iPhone Tweaks

More control over audio has been a focus of many iOS jailbreak tweaks. Everything from volume amplifiers to sophisticated equalizers have made their way from Cydia to mobile devices. AudioOut is a relatively simple tweak that restores manual control of an automatic iOS function.

Every time headphones are plugged into the iPhone or iPad, sound output from the external speaker is shut off automatically. The sound is then routed into the headphones. iOS provides no option to change this default behavior. With AudioOut installed on a jailbroken device, it's possible to listen to sound on the speaker even when headphones are plugged in.

Usually the only sound an iPhone makes when it plummets to the ground is a crack upon impact. Now thanks to the jailbreak tweak FreeFall the iPhone can scream in horror whenever it's dropped. In fact, the default sound effect triggered by the accelerometer is none other than the Wilhelm Scream.

FreeFall is available free from developer Steven Rolfe's repository at apt.steverolfe.com. Check here for instructions on how to add a new source to Cydia on a jailbroken device. Besides the screaming iPhone trick, FreeFall can also be used to play a custom sound.

PanicLock is a jailbreak tweak that brings a new layer of security to iOS devices. With panicLock installed, an Activator gesture can be configured to lock access to all apps. This means that even if there is no passcode set, or someone knows the passcode, apps can be locked out completely.

The secret gesture is selected from Settings -> panicLock -> Activation Methods. Once panicLock is installed and configured, performing the secret gesture blocks access to all iOS apps immediately. To disable the lock, invoke the secret gesture a second time.

Expanding the widgets and capabilities of Notification Center is a favorite hobby of jailbreak developers. Prolific note takers might like the recent jailbreak tweak NCMemo, which is available for free on Cydia. NCMemo inserts a text box directly into the Today tab of the iOS Notification Center.

Once installed, NCMemo can be switched on under Notification Center -> NCMemo. The text box can be resized and moved directly within the Today tab. Colors and fonts appearing within the text box are fully customizable under Settings -> NCMemo. To create a note, just open the Notification Center from anywhere in iOS and enter text.

Bringing desktop file management to the iPhone is not a new concept. The tweak iFile is a familiar example of what is possible with a jailbroken iOS device. Media Downloader brings a new level of features to Safari users, making it possible to download media files and more.

Even complete web pages can be downloaded to the iPhone for later viewing without Wi-Fi or data service. Media Downloader is a browser app that grabs and stores a variety of media files to iOS, providing options to play files and open them in different apps.