Jailbreaking - How do you see it?

[1337brian]

I was just wondering how people feel on jailbreaking, in terms of hurting developers. Do you think that it's going to hurt them or help them in the long run, like using the jailbreak community as beta before releasing it in the app store? Or purely a way for people to steal games. I will remain neutral on the subject, just wondering.

[Rocketman919]

Jailbreaking is awesome, and your forgetting about apps that apple wont allow, customize, winterboard, etc. its not all about piracy.

[Rocketman919]

And on piracy, i think its only ok to pirate things made by big devs that make crap games and think they can overcharge (star wars tfu). Things like that i wouldnt pay for. Things like Rolando and Super Monkey Ball are things that i would. Games that show that a lot of work went into them will rarely be pirated by anyone, only those with no soul.

[1337brian]

Originally Posted by Rocketman919

Jailbreaking is awesome, and your forgetting about apps that apple wont allow, customize, winterboard, etc. its not all about piracy.

Do you think it helps developers? I could see it in terms of them testing all the bugs out before charging for it... That's what a lot of dev's do no?

[vandy1997]

My phones are jailbroken, but not to install cracked apps. I pay for all of my apps, and I have donated to developers who have developed great apps that can only run on jailbroken phones! I have jailbroken for a few reasons:

1) Access to the whole file structure of the phone. If I have access to my desktop's file structure, why can't I have access to the phone's file system? I use this access to install files onto the phone, copy saved game files and other data files (SMS messages, stock app saved info, weather app saved info, etc.) whenever I update the firmware on the phone. I always install clean, because when I restore from a backup, the firmware almost always has problems and is sluggish. I can also install files for different themes, and I can create my own.

2) I can install and run apps that were kicked out of the AppStore by Apple. I currently have Podcaster on my phone, and I love it. I should be able to install it if I choose to do so.

3) I can install and run apps that Apple will never allow in the AppStore, including the following: Winterboard (allows me to change themes); Cycorder (allows me to record video on the phone); iBlacklist (allows me to Blacklist numbers so that I receive calls from whom I choose to receive them); IntelliScreen (like a Today screen on your lock screen - very cool app); apps that allow me to turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on and off from the SpringBoard (by tapping on the icon that enables the function); Backgrounder (allows me to run any app - even AppStore apps - in the background); PdaNet (allows me to tether - great app that was rejected by Apple); AppBackup (allows me to back up the saved files for individual apps or for all apps); SwirlyMMS (allows me to send and receive MMS messages - although AT&T won't allow me to do so at the moment); Camera Pro (an app that allows me to do much more with the camera, such as digital zoom up to 20x, color filters, and self-timer); a Searcher app that allows me to search all of the apps - including Contacts, SMS, Notes, Safari Bookmarks; apps that allow me to run ROMs for various systems (e.g., GBA, NES).

4) I can tweak different aspects of the phone by editing the relevant .plist file.

5) I can unlock my first generation iPhone.

I understand that Apple wishes to have a somewhat closed system on the phone, but if it wants to do so, it should offer the features that people are requesting, especially those features that exist on almost all smartphone phones.

Jailbreaking is NOT for everybody. You should not do it if you have a fear of losing your data (it happens sometimes), and you should not do it if you don't have a basic understanding of file structures and basic computer troubleshooting. You don't have to be a computer whiz, but you cannot be computer phobic. The great thing is that people have a choice, and that's always a positive thing!

Originally Posted by 1337brian

I was just wondering how people feel on jailbreaking, in terms of hurting developers. Do you think that it's going to hurt them or help them in the long run, like using the jailbreak community as beta before releasing it in the app store? Or purely a way for people to steal games. I will remain neutral on the subject, just wondering.

[dudehuge]

Originally Posted by Rocketman919

And on piracy, i think its only ok to pirate things made by big devs that make crap games and think they can overcharge (star wars tfu). Things like that i wouldnt pay for. Things like Rolando and Super Monkey Ball are things that i would. Games that show that a lot of work went into them will rarely be pirated by anyone, only those with no soul.

Piracy is wrong there are no gray areas. Put yourself in their shoes. If you think they're overcharging, just don't buy it.

[vandy1997]

I don't think that it helps developers of AppStore apps, and I am pretty sure that most developers who develop apps for the AppStore will not develop apps for the jailbroken community, as Apple may frown upon it. Apple does not sanction jailbreaking phones, so I am pretty sure that they would not want developers developing for a method that is not sanctioned by Apple. I know of a couple of developers who develop for both, but I am sure that most of the don't, for fear of being kicked out of the AppStore by Apple.

Originally Posted by 1337brian

Do you think it helps developers? I could see it in terms of them testing all the bugs out before charging for it... That's what a lot of dev's do no?

[Rocketman919]

And about the testing before, i guess you could say that happened. Most if not all of the apps on installer were "Beta tested" and then released for real when the app store came out.

[vandy1997]

That is definitely true. And I assume that the developers who beta tested their apps with the jailbreaking community have sold a good amount of those apps, or at least I hope so. Trism is the classic example. The AppStore version is much more refined, but I enjoyed playing it before it became available on the AppStore! It would be great to see developers who develop for the AppStore and for the jailbreaking community through Cydia/Installer. I assume that they can't develop the same app for both, however.

Originally Posted by Rocketman919

And about the testing before, i guess you could say that happened. Most if not all of the apps on installer were "Beta tested" and then released for real when the app store came out.

[Hitman45]

Originally Posted by dudehuge

Piracy is wrong there are no gray areas. Put yourself in their shoes. If you think they're overcharging, just don't buy it.

Agreed. What if it s their way of income. In todays market piracy would kill them.