'HiddenApps' Hides Stock Apps, iAds and More on Non-Jailbroken iOS Devices [Update: Removed]

[mydogti]

Or you could just make a junk folder.

is it just funny that more then a few people simple place stock apps they dont want to use or look at in a folder named "Junk" and place it out on page 6? Or is it more of a big ringing bell or a murder of crows screaming you should be able to remove or hide stock apps?

 

[SPUY767]

I would like to hear a legitimate reason why Apple is unwilling to allow us to remove apps that we don't want. I don't see this threatening security or anything. If they are concerned that we will permanently delete an app, it would be incredibly easy for them to just allow all stocks apps to be re-downloaded via the App Store. In fact, they could even push updates to these app separately, as has been the strategy on other OS's including OSX.

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Nope. Its the simple fact that it is not a feature, rather a bug. This wasn't meant to be allowed. Apple obviously patched the original workaround, and then someone found this. This IS useful, however it is not a feature, and I see it getting patched eventually.

Edit: thought you were referring to the folder "trick". My bad!

It probably wasn't the fact of what this App did that got it removed but that it probably used a non-public API to do so. That's very clearly against the rules. And using a remote switch to circumvent it is a violation of the developer TOS.

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that doesn't work, the newsstand doesn't go from the third page to the first page, but it works from second page to first page but tats irrelevant bc it doesn't go in the folder.

I'll grant you, the NewsStand thing is a pain in the dick.

 

[lordofthereef]

It probably wasn't the fact of what this App did that got it removed but that it probably used a non-public API to do so. That's very clearly against the rules. And using a remote switch to circumvent it is a violation of the developer TOS.

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I'll grant you, the NewsStand thing is a pain in the dick.

To be clear, I wasn't so much asking why this app was banned. It's pretty clear that it violated terms and conditions. I was just saying that I would love to hear from apple why they believe it a bad idea to allow users to delete certain preloaded apps. Or at least remove them from cluttering their springboard.

 

[ritmomundo]

I use the junk folder too... to get rid of the unwanted stuffs...

But apparently, NewsStand cannot be put into a folder... it has its "rights" to be all by itself...

Can't put News Stand in a folder.

Not true. There is a trick to hide Newsstand in another folder. Watch the vid in my previous post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16981956/

Yea maybe for you, but like I said if I keep newsstand on page 2 and tap the home button then hold down newsstand it moves to first page (which is irrelevant bc it doesn't go into the folder) but when I put newsstand on page 3 and do it the icon doesn't move to the first page.

Point im making is that newsstand will go to the home page from page 2 but not 3

You're not doing it right. Newsstand has to be on page 3, and the folder you want to move it into has to be on page 2.

 

[mikematzdorff]

I got that, then it did "work" sluggishly. hid my safari to test.

decided the app was not interesting, deleted it. my safari is gone.

I'm restoring now.

I would put this is the dangerous app category.

Anyone else having issues opening the app?

It opens a black screen and then just crashes.
iphone 4 iOS 6

 

[Blorzoga]

App doesn't work any more

I downloaded the app before it was pulled from the App Store and used it to hide a couple annoying apps (newsstand, Game Center). Now when I open the app, all I get is tips about saving battery life and taking screenshots. I didn't know Apple could remotely change the app. What happened ?

 

[SPUY767]

To be clear, I wasn't so much asking why this app was banned. It's pretty clear that it violated terms and conditions. I was just saying that I would love to hear from apple why they believe it a bad idea to allow users to delete certain preloaded apps. Or at least remove them from cluttering their springboard.

My bet would be that they focus grouped the design, and people would remove the apps and then couldn't figure out how to get it back when they wanted it. It was probably a calculated decision to avoid a great deal of tech support headache for a minor inconvenience. That said, there is absolutely no acceptable reason for NewsStand to be stuck on the page and unable to be placed in a folder.

 

[DJ88]

I downloaded the app before it was pulled from the App Store and used it to hide a couple annoying apps (newsstand, Game Center). Now when I open the app, all I get is tips about saving battery life and taking screenshots. I didn't know Apple could remotely change the app. What happened ?

Same thing here.

 

[HowEver]

How odd!

I'm guessing the dev decided to save himself by offering up a tamed update somehow.

Same thing here.

 

[Rajani Isa]

I didn't know they block your dev account

Generally when you sneak an app like this past them, they block the account.

And what does that tell you about Apple's closely held APIs - more lockdown, more control. They don't provide an API for hiding icons? USERS MUST OBEY! USERS MUST SEE APPLE APP ICONS! OBEY! OBEY!

The idea that if you don't use the official API's it's an "exploit" is a joke. Love how Apple has true believers singing their tune, speaking their language. In the normal world that's done every day without anyone batting an eyelid.

It starts a process it knows won't finish to do something else entirely - pretty much a standard example of an exploit there. Unless you're telling me Apple MEANT for a partially, but incompletely, downloaded app to replace an existing icon. Show me where it proves that, and I'll stop calling this one an exploit.

 

[eltaurus]

what a retard apple is.

there fore now i am jumping from iphone to S4 (+. sdcard) / htc 1 (+. design)

too much control apple it will damage u.

i want freedom. Android here i come

 

[Gianspud]

I downloaded the app before it was pulled from the App Store and used it to hide a couple annoying apps (newsstand, Game Center). Now when I open the app, all I get is tips about saving battery life and taking screenshots. I didn't know Apple could remotely change the app. What happened ?

Same thing happened here when I tried to use it yesterday. Can apple change the app remotely?

 

[lordofthereef]

My bet would be that they focus grouped the design, and people would remove the apps and then couldn't figure out how to get it back when they wanted it. It was probably a calculated decision to avoid a great deal of tech support headache for a minor inconvenience. That said, there is absolutely no acceptable reason for NewsStand to be stuck on the page and unable to be placed in a folder.

That's a fair reason. Although, here is a simple fix...

1. Delete app
2. Popup asking if your are sure
3. Popup stating if you ever want to re download, just find the app in the AppStore
4. (Optional) with every new iOS update, ask the user if they want those previously deleted apps back on their device. If so, they "magically" show up. If not, they don't.

At this point in time, te AppStore is a well known entity. People know how to search it, and they are expected to. I can see this being a valid excuse when iOS first made prime time, but not now, a whopping six years later.

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

What I think you don't know is that jailbreaking is NOT illegal. Unlocking to another carrier is though. The two are different.

Jailbreaking lets you install third party apps and unlocking lets you switch carriers.

Whoops eh?

Jailbreaking is not illegal only as a library of Congress EXCEPTION (just like unlocking was until recently). it can be revoked by the same method (i.e. other than the exemption, it's against the DMCA) and it doesn't apply to non-phones like the iPad either way so ultimately it's not really a very good legal solution to the one-store issue for those that would like to run software Apple doesn't approve of for whatever reason. Plus Apple can still makes changes that defeat the jailbreaking methods any time it feels like plugging them, leaving you with the choice of upgrading your OS or doing without until if/when they can jailbreak it again.

 

[SPUY767]

That's a fair reason. Although, here is a simple fix...

1. Delete app
2. Popup asking if your are sure
3. Popup stating if you ever want to re download, just find the app in the AppStore
4. (Optional) with every new iOS update, ask the user if they want those previously deleted apps back on their device. If so, they "magically" show up. If not, they don't.

At this point in time, te AppStore is a well known entity. People know how to search it, and they are expected to. I can see this being a valid excuse when iOS first made prime time, but not now, a whopping six years later.

I agree on that method exactly, I was just offering a potential reasoning.

 

[Apollo 13]

What the hell thing just stopped working. Who the hell Apple think they are to stop my apps from functioning?

 

[bmt134]

When will Apple let us delete things we want gone?

 

[apolloa]

What the hell thing just stopped working. Who the hell Apple think they are to stop my apps from functioning?

I had to restart my phone today, and just went to hide my apps and sure enough, neither my iPhone OR the hiddenapps app updated but Apple or the developer have DEFINITELY forced the app to stop the hiding apps feature! Could this possibly be the first mass use of the the 'kill switch' by Apple? I think it is. And I'm not sure I like it Apple!!

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Not true. There is a trick to hide Newsstand in another folder. Watch the vid in my previous post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16981956/



You're not doing it right. Newsstand has to be on page 3, and the folder you want to move it into has to be on page 2.

Doesn't work, I guess Apple 'fixed' that little tweak in the last iOS update.

EDIT: Nope, I apologise and take it back your little trick DOES work!! Nice one mate, thanks a lot for working that one out! I can delete the hiddenapps app now. Thanks mate.

 

[i1280]

Nice trick!! Worked great and I was able to move the folder back to the last page!

 

[zonesey]

works on my 4S

 

[gri]

Why are you rebooting so much? I haven't had to reboot my S3 for months now.

Was recommended actually by an Apple genius. He said unfortunately most people do not reboot. It resets the RAM etc.