It was just a little over three months ago when I bought the iPhone 3GS. I have spent plenty of time getting to know the phone, downloading applications, and testing the limitations of what this thing can and can’t do. I quickly found out that even the most basic features, such as customizing the home screen, icons, changing themes was non existent on the iPhone. On most phones including my old HTC Kaiser, which ran on Windows Mobile I was able to theme and customize the home screen. Just as we can personalize our desktop computers, the iPhone should no be different. Every iPhone looks the same, there is no individuality or personality on these phones, something that is severely missing. This is not a mistake, it’s by design that Apple does this, and it’s beyond puzzling to me. End users at the very least should have the ability to do basic home screen customizing on their phone.
Apple says they want to control the user experience and limit users from malicious software and other types of trickery. To that point I agree, but at least give users the bare minimum to customize their phones. If I want a picture of my daughter on the home screen meaning, I should not have to jail break my phone to do so.
There are thousands upon thousands of applications in the official Apple app store. Most suit my needs, but with jail breaking my iPhone I have access to the official unauthorized app store called Cydia. Cydia, for those unfamiliar with it is the store for applications that have been denied approval for what ever reasons to the official Apple app store. As with the official Apple app store, there are paid and unpaid apps. It’s currently the only place to find the Google Voice app or QIK application just to name a few. There are plenty of borderline garbage applications as well, same as the official Apple app store. The core difference is any developer can code an application for the iPhone without any limitations and have it distributed via Cydia. It’s also buyer beware. Apple has safeguards in place to protect users against malicious software, hence the strictly controlled user experience.
Welcome to the world of Cydia:
Some of the most innovate applications are only available via Cydia. I’ll outline just a few that I use futher down the post.
The screen shot above gives you a sample of just some of the paid applications. These range from $2.99 to $10.00. Some are novelty applications, but others serve a practical purpose and only enhance the iPhone’s exisiting hardware.
Jail breaking your iPhone will allow you to use it on another carrier, such as T Mobile or Verizon. Once the phone is jail broken there is an app to download in Cyida to unlock the phone. Personally I have no use for this as I’m quite happy with AT&T, but it’s nice to know I can make the switch in the future and still use my iPhone on one of those other carriers.
There there’s Winterboard:
Winterboard goes hand in hand with Cydia. WinterBoard is a theming tool used to customize and transform the look and feel of the iPhone. This application runs in the background and handles everything from basic SpringBoard themes (Wallpaper, Dock, StatusBar, & Icons) all the way up to complete themes that customize the entire system UI (Buttons, Backgrounds, & Sounds).
For me it’s all about customization.
I like a little personality to my iPhone. News flash Apple, It’s not just teenagers who like to customize their phones. Every type of theme imaginable is available in Cydia mostly for free too. While the underground selection of applications are nice, the ability to customize my iPhone is the real winner for me. You’ll also notice in the screen shots, I’m using an app that allows you to display five rows and columns of icons as opposed to the standard four.
The other must have application is SB Settings:
This app give me access to the phones core functions in one swipe of the screen. It allows you to kill processes, quickly toggle Wifi, Data, SSH, hide apps and fix permissions and other services that are normally controlled by Settings. You can add additional toggles for just about any setting feature on the iPhone. I mainly use it to kill processes, turn the phone off, and turn on Wifi.
Then of course comes applications like iRealQuickSMS:
Using the default text message application is a thing of the past. I can simply send a quick text message by pressing the home button twice, even when the phone is locked. These are the real innovating apps for the iPhone because they enhance the phones existing hardware and software.
How about downloading YouTube videos?
There is just about an unauthorized app for any type of circumstance. MxTube lets you download any movie that is hosted on YouTube.com directly to your iPhone.
Was is worth Jail breaking my iPhone?
At first I was hesitant, I heard about the stories of phones becoming bricks and I’m well aware it voids my warranty. FYI the phone can be restored via iTunes to its non-jail broken state if all hell breaks loose and thus under warranty again. The phone has been jail broken for about two months now. There is no issue with stability whats soever and it works perfectly fine. So if you want to be able to fully customize your iPhone, and truly take advantage and unlock the phones real power, yes by all means jail break it.
Set your phone free, it will thank you for it later!
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> Jail breaking your iPhone will allow you to use it on another carrier, such as T Mobile or Verizon.
Even after jail breaking, the phone will only work with cell carriers using GSM technology. Verizon and Sprint use CDMA, a competing technology to GSM. T-Mobile, AT&T, and most of Europe use GSM.
Alrighty… I'm gonna have to try it now
Nice article Michael. I've been thinking about it, but actually what I'd want most is moving settings to buttons, and for that it isn't worth it. I was wanting to move things (photos) around using Bluetooth,and thought that was jailbreak. But then I found the app. that does that, leaving no pressing issues. Perhaps next month…
Aloha, Jeff
Jailbreaking has been around since the first version of the iPhone. I have been doing it with all three versions of the iPhone. Good Post!
I don’t know about you anymore Mr. Fruchter. Just when I think I’m getting to know someone, they go and pull a stunt like this. I’m sorry, but I thought I liked you before… but now I am absolutely certain that I do! I had a feeling that there might be a rebellious (more interesting) side to you. I think I knew I was heading in this direction back when I first heard of Winterboard and saw what it could do. I wanted it, and I didn’t what to wait for Apple’s approval. After all, it’s all about customization. I think one needs to first be a PC in order to understand a simple concept like this. Steve Jobs has great taste, as do I; except mine changes on a regular basis, and I think my OS should reflect it. Now that you’ve opened up this can of worms, how do I get started? Does this make all my other apps worthless? What about foursquare? Ironically, I’m the mayor of the Apple store, and I was intending on keeping it this way. How much more is this going to cost me with no BS please? Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bad influence? I’m kidding around; but you are Mr. Fruchter. Sorry, I meant to say Michael! BTW; for the Google record, I’m not really serious about any of this! I’m just conducting some personal research into different ways of commenting on blog posts. This one seemed perfect for the approach I’m experimenting with called, “tell them what they want to hear”;-)
why cant i change the keyboard after the jailbreak thru cydia and winterboard
how do i get the theme that u have for the fourth picture under the customization heading. i downloaded the illumination theme but it gave me something different.
and what app did u use to display 5 apps in a row?
i found the easiest way ever to jail break my phone. did it in like 2-3 minutes. blackra1n.com