To Jailbreak or not to Jailbreak? That is the hottest question revolving around Apple products. One thing that sets Android apart from Apple is the customization factor.
With Android, you can create shortcuts to your most used settings, even create widgets to place on your homescreen. Apple on the other hand, does not allow that. That is unless you jailbreak your phone.
Once you jailbreak your iOS device, you have the capability to customize pretty much everything. But what if you do not want to jailbreak? What if you just want a little icon for your iCloud backup setting so when you click it, you will be directed straight to that settings page?
Jeff Broderick’s Settings
Jeff Broderick is a UI/visual designer, who created this really nifty solution for non-jailbroken iOS users. Using his Settings web app, anyone can add shortcuts to various popular settings, and access them quickly without having to dig for them each and every time.
There are not real widgets but rather just shortcuts so they are not 100% perfect but are pretty handy. So let’s see how they work.
Setting up the Shortcuts
Direct your Safari browser to http://brdrck.me/settings. From there, you will have a selection of the most used settings. Just select the one you want to install.
Some shortcuts have alternate icons you can choose from and some only have one. Once you select an icon, select install.
You will then be directed to the settings menu where you will install the configuration profile. Tap install to proceed.
You will be prompted to install profile or cancel. Tap install now.
If you have a passcode set up on your device, enter it.
The setting shortcut will now install. Tapping one of the shortcuts will automatically lead you to the specific place in the device’s setting where you can change it.
Removing Shortcuts
If you choose that you do not want a shortcut anymore, you can remove it from your device. Now of course you can remove the shortcut from your homescreen like other apps (by long-tapping the icon and then X, but that doesn’t completely remove it.
Remember when you were prompted to install the configuration profile? You will have to delete it also.
Just go to your phone settings (tapping the gear icon) and then select General.
Scroll down to Profiles and tap that. You will get a list of all the profiles you have installed.
Select the profile you want to remove and then tap Remove.
The shortcut is now complete removed from your device.
Important Side Note
This currently only works on iOS devices running iOS 5.0.1. It seems that Apple has blocked this functionality in the current developer iOS 5.1 beta 2.
If you are currently running iOS 5.1 beta 2, you can downgrade to 5.0.1 and they will then work like a charm.
What do you think of Apple’s decisions regarding iOS’s flexibility? Do you wish you could do more things, or is this whole flexibility thing overrated? Share in the comments.
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- 10 Little Known iOS 5 Tips That Can Save You Time and Taps (shegeeks.net)
Great idea for those who don’t want to take the (most excellent) plunge to jailbreak. Looks pretty simple too. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing a very good tutorial.
Top!!
Thanks for sharing. All the best!
Awesome, I thought I heard somewhere that 5.0.1 prevented this from working but it seems not! Thanks for the tip.
Yeah, only 5.1 seems to be blocking this currently.
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