Cydia
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Judge rules Cydia's antitrust case against Apple can move forward
Cydia’s antitrust case against Apple can move forward.
Igor Bonifacic05.28.2022
Jailbreak app store Cydia files its own antitrust lawsuit against Apple
A lawsuit claims Apple has 'an illegal monopoly over iOS app distribution.'
Kris Holt12.11.2020
Hackers make jailbreaking iPhones a thing again
In the iPhone's early days, hackers would "jailbreak" the iPhone in order to install third-party apps that weren't available through the App Store. It's been a while since anyone seriously needed to jailbreak their iPhone, as there are plenty of apps and more customizable operating systems to choose from. But this weekend, hackers dusted off their jailbreaking skills when a vulnerability was discovered in iOS 12.4. Security researcher Pwn20wnd released the first free public jailbreak for a fully updated iPhone in years.
Christine Fisher08.19.2019
Cydia's app store for jailbroken iPhones shuts down purchases (updated)
For years, people with jailbroken iPhones have turned to the Cydia Store to download apps that Apple wouldn't allow through its own portal. You might want to scramble for an alternative if you're one of those users, however. Service creator Jay Freeman (aka Saurik) has shut down purchases in the Cydia Store citing a combination of costs and security issues. It "loses [him] money" and, when there were multiple staffers, cost him a significant chunk of his "sanity." And while Freeman had already planned to close store purchases by the end of 2018, he bumped it up a week after learning of a security hole that let let someone buy apps through your account if you were logged in and browsing untrusted app repositories.
Jon Fingas12.15.2018
This day in Engadget history: The iPhone jailbreak era begins
Engadget has been around for 14 years and counting, which means our archives contain a veritable treasure trove of technology history. From notable reviews and news to the more mundane or ridiculous finds from across the internet, there's a lot to explore here. "This Day in Engadget History" will take you on a historical voyage as we look at what made the headlines in years past. Join us, won't you? It's definitely been a while since anyone seriously needed to jailbreak their iPhone. While undoubtedly some people still do, it seems like there's little need now that we've seen the tenth anniversary of the iOS App Store. There are plenty of apps these days and a whole different OS (Google's Android) for those who want something a little more customizable.
Rob LeFebvre07.19.2018
Malware swipes 225,000 Apple accounts through jailbroken iPhones
Jailbreaking an iPhone gives you the freedom to run the apps and interfaces you want (rather than those allowed by Apple), but it also carries some inherent risks -- you're giving apps much more control over your phone. And unfortunately, some of these users are discovering this the hard way. Researchers have discovered a strain of iOS malware, nicknamed KeyRaider, that has stolen over 225,000 Apple IDs from jailbroken devices. The software takes advantage of Chinese app repositories that let people directly upload and share their own titles. If you happen to download the code, it'll either scoop up your Apple account data (to give rogue users "free" apps) or hold your phone for ransom.
Jon Fingas08.31.2015
Cydia update courts iOS 7 jailbreakers with a new interface (video)
The availability of an iOS 7 jailbreak may have caught the Cydia team off-guard, but not for long. Jay Freeman and fellow developers have just updated their unofficial app platform to match Apple's minimalist look. It's more than just a cosmetic upgrade, too, as it includes iOS 7's swipe-based navigation and appears to run faster. Individual app writers will still have to update their code for everything to run smoothly, but jailbreak users who've just been waiting for an OS-native Cydia will want to check for the update today. [Image credit: iOS Hacker]
Jon Fingas12.24.2013
iOS 7 gets its first complete jailbreak, with a big catch
You've mostly been out of luck if you've wanted to jailbreak iOS 7 so far; what options have existed have been incomplete at best. Cracking the code just got a lot easier, though, as evasi0n 7 has just arrived. The untethered jailbreak lets Mac and Windows users freely modify iOS 7 on any device that can run the software in the first place, including newer gadgets like the iPad Air and iPhone 5s. Just be prepared for a rough experience, at least with early versions. In addition to the usual risks associated with unofficial OS tweaks, Saurik (Jay Freeman) warns that he hasn't had a real chance to test Cydia's app distribution platform with the new evasi0n release; you're using it at your own risk. Still, those who just have to venture beyond Apple's prescribed boundaries can start downloading the jailbreak at the source link. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Jon Fingas12.22.2013
Developers gain root access on Google Glass, not yet sure what to do with it
Access to Google's Glass headsets is still limited to a lucky few, but that's more than enough to include several curious coders. Some have had success identifying the hardware contained within, but others are focusing on the software. Cydia founder Jay Freeman posted the above image on Twitter this afternoon to show that he had gained root access on his unit, telling Forbes he relied upon a well-known Android 4.0.4 exploit to take control of its OS. The bad news? He hasn't been able to use it much yet, since the Explorer edition isn't quite ready for prescription glasses wearers. For now, the question of whether the same technique will work on eventual retail versions remains unanswered, as well as what it's actually going to be useful for. Steven Troughton-Smith suggests developers can use it to try out more complicated apps than Google currently allows, including always-on heads-up displays or camera apps. Overcoming any remote deactivation Google may try to enforce or loading your own unauthorized apps are also definite possibilities, though we're sure others will surface soon.
Richard Lawler04.26.2013
Hack brings all iPhone notifications to Pebble watch
Pebble watch owners have a good reason to jailbreak their iOS device. A new jailbreak app from developer Conrad Kramer lets the smartwatch accept all incoming notifications, not just the ones from native iOS apps, like messages and phone calls. This hack is available to most iPhone owners now that the iPhone 6 and iOS 6.1 is jailbroken. Pebble owners with a jailbroken device can download the BTNotificationEnabler tweak for free from Cydia. [Via BGR]
Kelly Hodgkins02.14.2013
Evasi0n used to jailbreak 7 million devices in less than a week
Forbes talked to Jay Freeman, aka Saurik, who confirmed that the recent Evasi0n jailbreak is the most popular jailbreak in iOS history. According to Saurik, the utility was used to jailbreak more than 7 million devices in the four days since it was released earlier this week. Freeman claims his Cydia jailbreak marketplace has been visited by an insane amount of traffic that includes 5.15 million iPhones, 1.35 million iPads and 400,000 iPod touches. iOS owners who used the Evasi0n tool can attest to this incredible amount of traffic as many could not connect to Cydia in the hours following the release of the jailbreak. You can read more about the iOS 6 jailbreak and its rapid adoption rate in the original article on Forbes.
Kelly Hodgkins02.08.2013
iOS 6 tethered jailbreak updated with official Cydia, quicker installation for your A4-packing device
The iPhone Dev-Team has just outed a new version of Redsnow that opens up iOS 6 to an official version of the sinful, definitely-not-Apple Cydia store, but you'll still have to be tethered to use it. The process is now simpler, as the latest version recognizes your already-installed iOS 6 OS and installs only the necessary jailbreak files, and Cydia is now installed automatically as well -- rather than needing a complex workaround like the last version. If you're willing to put up with the tethering and have an A4-powered iPhone 4, 3GS or gen-4 iPod touch device, the laundry list of how to do it is at the source below -- but there's always the risk of bricking, so caveat emptor, of course.
Steve Dent10.15.2012
iPhone 5 jailbroken, but not yet ready for public consumption
You knew that the hackers of the world would be anxious to jailbreak their fresh new iPhone 5's, and the feat's been accomplished just a day after older hardware running iOS 6 was similarly set free. Grant Paul posted the picture you see above on Twitter, confirming his new, elongated iPhone is, indeed, running Cydia. Unfortunately, the jailbreak isn't available to the rest of us just yet, but it shouldn't be long before the masses gain access, too. Viva la liberté!
Michael Gorman09.21.2012
TUAW Origin Stories: Cydia
This was a special treat for me, being a huge fan of anyone who hacks a closed system to make it better. In this Origin Stories we learn how Jay Freeman (saurik) got started in programming and how he came to create Cydia. Cydia is the premiere "alternative" apps venue outside Apple's own App Store. Jailbreak fans know it well, and yes, you must jailbreak your iPhone to use it. But as jailbreakers know, using Cydia means having access to a plethora of useful tweaks and enhancements in iOS. If you've ever wanted more icons in your dock, or the ability to ignore a paired Bluetooth keyboard (our own Erica Sadun wrote up something for just that), Cydia's vast repositories of useful goodies will help you customize iOS to your heart's content.
Victor Agreda Jr09.21.2012
iOS 6 jailbroken already, but only on older A4-powered iPhones and iPods
iOS 6 probably won't go down in history as a revolutionary update, but fortunately it's anti-tamper measures don't seem to have changed much either. The iPhone Dev-Team has already managed to get its redsn0w tethered jailbreak working, at least for the A4-powered iPhone 4, 3GS and 4th-gen iPod touch, and you'll find full instructions as well as a healthy list of caveats at the source link below. As to how long it'll take to get some Cydia action on the iPhone 5 and other fresher devices and without the hassle of tethering, place your bets here.
Sharif Sakr09.20.2012
Come see Jay Freeman (saurik) at IndieDevLab today
If you jailbreak you likely are familiar with Cydia, so come hear the man behind the alternative to the App Store, Saurik (aka Jay Freeman) today at IndieDevLab in San Francisco at 11:45am. Also a reminder: we'll be shooting videos about why you created an app (and yes, it can be a jailbreak app) starting tomorrow and going through Thursday. We've sent out the confirmations for Wednesday, but if you come by Thursday we might be able to slide you into the schedule -- although read this post first and understand the caveats. This week in San Francisco has thus far been a great one, even for those who didn't get tickets to WWDC. And don't forget Appsterdam, another alternative workspace for devs during the conference.
Victor Agreda Jr06.12.2012
Quasar gives the iPad untabbed windows for ten dollars and a jailbreak (video)
The iPad was made to do many things, but windowed multitasking wasn't one of them. Leave it to the Cydia Store to provide a new app that delivers individual, rotatable, scalable, untabbed windows. Quasar, from developer Pedro Franceschi, let's you do just that across multiple apps -- without relying on home button double-taps or tricky multi-finger gestures. The video below makes it seem pretty magical, so take a look and let us know what you think.
Anthony Verrecchio04.30.2012
Windowed apps on jailbroken iPad
If you have a jailbroken iPad, then you'll want to check out Quasar. As noted by Big Boss, The tweak lets you run each app in a separate window on your iPad. Each window can be resized, moved and closed just like a window on a full desktop OS. You can check out Quasar in the demo video below and then download the US$10 iPad app from the Cydia store. [Via The Verge]
Kelly Hodgkins04.30.2012
Daily Update for April 25, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Steve Sande04.25.2012
HackStore collects non-Mac App Store apps together
The Cydia store serves up apps to those with jailbroken iOS devices, but what about Mac users who don't want to use Apple's Mac App Store? Now, they have HackStore, a free app put together by Andrey Fedotov. HackStore is a collection of non-Mac App Store releases like Filezilla, GIMP, and Plex. Yes, you could just go to the various websites and download those apps for free, but why should those who don't want to play in Apple's walled garden miss out on a real App Store experience? The drawback is that, just like Cydia, most of these apps haven't been sanctioned by Apple directly, so download and install these at your own risk. HackStore does allow those unwilling to be part of Apple's system to have a little system of their own. As Fedotov says, "This program for me is the epitome of Cydia for iOS, but on a Mac OS." Whatever doesn't fly in the official store, he'll happily put in this app. And no jailbreaking needed! [via Engadget]
Mike Schramm04.25.2012