Jailbreaking

Smart Search brings iOS 8 inspired enahncements to Spotlight search on jailbroken iOS 7 devices. A range of different sources can be searched, with results leading directly to any relevant, installed apps. This greatly improves the speed and versatility of the stock iOS Spotlight.

Once installed, a list of Plugins will be enabled under Settings -> Smart Search. These will correspond to available buttons within the Spotlight itself. Swipe down on the home screen to see these buttons, which will direct Smart Search to send the search term to the right place.

Most iOS 7 users are probably satisfied with accessing music controls in the Control Center. For those looking for more features, Musiex can be installed on jailbroken devices. The tweak works in conjunction with Activator to provide track info and controls from anywhere.

Once installed, an Activator action can be assigned to Musiex, which will bring up a panel at the top of any screen. The panel appears in the same place as incoming notifications, and provides current track information including album art.

Looking for extra security in the stock Messages app? The jailbreak tweak ConvoProtect can be used to lock and hide conversation threads. The package adds this functionality to iOS and even works with third party apps WhatsApp and Kik.

Once installed, texts and iMessages can be secured by selecting the contacts or groups involved in the threads to be locked. Entering a passcode will lock the conversation. After a conversation is locked, accessing its contents will require entering the passcode.

Many jailbreak tweaks are designed to make iOS even more convenient than the stock version. BrightPlayer is one such tweak, which adds brightness and rotation lock controls right where you need them, in the video player.

Finding that rotation lock is engaged when playing a video could mean stopping playback, navigating to the right toggle, and turning rotation lock off. Brightness can be even more inconvenient, since a dark display means playback won't be visible.

Customizing the colors on iOS lock screen notifications just got easier thanks to the jailbreak tweak xNotiLockColor. While the name might sound complicated, changing the colors for all aspects of lock screen notifications is simple with this package.

Once installed, components of the notifications can be colorized from Settings -> xNotiLockColor. The individual parts that can be customized are Primary, Secondary, Subtitle, Time/Slide, and Seperator. Colors take effect immediately when the next notification comes through, no respring required.