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[Solarpolitiks]

For Devices Running 4.0
**WARNING**
As with all file modifications, be sure to back up your files before messing with them. In fact, it may even be smart to back up your entire SpringBoard.app folder before attempting this, just for safety reasons.

If you updated to iOS 4 and you were using an older device such as the iPod Touch 2G, 3G (8GB), or iPhone 3G you may have noticed that you did not gain any real new features from the update besides folders. Well with this tutorial you can unlock these features on your older devices by editing some files in your Springboard.app folder of your iDevice.

Also, N72AP is the name of the file on the iPod touch, not sure of it on the iPhone...

Prerequisites:
A JailBroken Device
OpenSSH (iPod Touch)
An SSH Client (I use WinSCP
A plist editor if you are on Windows (I believe Mac OS X can edit them by default) I used this http://www.softpedia.com/get/Programming/File-Editors/plist-Editor-for-Windows.shtml

First Open up your SSh Client and get into your iDevice by entering it's IP Address as the Host Name, "root" as the username, and "alpine" as the password, unless you have changed your root password with rock or mobile terminal.


You may encounter dialogs about keys and such, just accept and add them if they ask, it should connect afterward.
If everything went well you should see the files in your iDevice now. Simply navigate to /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app
Scroll through this folder until you see an "N72AP.plist" file


Copy this to your desktop and confirm the transfer
Now open up that plist file with your editor (If you are on Windows Seven the application will need to be run in Compatibility mode for XP SP3) and look at where it says:

<key>capabilities</key>
<dict>

Followed by this a list of funtions should be listed with the following format:

<key>XXX</key>
<true/>

Following this same format you will add the following lines to the bottom of this list:

<key>multitasking</key>
<true/>

As well as

<key>homescreen-wallpaper</key>
<true/>

Now, just save your file and replace the one that is currently on your iDevice.
However, in order to get Wallpapers to function smoothly on older devices, the following files must be deleted from your SprinBoard.app folder:

WallpaperGradientLandscapeBottomT.png
WallpaperGradientLandscapeTopT.png
WallpaperGradientPortraitBottomT.png
WallpaperGradientPortraitTopT.png
WallpaperIconDockShadow.png
WallpaperIconDockShadowT.png
WallpaperIconShadow.png
WallpaperIconShadowT.png  

Finally, end your connection with your device by exiting the SSH Client and re-spring your device. The native Wallpaper and Multitasking should now work!

Here are screenshots of the multitasking and wallpapers working on my MC Model touch:


For Devices Running 3.1.X
Prerequisites:
A Jailbroken Device

**WALLPAPERS**

There are multiple ways to get wallpapers going on 3.1.X. Although many people opt for WinterBoard because it allows complete themes, some prefer not to use it as it is a pretty heavy MobileSubstrate Add-On that causes a performance decrease. Besides WinterBoard, two other alternatives are BossPaper and Desktop/SMS Background. BossPaper comes with a lot of features including the option of setting multiple pictures as wallpapers and having them change periodically on your SpringBoard Home page. Unfortunately, the interface is a bit weird and is overkill if you simply want a single wallpaper. This is where Desktop/SMS Background comes into play. This is a very lightweight and simple addon that supports wallpapers for your SMS app as well as your HomeScreen and it integrates itself very nicely. When applying a wallpaper normally, you will see two new icons that allow setting the SMS and Home wallpaper, the left for SMS and the Right for Home. The only thing about Desktop/SMS Background is that it is truely bare-bones and gives you no options to work with meaning you can't dim the wallpapers like in BossPaper and WinterBoard. All of these apps are available in Cydia.

From Left to Right: SMS/DesktopBackground, BossPaper, WinterBoard


**MULTITASKING**

Multitasking had been available on the iPhone and ipod Touch long before iOS 4 thanks to an app called Backgrounder. Because of this app, iPhone and iPod users can have TRUE multitasking on iOS 3.1.X. Simply head into Cydia and install the app called Backgrounder. Once this is installed you will need an app switcher so that you don't have to return to the home screen to switch apps. This is where your choice comes in. Many people love Kirikae as an app switcher for it's UI. Others, like ProSwitcher for it's WebOS style App switching while people like myself, like Circuitous for it's simplicity and efficiency. One drawback for Circuitous is the fact that it has been known to cause a battery drain on devices. After you have done your research and selected your app switcher, simply install it via Cydia. By default Backgrounder will not automatically background apps by pressing the home button, rather it does it if you choose to do so by holding the home button until it enables backgrounding. I prefer it this way but you can change the settings as you please. The app switchers will also have settings on how they are activated. These settings can be changed for preference as well. For example, holding the home button will background an app for me and double tapping the home button will launch Circuitous so that I can switch though my running apps.

From Left To Right: Circuitous (iOS 4 Theme), ProSwitcher


Hopefully this was easy to follow but if it wasn't, please tell me where I can fix it up or make things clearer so I can help you out. Feel free to ask any questions as well.

[DeVS]

Very nice guide. I did not know you could do this. My wife has the old 3G and I have not put 4.0 on it cause I heard it kills it but Apple is looking into why it slows it down. I do have a 3gen Ipod I will try this on though, thanks!

[Solarpolitiks]

No problem, glad to help! It's running pretty well on my Touch now but every once in a while you gotta exit some apps to clean up memory.
EDIT: I can haz sticky?

[PharaohsVizier]

Nice, definitely going to try this out tonight. 

[Solarpolitiks]

Just added another section for devices running 3.1.X. Not a real walkthrough but a good explanation. Also, After using this, I gotta say iOS 4 does munch through your RAM pretty fast

[dantheman]

Might want to mention the battery issues people are having with Circuitous.  I like the way it works, but the battery drain made me switch back to Kirikae.  Otherwise, great guide!

[DeVS]

I just wish Kirikae worked on the damn iPad. Figure they would have updated it by now....

[Solarpolitiks]

Thanks for the suggestion and compliment. Anything else that should be added or explained? Questions are welcome too.