Orbit: Exposé for your iPhone

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 10-18-2009, 07:53 PM

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT8bIujbzqA]YouTube - Expose for iPhone: Second Look[/ame]

video via Steven Troughton-Smith

Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that are the most useful. Steven Troughton-Smith, a twenty-year-old independent iPhone developer (and student) living in Ireland, has finally released a working implementation of the "Exposé for Springboard" concept as a working app. Called Orbit, it's available for $1.99 on Cydia, and is a simple and straightforward way of navigating up to 12 home screens using a Exposé-like interface.

The developer is said to be working on an Orbit 2.0 app that makes use of a "pinch" gesture to bring all miniaturized screens up at once. More than just another app, Orbit 2.0 would be a subtle but significant and fundamental modification of the basic iPhone navigation paradigm. Especially if you have a large number of home screen to navigate, this would make a significant difference in the smoothness and speed with which you can control your apps.

Apple's centralized control of the "look and feel" of the iPhone interface is helpful - up to a point - for helping ensure the ease of use that we've come to expect. However, it may be that the jailbreaking community can provide these kinds of innovative breakthroughs that could make the iPhone eve better. It's further proof that both the authorized and jailbreaker ecosystems are important, and key to future innovation.

**awesomeSlayer** · 10-18-2009, 07:56 PM

That's awesome! I should get this...but I don't have a credit card or a PayPal. There is no reason to keep swiping SpringBoards.

**timbo** · 10-18-2009, 08:14 PM

Sweet. Why can't it be free

**sonyman74** · 10-18-2009, 08:14 PM

Wow, This is a must have for sure.

**Raptors** · 10-18-2009, 08:15 PM

hasnt this been posted several times already?!

**Melech518** · 10-18-2009, 08:20 PM

^Yes it has! And it has been Tweeted a bunch...

**rel1215** · 10-18-2009, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Raptors

hasnt this been posted several times already?!

just mention of the video that was proof of concept before the app was released, and the article didn't mention if it would actually be released....

**eremeya** · 10-18-2009, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by timbo

Sweet. Why can't it be free

Because it would be nice for the Dev to get a little something for his work...

**TheOnlyest** · 10-18-2009, 08:31 PM

its too bad it doesn't work like it does in that video! Its still way cool... but it would be cooler if the dock was still present when using it (like it is in the video)... but its not.
And they need to make the background themeable... the solid black background is lame.
What else is weird about this is... it ignores the themed icons for native apps (the standard apps the come pre-installed on the phone) and uses the stock ones instead. I hope they can fix that.

**klouud** · 10-18-2009, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by timbo

Sweet. Why can't it be free

because - if we want independent dev's to bring really really really cool programs to Cydia there will need to be some incentive. I have no problem paying for useful apps.

already bought about 3-4 Cydia apps.
bought 0 App Store apps

^ If that doesn't say something I don't know what does...

NOTE: now we need the ability to delete downloaded vids with the "YourTube" add on to YouTube.

**cpjr** · 10-18-2009, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by timbo

Sweet. Why can't it be free

I so get tired of hearing "Why cant I leech off of other people's hard work without contributing anything myself" complaints.

**metaserph** · 10-18-2009, 09:22 PM

Only been using it for a few hours and already it's become one of my favs. Worth the money.

**pacmac** · 10-18-2009, 09:24 PM

cool..so can you still swipe from left to right from the springboad? or you have to keep pushing the expose button?

**Jahooba** · 10-18-2009, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by TheOnlyest

its too bad it doesn't work like it does in that video! Its still way cool... but it would be cooler if the dock was still present when using it (like it is in the video)... but its not.
And they need to make the background themeable... the solid black background is lame.
What else is weird about this is... it ignores the themed icons for native apps (the standard apps the come pre-installed on the phone) and uses the stock ones instead. I hope they can fix that.

Aw man, that's a deal-breaker for me. I have to have my custom icons. Looks like a great idea though. I would certainly replace one of my common dock programs for that button.

**Melech518** · 10-18-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by cpjr

I so get tired of hearing "Why cant I leech off of other people's hard work without contributing anything myself" complaints.

+10

**tudtran** · 10-18-2009, 10:16 PM

That's COOL. I don't even used Expose on my MacBook. I don't think I will ever need Expose on my iPhone.

**08lexus250** · 10-18-2009, 10:19 PM

Sweet!

**kaaroFC** · 10-18-2009, 10:49 PM

I'm going to try it out!

**one1** · 10-18-2009, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by cpjr

I so get tired of hearing "Why cant I leech off of other people's hard work without contributing anything myself" complaints.

This.

**xgus69** · 10-19-2009, 12:08 AM

how do you developers think of things like that lol.. this is great

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