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What is "Jailbreaking"?
- Thread starter Newbert
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you hack the system so that you can install apps that do not come from the Apple store.
Some people like to make changes in the way it operates.
Disadvantage - new releases become harder to jailbreak so a new release will kill jalbreaks.
system is more open to infection after a jailbreak
Some people like to make changes in the way it operates.
Disadvantage - new releases become harder to jailbreak so a new release will kill jalbreaks.
system is more open to infection after a jailbreak
I wrote this many years ago, but it generally still applies:
- What is the purpose of jailbreaking? Jailbreaking allows you to install third-party apps, tweaks, mods, themes, useful utilities, and other content (called "packages") from Cydia, the jailbreak equivalent of the App Store on iOS. Jailbreaking essentially allows for you to further customize and enhance your iOS device beyond the limits that Apple imposes on stock devices.
- What is the legal status of jailbreaking? Jailbreaking has previously been declared legal in the U.S., based on an exemption made to the U.S. Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) allowing for modifications of the nature. However, jailbreaking your iOS device violates your End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) with Apple, which means that your device's warranty will be void. By restoring your device back to factory default settings using iTunes, however, virtually all traces of jailbreaking will be removed and your warranty will essentially be valid again -- but these are your own actions and choices.
- Do I need to be running a freshly installed version of iOS to jailbreak? Will my content be erased? You do not need to be running a newly installed copy of iOS, and your device's media and settings will not be affected or removed by the jailbreaking process in most situations, unless something goes wrong. Having said that, backing up your content to iTunes or iCloud is highly recommended as a precautionary measure.
I would argue an exception to this. On the surface I think you are correct, but there is still quite strong support for jailbreaking. Apple still does not allow certain things and in the case of adapting jailbreak tweaks as features I believe they do a poor job at it.
There is no comparison between the Quick Reply feature of a JB iPhone with BiteSMS and a stock iPhone with iOS 8/9. Hands down BiteSMS is better and makes Apple's implementation look very basic.
Of course, since many are not familiar with jailbreak tweaks they have nothing to compare these new "features" with when Apple releases them. Hence, Apple is creative, innovative and offers "new" features.
I use BiteSMS as an example (even though it died with iOS 8), but it's not the only one that proves my point.
I disagree. Unless you, the customer, put yourself in that spot you are no more or less secure than stock.
Thanks, guys. After doing a little reading, I don't see a need for it (for me). I was just curious.
Good point. Probably anyone smart enough to jailbreak has the sense to pay attention to what he puts on the system.
Absolutely. I started with an iPhone when it first came out, in 2007. Back then there was no app store or any official way to install apps. So jailbreaking provided a whole new level of functionality that was otherwise unavailable.
But nowadays, for me, it is not nearly as compelling, considering the drawbacks. Right now I am holding onto iOS 9.02 on my 6S plus trying to decide if I really want to jailbreak. There isn't a jailbreak for 9.1 so I was torn. And now we have 9.2 out so looks like I will just go ahead and update.
It is ironic since I have been using a Note 4 (AT&T) for the last year and I could have benefited from rooting it (Android's jailbreak equivalent). But no root ever came out and that surprised me since I always thought of android as being much easier to root than jailbreaking an iPhone.
Mike
For one thing, being stuck on an older version of iOS. As of right now I can only jailbreak if I remain on iOS 9.02. That is a drawback since iOS 9.2 is the current version.
There are others that even a cursory look at the posts in this forum will reveal.
Mike
Well considering I myself am jailbroken and I frequent this forum daily, I'd say I've given it more than a cursory look. Way to be condescending to a complete stranger.
But yes, I suppose not being able to update immediately could be considered a drawback but 9.0.2 runs just fine on my 6s.
We are very different. There is nothing in 9.2 that I care about to lose my jailbreak over. Nothing I'd actually use anyway.
There is nothing in iOS 7 8 and 9 that I did not have via tweak or app with my jailbreak on iOS 6. If I had iOS 6 still I could still be using BiteSMS.
Apple has yet to offer some killer feature for me (that either they stole from jailbreak devs or JB devs gave me already) to warrant being stock.
As far as security, which I believe you imply, that's been discussed to death and the simple fact of the matter is that a jailbreak does not expose you any more or less than stock.
I'm sorry but you both are reaching. At least on Android I can buy apps that need root on Google's Play Store. With jailbreak I have to go to an underground app store that is, at best, marginal and at worst, a joke.
When I returned to an iPhone after 3 years on Android I still had my paid iOS app store apps ready to download. Indeed one, Camera+, I purchased on my iPhone 4 back in 2010. I cannot say the same for my Cydia apps of which I had spend about $100.
It's also not security... it's stability. Random rebooting into "safe mode." The whole idea of "Mobile Substrate" and what it does. None of these things are something one has to deal with unless jailbreaking. I put up with that crap when I absolutely needed the benefits of jailbreaking. But now iOS offers almost all of those benefits without the downsides. So I doubt I will do it (though I am clinging to 9.02 just in case).
But if it works for you, great.
Mike
When I returned to an iPhone after 3 years on Android I still had my paid iOS app store apps ready to download. Indeed one, Camera+, I purchased on my iPhone 4 back in 2010. I cannot say the same for my Cydia apps of which I had spend about $100.
It's also not security... it's stability. Random rebooting into "safe mode." The whole idea of "Mobile Substrate" and what it does. None of these things are something one has to deal with unless jailbreaking. I put up with that crap when I absolutely needed the benefits of jailbreaking. But now iOS offers almost all of those benefits without the downsides. So I doubt I will do it (though I am clinging to 9.02 just in case).
But if it works for you, great.
Mike
Cydia is not a joke, nor is it underground. Cydia is a business with financial ties to Paypal and Amazon. If it was underground there would be no facility for a legitimate payment system. The same system used on eBay I might add.
Cydia must also maintain tweaks and apps for outdated versions of iOS because there are still people, believe it or not, on older jailbroken devices that require this support. It's only recently that Apple started doing this in it's own store.
Maybe you weren't looking hard enough? Or linked your account back? I've been jailbroken across four devices and each time I jailbroke I linked my account up to Cydia. I have access to every tweak I've purchased since late 2011.
Again we differ. I have over 140 tweaks installed. My battery life and stability are just as good as they were stock. I do my tweak research and I don't leave stuff installed that's buggy.
As to the benefits of Apple versus downsides of a jailbreak. Well, all I can say is I had Quick Reply and Quick Compose for messages long before Apple introduced it. And Apple's implementation of it now pales next to BiteSMS.
I had Do Not Disturb with my phone locked and disconnected from power before Apple did. I have the ability to completely silence all sounds from my device (including alarms) with one Activator action.
Just a few examples. I am not willing to surrender any of that for stock or Apple's watered down versions of things.
It does. And I will continue to jailbreak for that reason.
You may be comfortable stock. I am not.
Not to an iPad (don't have one and have no use for one) but for my daily driver phone.
It allows me to give a figurative finger to Apple and install tweaks/apps that make me more productive on my iDevice.
It allows me to rollback/downgrade to an earlier operating system that exhibits no lag/stutter for an older device. Yes, I have to applaud Apple for making 9.2 compatible with my ageing 4S. But 9.2 was not originally intended to run on such an antiquated processor.
IMHO, one should never upgrade to the next whole number version beyond what shipped with the device. That new version was intended only for the newly released iPhone/iPad/iTV/iwhatever. Apple merely wanted to include older devices so no one would feel left out. Look at Apple's own disclaimers. I'm paraphrasing here, but "some features may not be available." That alone begs the question, why upgrade to the newer OS for an older device?
End of rant.
It allows me to give a figurative finger to Apple and install tweaks/apps that make me more productive on my iDevice.
It allows me to rollback/downgrade to an earlier operating system that exhibits no lag/stutter for an older device. Yes, I have to applaud Apple for making 9.2 compatible with my ageing 4S. But 9.2 was not originally intended to run on such an antiquated processor.
IMHO, one should never upgrade to the next whole number version beyond what shipped with the device. That new version was intended only for the newly released iPhone/iPad/iTV/iwhatever. Apple merely wanted to include older devices so no one would feel left out. Look at Apple's own disclaimers. I'm paraphrasing here, but "some features may not be available." That alone begs the question, why upgrade to the newer OS for an older device?
End of rant.
Okay I may have to eat some crow here. I wanted to update my iPhone 6S Plus to 9.1.2 but wanted to check out any benefits to jailbreaking before I did. After a quick google search I ended up here:
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2015/01/best-ios-8-jailbreak-apps-tweaks-iphone.html
After reading that I decided I might as well go for it. VirtualHome, LastApp, iKeyWi 3 and others tipped the scales for me.
So I now have my 6S Plus jailbroken and it feels like old times. I also have to say I was overly critical of Cydia. Indeed all my purchases, even though I last bought anything in 2012, were there after a simple facebook login.
Mike
http://www.iphonehacks.com/2015/01/best-ios-8-jailbreak-apps-tweaks-iphone.html
After reading that I decided I might as well go for it. VirtualHome, LastApp, iKeyWi 3 and others tipped the scales for me.
So I now have my 6S Plus jailbroken and it feels like old times. I also have to say I was overly critical of Cydia. Indeed all my purchases, even though I last bought anything in 2012, were there after a simple facebook login.
Mike
Welcome back Mike.
Just be careful what you install (as always), do your research and the experience should be a good one for you.
I am also glad to see that Cydia is working as expected for you. Good to hear!