General why does Cydia allow dodgy repos?

[itjw]

Because I am 99% certain for every person that gets butthurt when you say that jailbreaking is for piracy, there are 10 people who use it nearly exclusively FOR piracy.

It is what it is. If suddenly jailbreaking DIDN'T allow piracy, very few people would care about it. Look at the PS3 for example: Initially the jailbreak could NOT run ROMs (pirating). It wasn't until the ability to run ROMs was available that the jailbreak exploded, yet everyone still claimed it was because they wanted to run unsigned code and tweaks, NOT to pirate games (yeah right...).

Look, you can try and ignore it all you want, but the PRIMARY reason for jailbreaking has never been to run legal software. Even if you ignore the Installous's of the world, most early jailbreakers used emulators (still do), and while I'm sure they own real copies of every gave they play (again, yeah right...), it's just another example of an illegal entry point for jailbreaking.

Jailbreaking in and of itself is still legal, but it's like owning a Ferrari 599 and always driving the speed limit. Sure, you COULD, but would anyone believe you if you said that you never sped?

I call BS. I bet 99% of jailbreakers have SOMETHING illegal/pirated from jailbreaking on their phone, no matter how insignificant it may be or seem to them. Even tethering via jailbreak is a violation of a contract in most cases (just a simple example). So please stay off the high "I jailbreak but I do no wrong" horse.

Cydia (and Saurik) know this about the community, and know the problems banning every repo that ever hosted a pirated/illegal app (basically every repo in some form or another) would cause.

The "good" jailbreakers of the world can deny doing anything illegal or pirating anything all they want. I'm sure they will. I still don't believe them.

Jailbreaking does not EQUAL piracy, but piracy is a HUGE part of jailbreaking.

 

[kodeman53]

Because I am 99% certain for every person that gets butthurt when you say that jailbreaking is for piracy, there are 10 people who use it nearly exclusively FOR piracy.

It is what it is. If suddenly jailbreaking DIDN'T allow piracy, very few people would care about it. Look at the PS3 for example: Initially the jailbreak could NOT run ROMs (pirating). It wasn't until the ability to run ROMs was available that the jailbreak exploded, yet everyone still claimed it was because they wanted to run unsigned code and tweaks, NOT to pirate games (yeah right...).

Look, you can try and ignore it all you want, but the PRIMARY reason for jailbreaking has never been to run legal software. Even if you ignore the Installous's of the world, most early jailbreakers used emulators (still do), and while I'm sure they own real copies of every gave they play (again, yeah right...), it's just another example of an illegal entry point for jailbreaking.

Jailbreaking in and of itself is still legal, but it's like owning a Ferrari 599 and always driving the speed limit. Sure, you COULD, but would anyone believe you if you said that you never sped?

I call BS. I bet 99% of jailbreakers have SOMETHING illegal/pirated from jailbreaking on their phone, no matter how insignificant it may be or seem to them. Even tethering via jailbreak is a violation of a contract in most cases (just a simple example). So please stay off the high "I jailbreak but I do no wrong" horse.

Cydia (and Saurik) know this about the community, and know the problems banning every repo that ever hosted a pirated/illegal app (basically every repo in some form or another) would cause.

The "good" jailbreakers of the world can deny doing anything illegal or pirating anything all they want. I'm sure they will. I still don't believe them.

Jailbreaking does not EQUAL piracy, but piracy is a HUGE part of jailbreaking.

Rants like this always appear in threads like this, full of so called facts that are nothing more than rationalizations.

99% jailbreakers pirate software
Piracy is a HUGE part of jailbreaking.

I am sure posts like yours are big hits on the pirate foums.

 

[robotphood]

I guess I am the 1%. However, I do use a dodgy repo to test new/unknown apps and tweaks but I can honestly say I buy everything I keep. Conflicts and new iOS/hardware incompatibilities seem a lot worse this time around than ever before (past 4+ years). I already bought a handful of apps I am no longer using (but I guess that pales in comparison to the $ I've wasted on my appstore account ). Definitely need more trials in cydia. Sometimes I wish Cydia merged with Rock Your Phone instead of the other way around.

 

[Jakeblu]

Because I am 99% certain for every person that gets butthurt when you say that jailbreaking is for piracy, there are 10 people who use it nearly exclusively FOR piracy.

It is what it is. If suddenly jailbreaking DIDN'T allow piracy, very few people would care about it. Look at the PS3 for example: Initially the jailbreak could NOT run ROMs (pirating). It wasn't until the ability to run ROMs was available that the jailbreak exploded, yet everyone still claimed it was because they wanted to run unsigned code and tweaks, NOT to pirate games (yeah right...).

Look, you can try and ignore it all you want, but the PRIMARY reason for jailbreaking has never been to run legal software. Even if you ignore the Installous's of the world, most early jailbreakers used emulators (still do), and while I'm sure they own real copies of every gave they play (again, yeah right...), it's just another example of an illegal entry point for jailbreaking.

Jailbreaking in and of itself is still legal, but it's like owning a Ferrari 599 and always driving the speed limit. Sure, you COULD, but would anyone believe you if you said that you never sped?

I call BS. I bet 99% of jailbreakers have SOMETHING illegal/pirated from jailbreaking on their phone, no matter how insignificant it may be or seem to them. Even tethering via jailbreak is a violation of a contract in most cases (just a simple example). So please stay off the high "I jailbreak but I do no wrong" horse.

Cydia (and Saurik) know this about the community, and know the problems banning every repo that ever hosted a pirated/illegal app (basically every repo in some form or another) would cause.

The "good" jailbreakers of the world can deny doing anything illegal or pirating anything all they want. I'm sure they will. I still don't believe them.

Jailbreaking does not EQUAL piracy, but piracy is a HUGE part of jailbreaking.

I fancy that post says more about you than 99% of the jailbreak community

 

[lukejc1]

Because it would go against the concept of "jailbreaking"

Exactly! If cydia blocked repos we would be trading in the Apple approval process for the Saurik approval process. The warning is in place and I think that's enough. If you don't want to mess around with sketchy repos you can cancel the source installation. Personally I don't mind supporting the developers who work hard to give us great tweaks. I've already spend over $100 on tweaks in the past month

 

[Gizmotoy]

Yeah thats just messed up right there. Some people steal someone's work then have the nerve to flood them with support requests and requests for enhancements... thats just maddening and would totally discourage me if I was a dev

That's how it goes, though, even in Apple's app store. I released a game that was widely pirated, and also, unfortunately, had a few bugs. I put in some code to detect piracy which caused the game to revert to the limited "Free" version after so many unlimited plays. Subsequently, I fixed some bugs. That meant there was no pirated version available with all the bug fixes.

Even 2 years later I would still constantly get support requests from people using the outdated pirated version. I'd tell them all the bugs were fixed and to update to the latest version. Only a few people were stupid enough to write back that they "can't" update.

I don't do development on my personal time anymore.

 

[Evilmonkee42]

Like we have discussed before.

If there was a trial period within these tweaks a lot of people wouldn't need to add such repo's.

Lots of people use these repo's to download the tweak to see if its for them and that it does not clash with another tweak already being used.

^This.

I do feel a need to protect myself and my money. I would LOVE it if more devs would put out timed-trials for their tweaks. Some of the bigger ones do. But someone charging $2-3+ for a relatively minor tweak that I have no way of knowing if I'm going to like how it works, or if it works at all, is not very good business. I can only imagine that they would most likely increase their sales if they put out free trials of their software. Those, like me, who are daunted by spending money on an unknown would be more apt to purchasing knowing that they will actually use the tweak.

Every one of the tweaks that I use on my phone that cost money is paid for. But I only paid for them after installing the cracked or trial version and trying it out first. If it wasn't to my liking I just uninstalled it.

So thank you pirates for allowing me to try before I decide to buy. And shame on you devs who expect potential customers to purchase your product on faith alone.

I'll no doubt be flamed for this post but it had to be said and I truly hope that devs take heed.

 

[WeegieMac]

I'm not a fan of repos, I know some people find benefit in them, but in the back of my mind I can't help but think they're "up to something" in the background. I prefer to stick to the stock Cydia sources, but that's just me.

 

[kodeman53]

Rationalization removed.

I'll no doubt be flamed for this post but it had to be said and I truly hope that devs take heed.

I agree. Throwing away 99 cents every now and then is just too much for me.

 

[Jakeblu]

^This.

So thank you pirates for allowing me to try before I decide to buy. And shame on you devs who expect potential customers to purchase your product on faith alone.

I'll no doubt be flamed for this post but it had to be said and I truly hope that devs take heed.

Interesting concept. try before you buy. maybe if I go into my local electrical hardware store and ask them if I could borrow that Flat screen tv for a few weeks to see if its as good as it looks and suits my front room Or maybe that new dead space game thats out could I borrow that for a bit while I see if I like it, If I do I will send you the money if not I'll just return it Or the new Bond movie...... etc etc etc

There are usually plenty of reviews around on most apps certainly the popular ones and very often a vid on youtube or you could even ask here plenty do. Theres no need to support repos that rip off the work of developers on the pretext of try before you buy.

 

[WeegieMac]

I bought Auxo the second the Evasion jailbreak was released, it cost me a grand total of £1.32 ... to pirate that would be embarrassing. It still, to this day, baffles me how people can afford a £500 phone but then somehow expect us to believe they can't afford a quid or two for an app they really want.

 

[pickaxe]

Though I don't install cracked apps, I think it's outrageous that Cydia even logs user-added repos and sends them to Saurik. Especially as Cydia has a complete monopoly on iOS APT implementations.

 

[kodeman53]

Especially as Cydia has a complete monopoly on iOS APT implementations.

No, Cydia does not have a 'complete monopoly' nor do people send their repos to Saurik.

Other than these items, your post was completely accurate.

 

[pickaxe]

No, Cydia does not have a 'complete monopoly' nor do people send their repos to Saurik.

Other than these items, your post was completely accurate.

Cydia is a monopoly. Remember Rock and where it ended up? There are good reasons why Cydia still can't multitask, has a ton of legacy code, is slow as molasses and is a usability nightmare - it's the de-facto package manager, and it's already got enough developers selling paid apps on it that it'll be very difficult for any new package manager to replace it.

And I doubt the Cydia repo blacklist was assembled manually. I could be very well be wrong on this one, though.

 

[locoboi187]

i think Saurik has better things to do

 

[oplix]

why does Cydia allow dodgy repos?

It's not Sauriks or your business to police repositories. There are already warnings when adding known cracked repos. That's like asking why google allows you to search illegal downloads

 

[Sine Qua Non]

Cydia is a monopoly. Remember Rock and where it ended up? There are good reasons why Cydia still can't multitask, has a ton of legacy code, is slow as molasses and is a usability nightmare - it's the de-facto package manager, and it's already got enough developers selling paid apps on it that it'll be very difficult for any new package manager to replace it.

And I doubt the Cydia repo blacklist was assembled manually. I could be very well be wrong on this one, though.

Yeah, I remember Rock, and it's a bad memory. Rock was great for causing problems.

Cydia is designed as a front end for apt. It does that just fine.

 

[robotphood]

Rock did cause trouble but it was pretty smooth for me. I liked the cleaner layout and how it looked in general. Speed was a plus but I guess stability was sacrificed for it.

 

[Adutrumque]

I like how some developers put time on frugging up things for cracked apps like making them sluggish and laggy and putting the wrong pictures in it. I really adore that. Wish more devs would do the same.
Guess it's consuming time to do that but in the end I think it's worth it.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I like how some developers put time on frugging up things for cracked apps like making them sluggish and laggy and putting the wrong pictures in it. I really adore that. Wish more devs would do the same.
Guess it's consuming time to do that but in the end I think it's worth it.

Remember that most of these are small developers. I use to spend time going around sending DMCA requests to take down pirated copies of our software. In the end while it stopped some people from getting their hands on it, my time was better spent focusing on selling to legit customers. Most pirates will never buy your software even if they can't find it free so it's not necessarily a lost sale.

It was fun to upload fake apps made to look like legit apps to the pirated sites though. People install anything and many of these apps would open up their system to attacks, data theft, and other fun. Might seem messed up but they don't seem to care what they're getting when they pirate.

 

[Applejuiced]

Yeah, I remember Rock, and it's a bad memory. Rock was great for causing problems.

Cydia is designed as a front end for apt. It does that just fine.

Rock wasn't just a bad memory, it was a nightmare

Rock did cause trouble but it was pretty smooth for me. I liked the cleaner layout and how it looked in general. Speed was a plus but I guess stability was sacrificed for it.

And the many GB's of space it kept taking up on your device when installed

 

[MBHockey]

Because I am 99% certain for every person that gets butthurt when you say that jailbreaking is for piracy, there are 10 people who use it nearly exclusively FOR piracy.

It is what it is. If suddenly jailbreaking DIDN'T allow piracy, very few people would care about it. Look at the PS3 for example: Initially the jailbreak could NOT run ROMs (pirating). It wasn't until the ability to run ROMs was available that the jailbreak exploded, yet everyone still claimed it was because they wanted to run unsigned code and tweaks, NOT to pirate games (yeah right...).

Look, you can try and ignore it all you want, but the PRIMARY reason for jailbreaking has never been to run legal software. Even if you ignore the Installous's of the world, most early jailbreakers used emulators (still do), and while I'm sure they own real copies of every gave they play (again, yeah right...), it's just another example of an illegal entry point for jailbreaking.

Jailbreaking in and of itself is still legal, but it's like owning a Ferrari 599 and always driving the speed limit. Sure, you COULD, but would anyone believe you if you said that you never sped?

I call BS. I bet 99% of jailbreakers have SOMETHING illegal/pirated from jailbreaking on their phone, no matter how insignificant it may be or seem to them. Even tethering via jailbreak is a violation of a contract in most cases (just a simple example). So please stay off the high "I jailbreak but I do no wrong" horse.

Cydia (and Saurik) know this about the community, and know the problems banning every repo that ever hosted a pirated/illegal app (basically every repo in some form or another) would cause.

The "good" jailbreakers of the world can deny doing anything illegal or pirating anything all they want. I'm sure they will. I still don't believe them.

Jailbreaking does not EQUAL piracy, but piracy is a HUGE part of jailbreaking.

According to you. You're making up all of your data.

Sounds like you're just rationalizing.

 

[taedouni]

Cydia is open, not closed like Apple's App Store. It's sad that piracy is taking money away from hardworking developers.

 

[ericrwalker]

Cydia is open, not closed like Apple's App Store. It's sad that piracy is taking money away from hardworking developers.

Yes, that's why there is not a lot of money in being a developer for Android.

That being said, not everyone who jailbreaks is also is pirate.

 

[thelatinist]

Cydia is a monopoly. Remember Rock and where it ended up? There are good reasons why Cydia still can't multitask, has a ton of legacy code, is slow as molasses and is a usability nightmare - it's the de-facto package manager, and it's already got enough developers selling paid apps on it that it'll be very difficult for any new package manager to replace it.

There have been several alternative installers for software, one of which was Rock, as you mention. None of them lasted not because Saurik forced them out of the marketplace but because they simply weren't successful. Intelliborn ended up selling Rock because he couldn't make money off of it.

Personally I don't find Cydia "a usability nightmare." There are good reasons for Cydia not to multitask (and to disable MobileSubstrate): doing things on your phone while installing Cydia packages which inject code could interfere with their proper installation or prevent files from updating properly. Apple's App store doesn't have this issue because of the sandbox. And the speed of loading pages in Cydia has almost nothing to do with the app itself -- those pages are all served by the repositories themselves, and are slow because those repositories clog them with ads and don't have adequate bandwidth.