Everyone who owns an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or Apple TV, here is your OWN thread!
iOS (previously iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system developed and distributed by Apple Inc. Originally released in 2007 for the iPhone and iPod Touch, it has been extended to support other Apple devices such as the iPad and Apple TV. Like all other mobile OSes, it is a GUI based OS with apps and tweaks.
Thread Rules:-
- No paid app links, free apps are fine.
- Discuss freely and openly, comparisons welcome.
- Buying advice and/or problems with your phone.
- Owners please post for updates to entries in the list. (pics required)
- Spammers/Android fans/iOS haters PLEASE stay away
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iOS-Specific terms:-
- iOS: The Operating System of your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Apple TV.
- iDevice: An Apple device that has iOS as it's OS i.e. iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple TV.
- Springboard: Simply, the homescreen of your iDevice. Click here for a preview
- Homescreen: See Springboard.
- Lockscreen: Obvious from the name. The screen which is displayed when your iDevice is locked. Click here for a preview
- IPSW: The file format for the iOS firmware files.
- IPA: The file format for all the iOS apps/games etc available on the App Store.
- Updating: Obvious from the name.
- Downgrading: When you restore to a lower version of firmware, can only be done if you have SHSH blobs of that specific firmware.
- SHSH blobs: This often also refers to the backup file with the signature ("SHSH blobs"). Apple only issues signatures for the currently-available iOS version. Therefore it is recommended to save the signature for your device as long as Apple issues it.
- Jailbreaking: The process of removing the limitations on Apple devices running the iOS operating system through the use of software and hardware exploits.
- Tethered jailbreak: Tethered means being basically "attached" to your computer in a way; you must boot your device by running code on it (via the dock connector) to make use of an exploit.
- Semi-tethered jailbreak: In some circumstances, a tethered jailbreak can be made "semi-tethered." When a device is "semi-tethered," it can run most applications properly. However, some parts will refuse to operate as expected.
- Untethered jailbreak: An untethered jailbreak is a type of jailbreak where your device does not require you to reboot with a connection to an external device capable of executing commands on the device.
- Absinthe/blackra1n/Corona/evasi0n/greenpois0n/JailbreakMe/limera1n/PwnageTool/redsn0w/sn0wbreeze/Spirit: Different tools used to jailbreak.
- iTunes: iTunes is Apple's music and video management software. It also serves as a desktop client for the iTunes Store and handles iOS device synchronization.
- iTools: A very good replacement to iTunes. Can do all the things iTunes can plus can also be used as a file explorer for your iDevice. Secondly, it also doesn't wipe data if an iDevice(already having files etc) is synced with it for the first time unlike iTunes.
- iTunes Errors: Different errors which occur during restoring/updating to any firmware. For more information, click here
- DFU Mode: DFU or Device Firmware Upgrade mode allows all devices to be restored from any state.
- Recovery Mode: Recovery Mode is a failsafe in iBoot that is used to reflash the device with a new OS, whether the currently installed one is somehow damaged or the device is undergoing an upgrade via iTunes. Click here for a preview
- Restore Mode: The mode activated when an iDevice is being restored through iTunes or any other software. Click here for a preview
- Accelerometer: This chip helps detect movement in the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. Newer devices use this as well as a gyroscope, which allows precise motion and 6-axis movement detection.
- Gyroscope: This is present in the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4G and the iPad 2 and ahead. It detects movements far more precise than the accelerometer, and creates 6-axis motion sensing combined with the Compass (iPhone-only) and the accelerometer.
- Baseband device: This is the device in the iPhone that manages all the functions which require an antenna.
- Baseband bootloader: The baseband bootloader is the code which runs before the baseband FW, it is responsible for signature checking and updating the baseband.
- Bootloader: This is the code which is run prior to the main firmware. It is responsible for loading it, and in some cases, performs signature checking.
- Activation: Activation is the process by which a new (or newly restored) iPhone or iPod touch can get by the "Emergency Call Screen" (iPhone) or "Connect to iTunes" screen to access the SpringBoard.
- Cydia: The open-source application installer which appears after an iDevice is jailbroken. It hosts all the app/tweaks.
- Repository/Repo: Sources which are added manually which host apps/tweaks.
For more, check out The iPhone Wiki.
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FAQs:-
1. Is jailbreak harmful?
Ans. According to my experience, it isn't. Many websites attest to this too. Jailbreaking WILL void your warranty(if you have any) but restoring to unjailbroken state by restoring/updating will 'restore' the warranty so it isn't a huge problem.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Jailbreaking?
Ans. There are countless advantages such as themes, pirated/cracked apps, widgets, tweaks, tools, emulators, using features of other devices/firmware versions and enabling hidden features etc. Their are no disadvantages of Jailbreaking.
3. Ok, so how do I jailbreak?
Ans. Refer to the tutorials section.
4. Jailbroke my device, what to do now?
Ans. Google top ten tweaks/tools/apps on Cydia and download them.
5. I want to download/install pirated apps, how to do it?
Ans. First download AppSync from Cydia so our device does not ask for account details when you have installed a cracked application. Then download cracked apps/games from anywhere on the net and sync them on your iDevice using iTools, iTunes etc. Or you can directly download them through apps available on Cydia such as Installous.
6. I can't seem to find installous in Cydia. Where did it go? How to download it?
Ans. Sadly, Installous is now no more. However there are pretty good replacements to it such as AppCake and vShare. vShare can be downloaded by browsing v.appvv.com on Safari and clicking on the 'Download/Install' button. Google 'how to install AppCake'.
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Tutorials:-
Will be updated soon.
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