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> Around that time iOS was still pretty limited in what you could do I'd argue it still is. I can't install a third party web browser that doesn't use WebKit.

> Around that time iOS was still pretty limited in what you could do I'd argue it still is. I can't install a third party web browser that doesn't use WebKit. I can't select alternative default apps to most apps bundled with the OS. I still can't unlock the bootloader. I still can't browse the entire filesystem. People who espouse the virtues of jailbreaking on iOS tend to forget one big thing... the exploits that are used to jailbreak are also exploits used by malware creators to compromise the system.

haswell 5y ago
The difference between then and now is that back then, the limitations impacted the average user. “Normal” users were interested in jailbreaking because it meant they could get access to still relatively basic apps by today’s standards. The items you just listed matter only to people like the posters here. We have philosophical differences with the limitations in place today, but back in the heyday, those limitations were just fundamental gaps in functionality available to users. With the many major new APIs available to devs over the years and with the maturation of the App Store, those original drivers behind jailbreaking just aren’t there for the most part.
- sudosysgen 5y ago
  Most of my average iPhone using friends have an issue with the filesystem being opaque relatively frequently.
  - barsonme 5y ago
    Most of my friends don’t even know what a file system is, so I’d say having opinions about it puts them above average.
    - dvdkon 5y ago
      In my case, the iPhone users around me bump into barriers that wouldn't be there if iOS didn't keep all data in inaccessible silos, but they don't see them as such. For example, someone wanted to back up all their iMessage conversations, including photos. This turned out to be a pain precisely because I couldn't just copy an "all iMessage data" folder like I could on macOS, but they didn't attribute it to the lack of filesystem access. To them (and most users presumably), it was just a problem of "why doesn't the iPhone let me back up iMessage to my computer easily?".
      - haswell 5y ago
        Does the local backup with iTunes not include iMessage? I don't know too may users who care only about a specific aspect of their phone when backing up. I do have non-technical friends who do iTunes/local backups because they "don't trust the cloud", but I've never encountered a person trying to do this piecemeal. For what it's worth, there are decent 3rd party tools like iMazing that are easy to use and do give you more granular control.

haswell 5y ago

The difference between then and now is that back then, the limitations impacted the average user. “Normal” users were interested in jailbreaking because it meant they could get access to still relatively basic apps by today’s standards. The items you just listed matter only to people like the posters here. We have philosophical differences with the limitations in place today, but back in the heyday, those limitations were just fundamental gaps in functionality available to users. With the many major new APIs available to devs over the years and with the maturation of the App Store, those original drivers behind jailbreaking just aren’t there for the most part.

sudosysgen 5y ago
Most of my average iPhone using friends have an issue with the filesystem being opaque relatively frequently.
- barsonme 5y ago
  Most of my friends don’t even know what a file system is, so I’d say having opinions about it puts them above average.
  - dvdkon 5y ago
    In my case, the iPhone users around me bump into barriers that wouldn't be there if iOS didn't keep all data in inaccessible silos, but they don't see them as such. For example, someone wanted to back up all their iMessage conversations, including photos. This turned out to be a pain precisely because I couldn't just copy an "all iMessage data" folder like I could on macOS, but they didn't attribute it to the lack of filesystem access. To them (and most users presumably), it was just a problem of "why doesn't the iPhone let me back up iMessage to my computer easily?".
    - haswell 5y ago
      Does the local backup with iTunes not include iMessage? I don't know too may users who care only about a specific aspect of their phone when backing up. I do have non-technical friends who do iTunes/local backups because they "don't trust the cloud", but I've never encountered a person trying to do this piecemeal. For what it's worth, there are decent 3rd party tools like iMazing that are easy to use and do give you more granular control.