There is already a long list of Activator tweaks and add-ons that you can add to your jailbroken iOS devices. These tweaks add a lot of new functionalities that make using the iOS device a lot more pleasant and convenient. This next tweak, however, took Activator tweaks to a whole new level.
Instead of relying on buttons or the touchscreen of your iPhone, you can now access apps, invoke settings and perform other tasks by simply waving your hand in front of the proximity sensor. ProximityActivator, the name of this tweak, enables you to make use of the proximity sensor to your advantage.
The installation process is pretty straightforward. You can download and install ProximityActivator from Cydia’s BigBoss repository. Once installed, you can then access the tweak’s configuration from Activator’s own Settings window.
So what can this tweak really do?
Anything, really. It is still a gimmick for most people, but ProximityActivator is a gimmick that can actually be very useful. For example, you can configure the tweak to activate the App Switcher whenever you wave your hand in front of the proximity sensor. This makes switching between apps a breeze when you are using the iPhone on a desk or when you just need to make a quick switch without having to tap the Home button.
ProximityActivator can also be linked to all Activator’s native tasks and actions. Anything from controlling the music player of your device to launching certain functions on the phone, opening parts of the phone’s Settings, performing system functions and even composing a new message can be accessed via the proximity gesture.
Keep in mind that ProximityActivator can only be used when the phone is unlocked and awake. This is to be expected, but it would be much cooler if the jailbreak tweak could also sense and trigger actions when the phone is locked.
There are also functions that cannot be used with ProximityActivator for a number of reasons. You can have ProximityActivator activates the standard Reboot or Restart to Safe Mode cycle, but binding that routine to a proximity sensor could spell disaster.
A Handy Tweak Indeed
I’ve been trying ProximityActivator for a while now, and I must say the tweak is very accurate. It can detect my gesture – me, waving my hand in front of the sensor – rather accurately and filter out other things that may be picked up by the proximity sensor. You still need to be pretty close to the sensor to activate the routine you are calling, but other than that the jailbreak tweak works great.
The tweak is available for free, so there is no reason not to try it. Be sure to have Activator by Ryan Petrich installed first before installing ProximityActivator, because this tweak will not work otherwise.
I love how ProximityActivator now allows me to start and stop music playback much faster. There is no need to swipe up to show the controls at all; I simply wave my hand across the sensor and I can play or pause music playback. It is also a good way to activate certain apps or functions, such as AirDrop and iMessage.
I wish it can recognize more gestures or have more actions tied to the tweak, but at the moment ProximityActivator will only accept one. Other than that, it is a superb tweak to have. It offers more than just another way to activate an Activator action.
What do you think? Is ProximityActivator a Cydia tweak you like using? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below. We would also love to hear how you use ProximityActivator as well as your ideas on how this tweak can be better.
