[Review] CmdTab - A Mac-Like Switcher for Common Apps

[Anthony Bouchard]

CmdTab is a new free jailbreak tweak by iOS developer coffeejay, which is an attempt at bringing a Mac OS X-like quick switcher to iOS. You can see screenshots of the tweak in action above. If you own a Mac, then you know tapping Command+Tab opens up a menu like the one below:



The current version of CmdTab has a total of seven different buttons. The first six of them yields an application in iOS, however the last option that looks like a Mac OS X Terminal icon opens up an iOS dialog box with the options to Respring, Power off, or Reboot the device:



The rest of the buttons do the following:

• System Preferences icon --> Opens the Settings application
• iTunes icon --> Opens the stock iOS Music application
• Twitter icon --> Opens the Twitter application
• Messages icon --> Opens the stock iOS Messages application
• Airport Utility icon --> Opens the Settings application and loads up Wi-Fi preferences pane
• Package icon --> Opens the Cydia application

Launching CmdTab can be done any way you want to – it takes use of Activator to allow you to choose an action to invoke. There are no preferences to configure for CmdTab, simply launch, scroll around to find the application you want to open, and tap on it. If you launch CmdTab by mistake, you can press the home button to dismiss it. Coming in the future is the ability to tap somewhere on the screen not occupied by CmdTab to dismiss it.

More future updates include a theme picker for choosing between the Mac OS X style appearance and other appearances, the ability to set your own music application for launching with CmdTab such as Spotify, Pandora, or Grooveshark instead of the stock iOS Music application, and of course, more application or option shortcuts for CmdTab.

We took the tweak for a spin for ourselves and it is pretty useful for what we would expect from a free jailbreak tweak and it even looks good. Opening applications is quick and launching the shortcut menu doesn't cause any lag for iOS. This tweak should not be confused with the multitasking App Switcher, as it doesn’t keep a history of your backgrounded applications, instead it is a list of pre-loaded application shortcuts.

CmdTab will launch anywhere in iOS assuming you have access to the Activator action wherever you are. It works within applications, on the home screen, and on the lock screen. If you have been looking for a quick way to get around useful applications in iOS, then give CmdTab a try!

Name: CmdTab
Price: FREE
Version: 1.0
Requirements: iOS 5
Repo: ModMyi
Developer: coffeejay
Editor's Rating:  4/5

Sources: coffeejay

[KraXik]

Windows does this too. Not just Mac OS.

[GooseG]

Windows does this too. Not just Mac OS.

Yeah, but this is designed like that Mac switcher. The windows one doesn't look anything like this. Therefore irrelevant.

[Mr. Russian]

Windows does this too. Not just Mac OS.

It looks different on Windows...

[KraXik]

I was thinking of ctrl+tab which doesn't look too dissimilar but it brings up previous programmes rather than a stock list.

[sziklassy]

Windows does this too. Not just Mac OS.

I do believe it originated in Mac OS though.

[JimboHurt]

Darn it. I don't like when things rely on activator
Not gunna get this now.
Cool tho!!

[bradmullins007]

Darn it. I don't like when things rely on activator
Not gunna get this now.
Cool tho!!

Ha thought I was the only person that didn't download tweaks that depend on activator!

[iPod]

Just downloaded. Would love the ability to add custom apps

[BhadKarma]

Ha thought I was the only person that didn't download tweaks that depend on activator!

Why don't u like Activator??

[teej1410]

Ha thought I was the only person that didn't download tweaks that depend on activator!

What's wrong with activator??? Activator is one of the tweaks I jailbreak for.

[jOnGarrett]

Windows does this too. Not just Mac OS.

So does Android.

Yeah, but this is designed like that Mac switcher. The windows one doesn't look anything like this. Therefore irrelevant.

right, because in the world of apple, looks matter more than function. lmao.

[iPod]

*sigh*

[bmwraw8482]

Where's the command button on a windows pc?

[thazsar]

Darn it. I don't like when things rely on activator
Not gunna get this now.
Cool tho!!

+1

I'm tired of trying to remember all the stupid Activator actions!

[swol_je]

I wish you could at least rearrange the order of the icons. But definitely nice looking!

[hotman]

What's wrong with activator??? Activator is one of the tweaks I jailbreak for.

Activator does not fully work with iOS.5.1 don't you know? And lot of apps depend on it. But the most importantly, naturally we love freedom not depend on something like activator if we can

[teej1410]

Activator does not fully work with iOS.5.1 don't you know? And lot of apps depend on it. But the most importantly, naturally we love freedom not depend on something like activator if we can

Didn't know it didn't fully work on 5.1. I'm still on 5.0.1 and I'm not updating since 5.1 doesn't offer anything for the iPod.

[jessica90]

hi