No choice but to jailbreak [Archive]

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 10:26 AM

Jailbreaking is kinda useless. Most of the apps available for download when jailbroken are useless and poorly made.

Ironically, the only apps that make it worth Downloading is the apple January software update, but you can get those without JB.

Don't bother JBing, unless you want your iPod to look like a glass of beer pouring(example of a useless apps)

Odd, I have tons of cool apps that work very well. For starters, there's Summerboard, Customize, Make it Mine, etc ... Or do you enjoy having an iPod that looks exactly like everyone else's, with that nifty black wallpaper and those stock icons? ;)

jbarr

Mar 7, 2008, 02:54 PM

Jailbreaking is kinda useless.

Hmmm. Interesting perspective.

I Jailbroke my IPT, and I have lots of very useful applications. Of those, these are the ones that I regularly use:

MACalc - Advanced Calculator
Converter - Comprehensive conversion tool
ToDoList - basic but very workable ToDo list manager
Books - eBook Reader
Wiki2Touch - Offline Wikipedia reader with access to all English text articles as of 1/7/2008
weDict - Dictionary application with Mirriam Webster's content and English etymologies
Several time-sucking games
Several system, utilities to better manage things

Admittedly, many applications are not top-grade applications, and I would love to see more, but considering this is a grass-roots, amateur-developed repository of applications, I think it's very, very useful. Yes, many amount to nothing more than glorifies "Hello World" concepts, but some are certainly professional-grade. If you lived through the Palm PDA world of user-developed PalmOS applications as I have over the past decade, you can't help but appreciate the talents and efforts that have gone into these Jailbreak applications.

As an aside, I have said this elsewhere, so I hate to be redundant, but the Wiki2Touch application has been the one Jailbreak application that absolutely justifies the $300 I paid for my IPT. Having anytime, anywhere access to Wikipedia articles offline has proven to be amazingly useful. Unfortunately, this is something that I seriously doubt will ever be available through Apple.

The SDK will obviously usher in lots and lots of professionally-developed applications, as well as some not-so-professional. Just remember that it will also come at a price. Maybe not a huge price, but NOTHING will be free for IPT users. Currently, Jailbreaking is free as are the available applications. You really can't beat the price. As long as you can restore to "stock" through iTunes, Jailbreaking will remain a viable alternative.

AlphaBob

Mar 7, 2008, 03:02 PM

I guess it is a matter of need vs. want.

There are several things I want on my iPhone/touch but few things that I need.

If you need the jailbreak applications, then go do it. Personally because my priorities are a bit lower, I can wait a few months for great commercial applications. I suspect the good jailbreak applications will be some of the first that will show up on the iPhone/touch anyway.

No jailbreak for me. Just isn't worth the hassle. Doing it now is a quick route to a dead end. Nobody will be supporting jailbreak in a few months time.

dscuber9000

Mar 7, 2008, 03:37 PM

Artofilm

Mar 7, 2008, 06:33 PM

Mine used to be Jailbroken, then I realized that I never used the hacked apps besides the iPhone apps, but I just unJailbroke it and paid for the apps once they released.

I do miss Labyrinth, however...

Thats the same way I see it as well.
Even with the amount of apps for JB, I don't think any of them are very well made, or even needed that much.

Seriously, how many times a day do you find yourself using Wiki2Touch (i hope not that much), but mail on the other hand, well I use that every hour. Now thats a good program.

Anderzander

Mar 7, 2008, 07:09 PM

I use currency converter a fair bit, the pdf viewer (though under developed) has proved essential for my degree studies. I also really like izoo, solitaire and labyrinth.

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 08:18 PM

Thats the same way I see it as well.
Even with the amount of apps for JB, I don't think any of them are very well made, or even needed that much.

Seriously, how many times a day do you find yourself using Wiki2Touch (i hope not that much), but mail on the other hand, well I use that every hour. Now thats a good program.
I hope you're being sarcastic, but somehow I suspect you're not. I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I enjoy the benefits of jailbreaking every time I turn on my iPod ...

http://www.mavisxp.com/ipod/compare_1.png

Or, if I tire of that theme I can switch to this one in less than 10 seconds:

http://www.mavisxp.com/ipod/compare_2.png

and then if I want something really different, 10 seconds again:

http://www.mavisxp.com/ipod/compare_3.png

Or maybe you like having an iPod that looks exactly like everyone else's?

Tom B.

Mar 7, 2008, 08:38 PM

Or maybe you like having an iPod that looks exactly like everyone else's?

Maybe some people want their iPod to look the way Apple intended it to, rather than some kind of nasty, cheap-looking custom weirdness. *Just my opinion*

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 08:40 PM

Maybe some people want their iPod to look the way Apple intended it to, rather than some kind of nasty, cheap-looking custom weirdness.Whatever happened to "THINK DIFFERENT" ... ? Or do people just need Apple to spoon-feed them style?

Tom B.

Mar 7, 2008, 08:55 PM

Whatever happened to "THINK DIFFERENT" ... ? Or do people just need Apple to spoon-feed them style?

I'm not trying to say people should not jailbreak, I just strongly disagree with those who believe that the standard 'theme' is inferior to custom ones. And changing it just for the sake of change is not a big enough justification in my opinion.

Or do you really think any of those custom themes you just forced us all to look at look any better than the standard one? I truly hope not.

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 09:02 PM

Do you really think any of those custom themes you just forced us all to look at look any better than the standard one?I absolutely do.

Wallpaper: I guess you think that having a black wallpaper is a good idea on a touch screen device? Maybe your iPod came with one of those high-tech screens that automagically cleans itself when you touch it, so that you can't see those nasty smudge marks on that jet-black background? Well sign me up, because I sure as hell didn't get one. And since I don't particularly enjoy having every smudge and dust speck jump out at me on the black background, I really like having the ability to change my wallpaper.

Icons: This argument will fall on deaf ears, I'm sure (I saw your dock screenshot and all it's stock icon glory, lol) but a lot of people like being able to have custom icons on their computers and on the iPhone/iPod. I guess you wouldn't understand, but the ability to customize a UI is desirable to many ... Think different, bub. ;)

ragermac

Mar 7, 2008, 09:06 PM

I love jailbreaking.

it allow the ipod to really be unlocked without all the DRM buy it only from itunes crap that apple loves to spew, and I think many of the summerboards themes are WAY better than the plain old icons apple provides.

That alone is worth jailbreaking.

Psyxologos

Mar 7, 2008, 09:08 PM

Or maybe you like having an iPod that looks exactly like everyone else's?

Thank God I do not have such an inferiority complex that I feel obliged to 'differ' in the way an electronic device I own looks. I mean, this must be the most lame reason one would JB their Itouch. I respect people might want to have more things to play with in their Itouch, but do not give me this 13-year old girl talk of 'customizing' your phone/mp3 player because you want yours to look different...

Tom B.

Mar 7, 2008, 09:18 PM

Wallpaper: I guess you think that having a black wallpaper is a good idea on a touch screen device? Maybe your iPod came with one of those high-tech screens that automagically cleans itself when you touch it, so that you can't see those nasty smudge marks on that jet-black background? Well sign me up, because I sure as hell didn't get one. And since I don't particularly enjoy having every smudge and dust speck jump out at me on the black background, I really like having the ability to change my wallpaper.

Icons: This argument will fall on deaf ears, I'm sure (I saw your dock screenshot and all it's stock icon glory, lol) but a lot of people like being able to have custom icons on their computers and on the iPhone/iPod. I guess you wouldn't understand, but the ability to customize a UI is desirable to many ... Think different, bub. ;)
I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Changing the wallpaper I can understand, but changing the icons... yuk. But we're all entitled to our opinions, so good for you if thats what you want, but I will always prefer my things to be as the designer intended.

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 09:20 PM

Thank God I do not have such an inferiority complex that I feel obliged to 'differ' in the way an electronic device I own looks. I mean, this must be the most lame reason one would JB their Itouch. I respect people might want to have more things to play with in their Itouch, but do not give me this 13-year old girl talk of 'customizing' your phone/mp3 player because you want yours to look different...

Apparently you missed my earlier post?

I guess you think that having a black wallpaper is a good idea on a touch screen device? Maybe your iPod came with one of those high-tech screens that automagically cleans itself when you touch it, so that you can't see those nasty smudge marks on that jet-black background? Well sign me up, because I sure as hell didn't get one. And since I don't particularly enjoy having every smudge and dust speck jump out at me on the black background, I really like having the ability to change my wallpaper.

Just because you're content with that heinous stock wallpaper and those boring icons doesn't mean the rest of us are. My Touch looks exactly the way I want it to, as does my DS Lite, my PSP, my iMac, and my Thinkpad. In fact, I paid $20 for Candybar on my Mac so that I could easily change my icons, and I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had to.

Oh and BTW, I'm a 31 year old photographer, not a 13 year old junior high school girl. ;)

BrownManUPS

Mar 7, 2008, 09:29 PM

As an aside, I have said this elsewhere, so I hate to be redundant, but the Wiki2Touch application has been the one Jailbreak application that absolutely justifies the $300 I paid for my IPT. Having anytime, anywhere access to Wikipedia articles offline has proven to be amazingly useful. Unfortunately, this is something that I seriously doubt will ever be available through Apple.

I have floated around the forums and I have seen you say this and frankly that is the COOLEST ****ing thing I have heard, and I totally agree the offline availability would be amazingly beneficial.

If I might ask, how much memory is that taking up on your iPod? Less that 1 GB?

I hope you're being sarcastic, but somehow I suspect you're not. I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I enjoy the benefits of jailbreaking every time I turn on my iPod ...

I really like your screens. Can you explain what all is going on with the light switch and any other cool apps you have on there...

And also, if its a 1.1.3 JB, does it work on a 16 GB iPod touch? And, what is that thing in the corner of your screen that looks like an infinity sign...is that like the maker of it?

BrownManUPS

Mar 7, 2008, 09:32 PM

Maybe some people want their iPod to look the way Apple intended it to, rather than some kind of nasty, cheap-looking custom weirdness. *Just my opinion*

By the way I think this looks really cool and it's amazing that it looks this nice. I assume that it is very consistent throughout the touch and looks clean?

mavis

Mar 7, 2008, 10:30 PM

I really like your screens. Can you explain what all is going on with the light switch and any other cool apps you have on there...

And also, if its a 1.1.3 JB, does it work on a 16 GB iPod touch? And, what is that thing in the corner of your screen that looks like an infinity sign...is that like the maker of it?

Thanks. :)

To answer your questions, that light switch icon is for a really cool little app called 'WifiToggle' which does exactly that - a single tap on that icon toggles wifi on/off. No more wasting time going through the settings menu, just a single tap and it's done. :D Above that is weDict, which is a dictionary app that can read StarDict files, I've got it loaded with Webster's as well as Jap-Eng and Eng-Jap dictionaries. Very useful!!!

Finally, that icon in the taskbar (?) is an "AS" which stands for Audioscrobbler. It's the icon for MobileScrobbler, a native last.fm scrobbler. Very cool. :D

BrownManUPS

Mar 7, 2008, 10:38 PM

Thanks. :)

To answer your questions, that light switch icon is for a really cool little app called 'WifiToggle' which does exactly that - a single tap on that icon toggles wifi on/off. No more wasting time going through the settings menu, just a single tap and it's done.

That is an excellent handy thing.

I would like to know what all you went through to get it to way yours is because I love it and am willing to try it now that I have some free time! Could you PM me with info?

dagored

Mar 8, 2008, 07:37 AM

Thats the same way I see it as well.
Even with the amount of apps for JB, I don't think any of them are very well made, or even needed that much.

Seriously, how many times a day do you find yourself using Wiki2Touch (i hope not that much), but mail on the other hand, well I use that every hour. Now thats a good program.

If you have never jailbroken your Touch, and by your comments you probably have not, your opinion is just that. An opinion.

Lets see, aside from some very polished games, iZoo, Chuzzle, and iSolitaire, I use MXTube, IMGrab, and PocketTouch all the time.

MXTube: searches YouTube and downloads videos to your Touch.
IMGrab: you find a photo or pict on Safari and want to capture it, no problem
PocketTouch: the most useful third party app to date -
* While the iPod is playing a song, a simple tap on the screen will pause
the song.
* Tap the screen again to unpause.
* Slide your finger to the right to skip to the next song.
* Slide your finger to the left to play the previous song.
* Slide your finger up to increase volume, down to decrease.

All without looking at the screen.

EDIT: Isn't WiFi Toggle great?

Sweetbike40

Mar 8, 2008, 07:52 AM

I absolutely do.

Wallpaper: I guess you think that having a black wallpaper is a good idea on a touch screen device? Maybe your iPod came with one of those high-tech screens that automagically cleans itself when you touch it, so that you can't see those nasty smudge marks on that jet-black background? Well sign me up, because I sure as hell didn't get one. And since I don't particularly enjoy having every smudge and dust speck jump out at me on the black background, I really like having the ability to change my wallpaper.

Icons: This argument will fall on deaf ears, I'm sure (I saw your dock screenshot and all it's stock icon glory, lol) but a lot of people like being able to have custom icons on their computers and on the iPhone/iPod. I guess you wouldn't understand, but the ability to customize a UI is desirable to many ... Think different, bub. ;)

I can change/design my own icons on my un-jailbroken Touch with Clipilizer.
I love the simple black background to display MY icons. But really, who cares about how the desktop looks. If you have a jailbroken iPod, all you have are a bunch of almost useless apps. The apps in the Jan. update are used everyday and work without hassle.

mavis

Mar 8, 2008, 08:40 AM

I can change/design my own icons on my un-jailbroken Touch with Clipilizer.Wow, you can change your icons for MobileMusicPlayer.app, Mail.app, Maps.app, etc? I didn't know that. Oh wait - you can't. :rolleyes:

I love the simple black background to display MY icons. Your icons? You mean, your webclip icons? Yay! Maybe some day you'll be able to change ALL of your system icons. Oh wait, I've been able to do that for five months now ... ;)

But really, who cares about how the desktop looks. If you have a jailbroken iPod, all you have are a bunch of almost useless apps. The apps in the Jan. update are used everyday and work without hassle.I agree that the January update apps are very useful. But you see, I didn't have to wait until January to get them. :D And they didn't cost me $20 to get, despite the fact that I've had them all installed and running perfectly since November (1.1.1 firmware, then 1.1.2, and finally 1.1.3).

And as far as most apps being 'useless,' I guess we'll just have to disagree on that one. In fact, I would argue that you really have no idea what you're talking about here. I can think of several apps that are polished, useful and well-designed. For starters there's Summerboard, Customize, WifiToggle, weDict, Installer, iZoo, iBlackjack, iSolitaire, Converter, Finder, BossTool, BossPrefs, MobileScrobbler (love this one!!!), Labyrinth (I actually paid for this, it's a great game), Chuzzle, Puzzle Maniak, and iPac3D. Those were all free (except Labyrinth, which I gladly paid to unlock) and they're all very cool apps. You might wanna do some research next time you try to jump into the fray ... ;)

TheSpaz

Mar 8, 2008, 09:55 AM

Jailbreaking is kinda useless. Most of the apps available for download when jailbroken are useless and poorly made.

Ironically, the only apps that make it worth Downloading is the apple January software update, but you can get those without JB.

Don't bother JBing, unless you want your iPod to look like a glass of beer pouring(example of a useless apps)

You do know that the glass of bear thing is NOT an App and you don't need to be jailbroken to use it. It's just a video that you sync through iTunes, press play and then pretend to tap it from the home screen. You know nothing about jailbreaking do you?

Artofilm

Mar 8, 2008, 10:53 AM

You do know that the glass of bear thing is NOT an App and you don't need to be jailbroken to use it. It's just a video that you sync through iTunes, press play and then pretend to tap it from the home screen. You know nothing about jailbreaking do you?

Sorry bud, I do.
I JB my iPod touch, found out that most of all of the jailbreaks are buggy and not to mention illegal.

So I decided to pay for the software update.

cbrain

Mar 8, 2008, 10:59 AM

Or, if I tire of that theme I can switch to this one in less than 10 seconds:

http://www.mavisxp.com/ipod/compare_2.png

Could I have a link to that theme (the one on the right) please?

TheSpaz

Mar 8, 2008, 12:33 PM

Sorry bud, I do.
I JB my iPod touch, found out that most of all of the jailbreaks are buggy and not to mention illegal.

So I decided to pay for the software update.

Jailbreaking is NOT illegal. It ONLY voids your warranty but, you won't get arrested for doing it. It voids your warranty but, you can restore to a factory state at ANY time if you ever need your iPod repaired and Apple would never know you had ever jailbroke it.

Krafty

Mar 8, 2008, 01:03 PM

Sorry bud, I do.
I JB my iPod touch, found out that most of all of the jailbreaks are buggy and not to mention illegal.

So I decided to pay for the software update.

LMAO!

vandlism

Mar 8, 2008, 01:03 PM

Jailbreaking is NOT illegal. It ONLY voids your warranty but, you won't get arrested for doing it. It voids your warranty but, you can restore to a factory state at ANY time if you ever need your iPod repaired and Apple would never know you had ever jailbroke it.

And how legal is downloading the January Software Update without paying for it? Not legal at all, in fact. That would be pirating.

TheSpaz

Mar 8, 2008, 01:13 PM

And how legal is downloading the January Software Update without paying for it? Not legal at all, in fact. That would be pirating.

Who said that we were downloading the January update without paying for it? Jailbreaking doesn't give you the January Apps unless you decided to do that AFTER you jailbreak but, just jailbreaking isn't illegal. It's only illegal when people decide to pirate the Jan update. That's like saying buying cars is illegal because you can go over the speed limit in them.... and that's breaking the law.

phuong

Mar 8, 2008, 02:15 PM

christopher3071

Mar 8, 2008, 02:19 PM

mavis

Mar 8, 2008, 06:02 PM

i think some people care more about apperance. so they JB to be able to change theme every 10 seconds, so that they can look at it themselves and think it's cool (and think that other people would think the same)

some people, on the other hand, care more about productivity. they dont give a flying S about those weird themes or what others might think about their iPod Touch or iPhone.I could care less what other people think of my iPod. I like it, and that's what matters.

And I fail to see how adding third-party apps gives me less productivity ... :confused: I mean, is that the whole point of this SDK? To decrease productivity??? lol

Artofilm

Mar 8, 2008, 10:42 PM

holy, ppl are way too sensitive when JBing is made fun of.
we all know why most ppl JB now. And that reason would be to avoid paying apples update payments. Getting the updates (apps) and not paying, making most of the reason why ppl JB, is illegal.

Take it easy ppl, I'm simply pointing out a fact that I think that JBing is useless and doesn't need to be done.

Freakin' pirates.

Artofilm

Mar 8, 2008, 10:42 PM

Double post

mavis

Mar 9, 2008, 03:12 AM

Take it easy ppl, I'm simply pointing out a fact that I think that JBing is useless and doesn't need to be done.
JB'ing is already pointless? Tell me, how else would I go about installing native apps at this point in time?

Artofilm

Mar 9, 2008, 08:50 AM

JB'ing is already pointless? Tell me, how else would I go about installing native apps at this point in time?

The iPod touch was never meant to have native apps on it. Which seems to be what everyone is missing.

mavis

Mar 9, 2008, 09:47 AM

The iPod touch was never meant to have native apps on it. Which seems to be what everyone is missing.What do you call MobileMusicPlayer.app? MobileSafari.app? YouTube.app? Are those not native apps? I mean, SJ touts the iPhone as being the most advanced mobile platform on the market, running a mobile version of OS X - what does that imply? A modified version of a desktop OS: of course you can install native apps. I mean, that kind of goes without saying. Then the iPod Touch is released, essentially an iPhone minus the phone (and initially crippled by not including apps already developed for the iPhone, a situation Apple was quick to remedy - for a fee) ... Same deal. A modified OS X with a handful of pre-installed apps.

So, obviously the iPhone/iPod was meant to handle native apps, it comes loaded with them! Just because Apple didn't advertise it as being expandable doesn't mean it hasn't been since almost the beginning.

Some people don't need Apple's marketing team to tell us how we can and cannot use the products we purchase. Think different. :apple:

Artofilm

Mar 9, 2008, 10:19 AM

What do you call MobileMusicPlayer.app? MobileSafari.app? YouTube.app? Are those not native apps? I mean, SJ touts the iPhone as being the most advanced mobile platform on the market, running a mobile version of OS X - what does that imply? A modified version of a desktop OS: of course you can install native apps. I mean, that kind of goes without saying. Then the iPod Touch is released, essentially an iPhone minus the phone (and initially crippled by not including apps already developed for the iPhone, a situation Apple was quick to remedy - for a fee) ... Same deal. A modified OS X with a handful of pre-installed apps.

So, obviously the iPhone/iPod was meant to handle native apps, it comes loaded with them! Just because Apple didn't advertise it as being expandable doesn't mean it hasn't been since almost the beginning.

Some people don't need Apple's marketing team to tell us how we can and cannot use the products we purchase. Think different. :apple:

Just like you said, the remedy of being able to install native apps on the iPod touch comes at a fee. If you jailbreak that, to avoid the fee, that makes it illegal.

That's all I am saying.

dagored

Mar 9, 2008, 10:25 AM

Just like you said, the remedy of being able to install native apps on the iPod touch comes at a fee. If you jailbreak that, to avoid the fee, that makes it illegal.

That's all I am saying.

Whoa - And your logic for this is? Lets see. I bought a Touch, I want to use it for other things, I have to pay to do that. I don't think so. Jailbreaking is not illegal. I bought the apps from Apple, although I gritted my teeth as I did.

I have many other apps that I use. They were free. How is that illegal.

PLEASE, I really want your take on this.

eplchamps0304

Mar 9, 2008, 11:21 AM

I did the jb thing and wow. The fact that I can now download youtube videos and podcasts wirelessly is worth it on its own. And chess, pool, tetris games, wow. I only download apps that have been out for a while with no reported issues. Oh and the piano player wow.

Mikey B

Mar 9, 2008, 12:51 PM

I used be jailbroken. I went legit with 1.1.4 and haven't gone back. I do miss the ability to customize my wallpaper and icons, but other than that, I kinda felt like the bulk of Apps were crap. I think once the App pack is out, Installer is going to become the testing zone for Apps on their way up. Kind of like the minor leagues. If there was a simple way to get an actual jailbreak for 1.1.4, I'd do it. Maybe once pwnage or however you spell it is out I will probably go that route until the App Store is launched. But I don't want the soft upgrade and I have a mac, so Ziphone is out for me.

dagored

Mar 9, 2008, 01:28 PM

There is a ziphone for Mac:

http://www.downloadziphone.org/

jbarr

Mar 9, 2008, 04:43 PM

The iPod touch was never meant to have native apps on it. Which seems to be what everyone is missing.
Then please tell us why Apple has released an SDK?

jbarr

Mar 9, 2008, 04:48 PM

I have floated around the forums and I have seen you say this and frankly that is the COOLEST ****ing thing I have heard, and I totally agree the offline availability would be amazingly beneficial.

If I might ask, how much memory is that taking up on your iPod? Less that 1 GB?

Unfortunately, that is the down side. The application itself and supporting files are inconsequential in size. It's the articles.bin data file that holds all of the articles. The English version weighs in at something like 3.2GB. And that's without any images--text only. If you want to add images it can easily add well over 3-5GB more.

Many will scoff at the size, but to me, a 3GB memory hit is completely worth having he content always available.

JAT

Mar 9, 2008, 07:12 PM

holy, ppl are way too sensitive when JBing is made fun of.
we all know why most ppl JB now. And that reason would be to avoid paying apples update payments.

.....

Freakin' pirates.

No, people are way too sensitive when you call them "Freakin' pirates". Which is, of course, libel. Why don't you post your address, we can send some documents straight away.

Most people don't seem to JB to avoid paying $20 from what I've seen on the web, they do it to get what they want on their own iPod. That they PAID for. Or are you accusing us of stealing the hardware, too? As in this thread, many, many people have both paid $20 and JBed their iPod.

I am JBed and I have none of the $20 apps. You know what this makes me? Happy with my iPod.

dukebound85

Mar 9, 2008, 07:21 PM

Just like you said, the remedy of being able to install native apps on the iPod touch comes at a fee. If you jailbreak that, to avoid the fee, that makes it illegal.

That's all I am saying.

thats like saying you have to play baseball through a league which you pay to join as opposed to getting friends together and just having fun...

the latter avoids the fee of the league and is more fun! just like jb'ing

same with working on your car, you could take it to a mechanic and have them do it or you do the work yourself