All credit for the following 'hack' goes to "JM" at a-common-hades.blogspot.com.
I followed his tutorial but had some hangups that I figured others with firmware 4.3.3 might have. So I decided to post a slightly revised tutorial here. I used the "stripped down" version because I just wanted to quickly delete all languages but English.
View either this link (full script) or this link (stripped down) from your iPhones web browser. Copy the entire code found on either page using the iPhones copy/paste feature, starting from "#! /bin/sh" and ending with "# end of script".
Open iFile and navigate to this folder /private/var/mobile and click "Edit" then + at the bottom left of your screen. Type the name "langpack2.sh", change its "Attributes" to "Regular File" and then click "Create". Now click "Done" and then click on the file you just created, open with "Text Viewer", click "Edit" then paste the code from above into it. Click "Done" and close iFile, you're done with it.
Open MobileTerminal and type the following exactly: (skip this part if you're already changed your root passwords)
su root
It will ask you for a password. The default password from Apple is "alpine" (without quotes). Then type:
passwd
It will ask you to set a new password. Make very sure you type exactly what you want your new password to be. Terminal does not display what you're typing for passwords (they call it a security measure). It will ask you to type the password again to verify you got it right. Then type:
passwd mobile
Again it will ask you for a new password and then to verify it. You can choose to have the same password for both, it doesn't matter. What you're doing making sure that no one else can access your phones files from the internet by using the default password "alpine", which everyone knows about.
Once that's complete, you'll be logged into the ROOT account. Now we can start removing the language packs. Type this exactly:
cd /private/var/mobile
then this:
chmod 755 langpack2.sh
then this:
./langpack2.sh
If everything to this point has worked correctly, you should be prompted to answer "y" or "n" to deleting all languages except English/Japanese. Just hit the y on your keyboard and click return. The process takes a little while, ~2.5 minutes for me so be patient. It will notify when its completed and how many languages were removed. You can check to make sure this worked by going to your iPhones settings menu like so: settings -> general -> international -> language. There should now only be English, Japanese (symbols), and British English.
I don't see an improvement in available RAM, though I'm not surprised by this. I don't really see any 'performance' enhancement at all. But, I also don't see why the space taken up with these useless files is necessary and its always fun to learn how to delete things that Apple doesn't want to let you by default.
This blog consist of all my iPhone tweaks and research. I try to document things clearly enough that you can easily recreate the same results as I did, should you choose to do so. Please remember that any tutorials should be used at your own risk, as I can't guarantee compatibility in all cases. All information is for educational purposes only. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope it helps you create a more personal iOS user experience.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
How To Get A List Of Installed Cydia Applications
If you're facing having to restore your iDevice for whatever reason. You're probably fearing trying to figure out what all the apps were you have installed from Cydia. Sure, you can view a list of them in Cydia and write them all down or create a document on your computer and type it all but who wants to do that? There's a couple of programs out there that can backup and restore your Cydia apps, some free and some that cost. Two examples I'm aware of are AptBackup (FREE) or PkgBackup ($7.99). For those of us that want something fairly simple and free that creates a file for us to view or save wherever we want, navigate to this folder with iFile:
/var/lib/dpkg/
View the file simply called "status" with the text editor option. You'll then have a list of all of your Cydia installed applications along with some useful information about each app such as installed size, who maintains the app, version number, what dependencies the app has (what other programs does it rely on), a description of what the program does (as it was displayed in the Cydia store), the apps URL homepage, author and their email address, who sponsors it, etc.
You can either email this file to yourself from iFile (viewable on your computer as a standard text document), or copy and paste into your favorite email application.
/var/lib/dpkg/
View the file simply called "status" with the text editor option. You'll then have a list of all of your Cydia installed applications along with some useful information about each app such as installed size, who maintains the app, version number, what dependencies the app has (what other programs does it rely on), a description of what the program does (as it was displayed in the Cydia store), the apps URL homepage, author and their email address, who sponsors it, etc.
You can either email this file to yourself from iFile (viewable on your computer as a standard text document), or copy and paste into your favorite email application.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
How To Remove Nike + iPod Application From Your iPhone 4 Permanently
The following guide was put together for firmware 4.3.3. I have no guarantees this will work on your device, but it did in fact work for me with no negative effects whatsoever.
I found this tutorial from a google search. Unfortunately it wasn't correct for some of the folder locations for my iPhone 4 with 4.3.3 firmware and it wasn't even complete or clearly put together. So, I used iFile and created a backup folder, called "Nike files", in case I got anything wrong. I put it in the folder I made in my previous post called "Deleted stock apps".
Let's get started! (make a backup folder and copy EVERYTHING you're going to delete, always!)
The following files need to be deleted:
/Applications/Nike.app
/System/Library/AccessibilityBundles/SportsTrainerFramework.axbundle
/System/Library/AccessabilityBundles/Nike.axbundle
/System/Library/PreferenceBundles/VictoriaSettings.bundle
/var/mobile/Library/Caches/com.apple.IconCache/* <-- some sort of Nike related icon file will appear here ONLY if you had the Nike+iPod app turned on in settings. Skip this if you did NOT have it on. /System/Library/SpringBoardPlugins/NikeLockScreen.bundle
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsTrainer.framework
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsVoices.framework
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsWorkout.framework
That completes the list of files to delete. Now we must tell the settings menu to forget about the Nike+Ipod application, as it will still be listed there.
Navigate to \Applications\Preferences.app\ and find the file "Settings.plist". Click it and select "Text Viewer". Scroll down nearly to the bottom of this document and find the following grouping:
Delete EVERYTHING IN THE WHITE BOX and NOTHING ELSE!!!
Once you've done that, it should look like this:
Now click "Done" in the upper right corner of the keyboard and then click "Save" in the upper right corner of your screen. You should not get any errors, if you do... click "Cancel" in the upper left corner of your screen, it will re-load the file, then edit it again as above.
Close iFile when the above steps are complete. Respring your device and POOF! Nike+Ipod is gone forever (unless you restore all of these files you hopefully backed up). If all is well, its your choice to keep the backup files. I deleted them.
I found this tutorial from a google search. Unfortunately it wasn't correct for some of the folder locations for my iPhone 4 with 4.3.3 firmware and it wasn't even complete or clearly put together. So, I used iFile and created a backup folder, called "Nike files", in case I got anything wrong. I put it in the folder I made in my previous post called "Deleted stock apps".
Let's get started! (make a backup folder and copy EVERYTHING you're going to delete, always!)
The following files need to be deleted:
/Applications/Nike.app
/System/Library/AccessibilityBundles/SportsTrainerFramework.axbundle
/System/Library/AccessabilityBundles/Nike.axbundle
/System/Library/PreferenceBundles/VictoriaSettings.bundle
/var/mobile/Library/Caches/com.apple.IconCache/* <-- some sort of Nike related icon file will appear here ONLY if you had the Nike+iPod app turned on in settings. Skip this if you did NOT have it on. /System/Library/SpringBoardPlugins/NikeLockScreen.bundle
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsTrainer.framework
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsVoices.framework
/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SportsWorkout.framework
That completes the list of files to delete. Now we must tell the settings menu to forget about the Nike+Ipod application, as it will still be listed there.
Navigate to \Applications\Preferences.app\ and find the file "Settings.plist". Click it and select "Text Viewer". Scroll down nearly to the bottom of this document and find the following grouping:
Delete EVERYTHING IN THE WHITE BOX and NOTHING ELSE!!!
Once you've done that, it should look like this:
Now click "Done" in the upper right corner of the keyboard and then click "Save" in the upper right corner of your screen. You should not get any errors, if you do... click "Cancel" in the upper left corner of your screen, it will re-load the file, then edit it again as above.
Close iFile when the above steps are complete. Respring your device and POOF! Nike+Ipod is gone forever (unless you restore all of these files you hopefully backed up). If all is well, its your choice to keep the backup files. I deleted them.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
How To Remove Stocks And Game Center Using iFile
I find it annoying that Apple thinks they can dictate what I can delete from my own phone. When you buy a iDevice it comes with pre-installed software like Stocks, Game Center, iBooks, and others.
Today, you're going to learn how to delete those applications safely and permanently.
NOTE: The following guide is written for firmware 4.3.3
Go to Cydia and search for iFile. Install as usual and respring. Once your iPhone restarts, find the new icon for iFile and click it.
Follow these steps exactly: (Just repeat steps for all applications you wish to delete)
1. Click the upper left button in iFile to go back a directory until you're at "/".
2. Click the upper right button "Edit" and then the bottom right "+" sign to create a new directory.
3. A page will come up, name the new directory "Deleted stock apps" and then tap "Create".
4. If it sends you into the new folder, hit the upper left button again to go back to the "/" directory.
5. Click on the "Applications" folder. Here you will see a list of all the apps you have installed.
6. Click on the upper right button "Edit" and then scroll down till you find Stocks.app.
7. Check the circle next to Stocks.app and you'll notice a new icon on the very bottom right of your screen, it looks like a clipboard, click it and choose "Copy/Link" and then click "Done".
8. Click the upper left button to go back a directory, click the "Deleted stock apps" folder.
9. Click the upper right button "Edit" and then click the bottom clipboard button and choose "Paste".
You've now created a backup of the app to use in case you need it again, but its ignored by the OS for now. Please continue the following the steps:
10. Click the upper left button to go back a directory and then choose the /Applications directory again.
11. Scroll down to Stocks.app and swipe it from left to right to bring up the delete option.
12. Navigate to /System/Library/AccessibilityBundles and delete "Stocks.axbundle"
You can now hit the home button and return to your Springboard where you will notice the app is still listed but the icon is white. Respring your device and POOF! the app you deleted is entirely gone!
I researched this for a hour and kept finding videos and post saying you had to do this is in this folder:
/var/stash/applications
However, this folder didn't exist (even with hidden files set to show). I'm guessing on older firmware, the applications folder was there and not on root? I have no idea, but these steps worked for me. I don't suggest doing this unless you have a iPhone 4 with firmware 4.3.3 as I can not promise this will work on any other device and firmware.
Today, you're going to learn how to delete those applications safely and permanently.
NOTE: The following guide is written for firmware 4.3.3
Go to Cydia and search for iFile. Install as usual and respring. Once your iPhone restarts, find the new icon for iFile and click it.
Follow these steps exactly: (Just repeat steps for all applications you wish to delete)
1. Click the upper left button in iFile to go back a directory until you're at "/".
2. Click the upper right button "Edit" and then the bottom right "+" sign to create a new directory.
3. A page will come up, name the new directory "Deleted stock apps" and then tap "Create".
4. If it sends you into the new folder, hit the upper left button again to go back to the "/" directory.
5. Click on the "Applications" folder. Here you will see a list of all the apps you have installed.
6. Click on the upper right button "Edit" and then scroll down till you find Stocks.app.
7. Check the circle next to Stocks.app and you'll notice a new icon on the very bottom right of your screen, it looks like a clipboard, click it and choose "Copy/Link" and then click "Done".
8. Click the upper left button to go back a directory, click the "Deleted stock apps" folder.
9. Click the upper right button "Edit" and then click the bottom clipboard button and choose "Paste".
You've now created a backup of the app to use in case you need it again, but its ignored by the OS for now. Please continue the following the steps:
10. Click the upper left button to go back a directory and then choose the /Applications directory again.
11. Scroll down to Stocks.app and swipe it from left to right to bring up the delete option.
12. Navigate to /System/Library/AccessibilityBundles and delete "Stocks.axbundle"
You can now hit the home button and return to your Springboard where you will notice the app is still listed but the icon is white. Respring your device and POOF! the app you deleted is entirely gone!
I researched this for a hour and kept finding videos and post saying you had to do this is in this folder:
/var/stash/applications
However, this folder didn't exist (even with hidden files set to show). I'm guessing on older firmware, the applications folder was there and not on root? I have no idea, but these steps worked for me. I don't suggest doing this unless you have a iPhone 4 with firmware 4.3.3 as I can not promise this will work on any other device and firmware.
NoCyfresh i4 by "Nathulal" (FREE)
I LOVE Cydia, but one thing I could say sucks about it is how long it takes to refresh package/source lists every bleeding time you start it. If you're like me, you start Cydia over and over in a night just finding and trying new apps/tweaks. Do we really need Cydia to update 25 times a night?
Enter NoCyfresh i4.
NOTE: You need SBSettings installed before continuing with the installation of NoCyfresh!
This tweak is simple.. keep Cydia from auto-refreshing. You can still manually update, or you can toggle NoCyfresh on/off via SBSettings before you open Cydia.
The i4 designation is for iPhone 4's. There is a iPhone 3G & 3GS version in Cydia as well, use whichever pertains to you. There are no settings to change for this and no icon on the Springboard.
"WARNING: This toggle actually modifies Cydia launcher to prevent Cydia from auto-refreshing."
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
NoCyfresh i4 (iPhone 4, iOS 4.0+)
NoCyfresh (iPhone 3G & 3GS, iOS 3.1.2)
More information:
NoCyfresh
Enter NoCyfresh i4.
NOTE: You need SBSettings installed before continuing with the installation of NoCyfresh!
This tweak is simple.. keep Cydia from auto-refreshing. You can still manually update, or you can toggle NoCyfresh on/off via SBSettings before you open Cydia.
The i4 designation is for iPhone 4's. There is a iPhone 3G & 3GS version in Cydia as well, use whichever pertains to you. There are no settings to change for this and no icon on the Springboard.
"WARNING: This toggle actually modifies Cydia launcher to prevent Cydia from auto-refreshing."
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
NoCyfresh i4 (iPhone 4, iOS 4.0+)
NoCyfresh (iPhone 3G & 3GS, iOS 3.1.2)
More information:
NoCyfresh
Backgrounder & MultiFl0w (FREE & $4.99)
I paired these together because, well, they belong together. Backgrounder allows applications to remain in memory, so you can quickly switch back and fourth between them without having to reload any of the apps. Apple's attempt at making a multitasking capability pretty much failed with iOS 4. Backgrounder, if configured to do so, mimics Androids multitasking interface.
MultiFl0w (with a zero) is a add-on application for Backgrounder. It is technically a stand alone app, but working along with Backgrounder offers more options to better suit your needs.
Install via Cydia, starting with Backgrounder and then MultiFl0w.
Here are the settings that I use for Backgrounder (installs its own icon on the springboard):
Under the "Global" menu
"Backgrounding method" Backgrounder
"Options for "Backgrounder" -> Fall Back to Native - Off
"Backgrounding state" -> Enable at Launch - Off, Stay Enabled - On
"Indicate state via..." -> Badge - On, Status Bar Icon - On
"Minimize on Toggle" On
Here are the settings I use for MultiFl0w (via iPhones settings menu):
"Activation Method" Home Button -> Double Press
"Switcher style" Cards
"Rearrangeable Tabs" Off (Expose mode only, I use Cards)
"Tap on black closes" On
"Wallpaper style" None
"Closes to homescreen" On
"Overlay App Icons" Off
"BG current on switch" Off
"Remove from tray..." On
With these configured this way, I just press and hold the home button for a short time to minimize the app while keeping its status in memory. To view all running apps, I double click the home button. This brings me to a black screen with "Cards" showing the running apps. I can select one, which maximizes the app, or I can click little X's to close a particular app. If I am using a app that I wish to close without backgrounding it, I just click home button quickly and it closes without backgrounding. All apps stay backgrounded until I close them from the Cards screen. This is exactly how I wanted it!
I really want to thank all those involved in the Backgrounding project, as its now open source, and a really BIG thanks to Lance Fetters (original creator of Backgrounder) and Aaron Ash (creator of MultiFl0w).
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
Backgrounder
MultiFl0w
More information:
Backgrounder Source Code
MultiFl0w
MultiFl0w (with a zero) is a add-on application for Backgrounder. It is technically a stand alone app, but working along with Backgrounder offers more options to better suit your needs.
Install via Cydia, starting with Backgrounder and then MultiFl0w.
Here are the settings that I use for Backgrounder (installs its own icon on the springboard):
Under the "Global" menu
"Backgrounding method" Backgrounder
"Options for "Backgrounder" -> Fall Back to Native - Off
"Backgrounding state" -> Enable at Launch - Off, Stay Enabled - On
"Indicate state via..." -> Badge - On, Status Bar Icon - On
"Minimize on Toggle" On
Here are the settings I use for MultiFl0w (via iPhones settings menu):
"Activation Method" Home Button -> Double Press
"Switcher style" Cards
"Rearrangeable Tabs" Off (Expose mode only, I use Cards)
"Tap on black closes" On
"Wallpaper style" None
"Closes to homescreen" On
"Overlay App Icons" Off
"BG current on switch" Off
"Remove from tray..." On
With these configured this way, I just press and hold the home button for a short time to minimize the app while keeping its status in memory. To view all running apps, I double click the home button. This brings me to a black screen with "Cards" showing the running apps. I can select one, which maximizes the app, or I can click little X's to close a particular app. If I am using a app that I wish to close without backgrounding it, I just click home button quickly and it closes without backgrounding. All apps stay backgrounded until I close them from the Cards screen. This is exactly how I wanted it!
I really want to thank all those involved in the Backgrounding project, as its now open source, and a really BIG thanks to Lance Fetters (original creator of Backgrounder) and Aaron Ash (creator of MultiFl0w).
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
Backgrounder
MultiFl0w
More information:
Backgrounder Source Code
MultiFl0w
MyOS by Steven Barker ($0.99)
MyOS is a control freaks dream come true. This handy tweak lets you turn off, and back on, features in your devices OS which can free up ram.
What you can turn off:
Homescreen wallpaper
Multitasking (turn this off if you use Backgrounder)
Camera
HDR (High Dynamic Range camera setting)
Appstore
Unified iPod
Contacts
Voice Control.
Install via Cydia
I gained ~15-24mb of ram after disabling native multitasking and voice control! (check your ram using SBSettings)
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
MyOS
Friday, July 22, 2011
Graviboard by Conrad Kramer ($2.99)
Graviboard is a fun little tweak that lets you change the gravity of your Springboard. You can set it to equal Earths, the Moon, or zero gravity. Once you've configured it, you can turn your phone and the icons will all fall to whatever side is down and you can flick them around and watch them bounce off each other. Pressing the home button will disable the app and return the icons to their original positions.
This tweak is compatible with SBRotator, which is a plus! The screen is locked in portrait mode until the home button is pressed.
Here are the settings I use:
"Activation Method" Status Bar - Hold (Tap and hold on the status bar)
"Allow Launching Apps" Off
"Close on Home Button" On
"Include Dock" Off
"Show HUD" On
"Icon Settings" (left all default)
"Finger Mode" None
"Gravity" Moon
At $2.99, I'm not sure its entirely worth it. I do laugh a lot while tossing the icons into each other, though. I just think this add-on would be a lot more appealing in the $1-2 range.
Nevertheless, thank you Conrad Kramer!
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
Graviboard
More information:
Graviboard
Panorama by David Ashman ($1.99)
Via David's Twitter post, "Panorama is a dead product. There are other products on the market that do a better job." Here he suggest Parallax.
Panorama mimics the moving background feature of Android phones. When you scroll your pages on the iPhone's Springboard, the background moves with them. I have seen video of this application on iPhone but unfortunately it requires firmware 4.1 or lower :( Being that I'm on 4.3.3, I'll just have to wait.
Hopefully a update will be released soon, I've emailed the developer to see if there is any plan for a compatibility update. I wouldn't mind if any of the other features, such as icon text color changing, weren't implemented just to get the panoramic background working!
Here's a YouTube review by "fishyy15":
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
Panorama (iOS lower than 4.1)
Panorama mimics the moving background feature of Android phones. When you scroll your pages on the iPhone's Springboard, the background moves with them. I have seen video of this application on iPhone but unfortunately it requires firmware 4.1 or lower :( Being that I'm on 4.3.3, I'll just have to wait.
Hopefully a update will be released soon, I've emailed the developer to see if there is any plan for a compatibility update. I wouldn't mind if any of the other features, such as icon text color changing, weren't implemented just to get the panoramic background working!
Here's a YouTube review by "fishyy15":
Cydia Store Link (iDevice only):
Panorama (iOS lower than 4.1)
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