Top 10 WinterBoard Themes for the Jailbroken iPad

WinterBoard is one of the most downloaded apps from Cydia, being the basis of virtually every theme app on there.  Every week more new themes arrive, including many that have now been updated to support iOS 7.

There has been a rush on iOS 7 themes ever since WinterBoard got its update to support the new firmware. The following are ten of the most popular iPad jailbreak themes to be released in recent weeks.

Eli7e

Eli7e is a long awaited app for the iPad jailbreak.  It provides a nice mix of shadows and depth, especially for those jailbreakers who are still not sure about the flat look to iOS 7.

Widgets will also be available for this theme in a future update.

The7 iOS 7

If you are planning to jailbreak iPad, make this a theme you definitely download.  The colors are more muted than iOS 7 and also includes shadows, a seemingly popular inclusion in themes at the moment.

0xygen

0xygen iPad jailbreak theme is bright and cheerful and, yes, it has those shadows. It is available on the ModMyi repo and costs $2.99.

I7Cons

This is another bright and cheerful iPad jailbreak theme and incorporates shadows with the colors in a clever way.  If you just want the icon theme, the package is free in Cydia. However, if you prefer to wait, a full package will be available in Cydia soon. This will theme the entire user interface, but there is no price on it yet. Watch this space for that one…

ZTicons

ZTicons is a great new colorful theme for those who jailbreak iPad.  It makes full use of the retina display in the newer devices to bring you sharp and clear colors.  It can be purchased from the ModMyi repository for $1.50

Acies

Acies is a jailbreak theme that takes it cues from the flat look of iOS 7.  While not every icon is supported, more are being added on a daily basis. Including a number of popular third party ones.  Acies will cost you $1.29 from the MacCiti repo on Cydia.

7ransparency

 This is an iPad jailbreak theme that uses 9 different color shades – violet, white, pink, blue, green, black, yellow, orange and red.  It’s simple, it’s transparent and it’s colorful. You can get is free on the BigBoss repository on Cydia

Suite for iOS 7

Another simple theme, yet full of color for the icons. To get this you need to add a repository to Cydia, http://repo.ifans.com. Full instructions on doing that are at the bottom of this post.

Original for iOS 7

If you like transparency, you will love this one. This is a pretty unique jailbreak theme and is a stunning first attempt for a brand new developer on the jailbreak scene. You can get it free on the ModMyi repository.

Nux for iOS 7

Clever title, NUX stands for New User Experience and this is a brand new jailbreak theme for iOS 7. It is available in black or white and is another unique look at iOS 7. There are also widgets you can add in as well and you can get this one for $3.

How to Add a Repository

When you install an iPad jailbreak, you will find pretty much everything you want on the default repositories installed with Cydia. Every now and again, you will come across a new app that isn’t on one of those repos and you will need to add a new one. It’s pretty simple to do, here’s how:

• Open Cydia
• Tap Manage
• Tap Sources
• Tap Edit
• Tap Add
• Type in the URL that goes with the repository, like the one we gave you above
• Tap on Add Source and let Cydia install it

That’s all there is to it. Make sure, when you type in a URL that you type it in exactly otherwise Cydia will not recognize it. Unlike a web browser, it does not have the facility to be able to guess at what you are typing in!

Jailbreaking is becoming more and more popular and there are tons of Cydia apps appearing on a daily basis. If you jailbreak iPad, you will find that there are now more apps than ever before that have support for the device, giving you a much wider choice of download options.

Battery Doctor Pro – The Top battery Management App for the Jailbroken iPad

Battery life, or lack of, is a common complaint for an iPad owner. It usually becomes an issue whenever Apple releases a new firmware, causing all sorts of trouble.

Well, once in a while, Cydia opens its doors to a new app that make it worthwhile to jailbreak iPad.  One such app is called Battery Doctor Pro and it is one of the top apps for managing your battery life really effectively.

We are going to take a closer look at this popular jailbreak app and see exactly what it offers:

Features

Battery Doctor Pro is a standalone app, working independently of anything else. When you open the app on your iPad, you get a screen that tells you how long your battery is going to last for before it needs charging again.

The iPad jailbreak app also offers you a choice of 3 default options – Indoor, Outdoor and Alarm.  These are similar to the profiles you set up on your iPhone and each one controls a number of system toggles:

• Indoor – For use when you are home. Turns off Location Services, Bluetooth, Mobile Data
• Alarm – For when you turn in. Set to turn off Data and Wi-Fi connections, switch on Airplane mode, dim the screen and turn off Bluetooth
• Outdoor – For when you go out. Turns Wi-Fi off but switches on Location Services and Mobile Data.

You can configure these modes to your preferences through each individual mode. There are 7 separate settings that you can enable and disable.

Whenever you connect your jailbroken iPad to the power, Battery Doctor Pro opens and gives you a screen with information such as how long the charge will take and which stage of the charge cycle your jailbroken iPad is in:

• High Speed – fast recharge
• Continuation –  lower speed recharge
• Trickle – Slow speed recharge

Other features include being able to look at your system information – this shows you your battery health, battery temperature and how many recharge cycle it has been through. It will also tell you how much RAM and CPU is in use and how much free storage space you have left.

There is a Manager option, which tells you how much energy each app uses. Cleanup helps to free space up by getting rid of cache files, system logs, temporary files, cookies and browsing history amongst other things.

How the Status bar Widget Works

One reason why people jailbreak iPad is to get their hands on widgets. Battery Doctor Pro has its own status bar widget that is integrated with the battery indicator. Tapping on it will tell which preset mode you are in, how much battery life is left and how much free Ram you have.

Free up some much needed memory by tapping the Ram icon in the widget and shutting down all running apps.

Access your system settings toggles to action them by tapping on the battery life section of the widget.  There are a number of handy toggles in there for you to enable or disable.

Access the Apps Switcher or multitasking bar to kill off apps. You can add a similar widget to the lock screen of your jailbroken iPad as well.

Smart Save

This handy iPad jailbreak app also has Smart Save, which will turn on when your iPad goes into standby, at night, or when you have a low battery:

• Standby – kills all open background apps, turns off LTE and dims the screen
• Low Power –  Turns of Mobile Data and dims the screen
• Sleep – Turns on Sleep preset mode

Battery Doctor Pro settings

The settings for Battery Doctor Pro are accessed from the menu in the app and you can:

• Turn the status bar widget on and off
• Turn off the preset changer, decide if you want your toggles in one or two rows
• Disable automatic app launching when iPad is on charge

Compatibility and availability

Battery Doctor Pro is compatible with any iPad model that has an iPad jailbreak on it. IT will work on iOS 7 5 right through to iOS 7 and works on the iPhone 3GS through to iPhone 5S and iPod 4 and 5.

You can download Battery Doctor Pro from Cydia completely free of charge.

Some of the best apps available for an iPad jailbreak are free; just one more reason to install that jailbreak without delay.

Part 3 – Jailbreak Apps every iPad User Needs

This is the final part of our 3 part series on essential apps for the jailbroken iPad 2, 3,4 Air and Mini/2. Today we are going to look at those essential system apps, the ones that give your jailbroken iPad a new lease of life and a reason for being.

Springtomize

Springtomize is the ultimate app in Cydia and it is compatible with the jailbroken iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini and the iPad Mini 2.  There are not many jailbreak apps that cover as much ground as this one does.

Springtomize is a combination of dozens of different jailbreak apps, bringing you all the modifications and customizations you could ever need.

The iPad was made to be jailbroken for this kind of app. With Springtomize you can access you system settings toggles, disable your icon badges, customise your icons, the lock screen, the dock, you name it, you can do it.

Springtomize is available of r download for $2.99 and is compatible with the jailbroken iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini and the iPad Mini 2.

Infiniapps

Infiniapps offers you a package of 3 apps in one. The package includes Inifindock, which allows you to add as many icons to your dock as you want. Infiniboard changes the way you navigate the springboard on your jailbroken iPad and Infinifolders allows you to store as many apps as you like in each folder.

Each separate app is available on Cydia for $0.99 and all three are fully compatible with any model of the iPad that has been jailbroken.

Barrel

Barrel is a nice jailbreak app that changes the way your jailbroken iPad reacts when you change pages on the springboard. Forget the standard swipes, Barrel gives you 3-D.

AlertArtist

The Push Notification box is pretty boring on iOS but AlertArtist lets you customize it, changing the shading and the color. This means you can match it to your current theme.

Barrell is compatible with the jailbroken iPad 2,3, 4, air and Mini/2 and costs just $0.99 in Cydia

Gridlock

Apple restricts you on iOS in where and how you place your app icons. GridLock changes that by letting you put your icons wherever you want to on the springboard of your jailbroken iPad.

Gridlock costs just $0.99 on Cydia

Scrollingboard

Where Infinidock allows you as many icons on the dock as you want, Scrollingboard adds a little bit more.  With this jailbreak app, you can include things like iPod controls, SBSsettings toggles and other things in your dock, allowing you to control tem from there as well.

Scrollingboard costs $1.50 and the SBSettings add on is free in Cydia.

ListLauncher

ListLauncher works perfectly on an iPad that has been jailbroken, by allowing you to launch any app from your Spotlight Search page. You can fill in a list with the apps that you want to open and place it under the search bar in Spotlight, enabling you to launch any of them with a simple tap.

Listlauncher costs $0.99 and is compatible with all models of the jailbroken iPad

FolderEnhancer

FolderEnhancer is similar to InfiniFolder in that you can store as many icons in each folder as you want. It also allows you to have fodders inside your folders, put folders in the dock and do just about anything else you can think of with the folders on your jailbroken iPad 2, 3, 4, air, Mini and Mini 2.

Folder Enhancer costs $2.50 on Cydia

Wraparound

Wraparound gives you the ability to swipe without getting stuck on any page.  Simply put, it is swiping a never-ending loop and is perfect for the iPad jailbreak enthusiast.

Wraparound costs $1.99 in Cydia

That concludes our round up of some of the best and most essential Cydia apps to have on your jailbroken iPad. Of course, there are many more but we just have not the time or space to mention them all.

If you are thinking about jailbreaking the iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Mini or iPad Mini 2, be sure to check out our article on the best jailbreak software to use.

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Jailbreaking the iPad 2

So you’re ready to take the plunge and jailbreak iPad 2? Remember, after committing to an iPad 2 jailbreak your device will be an outlaw to the Apple community. You can no longer bring your device to the Apple Store for troubleshooting various problems, such as, a dead battery, broken screen, water damage, etc. because they will see that a jailbreak has been performed. So, first things first, if you’re ready to jailbreak your iPad without any hesitation, you’re sick of the numerous restrictions Apple places on their products, and all you want is a bit of freedom, then let’s get started. Otherwise, you’re free to stop here, and be on your way.

Jailbreak Options — iPad 2

Before modifying your iPad 2, you need to consider how you want to go about this process because if you’re unaware, you do have options to choose from (tethered, semi-tethered, and untethered) depending on amount of control you desire to have over your iPad 2 jailbreak.

Option 1: Untethered Modification
Untethered modifiction is by far the most popular and widely used mod of the three. After the initial installation, your device (i.e. jailbreak iPad 2) does not need to be connected to your computer, and let’s you use all of your applications without much difficultly. Furthermore, this mod will not be affected if your battery dies, which makes it preferred over the others.

Option 2: Semi-tethered Modification
Semi-tethered modification, unlike untethered modification, will not work to its full potential if the battery dies, unless performing a reboot while plugged into your computer. This is not to say it isn’t functional, but it will not allow you to use all your apps. Until you plug your device into a computer, you will not be able to restore all of the former functions of the mod, and you will be running in a semi-functional state.

Option 3: Tethered Modification
Tethered modification will not function correctly at all if you let your device’s battery die. Every time you reboot your device you will need a computer connection, otherwise your device will not reboot properly, and you will be stuck staring blankly at a frozen Cydia screen. This mod can be discouraging, frustrating, and a downright pain in the neck.

To save some precious time, energy, and a likely headache, do yourself a favor and stick with an untethered modification. Here’s how you do it.

How To Jailbreak iPad 2

When the program Absinthe was released, it made an untethered modification quick, easy, and secure. Being the first of its kind, this app works for basically any Apple device (i.e. idevices) and for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, OS, and Linux. This program is designed for a novice, it’s very user-friendly, and will not require any background knowledge of these specific technologies.

Getting started with the modification requires you to back up the device before the install to avoid any sort of unnecessary data loss. Once this has been completed, you must download Absinthe to your computer.

1. Launch the app Absinthe onto your computer system, and when prompted, follow the steps to access Absinthe.
2. After the installation has finished, plug the desired device (in this case, we have a jailbreak iPad 2) into your computer.
3. In a few moments, Absinthe will recognize and identify your device (make sure it does recognize your device), and then it will ask you to “set free” the device. Click this button located in the center of your screen.
4. After you select and click the jailbreak button, the installation mod will inform you the jailbreak has begun and that it may take awhile, but truthfully, it should take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes.
5. As the download persists, it will tell you ‘sending initial jailbreak data’ then ‘sending final jailbreak data.’ This will be followed by something along the lines of ‘restore in progress’ then ‘waiting for reboot.’
6. Upon completion, your device will restart and the Cydia icon will appear on your desktop.
7. Click on the icon, which will open Cydia, and prepare your file-system. This will take a few minutes, and finally, your finished!

Do NOT unplug your device during this entire process!

Part 2 – Jailbreak Apps every iPad User Needs

Welcome back to our 3 part series on jailbreak apps that every iPad user should have. This is aimed at those of you who are new to the jailbreak scene and today we cover jailbreak apps for speed and productivity along with a few really cool apps that you should not be without.

Speed and Productivity

Action Menu – Free

Do you use the cut/copy/paste feature on your iPad?  This app adds an awful lot of customization to the feature, taking it to a completely new level.  When you install it, you need to access the settings within the app and start configuring it how you want it.

If you really like the app, consider paying $2.99 to get the Plus pack that goes with it. This gives you a few more actions that are helpful and the choice of sending any text that you highlight in a tweet.

Xpandr – $1.99

There are not many apps that will save you a great deal of time but Xpandr does.  This app allows you to set up shortcuts for any word or phrase and it can be used anywhere in the iOS. It does not matter what shortcuts you set as long as it saves you time.

MultiIconMover -Free

MultiIconMover is a useful app that lets you move more than one app icon at a time.  All you do is long press on an app icon so they all start joggling and then tap on each icon you want to move. Now you can move several icons at once to a new page, tap on the Home button and it’s all done.

Fast Copy – Free

Fast Copy is a very simple app that removes the lag when you are using cut/copy/paste actions.  While it may seem like a small thing, it can save you quite a bit of time when you are copying and pasting text from one location to another.

FakeClockUp – Free

This is a jailbreak app that will give you some significant time savings. What it does is it accelerates the UIKit transition animation, speeding up performance in the iOS.  While the newer iPads are already super fast, this will suit the older models who do not benefit from blazing fast processors.

QuickGoogle

This jailbreak app allows you to use Google as a search option from anywhere within the iOS.  You will need to download Activator and set up a gesture but it will speed up your productivity no end.

ManualCorrect

Auto Correct is a real pain in the proverbial at times; it may as well not be there because you have to check everything that has been written to make sure it is right.  ManualCorrect changes the way it works by offering up suggestions for a misspelled or unusual word instead of auto correcting.

Cool Apps

Display Recorder – $4.99

DisplayRecorder is a really cool jailbreak app in that it lets you record whatever is on your iPad screen.  You can record direct to high quality AVI, there is a web interface that helps you to manage your recordings and you can up load your recording to YouTube direct from your iPad.

There are loads of options for customization and the option to control your iPad display from your desktop.

VLC Media Player – Free

VLC is one of the more popular video apps, just with more options than most.  What makes it popular is the fact that it will support a high number of file formats, especially those that cannot be played through iTunes.

That concludes part 2 of this series. Join us next week for the final part when we talk about a number of essential system apps available from Cydia.

Part 1 – Jailbreak Apps every iPad User Needs

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If you are new to the scene of jailbreaking, you might be wondering what to do with your iPad once you have jailbroken it. That is what we are here for, to help you out and point you in the right direction. Today we are going to start a series about the best jailbreak apps that every iPad user should have.

The Basics

First up are the basic jailbreak apps that you should download straight away:

OpenSSH

This app lets you SSH into your iPad, via your PC, and access your file system. You can move files, share them, change them or edit them.

Activator

One of the most popular apps on Cydia, Activator allows you to set up all manner of gestures on your iPad. This means that you can set up short cuts to access certain aspects of iOS, cutting down on the length of time taken to do something. For example, you can set up a gesture that will open your control center or notification center. You can either use swipes, taps or even set the physical buttons to do things.  Many of the apps on Cydia require Activator so make it one of your first downloads.

SBSettings

This is one of the longest serving apps in Cydia and one for the most downloaded. SBSettings gives you quick access to your system toggles so that you can enable or disable things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in an instant.  It also includes a few themes so you can change the look of your iPad at the same time.

CyDelete

CyDelete lets you remove Cydia apps from your springboard in the same manner that you would ordinary apps.  A long press on the app will make all the icons jiggle and then you can delete them by pressing on the cross in the corner of each icon.

The Essentials

No jailbroken iPad would be complete without these essential apps:

iFile

iFile is an alternative to the file manager system on your iPad. It’s an app that makes syncing with your cloud storage easy and you can also edit your files, move and share them and so much more. It’s not free, it will cost you $4 in Cydia but that is a small price to pay for such an awesome tool.

PkgBackup

When we talk about backing up your files, we do not just mean your photos etc. Using this package you can also back up all of your Cydia packages to that, in the event you lose everything, you can get them back easily. You can also sync with Cloud storage as well for extra security.

iSHSHit

This one is for saving those SHSH blobs, something that you must do every time you update your firmware. These are to help you downgrade to an older firmware should you ever wish to in the future.  Your blobs can be emailed to you or can be stored on Cydia.

WinterBoard

If you want to change the look of your iPad, you need WinterBoard. This is the most popular theming app there is. It does contain a few themes of its own but you will need WinterBoard for virtually every theme app on Cydia.

RetinaPad

iPhone apps never look very good on the iPad. They go all pixelated and look, well, terrible. RetinaPad upscales the iPhone apps so that they will run on the iPad without any loss of quality, even on full screen mode.  Again, it is not free bit it will only cost $2.99.

That is part 1 of our essential iPad apps feature. Please join us next week for the next installment.