iPhone Tweaks

Using Mobile Safari on iOS 7 means up to 24 browser tabs can be left open. While this can be great for going back to frequently used web pages, it can also get messy fast. There is a trick using Private browsing mode, which closes all browser tabs in one shot.

Those with jailbroken devices can install the free CloseAll tweak for a more efficient solution to the problem. Once installed, there are no settings to configure. Simply pull up the 3D browser tab view and long press a black X in the upper left corner of any tab.

Fans of the Chrome web browser can avoid Safari on the iPhone with a simple jailbreak tweak named Open in Chrome. Once installed, a toggle in Settings will enable or disable the tweak. Using Open in Chrome results in Google's browser acting as the default across iOS 7.

This means links in notes, messages, email and other apps will always open in Chrome. Even links from Siri or home screen Bookmarks will use Chrome to display web pages. Of course, Chrome is required for the tweak to work properly. Without Chrome installed, the tweak does nothing and Safari opens like normal.

Notes are a convenient way to keep track of lists and other items on the iPhone. Even better is the ability to sync notes to a computer using iCloud. Developer JGTweaks has improved stock iOS notes even further, by making it possible to create a note from anywhere on the device.

No more pausing to stop what you're doing, and having to navigate to the Notes app. Jailbreakers can install the NoteCreator tweak from Cydia and choose any Activator action to create a new note. When the action is performed a dialog box appears, prompting the user to enter text for the note. Tap Done and the note is saved to the default account.

Dealing with multiple group messages in iOS 7 can be frustrating, especially if several of the messages include some of the same contacts. The stock Messages app simply identifies group messages by listing the names of the participants. Now thanks to the jailbreak tweak MessageRenamer7, there is a better way.

Once installed, MessageRenamer7 provides the option to rename a group message, directly in the Messages app. Hold down on any group message and select Rename from the pop-up menu. A text field will be provided to enter a new name for the conversation. Tapping Set will make the change.

Customizing the iOS 7 status bar is only a tweak away with StatusModifier. Those with jailbroken iPhones can install this free tweak for more control over exactly what information is displayed. Hiding items or displaying the amount of free system RAM can be accomplished using Settings -> StatusModifier.

Custom formatting can be created using the DateFormat Builder, which provides options such as displaying seconds with the current time, or the date. This is also where iOS available RAM can be selected by entering the letters FM (free memory). By default, the amount of free memory is updated in real time every second, with a slider making longer intervals possible.