8 Common Jailbreak Utilities

Following from our article containing a number of common jailbreak terms, this time we are going to go over some of the more common jailbreak utilities that you should download and install.

WinterBoard

This is one app that you will need if you are going to theme your iPad after jailbreaking.  WinterBoard contains a number of themes in itself but is also a required app for virtually all theme apps on Cydia.

Whenever you install a theme app, all the bits that you can change will be visible within the WinterBoard app. All you need to do is open WinterBoard and choose what you are going to theme.  Some developers have made it so that their apps are split into components, while others have made just one single package that will theme a number of things in one hit.

That way, you can use several different theme apps to mix and match and make your iOS device look how you want it to.  If you have not downloaded WinterBoard when you try to install a theme, it will automatically download for you.

SBSettings

SBSettings in one of the main reasons why people jailbreak. It is a completely free app that allows you quick access to your system setting toggles. There are a number of different themes and plug-ins that you can download for SBSettings separately.

The app also lets you hide icons that you do not want to see or do not use, useful if you cannot actually uninstall the app.  You can keep a better eye on your memory usage and see what apps are running at any one time, giving you an idea of what is using your memory and battery.

iWipeCache

iOS never used to cache icons in ways that created problems, unlike now. Whenever you change your theme you might notice that some icons stay the way they were and do not change.

You used to have SSH into your device and get rid of the cache from certain folders but this app makes the process easy by doing it all for you.

OpenSSH

This utility allows you to SSH into your device and use a file client to access your file system.  This means you can edit the system, moving files where you want them and edit them in any way.

Notification Replacement Apps

There are a number of different jailbreak apps in Cydia that will allow you to replace your Notification app. IntelliscreenX, LockInfo and Notified Pro are 3 of the best ones. You will find most offer a free trial to allow you to see how they work first. Even with iOS 7 in place, these apps still offer more in the way of functionality.

SMS Apps and Add-Ons

As with the notification Center, there are also a number of apps that give you better SMS functions. BiteSMS is the most popular but there are other options and it is a case of playing around with them to see which one suits you.  Most apps give you QuickReply features and some work with Activator to create quick access gestures so you do not have to exit your current app to reply to a message.

MyWi

Some carriers have decided that you should pay to tether your iPad. MyWi lets you do the same thing for a one-off fee of $19.99.  In addition, you can tether as many devices as you want, whereas carriers charger per device.

MyWi lets you turn your iPad into a personal hotspot, thus allowing other devices to use it to connect to the internet.

My3G

My3G is another app that gets past Apple and some carriers restrictions. It lets your iPad trick certain apps into thinking they are on a Wi-Fi connection when they are currently running on a cellular data network.

It is a great app for those large downloads when you are not near a Wi-Fi connection and you can also use FaceTime as well.

As you can see, its certainly worthwhile jailbreaking your iPad. You can do so much more with it and actually make it worth the money its cost you to buy.

7 Common Jailbreak Terms

When it comes to Jailbreaking, whether it is an iPhone, and iPad or an iPod Touch, there are 3 schools of people – the experts, the in-betweens who know enough and the complete newbies.  This guide is designed mainly for the latter group.

Jailbreaking is not a complicated process; it simply requires you to have the right equipment and a few minutes of time as well as purchasing the correct software for the job.  Understanding some of the terms used in the jailbreak community can be a little more difficult so, to help you out, we are going to explain 7 of the most common terms:

Jailbreak

This is the most obvious one but one that still gets misinterpreted. Jailbreaking is simply the process of breaking through the layers of security that Apple places in the iOS firmware.  It allows you to modify your iPad using a choice of thousands of different apps that are available in Cydia, the jailbreak app store.

Unlocking

Although this isn’t much to do with the topic at hand, it is a term that still gets mixed up with Jailbreaking. Unlocking means freeing your iPad or iPhone from the lock that your carrier has placed on it. This lock means that you can only use SIM cards from that specific carrier in your device.

Cydia

Cydia is the jailbreakers’ version of the official Apple App store. Indeed, some of the apps that have found their home here have been rejected by Apple because they do not meet their strict requirements.

In actual fact, Cydia has been around a lot longer than the App store. It is home to thousands of different apps or packages, each one stored in a repository.  Each repository can have any number of different apps in it, some by a specific developer and others containing a wide range of apps.

A certain number of repositories are included with Cydia as standard but there are others that you can add.

Recovery Mode/DFU Mode

These are another 2 terms that are muddled up yet each one is distinct and they are both very different.  To determine which mode you are in, just look at your iPad screen – if the connect to iTunes logo is present, along with a Slide for Emergency slider, your iPad is in recovery mode. If, on the other hand, only the iTunes logo is present, without a slider, or your screen is completely blank, you are in DFU mode.

Recovery mode talks to something called iBoot – this is the part that runs a check to ensure everything is genuine on your device. You cannot downgrade the iOS in this mode.

DFU mode, on the other hand, bypasses iBoot, thus fooling iTunes into believing your iPad is running genuine software, allowing you to downgrade if you can.

Baseband

The baseband is your modem – the part that controls the signal and service antennae on your iPad. You need to know what your modem version or baseband number is before you unlock or jailbreak.  Not all software suits all baseband models, although in recent years, this has become less and less of a problem, especially for Jailbreaking. This is only relevant if you use an iPad that uses a SIM card, as Wi-Fi does not rely on basebands to work.

Springboard

The springboard on your iPad is exactly the same as the desktop on your computer.  It is the interface that you work from. Sometimes you will hear people talk about respringing – this means to restart your springboard, or interface. This normally happens when you install jailbreak apps from Cydia.

From now on, when you hear these terms you will know exactly what they mean. Next week, we will continue by giving you some of the more common jailbreak utilities, telling you what they are for and how to use them.

In the meantime, if you have not jailbroken your iPad yet, go ahead, do it, and enjoy the results.