1.0.0-1 Changelog:
● Updated for iOS 4.2.1.
● Changed method used for preventing installation on unsupported iOS versions.
● Changed version numbering due to move from Google Code (svn) to GitHub (git).

ScreenShots:

Available In: Cydia

Price: Free

Backgrounder, a hack that allows applications to run in the background, has been updated to version svn.r432 (and svn.r436). The new version actually makes a decent amount of changes to the hack (full change log below).

The overall settings of the app have changed… including more description about each setting… which is nice.

In the Global option of the settings, you will find quite a few more features including the ability to choose the type of Backgrounding Method (Off, Native and Backgrounder), choose the Backgrounding State (Enable at Launch or Stay Enabled – previously Backgrounding Persists), the ability to turn on a Status Bar Icon and the options to Fallback to Native and Minimize on Toggle.

All settings can now be set per-application using a new option in the settings called Overrides (this replaces the previous “Application-specific” option). You are able to add applications to the Override option and then choose specific settings for that particular application. If you have an application in the Overrides option, it will override the settings in the Global option.

The Control and Documentation options in the settings are basically the same as the precious version.

Another new feature is the ability to reset all the settings. This can be done with the Reset button on the top right of the main settings page. Check out the change log below for the rest of the new features and bug fixes.

svn.r436 Change Log:
* svn.r436 FIX: Old iPod settings were not correctly converted to new format.

svn.r432 Change Log:
* svn.r432 MOD: Major reworking of preferences
* All settings can now be set per-application (by creating an “override”).
* “Backgrounding Persists” has been renamed to “Stay Enabled”.
* The former blacklisting option is now acheived by creating an override and setting “Backgrounding method” to “Native”.
* The former always-enabled option is now acheived by creating an override and enabling both “Enable at Launch” and “Stay Enabled”.
* MOD: Preferences app now supports iPad-mode (Portrait only).
* NEW: Prevent apps such as Safari from backgrounding by setting “backgrounding method” to Off.
* Most people will want to do this via an override, as global settings would affect *all* apps.
* NEW: Button to reset settings to default values.
* NEW: Option to show a backgrounding status indicator in the status bar.
* NEW: “Minimize on Toggle” option; disable to prevent current app from minimizing when enabling/disabling backgrounding.
* NEW: “Fallback to Native” option; disable to force even apps such as Mail, Phone, Safari and iPod to quit on minimize when backgrounding state is disabled.
* FIX: Fixed support for modifying badge via WinterBoard.
* File to theme is Backgrounder_Badge.png in the com.apple.springboard bundle.
* FIX: Fixed iPad badge position.
* Badge origin is {-12, 39} for iPhone/iPod, {-12, 53} for iPad.

ScreenShots

Backgrounder is a really great hack for the iPhone. It lets you keep an application running in the background even when you hit the home button to close it. This is great for apps like Pandora and other music apps or anything else you might want. The annoying part for me has always been moving around between those apps. Usually I just use the search to find them because I have so many pages of apps I don’t want to scroll around looking for them. One newer feature of backgrounder displays a badge on the icon of the apps running in the background so you know what’s still running. Now with all of that said, a new app helps streamline all of this called ProSwitcher.

This app has a ton of customization that I could talk about all day but I’ll tell you the main point and you can mess with settings. Basically what it does is when you activate it from one of it’s many ways, it zooms out of the app, kinda like the way multiple webpages display in Mobile Safari, and you can flick left and right through what’s running. It also triggers the app you’re currently in to run in the back ground. Here’s some screenshots and a quick video demo. The apps free so check it out and if there’s something you don’t like, make sure you check all the features and options ’cause a lot of it can be changed.

Video

ScreenShots

Backgrounder, a mod that allows applications to run in the background, has been updated to version svn.r295. The update redesigns the application’s settings, adds a few new features as well as contains a bug fix (see full change log below).

One new feature is the ability to turn off the badge icon for applications that are not backgrounded by the Backgrounder app itself. This would be applications that run in the background without the need for Backgrounder such as Phone, Mail, Safari, iPod… etc. You can turn this option off in under the Global option in the application.

Another new feature is the ability to choose how you would like to toggle backgrounder. In the past it has always been toggled on (and off) using the Home Button, you can now choose to toggle the app using the Home Button, Power Button or None (which would be used with external toggles).

You will also notice that in the change log, it indicates that the location of the badge has been moved. I’m assuming this is referring to the file location of the badge since the badge itself has not changed location. You can get Backgrounder via the BigBoss source.

svn.r295 Change Log:
- Two new invocation methods; holds power button, and none (for Kirikae, etc.)
- Added option to not show badges on apps not backgrounded by backgrounder
- Fixed bug that caused blacklist to be ignored when called externally (e.g. via Kirkiae)
- Note: location of image used for badge has changed

ScreenShots

Backgrounder, an application that allows apps to run in the background, has been updated to version svn.r261. This version of the application adds back a few of the features Backgrounder had before firmware 3.x; Always-Enabled Apps option, Blacklisted Apps option, Persistence option and the Badge feature. As a quick reminder, I will run through what each option does.

When the Persistence option is turned On, “once the backgrounding has been enabled for an application (which is done by opening an application and then holding the Home Button until you receive a popup saying that Backgrounder has been enabled) it will remain enabled until the user manually disables it – no matter how many times the application is minimized and restored.”

When the Persistence option is turned Off, “you will have to enable backgrounding every time an application is minimized; single-tapping Home will cause the application to terminate (unless it has the “always-enabled” option turned on).”

The Badge option will add a badge to the icons of the apps that are running in the background.

When the Always-enabled option is turned on for an app, that application will always run in the background no matter how many times the app is opened or closed. You will not have to enable backgrounder, just open the app and it will begin running in the background.

When the Blacklisted option is turned on for an application, that app will not run in the background. This includes stock applications such as Phone and Mail.

ScreenShots

When I saw an update to Backgrounder, a mod that allows apps to run in the background, I was like…YES! I thought we were going to get some of the old features back but, the update just fixes a bug in which some apps were not restoring properly. I know, I was totally bummed too. I could really use the SpringBoard badge that indicates when an app is running…I have a feeling I have left a few running on accident! You can get Backgrounder via the BigBoss source.

ScreenShots

Backgrounder, a mod that allows applications to run in the background, has been updated to version svn.r247. This version of Backgrounder is for firmware 3.0 and above. If you are on 2.2.1 or below make sure you DO NOT upgrade. The update also only enables the basic backgrounder feature…there are no extra features at this time. The developer says it will take some time to get the features working on the 3.0 firmware.

To enable Backgrounder, just open an application and then hold the Home Button. You will get a nice pop-up saying that Backgrounder in enabled. You can then close the app by giving your Home Button a quick tap. To disable Backgrounder, open the application back up and hold the Home Button. You will get a pop-up saying that Backgrounder has been disabled.

Because there are no features, you will just have to remember which apps you have running in the background….we are going old school. Remember, leaving apps running in the background will affect your battery life!

ScreenShots

Backgrounder is “A Mobile Substrate-based extension that allows applications to run in the background.” Basically it is an application (similar to Insomnia) that allows applications to run in the background…meaning after you close the application it will continue to run.

When you install Backgrounder, you will not get an icon on your SpringBoard…it is just a code application. To enable Backgrounder, open the application that you would like to run in the background then press and hold the Home Button. You will get a quick pop-up saying, “Backgrounding Enabled. (Continue holding to force-quit).” Then the application will automatically close. That’s it!


I tested Backgrounder on a few applications. The first was MobileCast. I started downloading some podcasts, enabled Backgrounder and then went back into Mobilecast a few minutes later to see if they had continued to download even after the application closed…they had! It worked great. The other application I tried was Pandora. I opened Pandora, started the application, enabled backgrounder and Pandora continued to play after it closed…sooooooo sweet!!! You are able to use your iPhone and other applications on your iPhone while the apps continue to run in the background. I was able to listen to Pandora while I creating a shopping list with another application. However, if you use an application that resprings your SpringBoard, it will disable Backgrounder. So, you do not want to set a new WinterBoard theme while you have an application running in the background.

To disable Backgrounder on any application, you will need to reopen the app and then press and hold the Home Button until you get a pop-up that says, “Backgrounding Disabled. (Continue holding to force-quit).” Overall, a very cool application.

Remember running applications in the background will wear your iPhone or iPod Touch’s battery down faster and it will also make your iPhone or iPod Touch run slower (which it definitely did with my iPhone).