iTweak is a new store of tweaks and applications that we talked about the other day and that will be available in the near future for users. iTweak will allow us to install applications and tweaks directly from Safari, eliminating the need to use Cydia. Practically, iTweak wants to be a competitor of Cydia, but for now it is just an idea in full development process. It seems that iTweak works with the help of a plugin that, once accessed, allows any iDevice user to install tweaks and applications in a manner similar to that offered by Cydia. The good part about iTweak is that everything is done through the Safari browser and there will be no need to close/reopen the application, but the bad part is that in the future Apple may block the use of the plugin.
iTweak is a cool new Cydia alternative, which runs off in the Safari browser. It's fast, sleek, and still as powerful as Cydia. When users hear about something that's installed through the browser (even though we use a light plugin), issues of malware and security are some of the first things that pop into their minds. To be safe, we're rebuilding both the plugin, and the major parts of the main site. In the jailbreak scene, Cydia's reign has been dominant for a couple of years. Competitors have come, and gone, and all have failed because they've kept their ideas inside the typical box. Users would shift to iTweak after seeing the speed, stability, and friendly environment. Cydia can be very confusing and frustrating for the typical jailbreak user who doesn't know everything about iOS, but JB's for a cool theme or tweak their friend shows them. iTweak is introduced as a friendlier way to tweak, and this, and all the goodies (our PC/Mac clients, developer portal, etc), plus it being web-based, sets it apart from all the rest.
Unlike Cydia, which can only be accessed from iDevices, iTweak will also have programs for Windows/Mac that will probably allow users to buy tweaks and applications and install them on their own terminals. The iTweak developers did not explain much about them, but I think that the process of installing/uninstalling the packages will be much simplified. Although iTweak seems to be, in general, a good idea, the problem is that users will have to access this store themselves because after the jailbreak Cydia will be the only application of this kind available. Practically, this is also the great advantage of the Cydia application, the close connection with the developers of jailbreak solutions and the need to be used to install any third-party packages in our terminals.
Other app stores and tweaks have been successful in the past, iTweak could follow the same path but to get there it needs the cooperation of jailbreak solution manufacturers.
