iOS 3 Multitasking - Stable Beta Release

 

First came Folders, now Multitasking for iOS 3! (Albeit Folders is a bit unstable currently)
Please read all through the next bit, as there's some important information about setup.

This one only took me about a week to program, it includes:
- Multitasking (obviously) which relies on Backgrounder
- Music Controls for iPod/YouTube. (But not third-party audio apps)
- Orientation Lock
- Looks and works like iOS 4, close boxes, animations, etc..


I should explain, before you install, this plugin is dependant on Backgrounder for the actual Backgrounding behaviour.


So install Backgrounder, and set up your backgrounding behaviour as you wish.


WARNING: Don't enable automatic Backgrounding with the intention of leaving tons of apps open, your device will become low on RAM, get slow, and you'll blame my plugin. xD


Learn to close some apps (tap & hold icon in tray for quit buttons) occasionally, OR just use MANUAL Backgrounding, this means apps exit as normal unless you tell them to Background.


If you use MANUAL Backgrounding, this plugin has an option you should enable, basically it gives you a minimise button in the tray, so you can minimise the app only when you need to.
To enable this, follow these simple steps.


- Download (DiskAid/SSH recommended) User/Library/Preferences/com.darlo770.multitasking.plist
- Edit this file in a Property List Editor (a plain text editor may work) and change the key 'ManualBackgroundingEnabled' to TRUE.
- Save the file, overwrite it back, respring your device.


You'll now have a minimise icon in the tray, for manual backgrounding.

FAQ

Q) Apps run slow and lag
A) You're probably running Automatic Backgrounding and running low on RAM, consider using Manual backgrounding. Please read the above.

Q) Activator support?
A) Yep, see the download links below.

Q) Current app icon doesn't appear in Multitasking tray
A) As in iOS 4, the icon of the app you are currently in, doesn't appear in the tray. It makes sense why Apple did this too, what purpose would it serve? You know you're in that app, and tapping it would just take you where you already are. See?

Q) Track name sometimes falls 1 track behind
A) This should be fixed, let me know if it's not.

Q) Questions about backgrounding behaviour
A) Multitasking still obeys Backgrounder's setup. So if apps are set to stay open on close, they will. Likewise, they will terminate if set to kill on close. The minimise icon DOES minimise the current app. But backgrounder's settings will take effect when you press the home button, or switch to another app in the dock.

Q) How to respring
A) Scroll to music controls, now scroll even further to the left (or right depending how you think) you'll see some text, while HOLDING the scroll area back, exit multitasking tray.

Q) When the screen get's pushed up, it's static, doesn't update.
A) Not currently, a performance consideration until i find a better way to do it.

DOWNLOAD
NEW VERSION OUT: 1.0.3
(compatible with Folders 1.1 pre-release)

Standard Version 1.0.3

Download: Last updated 13:00 PM GMT 01/03/11

http://www.mediafire.com/?ehrd6d4855mrpgh

Activator Version 1.0.3

Download: Last updated 13:00 PM GMT 01/03/11

http://www.mediafire.com/?mvmyjk8jm5s1kdi

CHANGE-LOG

1.0.3 Simply to fix compatibility with Folders 1.1 (Folders 1.1 currently only in pre-release)
1.0.2 (non-activator only) Fixed unnecessary/accidental libactivator.dylib dependency.
1.0.1 Should play nicer with Backgrounder now

1.0 Initial release

iOS 3 Folders- (BETA) Release

UPDATE: 1.1 Pre-Release. Not on repo yet (down)

Also see my iOS 3 Multitasking --> Link


My name's Jamie (Darlo770 on most forums), i'm 20.
I've been working on creating Folders for iOS 3 lately- and the beta is finally out.


So, after a long time in the making, here it is. It's a beta, so there might be a few bugs here and there, buts they're getting worked out as i go.
It's not a port from 4.x- but with a bit of luck, should make you never want to go back to CategoriesSB :) I won't be able to keep responding to everyone's comments for help unfortunately.

This screenshot pictured above is an actual a screenshot that a user has taken. Looks nice hey? Icon transparency effects now optional in 1.1 as a performance consideration (See tweaks section on how to enable it)

- MANUAL INSTALLATION -

For a quick guide on how to install DEB files, see here: http://www.ihackintosh.com/2009/07/how-to-install-uninstall-deb-file-iphone/




To install, download the .deb archive. Place it anywhere in your device's filesystem (I recommend /var/tmp), and install from the command line with:


dpkg -i FILENAME.deb


(FILENAME obviously being the exact name of the .deb file)


Either make sure the shell is in the context of the directory containing the deb when you execute this script. Or just do this.. dpkg -i /var/tmp/FILENAME.deb


And don't forget to respring or reboot your device after.


Any problems, such as it not creating Folders when dragging n' dropping, could be related to bad permissions on the directory that Folders needs to be able write to.
A Folder Helper application is included that corrects these permissions- should they ever get messed up.

- CYDIA INSTALLATION -

Add my Cydia repo:

http://cydia.myrepospace.com/Darlo770/

Repo has been DOWN lately, and hasn't got the latest version (1.1). Use manual installation for now.

- IT'S A BETA -

Hopefully you won't run into too many bugs, after all- this is the first time folders has been released, so i guess you could call this the Beta. So fingers crossed :)

- Getting out of safe mode if need be -

You really don't have to restore if you find yourself in a crash loop.

As long as you're in safe-mode you can always enable Wi-Fi + SSH and remove /Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/Folders.dylib

then respring or reboot.

If you don't have openSSH at the time of crash, install it from Cydia while in safe-mode.

- TWEAKS -

A few things can be tweaked from this preference file once installed: /private/var/mobile/Library/Preferences/com.darlo770.folders.plist


For example:
FolderEffectsEnabled when set to true, enables icon transparency effects.


Change the desired BOOLEAN keys to true, save, put the .plist back, and respring.

- DEB DOWNLOAD -

And of course, the download link for iOS3 Folders:
See the changelog section for big fixes.

1.1 (Pre-Release) http://www.mediafire.com/?7sdae7f7x6x6v07
1.0.4-2 http://www.mediafire.com/?8cl2zveedb6cc9d

1.0.4-1 http://www.mediafire.com/?zilvgs7u57uokog

1.0.4 http://www.mediafire.com/?86v8auvp31gewxr

1.0.3 http://www.mediafire.com/?xwv8xpce28sw2tg
1.0.2 http://www.mediafire.com/?mlnbmff15ck8rqf
1.0.1 http://www.mediafire.com/?wm2tj9hw3hm3d6f
1.0 http://www.mediafire.com/?wd0gs83jlj3k3el


Changelog:

1.1 (Pre-Release)

- Major overhaul to the way Folders deals with the filesystem. (Empty Folders 'shell' symlinks (in /Applications/) now point to a writable directory where Folders can write to)

- No longer conflicts with SBSettings, and no longer dependant on /Application directory permissions.

- General performance enhancements all round.

1.0.4-2

- Blurry gray labels fixed (caused by label shadow)

- I think Folders now open slightly smoother/faster. Think so? I'm not sure. (UIImageView.opaque = YES)

1.0.4-1
- SpringBoard's fluidity is back! Icons now rearrange/collapse into spaces while you drag, like they should. Any difficulties getting an icon to stay still while trying to create a folder, try dragging the icon SLOWLY onto it.
- Folders going missing should be fixed.

1.0.4

- Permissions on /Applications no longer a worry. Folders now uses a LaunchDaemon to execute a script that does it's work as root. So permissions mean nothing.
- White labels are now optional, turned on/off by changing the BOOLEAN value in the preferences .plist.

- Sorry but the '16th icon of page' bug isn't fixed yet, i just CAN'T replicate this bug on my own device :(

1.0.3

- Attempted to fix icons from going missing after touch release.

- Folders should now reliably update their icons, no white icons after creating a folder hopefully.

1.0.2
- Simply a minor release to test if permissions are now set AUTOMATICALLY. Please leave a comment telling me if this
works.


- I realised preferences tweaks were broke, now fixed.


1.0.1
- Rewritten folder layout code, folders now 'shift' the screen more accurately to that of iOS 4. (Open a folder on the row above the dock- you'll see the changes compared to before)

- Fixed status bar from sometimes staying hidden after launching an app in a folder.

- Hopefully, you should be seeing less of those pesky white folder icons, although i can't guarantee i've fixed this completely yet. Ironically it's worked perfectly on MY device even since before release, so it's hard to tell if i've fixed it.

- Folders now simply relies on the /Applications symlink, meaning Folders will use the Applications directory whether it's called 'Applications.xxxxx' or 'Applications'. (Should have been like this from release, sorry.)

- Minor RAM usage / speed improvements.

- Folder naming scheme changed to 'com.springboard.folderX.app' in /Applications (unimportant but i though i'd mention it)

- Bug with folder UI where folder background doesn't get 'clipped' behind the arrow, should be fixed by uninstalling/upgrading my other package 'iOS3 Icon Shadows'. Seemed to be caused by that, ironically.

1.0

Initial release

- THEMING -

So, for the themers out there.. Folders can be easily themed by replacing: FolderSwitchBG.png (Folder Background) Must be 320 x 480

FolderIconBG.png (Folder Icon)

FolderTitleEditField.png (Rename Bar Background)

Don't mess with the clipping masks.

If anyone is so kind as to show their appreciation for this project, here's a PayPal donations link- however much/little as you'd like to donate:
http://bit.ly/c0P0p3

iOS 3 Set Wallpaper

^ Pending a better name, haha! :P


This is an iOS 3 only package which will enable iOS 3 users to have the following things:

• SpringBoard wallpapers. With the iOS 4 way of setting them. (Set Lock Screen/Set Home Screen/Set Both)
• Icon shadows on SpringBoard, doesn't impact too badly on performance actually
• White SpringBoard icon labels
• iOS 4 dock graphic
• Docked icon reflections
• Dock label height correction (to fit with iOS 4 style dock)

It's meant as a sort of 'transformation pack' for iOS 3 users who want the above iOS 4 features. Language support possibly coming in future versions.

Customization

Icon Shadows can be disabled by removing WallpaperIconShadow.png from inside SpringBoard.app.

Apart from that, the other features aren't really customisable intentionally, because this package is meant to do.. well.. what it does. I just wanted to keep this a lightweight substrate without it having to read from a .plist on initialization. If you simply want a SpringBoard wallpaper, for example, Winterboard is what you're looking for (though i don't recommend Winterboard)

Download

1.0.1 http://www.mediafire.com/?g58uepu5pg7m4eh

1.0 http://www.mediafire.com/?z4a2oce8iw6ac15

Manual on-device installation with:

dpkg -i nameOfFile.deb

Change Log

1.0.1 Fixed status bar opacity bug

1.0 Initial release.

PS: I really need to think of a better name for this package :P Can anyone help me think of one?