The release of Absinthe, the jailbreaking tool, has introduced a multitude of new users to the world of Cydia. While some of these may be old hands, we are positive that quite a few are new to it. And that’s why we are bringing you a list of some fun and some essential tweaks for your freshly jailbroken device, only available within the world of jailbroken devices. All of these are iPad 2 and iOS 5 compatible:
iFile for iPad:
$4. Purchase from Cydia. Simply click on icon on home-screen to install.
You need to/should purchase this app because it provides you with the basic ability to view your device’s root file structure, navigate through your iPhone’s otherwise inaccessible file system and view files of different types and formats (including PDF and ZIP and other basic formats). More advanced users can also use it’s built-in web server to upload and download files. A handy app which is updated regularly, author Carsten Heinelt’s iFile is one app which you absolutely need on your device. A free trial is offered, but it needs to be purchased to unlock all it’s great features.
RetinaPad:
$2.99. Available on Cydia’s BigBoss Repository. Open Settings, and you’ll see a menu for the app. Select the apps you want to use it for, and click start.
RetinaPad is a neat little Cydia tweak from Ryan Petrich. What it basically does is, it clears up the picture on fullscreen iPhone apps enough to make it look like an iPad built app. It can not be called perfect but it does sharpen many things that would otherwise seem pixelated. It is particularly useful for when you’re using an iPhone app, scale it up to full screen, but the result is not sharp as you would like it to be as Apple doesn’t have them use maximum resolution settings.
NoLockScreen:
Free of charge. Available via the BigBoss repo.
Extremely impatient people, or if you simply don’t like ‘slide-to-unlock’, should get this one. This app removes the additional step; when you unlock your device it takes you directly to your homescreen. It only works if you don’t have a passcode set up.
Music Controls Pro:
$5.99. Available via the BigBoss repo.
A functional, detailed app well worth the money. It provides you complete control over your music by flawlessly integrating with your device and then offering multiple features. These include third-party tack information, swipe controls, video application backgrounding, Notification Center plugins and status bar integration alongside support for 46 different popular music applications.
SplitMail for iPad:
Free of charge. Available via BigBoss.
This is another one from Ryan Petrich. Attaching itself directly to the iPad’s native Mail app, SplitMail allows you to display the left column of your e-mails in portrait mode in the same way it does while in landscape mode. There is no icon for it in Settings, once downloaded. Simply view your mail in Portrait mode.
MyWi and MyWi On Demand:
$19.99 for MyWi 4.0.
If you own a WiFi only iPad 2, this one’s a lifesaver. It provides a hotspot connection between two Apple devices, allowing for sharing of an internet connection. MyWi on Demand can be connected and disconnected at will. it doesn’t use up too much battery power either. The connection between devices remains available while the screen is unlocked and automatically disconnects otherwise. There is no need to activate hotspot and enter a passcode every time. A free three day trial is offered. MyWi on Demand is also commercial, and it requires the purchase of MyWi 4.0.
FullScreen for Safari:
$2.19. BigBoss repo.
Like the name implies, it offers full screen for iOS native Safari. Alongside that it also offers the ability to swipe/gesture/shake to perform user defined tasks. For example, users could make it so that a swipe on the screen switches between tabs. Once installed, preferences can be configured via the Settings app.
SBSettings:
Absolutely free of cost.
Essential for any jailbroken iDevice, SBSettings lets you activate a pop-up by swiping on the screen with easy access to something simple, letting you bypass the need to dig through long menus. The options can be customized, the look can be themed, and there are many more add-ons to be had in Cydia.
Activator:
Free of charge via the BigBoss repository.
Another much used tweak to Ryan Petrich’s name, Activator is a system-wide tweak that lets users set up custom activation gestures and commands for pretty much anything. Certain gesture or button presses activate whatever action a user may require. For instance, a pinch gesture may be used to fire up the music controls. A must-have app, all the more so because it’s absolutely free.
ProTube HD:
$1.49. Available via the BigBoss repo.
An app we have written in detail about before, ProTube is everything Apple’s native YouTube app should have been. With regular options such as playing/commenting on/favourite-ing videos, ProTube also offers users the option to download videos in HD, or simply extract the audio. ProTube supports AirPlay, and allows videos to be mailed. All in all, a nifty app that is a much-needed replacement for the naive YouTube.
FolderEnhancer:
$1.99. Available via the Big Boss repository.
Like the name implies, this lets you enhance your folders. It lets you organize all your folders, you can put folders within folders or just have one big folder with all your apps in it. Folders for iOS introduced back in 2010 with iOS 4 are quite limited in functionality; You are only allowed to place 12 apps inside each folder and you can’t place a folder within a folder. FolderEnhancer lets you get past this. It can also be used to assign folders to dock, and open folders much faster than what the native experience allows for.
FullForce:
Free of charge.
This app offers functionality similar to RetinaPad, written about above, but in an entirely different way. Where RetinaPad scales iPhone apps and thus renders them sharper and clearer, FullForce forces the apps fullsize. Works perfectly for some apps, but rather poorly for others. If you don’t want to pay, you could try this as an alternative to RetinaPad.
TwitkaFly:
$1.99 on the BigBoss repo.
If you’re a regular user of the social network Twitter, this is the tweak for you. It allows you to tweet, reply to tweets, re-tweet tweets and etc.
WinterBoard:
Free. Available via Cydia.
This tweak hardly needs an introduction. Developed by Saurik himself, it can be used to activate themes, apply sound modifications and anything else regarding arty enhancements. It lets you alter the iOS User Interface any way you want and offers a ridiculous amount of customization. Also allows users to create themes. Look for some cool themes on MacThemes.
[ Liked it? Don't forget to +1 this ]
