitasking similar
to the card-oriented way Palm/WebOS handled it. Now iOS 7 has taken on a
similar approach to app switching using a card layout style.
Call
Blocker
(replaced
by native call blocking)
The
iOS 7 beta includes a setting for call blocking. There's no guarantee that this
will work in the final version, but if it does, then there won't be any need
for for the jailbroken app called Call Blocker. (Here's hoping it makes it to
the final version. This is a long overdue feature.)
The End Of Jailbreaking? Not Quite.
Of
course, there are other reasons to jailbreak. There are plenty of hacks, big
and small, still unavailable in the new iOS. Whether these are worth
jailbreaking for, however, depends on the individual.
For
example, Apple doesn't support skins and icon themes for iOS. This is the
reason Winterboard is often the first thing people grab when they first access
Cydia. Others want to boost performance, so they download Nitrous. This hack
accesses the native Nitro JavaScript engine, which is intended only for Apple
apps like Safari and iBooks, to significantly speed up apps that use the WebKit
layout engine.
And
there are still other features only available through jailbreaking, like being
able to:
- · Use widgets (Dashboard X)
- · Rename apps (Rename)
- · Change the default browser (BrowserChanger) or maps app (MapsOpener)
- · Tether laptops without a subscription (MyWi, TetherMe)
- · Try out Google Now–like features (NowNow)
- · Create multiple user accounts (iUsers)
- · Quick reply text-messaging (BiteSMS)
- · Block ads (AdBlocker)
You
can see why jailbreakers are still hot to get their hands on the iOS 7
jailbreak. Word has it that the beta has already been jailbroken successfully,
but it won't be released until Apple launches iOS 7—likely to minimize the
chances of the company blocking it.
But
for others whose primary reason for jailbreaking was SBSettings or Multifl0w,
Apple has cut off the need to hack by legitimizing the features. And based on
its track record, the company probably isn't done yet.
Will
you still jailbreak once the new software comes out? Weigh in below and let us
know which features you still find missing and would jailbreak to get.
Feature
image screen capped from YouTube video by Tom Rich. iOS 7 images
courtesy of Apple.
JAILBRAKING AND ROOTING
From construction to communication and from households to entertainment, technology has brought radical transformations in all arenas. Just 20 years back, the scenario was completely different. Just compare the televisions, phones, computers and vehicles of both generations. The changes have been quick and impressive.
Let’s discuss the Smartphone technology this time. The phones used a couple of years back just had basic features like voice calling, text messaging, FM radio, calculator etc. Today the same phone-based technology has evolved into a gigantic digital communication model. You can do with the Smartphone of today, be it capturing high-definition photographs, sharing information, sending emails, checking live news updates and more.
As more and more Smartphones are hitting the market, new technologies are being deployed each day. Some day you get a great camera, and the other day there’s an awesome operating system. In the midst of all these development, Smartphone makers are trying to level up against competitive players.
RESTRICTIONS
In order to curb malware threats or just out of customer-retention endeavor, Smartphone manufacturers resort to practices like locking, jailbreaking and rooting. These systems are software-produced techniques of placing privilege-level restrictions on mobile phones. While locking is just about restricting a particular phone’s use with a specific network connection, the real confusion comes between jailbreaking and rooting.JAILBREAKING
Used in the context of Apple’s communication devices like iPhone, jailbreaking is the technical procedure of making Apple devices compatible with software not authorized by Apple. With the help of different technological systems like ‘JailbreakMe’, ‘redsn0w’ and ‘Blackra1n’; users are able to remove Apple’s inbuilt restrictions.Apple mandates normal users to install applications and software only from the App Store. Jailbreaking breaks this compulsion and lets users to download third party software. Users can change their iPhone’s default browser, mail client and do downloads that Apple otherwise doesn’t authorize.
ROOTING
Rooting, on the other hand, is usually performed on devices that run on Android operating system. Rooting means gaining ‘root access’ to a device for obtaining administrator permissions to make desirable changes. Rooting can also be performed on systems based on Linux.Unlike jailbreaking, rooting gives deeper access to make changes to a device. For instance, rooting could allow uninstalling system applications that was otherwise not possible. The process of rooting allows making almost all kinds of changes to the phone’s operating system, including OS upgrades and saving battery life.
SECURITY EXPLOITS
Just like jailbreaking isn't favored by Apple, rooting too isn’t preferred by phone manufacturers. For this reason, Apple frequently launches updated versions of operating systems to patch the flaws of jailbreaking. Similarly while rooting a phone device, users may be required to conduct a security exploit. However devices like Nexus may not need security vulnerability for rooting purposes.The above post is written by Alice Aires. She loves to write about Technology news, gadgets, unlocking, rooting, jailbreaking. In her free time she loves to read and play basket ball.
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