- Feb 14, 2004
- 51,579
- 7,248
- 136
This thread is repository for good iPhone apps. There are so many now that finding good apps can be difficult, so this thread is a place to browse for good ones.
How do I hack my iPhone to run apps?
Hacking an iPhone is very easy and works with the latest firmware (1.1.4). You simply need a free program called ZiPhone. It works on PCs and Macs and takes under a minute. The option you want to click on is Jailbreak. You can also Unlock your phone to use with a different carrier, but that is different than Jailbreaking. ZiPhone jailbreaks your iPhone and installs a program called Installer.app, which allows you to install iPhone programs on the phone itself instead of a computer. Here is the link:
http://www.ziphone.org/
Keep in mind that not all apps work on every firmware release. For example, some programs break on 1.1.4, such as DropFile. If they're popular, they're usually updated within a few weeks of the latest firmware releases. To install, you choose the "Install" button on the app and let it install. Once it's done, hit the Home key button (the round one on the bottom of your iPhone) and it will reset the iPhone to the Slide-to-Unlock screen. Some apps require a full restart (manual off then on) to be installed, but most just do the automatic reset when you go back to the home screen.
I recommend that you leave the default space where the 4th row goes on the iPhone. If you have a full 16 icons on the home screen, it can get confusing. I've found that keeping 4 on the very bottom row and then 3 rows above that is the best way for readability. You can have multiple screens that slide left and right, so it's not a big deal to create a second or third screen as needed. You can also add more lists of sources (places to get apps through Installer.app). Here are a couple sites with source listings:
http://www.appsafari.com/full-...-installerapp-sources/
http://appleiphoneschool.com/sources
What apps have been released?
Check out the directory:
http://www.modmyifone.com/nativeapps/
Apps I like:
The first app I recommend is the latest Community Sources, which is on Version 3.7 right now. This downloads a list of apps written by different communities, such as AppTapp, ModMyiPhone, and Ste Packaging. Rather than having to hunt around for apps online, you can simply browse a list right in Installer.app. This is a good program to keep up-to-date if you like to try new programs.
The second app I recommend is the BSD Subsystem, currently at Version 2.1. This is a collection of Unix tools for the iPhone. It's important because many other apps require this program to be installed in order to run. While you're at it, also install the Jiggy Runtime, which is also required by certain apps.
My favorite app has to be iFlix, which is a Netflix account manager. You can view and edit your Queue, see what you current have, search and add new movies, and see recommendations that Netflix has for you. Plus it has really spiffy graphical effects! This app alone was worth hacking my iPhone for! DashBuster is available if you have a Blockbuster account.
VoiceNotes is another cool app. It does exactly as the name implies - allows you to record voice notes! You can record, play, and delete voice notes, as well as rename them and send them to email or Sendfile. You can also import your Voicemail if you want. This is a beta app but it works pretty dang well. It did pick up some of my old, delete voicemails, but it also got the new ones too.
MxTube allows you to download Youtube videos, which is GREAT for when you want to show someone a Youtube video but your crappy EDGE connection is taking forever - you can simply pre-download stuff you want to save and play it back locally. The quality also seems better than normal iPhone-based Youtube videos, not sure if that's just me or what.
Touchpad Pro is a crazy awesome app that allows you to use the multitouch surface of the iPhone as a trackpad for your computer. It connects to a VNC server and lets you type, move the mouse, right-click, scroll with 2-fingers, and even use PowerPoint via a special remote set. Definitely one of the coolest apps I've used on the iPhone.
Converter is like Unit Converter for PC, it calculates conversions - even clothing sizes!
ShopList is a simple shopping list that is indispensible. You can create multiple lists (such as Food, Computer Parts, etc.) and then check off the box when you have it in your shopping basket. It's really quite cool; this is another app that is worth hacking the iPhone for imo.
Tap Tap Revolution is a game like DDR, only with your fingers. You can use any songs you load up via iTunes. Great graphics and a great show-off app, as well as something to kill time while you're waiting. Tris is an awesome Tetris game that takes advantage of the iPhone's touchscreen. PengiunPanic is also pretty cool (add http://newattiphone.com/repo.xml as a source). NES, SNES, GBA, and PSX emulators are also available, all you have to do is upload the ROMs (SSH or whatever). Keep in mind that most games use the speaker output, so if your volume is high and you're in a quiet public place like a library without headphones, watch out! haha
Here are some other ideas for apps that you may enjoy: (google for them)
SSH (OpenSSH)
Tethering
Web server (iSpit, a tiny & fast HTTP server)
VNC (VNSea, has some issues though)
VoiceNotes
ApolloIM (requires IM Chat Fix app on 1.1.3 and newer)
Themes (Summerboard is great for this)
CameraPro (adds more functionality to the built-in camera, such as digital zoom)
How do I hack my iPhone to run apps?
Hacking an iPhone is very easy and works with the latest firmware (1.1.4). You simply need a free program called ZiPhone. It works on PCs and Macs and takes under a minute. The option you want to click on is Jailbreak. You can also Unlock your phone to use with a different carrier, but that is different than Jailbreaking. ZiPhone jailbreaks your iPhone and installs a program called Installer.app, which allows you to install iPhone programs on the phone itself instead of a computer. Here is the link:
http://www.ziphone.org/
Keep in mind that not all apps work on every firmware release. For example, some programs break on 1.1.4, such as DropFile. If they're popular, they're usually updated within a few weeks of the latest firmware releases. To install, you choose the "Install" button on the app and let it install. Once it's done, hit the Home key button (the round one on the bottom of your iPhone) and it will reset the iPhone to the Slide-to-Unlock screen. Some apps require a full restart (manual off then on) to be installed, but most just do the automatic reset when you go back to the home screen.
I recommend that you leave the default space where the 4th row goes on the iPhone. If you have a full 16 icons on the home screen, it can get confusing. I've found that keeping 4 on the very bottom row and then 3 rows above that is the best way for readability. You can have multiple screens that slide left and right, so it's not a big deal to create a second or third screen as needed. You can also add more lists of sources (places to get apps through Installer.app). Here are a couple sites with source listings:
http://www.appsafari.com/full-...-installerapp-sources/
http://appleiphoneschool.com/sources
What apps have been released?
Check out the directory:
http://www.modmyifone.com/nativeapps/
Apps I like:
The first app I recommend is the latest Community Sources, which is on Version 3.7 right now. This downloads a list of apps written by different communities, such as AppTapp, ModMyiPhone, and Ste Packaging. Rather than having to hunt around for apps online, you can simply browse a list right in Installer.app. This is a good program to keep up-to-date if you like to try new programs.
The second app I recommend is the BSD Subsystem, currently at Version 2.1. This is a collection of Unix tools for the iPhone. It's important because many other apps require this program to be installed in order to run. While you're at it, also install the Jiggy Runtime, which is also required by certain apps.
My favorite app has to be iFlix, which is a Netflix account manager. You can view and edit your Queue, see what you current have, search and add new movies, and see recommendations that Netflix has for you. Plus it has really spiffy graphical effects! This app alone was worth hacking my iPhone for! DashBuster is available if you have a Blockbuster account.
VoiceNotes is another cool app. It does exactly as the name implies - allows you to record voice notes! You can record, play, and delete voice notes, as well as rename them and send them to email or Sendfile. You can also import your Voicemail if you want. This is a beta app but it works pretty dang well. It did pick up some of my old, delete voicemails, but it also got the new ones too.
MxTube allows you to download Youtube videos, which is GREAT for when you want to show someone a Youtube video but your crappy EDGE connection is taking forever - you can simply pre-download stuff you want to save and play it back locally. The quality also seems better than normal iPhone-based Youtube videos, not sure if that's just me or what.
Touchpad Pro is a crazy awesome app that allows you to use the multitouch surface of the iPhone as a trackpad for your computer. It connects to a VNC server and lets you type, move the mouse, right-click, scroll with 2-fingers, and even use PowerPoint via a special remote set. Definitely one of the coolest apps I've used on the iPhone.
Converter is like Unit Converter for PC, it calculates conversions - even clothing sizes!
ShopList is a simple shopping list that is indispensible. You can create multiple lists (such as Food, Computer Parts, etc.) and then check off the box when you have it in your shopping basket. It's really quite cool; this is another app that is worth hacking the iPhone for imo.
Tap Tap Revolution is a game like DDR, only with your fingers. You can use any songs you load up via iTunes. Great graphics and a great show-off app, as well as something to kill time while you're waiting. Tris is an awesome Tetris game that takes advantage of the iPhone's touchscreen. PengiunPanic is also pretty cool (add http://newattiphone.com/repo.xml as a source). NES, SNES, GBA, and PSX emulators are also available, all you have to do is upload the ROMs (SSH or whatever). Keep in mind that most games use the speaker output, so if your volume is high and you're in a quiet public place like a library without headphones, watch out! haha
Here are some other ideas for apps that you may enjoy: (google for them)
SSH (OpenSSH)
Tethering
Web server (iSpit, a tiny & fast HTTP server)
VNC (VNSea, has some issues though)
VoiceNotes
ApolloIM (requires IM Chat Fix app on 1.1.3 and newer)
Themes (Summerboard is great for this)
CameraPro (adds more functionality to the built-in camera, such as digital zoom)
Facebook
Twitter