Before Apple allowed third-party apps on the iPhone, jailbreaking was the only way to run native applications. Then, many of the apps were simple and usually didn’t run very well. But the community behind those apps made the iPhone do all sorts of things Apple didn’t include at the time — most notably copy and paste. Those (along with UI tweaks) were compelling reasons to jailbreak.
Today, Apple’s App Store offers many of the things that the jailbreak community once did. However, the jailbreak repositories still house some great software that Apple won’t allow you to install or run on your device.
I’m now on my third iPhone. I’ve jailbroken each of them with all versions of the iPhone OS. Here’s why:
1. Tethering
I have a Verizion 3G card I use with my MacBook if I need an Internet connection when I’m away from wi-fi, but Verizion (as great as they are) has dead spots just like anyone else. I like having my iPhone’s data plan handy as a backup if I need it. PDANet is a jailbreak app that makes tethering a breeze.
Sure, there are hacks out there to make tethering work without resorting to jailbreaking, but they aren’t too stable in my experience, so until AT&T turns on tethering for iPhone customers (at a decent price, mind you), PDANet is a must-have for me.
2. LockInfo
LockInfo allows me to see into my most important data quickly via the lock screen. Sumperimposed on my wallpaper, I can see the weather, any missed calls, voicemail or SMS messages, get a preview of unread emails and see upcoming calendar events — all without sliding my finger and opening an app.
I fell in love with this functionality back when I carried a PocketPC (and later a Newton MP2000) and consider it my launchpad, especially during busy workdays. Not having to fumble with my iPhone while driving is real useful.
3. GV Mobile (and other forbidden apps)
When Apple removed all the Google Voice apps from the App Store, I was bummed that I hadn’t snagged a copy of GV Mobile when it was available. I don’t intend on replacing my mobile number with my Google Voice number, but I like having a number I can give that rings my office and iPhone at once. I was relived to hear that the developer was going to make the app available for free for users with jailbroken developers. With the ability to use my phone’s contact list, store voicemail visually like the phone app and more, GV Mobile is another app I’ve come to rely on almost every day, but can’t get via Apple’s official channel. I’ve heard Google has plans to re-write Google Voice as a web app (right now, if you visit google.com/voice on an iPhone, you just see a stripped down page), but there’s no comparing an actual application to webpage in Safari, no matter how pretty that webpage may be.
For me, jailbreaking my iPhone isn’t about sticking it to the man or shaking my fist at Apple. I just want my iPhone to do things Apple won’t allow. If Apple would allow for these apps via the App Store, I’d go that route. But they don’t, so I jailbreak.
Yes, there are risks, but almost any problem that could arise can be solved by simply restoring the iPhone’s firmware in iTunes. Hopefully it always be that simple.