Tips

There is a versatile jailbreak tweak called AppControl, which allows the user to control various settings for individual apps. Jailbreakers are used to having more control over their devices, and AppControl is another way to add customization to iOS. With AppControl installed, key settings such as brightness and volume can be pre-determined for each app ahead of launch.

This means after installation and configuration, the tweak AppControl will automatically set the volume and brightness to presets depending on which app is launched. The concept behind the tweak makes sense, since iOS by default will use the same display brightness and volume across all apps. For example, if the user typically reads only at night, with AppControl the iBooks app can be configured with a low brightness setting automatically.

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.

Searching for text on the iPhone can involve a cut and paste into the web browser, which can be inconvenient. To achieve this in just one step, jailbreakers can install the Action Menu add-on PopSearch. For those without Action Menu, this tweak will automatically install when downloading the free PopSearch package from Cydia. So what does PopSearch bring to iOS?

Once installed, the menu item Search+ will appear in the action menu when text is selected in any app. Tapping Search+ immediately displays a list of options, including Google, Bing, Wikipedia, and Amazon. Once the desired search mode is selected, a web browser window pops up and displays results without ever leaving the current app.

Answering incoming iPhone or FaceTime calls in a hands-free situation normally requires touching the display. Three times, to be exact. One tap to answer the call, once to select the audio source, and the third to switch to speaker. Using headphones can reduce this interaction to one press, however this also means the conversation will take place on the headphones, not the speaker.

HandsFree seeks to streamline the process for a truly hands-free experience when answering a call, no headphones required. This jailbreak tweak requires iOS 7.1 or later and an iPhone 5, 5c or 5s jailbroken by Pangu. Once installed, HandsFree makes it possible to answer a call on speakerphone by simply waving your hand over the device.

There are several jailbreak tweaks that add functions to the stock iOS volume heads up display (HUD). Volume+ and Music HUD come to mind. But what about simply changing the color of this display?

ColorfulVolume is one way to get the job done. Once this free jailbreak tweak is installed, a custom color can be selected and applied to the volume HUD. Not only this, but a toggle will enable a random color to be displayed every time the volume is changed.