Can some one explain jail breaking to me

[HedgehogFromHell]

I don't understand the benefits of jail breaking an iPad and the websites seem pretty bland in their answers. So what's the benefit of doing this?

[Crafty_]

It stops the device being so restrictive.
I think the main reason is you can get apps on to it without having to use the app store. i.e. piracy.

quick google search found : http://www.pcworld.com/article/199834/how_to_jailb...
http://www.jailbreakipads.org/
http://gizmodo.com/5530906/jailbreaking-your-ipad-...

[TheHeretic]

It opens up a lot of doors to do things you wouldn't be able to on the stock OS. However, as with everything there are pros and cons.

[Fletch79]

Gaining Admin access to iOS

[smithsi]

Crafty_ said:

It stops the device being so restrictive.
I think the main reason is you can get apps on to it without having to use the app store. i.e. piracy.

quick google search found : http://www.pcworld.com/article/199834/how_to_jailb...
http://www.jailbreakipads.org/
http://gizmodo.com/5530906/jailbreaking-your-ipad-...

I think to say it is for piracy is a little off the mark.

Apple decide arbitrarily on certain things you can and can't do in Apps written for their hardware. People develop apps which do not conform to all the rules and would not be accepted by Apple, but their is a demand.

For example, at a certain stage Apple have been very puritanical about apps developed for the adult market (although because money talks did allow a Playboy app).

I jailbreak my Apple Tv to increase the functionality, for example to run Plex/XBMC apps.

[Who me ?]

Isn't it when the court system employs a security firm to take folks to court and then the security firm is so lax as to let them get away

[Bibbs]

There has been a few threads on this, but it just gives you "root" access to the device.

This then allows you do to anything you like.

The main one is installing cydia, which is like an app store for non apple approved apps.

I jailbreak so I can do things like using the volume buttons to skip iPod tracks (tap to change volume, hold to skip, hold both to pause).

You can use apps like SBSettings, which gives you an easy to access menu to turn off 3g, wifi, bluetooth etc. instead of hunting through the Settings menu.

[B3njamin]

Bibbs said:

There has been a few threads on this, but it just gives you "root" access to the device.

This then allows you do to anything you like.

The main one is installing cydia,which is like an app store for non apple approved apps.

I jailbreak so I can do things like using the volume buttons to skip iPod tracks (tap to change volume, hold to skip, hold both to pause).

You can use apps like SBSettings, which gives you an easy to access menu to turn off 3g, wifi, bluetooth etc. instead of hunting through the Settings menu.

This. In particular SBSettings. Some of the Cydia apps are very good, with mostly good GUI integration IME.

Not sure whether it's easier to do these days, the last account I'm aware of although not recently, involved a lot of faffing around.

[Esseesse]

I mainly jailbreak so I can enable tethering without paying a complete ripoff £5/month to Orange (and I only use tethering very occasionally so it really is a con).

Although having said that I've just upgraded to 5.1 so it needs jail breaking again.

[Bibbs]

B3njamin said:

Not sure whether it's easier to do these days, the last account I'm aware of although not recently, involved a lot of faffing around.

5.0.1 was JB-able .. and it was easy. Run an app, plug your phone in and wait 5mins. Then open an app on the spring board - done.

Some have been a PITA, others have been just going to a website on the device. All depends on the method of hacking the guys come up with.