Question about iPhone/iOS. Thinking of switching back.

[FearoftheNight]

Hey guys. I haven't had an iPhone since the OG one and I'm sort of tempted to see how the ios side of things have gotten over the past few generations. Currently running a LG G2 on kitkat but I want to use an upgrade I have. So my questions are:

1) Is there an ios equivalent of xdadevs/roms scene if I want to add features to my phone?
2) Is there a mobile hotspot feature? Even if I have an old unlimited data plan?
3) Is there an adblock feature?
4) Can I use my own background/keyboard/browser?

Thanks!

 

[ImDonly1]

1. If you jailbreak, install Cydia some modifications not quite as extensive as android?
2. If you jailbreak...
3. Again in Cydia
4. Swype and 3rd party keyboards just started being offered. Chrome exists, but I believe it is/was slower than Safari due to Apple.

Don't have an iPhone... haven't had one since the iPhone 4 (1-2 years ago). But I believe all of the above is correct.

Currently there is no jailbreak for ios 8, but it might be available in a little while.

 

[Eug]

2. In certain countries, jailbreak is not necessary for mobile hotspot functionality. This is a normal feature for unlocked and locked phones alike in Canada. The carriers sometimes just require that you have a decent data plan. Eg. They won't support mobile hotspot functionality if you only have a 100 MB plan, but 1 GB is fine.

 

[Commodus]

Hey guys. I haven't had an iPhone since the OG one and I'm sort of tempted to see how the ios side of things have gotten over the past few generations. Currently running a LG G2 on kitkat but I want to use an upgrade I have. So my questions are:

1) Is there an ios equivalent of xdadevs/roms scene if I want to add features to my phone?
2) Is there a mobile hotspot feature? Even if I have an old unlimited data plan?
3) Is there an adblock feature?
4) Can I use my own background/keyboard/browser?

Thanks!

To elaborate on earlier answers:

1 and 3: jailbreak it. Cydia is the go-to option here. As with ROMs, don't be surprised if there's some jankiness. With that said, try to use ad blocking selectively... be nice to the sites you visit!

2: Yes, although your carrier may not let you tether on unlimited depending on the plan. The issue here isn't iOS but your choice of network (not that you may have much choice).

4: Yes to all three. The third-party browser performance issue isn't really there anymore with iOS 8, since Apple opened up the taps for other browsers (they still have to use WebKit, but they get the full-speed engine, not just a slower-but-safer edition).

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Hey guys. I haven't had an iPhone since the OG one and I'm sort of tempted to see how the ios side of things have gotten over the past few generations. Currently running a LG G2 on kitkat but I want to use an upgrade I have. So my questions are:

1) Is there an ios equivalent of xdadevs/roms scene if I want to add features to my phone? Cydia is meh. You can get some addons, but honestly its not that stable IMO. I haven't jailbroken since iOS 6 on my iPod Touch, but Cydia slows the thing down immensely. Its nothing like installing CyanogenMod though. You don't really get THAT much power.
2) Is there a mobile hotspot feature? Even if I have an old unlimited data plan? There is but its tied to your carrier. If you don't have it enabled carrier-side, they won't let you do it. That's how my Verizon iPhone works
3) Is there an adblock feature? I saw a few apps on the app store before, not sure how well it works
4) Can I use my own background/keyboard/browser? Yes, but regarding keyboard Swiftkey for example isn't as full featured. The layout isn't the Swiftkey for Android layout. Its really just the iOS keyboard layout with Swiftkey's prediction and flow. No num rows (I happen to prefer this option over numrow). As for browser, you can use Chrome, but honestly I've never seen a reason to switch away from Safari.

Thanks!

answers bolded

 

[Demo24]

Basically what they told you above. I just made the switch with the 6, and its pretty clear apple wants you to use it how they have designed/enabled features and everything has to fall inline with that. That's truly fine for most ordinary users as it does work quite well, and has some useful features I don't see on the others, and everything generally feels quite polished. However, for all the things your wanting to do you'll probably be better off sticking with android.

 

[ControlD]

Just to expand a little on #1. There is no custom ROM scene for the iPhone. Jailbreaking and installing Cydia allows you to install software from non Apple approved sources (meaning something other than the App Store) and it gives you elevated privileges to bypass some restrictions. If you are hoping to find something like CM or any of the custom ROMs at XDA then those just don't exist.

Jailbreaking is also a much bigger PITA than running custom ROMs.

 

[poofyhairguy]

OP I totally think you should use your upgrade on an iPhone......


To flip it on swappa to get a Nexus 6. You are a classic Android user.

 

[Bman123]

Jailbreaking is not a pita. Download your firmware, your program, plug the phone in and let the program run. No different then using Odin to flash a image honestly.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Jailbreaking is not a pita. Download your firmware, your program, plug the phone in and let the program run. No different then using Odin to flash a image honestly.

If a jailbreak is available, sure its that easy. That is the hard part about jailbreak, the fact that unlike ROMs (which Android users use to stay ON the newest version) when you have a jailbroken iDevice you purposefully avoid updates.

 

[ControlD]

Jailbreaking is not a pita. Download your firmware, your program, plug the phone in and let the program run. No different then using Odin to flash a image honestly.

I don't mean the process is difficult, I would say actually jailbreaking is easier than getting an Android phone setup the first time for custom ROMs.

It is maintaining the jailbreak. Avoiding incremental updates that never get jailbroken and then waiting for months after major updates are released for a new jailbreak. Then you get to wipe your device and start all over again. Then you get to wait for all of the JB apps to actually be compatible with the new version of iOS, etc.

 

[TuxDave]

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...s-ios-81-launch-for-sms-relay-instant-hotspot

Not sure if you've been sucked into the Apple ecosystem but in terms of hotspot, I'm wondering if the above needs carrier permissions anymore if you happen to have the perfect alignment of iPhones and Macbooks.

As for Instant Hotspot, a nearby iPhone with tethering enabled through a carrier plan must be logged into the same Apple ID account. Simply select the Wi-Fi logo in the Mac taskbar and choose the iPhone to connect, with no need to access the phone and turn on Personal Hotspot.

I guess I should always go look things up myself before asking. But I guess you do, all the feature does is make it even more brain dead to get it working.

 

[gorcorps]

I don't mean the process is difficult, I would say actually jailbreaking is easier than getting an Android phone setup the first time for custom ROMs.

It is maintaining the jailbreak. Avoiding incremental updates that never get jailbroken and then waiting for months after major updates are released for a new jailbreak. Then you get to wipe your device and start all over again. Then you get to wait for all of the JB apps to actually be compatible with the new version of iOS, etc.

You're not comparing apples to apples. Jailbreaking is to Apple what ROOTING is to Android, and both of them can be easy depending on what the current exploit is. The last root on my Galaxy S4 was literally just clicking a link on a webpage and running that downloaded app. Didn't even have to be connected to a PC to do it. I remember jailbreaking my iPhone in a similar fashion years ago, so it just depends on how things work in the current version of each OS.

Custom roms are an entirely different ballgame. You do not have to install a custom rom to root your phone, so that should be ignored in this comparison.

 

[ControlD]

You're not comparing apples to apples. Jailbreaking is to Apple what ROOTING is to Android, and both of them can be easy depending on what the current exploit is. The last root on my Galaxy S4 was literally just clicking a link on a webpage and running that downloaded app. Didn't even have to be connected to a PC to do it. I remember jailbreaking my iPhone in a similar fashion years ago, so it just depends on how things work in the current version of each OS.
Custom roms are an entirely different ballgame. You do not have to install a custom rom to root your phone, so that should be ignored in this comparison.

Yep. Point taken.