Springboard (iPhone)
Encyclopedia
Springboard, or Home Screen is the standard application that manages the iOS
home screen. Other tasks include starting WindowServer, launching and bootstrapping applications and setting some of the device's settings on startup.
and WebClips, and create multiple pages by dragging an application to the side of the screen. If the Home button is pressed, the icons will stop wiggling and apps can be opened again.
In July 2008, third-party applications were introduced with iPhone OS 2.0. These applications are installed through the App Store and deleted with the traditional "wiggle mode" method.
In June 2009, in iPhone OS 3, Spotlight Search was added to the Springboard. This allowed the user to search for applications and other files stored in the iPhone.
In June 2010, in iOS 4, home screen wallpapers were introduced to the Springboard. Folders were introduced as well: dragging an application on top of another application while in "wiggle mode" will result in a folder being created. After that, more applications may be added to that folder by dragging an application on top of the folder. Applications can be removed from a folder by simply dragging it out into the main home screen.
On jailbroken devices, unsigned applications (applications installed through Cydia
) cannot be deleted by the traditional method of holding a finger on the application and selecting delete. Instead, they need to be removed through Cydia, unless CyDelete is installed, which allows for that method to be used.
In iPhone OS/iOS versions 1.1.3 and beyond, patching is no longer required as Springboard natively renders third-party icons. Jailbroken applications are however stored in /Applications, instead of Apple's native third-party application folder of /var/mobile/Applications.
or skins
. Themes are applied through WinterBoard, an application from the jailbroken third-party installer Cydia
.
Themes can have a variety of changes to the appearance of Springboard, mainly on the icon appearance. However themes also change elements of the user interface.
As of late 2009, jailbroken devices can now also replace Springboard's interface using PogoPlank, which uses a wheel of categories rather than the standard pages of icons.
included a new feature called 'Launchpad". This feature was based on the Springboard feature in iOS software. It included the same features (like folders) but was not made as the home screen, more an extension on the dock (like Dashboard).
Before the Developer Preview of Mac OS X Lion
, Launchpad was named Springboard. Even though the name displayed in the dock remains the same, the images used to make up Launchpad are still named "Springboard" (or "sb"), and can be found in /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources.
IPhone OS
iOS is Apple's mobile operating system. Originally developed for the iPhone, it has since been extended to support other Apple, Inc. devices such as the iPod Touch, iPad, and Apple TV. Apple, Inc. does not license iOS for installation on third-party hardware...
home screen. Other tasks include starting WindowServer, launching and bootstrapping applications and setting some of the device's settings on startup.
History
In 2008, with Apple's release of iPhone OS 1.1.3 and the January App Pack, the Springboard underwent some substantial changes. Holding a finger on any application for a few seconds causes all of the icons to wiggle. From this view, you can rearrange your icons, delete WebAppsWeb application
A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. The term may also mean a computer software application that is coded in a browser-supported language and reliant on a common web browser to render the application executable.Web applications are...
and WebClips, and create multiple pages by dragging an application to the side of the screen. If the Home button is pressed, the icons will stop wiggling and apps can be opened again.
In July 2008, third-party applications were introduced with iPhone OS 2.0. These applications are installed through the App Store and deleted with the traditional "wiggle mode" method.
In June 2009, in iPhone OS 3, Spotlight Search was added to the Springboard. This allowed the user to search for applications and other files stored in the iPhone.
In June 2010, in iOS 4, home screen wallpapers were introduced to the Springboard. Folders were introduced as well: dragging an application on top of another application while in "wiggle mode" will result in a folder being created. After that, more applications may be added to that folder by dragging an application on top of the folder. Applications can be removed from a folder by simply dragging it out into the main home screen.
On jailbroken devices, unsigned applications (applications installed through Cydia
Cydia
Cydia is a large genus of tortrix moths, belonging to the tribe Grapholitini of subfamily Olethreutinae. Its distinctness from and delimitation versus the tribe's type genus Grapholita requires further study....
) cannot be deleted by the traditional method of holding a finger on the application and selecting delete. Instead, they need to be removed through Cydia, unless CyDelete is installed, which allows for that method to be used.
Features
Contrary to popular belief, SpringBoard is not just a simple "icon manager", as it is also responsible for a number of critical low level tasks:- HID Event Processing
- Systemwide Event Management (via the GraphicServices framework)
- Managing application windows (referred to as 'remote contexts')
- Bootstrapping UIKit applications
- Maintaining the UIKit artwork cache
- Putting the device to sleep and waking it up
- Push notifications
- UIKit Statusbar server
- Controlling the state of UIKit applications (suspension/activation)
- Assisting the debug server
Display of icons
In iPhone OS/iOS versions before 1.1.3, jailbreaking patched the Springboard for displaying third-party applications.In iPhone OS/iOS versions 1.1.3 and beyond, patching is no longer required as Springboard natively renders third-party icons. Jailbroken applications are however stored in /Applications, instead of Apple's native third-party application folder of /var/mobile/Applications.
Customization
The Springboard on jailbroken devices can also be customized with themesTheme (computing)
In computing, a theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details, used to customize the look and feel of an operating system, widget set or window manager....
or skins
Skin (computing)
In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
. Themes are applied through WinterBoard, an application from the jailbroken third-party installer Cydia
Cydia
Cydia is a large genus of tortrix moths, belonging to the tribe Grapholitini of subfamily Olethreutinae. Its distinctness from and delimitation versus the tribe's type genus Grapholita requires further study....
.
Themes can have a variety of changes to the appearance of Springboard, mainly on the icon appearance. However themes also change elements of the user interface.
As of late 2009, jailbroken devices can now also replace Springboard's interface using PogoPlank, which uses a wheel of categories rather than the standard pages of icons.
Application loading
As of iPhone OS 4.3.3, Springboard looks for applications in the /Applications and /var/mobile/Applications directories of the iPhone's filesystem to display on the home screen.Use in Mac OS 10.7 (Lion)
Mac OS X LionMac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
included a new feature called 'Launchpad". This feature was based on the Springboard feature in iOS software. It included the same features (like folders) but was not made as the home screen, more an extension on the dock (like Dashboard).
Before the Developer Preview of Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....
, Launchpad was named Springboard. Even though the name displayed in the dock remains the same, the images used to make up Launchpad are still named "Springboard" (or "sb"), and can be found in /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/Resources.