App Attack: Amazing DVD Rippers, ios Chat Heads, And Informational Lock Screens

Transcription

1 Happy Tuesday App Attack fans! I've been on vacation, but now I'm back to give you the scoop on what's happening in the wonderful world of ios. This week I'll tell you about an amazing DVD ripper for Mac, and fill you in on what's happening with the ever-evolving jailbreak tweak universe. Follow me inside for the full story! MacX DVD Ripper Pro - $39.95 [Free Trial Available] - Digiarty Software - OS X Leopard Or Greater I don't usually discuss Mac apps in this column, but when Digiarty Software asked me to plug their MacX DVD Ripper, I simply couldn't resist. Over the years we've all amassed a large collection of DVDs. This utility is designed to rip those classic movies into a multitude of compatible digital formats. Whether you want to backup your favorite disc for play on a console, tablet, or smartphone, this software gets the job done quickly with an impressive level of quality. 1 / 12

2 There are plenty of apps out there to accomplish this sort of job, but popular blogs like Mac Life, TopTenReviews, and Cult Of Mac say there are few better ways to rip your DVDs than MacX. If you're not a video expert, there are plenty of optimized profiles based on the device you're ripping for. For those that desire more advanced customization, there are a wide range of toggles, switches, and knobs to get the frame rate, sample rate, and conversion quality tuned exactly the way you want it. Plus, with MacX's constant decryption algorithm updates, you never have to worry that your favorite movie won't be supported. It's worth noting that there are also MacX iphone and ipad DVD Rippers for $30, but the extra $10 for Pro gets you a far more versatile piece of software for the price. If you want to rip DVDs easily and quickly, this is one download that can't be missed! Be sure to check back here at DashHacks for a full Windows-version review sometime next week! Via: Digiarty Software 2 / 12

3 Do you want folders within folders on your ios device? Check out the beloved jailbreak tweak that makes its ios 7 debut on the next page! Apex 2 - $2.99 [99 Cent Upgrade] - BigBoss (Cydia) - ios 7.X If you've got a lot of apps on your device, organizing those many icons correctly can be essential to productivity. Apple encourages you to group related applications into folders, but Apex 2 by A³tweaks takes that idea one step further. Rather than creating a static folder architecture, Apex allows up to four sub-apps to fan out when swiping down on any homescreen icon. It's a bit tough to explain in words, but you can see the function quite clearly in the 3 / 12

4 screenshot below. 4 / 12

5 Creating an Apex group is far less convoluted than my detailing. All you have to do is swipe on the icon you want to use as your central app, then tap one of the four + signs to link sub-apps to your main one. The tweak will suggest apps on your device that may group together nicely, but you can also use a search function to select any one you want. The root icon will stay on the homescreen as usual, but you'll also be able to see a small piece of your sub-app icons so you don't forget they exist. The real draw for Apex however, is that this grouping function even works for apps already in folders. That basically means you're allowed to have folders within folders by using a tweak like this. With dynamic animation schemes, it also doesn't matter where your root icon is located on the homescreen. Apex always folds out your sub-apps in a way that's most pleasing to the eye. Those with ios 6 can still download the original Apex for $1.99 too. Via: idownloadblog Want Chat Head-like messaging on ios? Keep reading for a tweak that may tickle your fancy! 5 / 12

6 MessageHeads - $ BigBoss (Cydia) - ios 7.X We've all seen how Chat Heads work in the Facebook app, and Ian Burns' MessageHeads brings that functionality to all of ios. Every time you start a new text conversation with a contact, it will appear as a bubble on your homescreen. That bubble can then be tapped to show a small portion of the chat. From there, the quick reply button makes way for an easy and fast response. The best part of MessageHeads is that your conversation bubbles stay with you no matter which app you're using. As you glide from app to app, your SMS and imessage chats are always one tap away. To remove a finished conversation, just swipe the chat bubble to the bottom of your screen. 6 / 12

7 As far as customization is concerned, there are plenty of ways to fine tune your MessageHeads experience. If you want to use a designated side dock to store your conversations, that option is there. You can also select where new conversation bubbles appear when you receive them. For those that need a quick way to hide or reveal all message threads at will, Activator can be used to assign a gesture to that task. I personally think an always-available texting interface like this might get in the way of avid ios gamers, but for social media and web junkies, MessageHeads might actually be an improvement over your old SMS steup. Via: ModMyi 7 / 12

8 Need to know when apps are running in the background? Click ahead for a new and snazzy way to do just that! ActiveBoard - $1.99 [FREE With ActiveDock] - BigBoss (Cydia) - ios 7.X If your ios device is constantly in use, FilipoBiga and Surenix want you to use ActiveBoard to 8 / 12

9 tell you when your applications are running in the background. Typically this can be done by opening up the switcher and cycling through the app tiles, but this tweak adds a notification animation to your homescreen too. When an app is backgrounded, a white haze will appear around its icon to remind you that it's still running. 9 / 12

10 A similar enhancement can be found in notifications as well. If an app has new notifications, its icon will sport a red border and start pulsating. There's no real need for this feature though, because Apple's stock badges accomplish the same task just fine. Still, for knowing which apps are running, ActiveBoard can be a cool way to trick out your device. Via: idownloadblog Want advanced Notification Center features on your lock screen? I have a solution for you that's just one click away! 10 / 12

11 LockInfo7 - $4.99 [Two-Week Free Trial] - ModMyi Repo - ios 7.X We've seen a slew of enhanced lockscreen tweaks in the past, but David Ashman's LockInfo7 is the latest entry in that collection. Essentially what it does is combine Notification Center features with widgets to display more information on your lockscreen. If you have new events, reminders, texts, or s, these will all be categorized nicely on your lock just like in the NC dropdown menu. 11 / 12

12 Where information. and Notification see week Via: That's tweaks! that NCAgenda Auki ModMyi free all this Which menu. I trial are have tweak Center, Asalso should one Currently far come forreally as fully of today, butbe texts these included LockInfo accounted shines good there be are issure your enough is are concerned, tosaves in provide to for. expected favorite? itscheck integration Again, to you let Calendar compatibility the back you Let bugs a hassle lot me know next with and ofand know this week other of ifconflicts Weather with this constantly functionality infor apps. tweak the quick even incomments widgets this For reply isunlocking more worth can release. the methods with already $4.99 great section your and up However jailbreak price, time. to like be swiping below! the found BiteSMS Forecast minute thetoin two 12 / 12