Cydia

One of the cool things that iOS 5 will offer when Apple releases the new mobile operating system is the capability to create custom shortcuts that can be used when entering text. Of course you can have this feature right now if you jailbreak your iPhone and install the utility called Xpandr using the Cydia app store.

Xpandr costs $1.99 and can be found in Cydia under Sections -> Utilities or by using the Search function. Payment is simple and uses either PayPal or Amazon Payments directly in the Cydia app store. Once installed, Xpandr can be configured by tapping its icon on the home screen.

Why wait for iOS 5 to improve your Mail app when you can get these features now with a jailbroken iPhone? Anyone using a jailbroken iPad or iPod touch can also add these three packages from Cydia to their system for better mail. Each package adds more functionality and customization to the stock Mail application.

The first package we're going to discuss is Mail Enhancer. Sure it costs $4.99 but it adds an incredible amount of customization to Mail. To find Mail Enhancer use the search function in Cydia or look under Tweaks. The app can be purchased directly on Cydia using Amazon Payments or PayPal.

Call Delete not only makes it possible to delete individual recent calls, but the tweak adds a variety of features and functionality to the iPhone recent call list. iOS 5 will implement individual call deleting when it's released this fall, but iPhone owners with jailbroken devices can install this functionality now thanks to Cydia and developer IArrays.

To find Call Delete, open Cydia and navigate to Sections -> Tweaks -> Call Delete or find the software using the Search function. Tap the Install button and Confirm to download the package. Before you can use Call Delete, you must pay IArrays $1.29 for a license via debit or credit card on PayPal. Open the Phone app and select Recents. When the Call Delete dialog box appears tap Buy Now.

Apple plans to add more functionality to the stock Camera app in iOS 5. One of the features will allow the volume buttons on the side of the iPhone to snap a picture, making it unnecessary to touch the screen. This is much easier and lets the iOS device act more like a standard point-and-shoot camera.

Luckily for those who have jailbroken their iPhones this functionality can be installed right away. A tweak called CameraButtons provides this feature and much more for only 99 cents. To find the app open Cydia and navigate to Sections -> Tweaks -> CameraButtons or find the package using Search.

Apple plans to release the iOS 5 Notification Center this fall, which makes it possible to easily access information from the lock screen or anytime with a simple gesture on the task bar. Fortunately for those who have already jailbroken their iOS devices similar functionality already exists. All it takes is a properly installed and configured tweak called LockInfo.

Although LockInfo costs $7.99, the app is worth the price for the new features it makes possible right now. It also comes with a 14-day free trial so you don't have to commit before trying out the app. If you don't think it's worth the money Cydia can easily remove LockInfo before or after the free trial ends. To install and configure LockInfo follow these steps: