iPhone Apps, iPad apps, iPod touch Apps & App Reviews

Installer.app (aka AppTapp) downloads packages over WiFi (wireless networking) or EDGE for installing, updating and uninstalling 3rd party native applications on your iPhone. Warning! use at your own risk. There are both a version for Mac with OSX and one for Windows. There is currently also a catalogue of available apps available maintained by a couple of repository and listings websites. Read the install instructions here and a tutorial is posted here and here as well.

Hint: Once you have installed Installer.app be sure to install the app called “Community Sources”. This app adds a few of the popular 3rd party application lists (Conceited Software and Ste Packaging) to your sources section, which has the affect of dramatically increasing the number of apps you can install. Here is a full list of all Installer.app sources.

Update: A brand new version of Installer has been released under the name Installer 4.0 which now supports the new 2.0 iPhone software and 3G iPhones. The 4.0 version delivers a brand new user interface and added functionality similar to that of Cydia. This verion of installer is in beta mode but you can install it manually at this time using these steps.

1. Jailbreak your iPhone 2.0 software if you have not already using either QuickPwn for Windows or PwnageTool for Mac.
2. Download Installer 4.0 here and unzip it
3. SCP the Installer.app folder into your /Applications folder.
4. Change Permissions by running these 2 commands:
chmod -R 777 /Applications/Installer.app
chmod a+srx /Applications/Installer.app/Installer
5. Turn off your iPhone or iPod Touch and turn it back on and should now see the new Installer 4.0 app on your home screen. There is a video demo of this process here:

Once you have Installer 4.0 installed, you can add some new apps using the following Installer 4.0 source URLs.

More details on Installer 4.0 to come.

The fastest and easiest way to install Installer on your iPhone is using QuickPwn. Also take a look at this entertaining video by by David Pogue from the The New York Times. He takes you on a tour of using Installer.app to get third-party programs running on the iPhone.

There is another similar Mac OSX software called independence which can also be used to jailbreak your iPhone. The Windows PC equivalent of Installer.app is iBrickr.

Note: As of now Installer.app does not work on iPod touch, or iPhone updated with 1.1.1.

Update: To jailbreak your iPod touch you can use iJailBreak (Mac) or touchFree (Win).

Update: Installer.app version 3.1 has been released which includes a fully redesigned user interface to match the iPhone look and feel, collapsible groups, and firmware auto-sensing. Now you can also add/remove sources easily and easily install all available updates. This version still does not work if you have already upgraded to iPhone v1.1.1. before jail breaking. Also this version requires that you upgrade to 1.1.1 after you get it installed on your 1.0.2, for it to work smoothly.

Update: If you have a virgin iPhone with the 1.1.1 updates you can use iNdependence (Mac) or iDemocracy (Win).

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Browse the full list of all iPhone and iPod touch native 3rd party apps filed under the software category. Please use these iPhone mods and hacks at your own risk!