iPhone Tweaks

Multify adds a quick app switcher and true multitasking to iOS 8 devices. Jailbreakers can use several different modes to run multiple apps simultaneously. The key to this function is Edit Activation which allows the user to place windows for running apps anywhere on the screen, and resize them. These windows will function independently, with each running app being fully accessible just like on a desktop computer.

The Launch Activation feature provides access to the Multify launcher, where favorite app icons can be placed at the top of the screen. Running apps from here will keep them open in the background, which makes switching between apps quick and convenient. When app windows are small, the keyboard will automatically expand to make typing in the selected app perform as normal.

Theming the iOS home screen with the help of tools like WinterBoard is a favorite pastime of jailbreakers. The tweak Vex brings customizations specifically designed for the Notification Center and Control Center. Using these themes can dramatically change this part of iOS 8.

Vex comes with a list of included themes for each section. For example, Notification Center comes with Classic, Default, Modern or Wood themes. When it comes to the Control Center, there are 10 options, including throwback Classic and iOS 7 options. Themes are previewed right in the Settings under Vex -> Configuration.

The iPhone typically registers a keystroke by providing a sound effect and popping up the key pressed. This zooming animation confirms the right key was entered, by providing a visual cue. While the keyboard clicks can be silenced under Settings -> Sounds, turning off the animations requires a jailbreak tweak.

NoKeyPop brings this functionality to the iPhone, by removing the zoomed in key preview entirely. This means when keys are entered they do not react. For hiding keystrokes from potential spies this can be an important tool. Having keystrokes highlighted when entering a password, for example is not ideal.

iPhone owners looking to get system stats can add an array of meters directly to the Notification Center. Stock iOS hides much of this information from the user, but NCMeters seeks to change this on jailbroken devices. In addition to free storage space, additional information can be added at a glance.

Meters to choose from include CPU usage, RAM available, free disk space, upload speed and download speed. Once the tweak is installed from Cydia, these meters can be enabled, disabled and reordered under Settings -> NCMeters. Customizations include different colors for both the meter icons and text.

Spruce up an iPhone reboot with custom sound effects by installing EventOnStart. This jailbreak tweak provides a list of sounds that can be configured to play when iOS resprings, or when an iOS device is switched on. In addition to sounds, other events can also be initiated.

Besides a toggle to enable the tweak, EventOnStart has a variety of settings. The iPhone can be configured to vibrate on startup and there’s an option to have the LED camera flash blink. A welcome message can also be entered, which will display on startup.