Though I had published an easier method to rearrange the iPhone Apps across multiple screens, 5 or more screens of iPhone apps is still quite unmanageable.
That's where Categories iPhone app developed by Big Boss for the jailbroken iPhone comes in very handy.
As the name suggests it allows you to create categories in the form of folders so that you can move the iPhone apps into them to reduce the number of home screens.
It also helps in organizing your iPhone apps so that they are more easily accessible.
iPhone users use various methods to organize their growing list of iPhone apps on their home screen, one of them is to arrange iPhone apps that fall under the same category on the same home screen page.
The Categories App simplifies the organization of iPhone apps on the home screen using folders. I have been able to reduce the home screens from 5 to only 2 using the Categories App.
Here is a walk-through on how to use the Categories iPhone app to organize your iPhone apps on the home screen.
You can install Categories app via Cydia on your jailbroken iPhone. Once installed, launch it from your iPhone's home screen.
When you launch the App, you will be prompted with a blank screen where you can create folders for each of the categories you want to organize the iPhone apps.
Tapping on "Add" on the top right corner will pop-up the screen where you can enter the Category Title (avoid using the name of any of the apps as the category title as the iPhone app will not show up for selection). It will then prompt you to assign an icon to the category. You can select an icon from a wide variety of icon collection as seen below.
You can see the categories that have been created along with their icons in the screen shot below:
To assign a Category to iPhone apps, just tap the Category Name, you will see an empty screen with an Add button on the top right corner. Tap the Add button, it will display the list of iPhone apps installed on your iPhone as seen below:
Now tapping on the iPhone app will assign the iPhone app to the respective Category.
You can follow the above steps to organize all the iPhone apps (other than your most frequently used apps) on your iPhone's home screen.
You can also have an iPhone app in multiple categories. If you want to move an iPhone app icon from one of the Categories back to the home screen, simply delete it from the respective Categories folders using Categories app User Interface.
To delete a category, just tap "Edit" and then select the category to delete. However, categories must be empty in order to be deleted. Therefore, you must first delete the apps out of the category before you can delete the category.
As you can see the user interface is quite simple and you should be able to reduce the number of home screen pages in a matter of minutes with the Categories app.
The Categories app seems to have been around for quite a while so it will great if you can share your feedback on this application if you have used it before in the comments below for the benefit of fellow readers.
Update 1:
The Categories app's disclaimer states to "be very careful", and to "remove all apps from folders and uninstall before updating" to the latest firmware update.
iPhone users who have not done this are facing issues as the apps that were moved to the folders are no longer visible after the update.
Update 2:
New Version of Categories App Gets Revamped GUI And New Features
[Source & Images via TopiPhoneResource.info]
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Great tip, thanks. Such a simple solution. Category must have function call to Poof and all that was needed was to toggle that.
What amazes me is that how the category "apps hide" can survive the FW upgrade after DFU?!. I mean what was accidentally left in category folder before the upgrade still hide the apps after FW upgrade and apps reinstallation!
For people who Update their Firmware and can't see their icons there is an easy fix.
Go into SBsettings and use the "Hide Icons" (poof icon) option to unhide all your apps. If your SBsettings icon is hidden, simply slide your finger across the top of the screen to bring up the menu and click on "more". Categories simply uses SBsettings to hide all the icons and then makes an app for each folder with the icons in them. Use the SBsettings Hide Icon feature to hide unnecessary icons like Stocks or Weather if you use TWC App.
wish it was a actual drag and drop folder it would make life so much easier but i guess this will do for now
I have a theme on my iphone & when I place an app in a folder using categories, the theme goes away & the icon looks like the original icon. Is there anyway to keep the theme formatting & move it into the folder??
I found a workaround to speed up loading without backgrounder. this workaround removes the annoying loading window.
1. Install any Winterboard Theme
2. Open any category folder and press on the "i " at the bottom.
3. Under icon theme, select the just installed Theme.
4. Uninstall the theme and reboot
Result: No loading window, fast open
ok i have a problem…i mistankingly deleted categories without deleting all of the apps out the folders that i created. Now when i try to reinstall categories again, it doesnt show up…I guess i have to restore and jailbreak my phone again….which sucks..Any solutions?
ok nevermind…my problems resolved
Hey could you please let me know how you solved this issue? I tried everything and can't get rid of these folders and categories won't install…..Your help would be greatly appreciated!
hey i accidently deleted the categories app without removing the folders.
now i have unwanted folders and a new categories that cant see it.
is there a way to delete the folders or should i refresh my phone ?
Way was ur solution?
Hi
i recently deleted an app from an apps folder i created using catergories, but when i delete it, now its nowhere to be found
anyone please help
cheeers
Kev
I just recently updated to the latest version and when I create a new folder it doesn't give me an option to change the icon. Only to apply a theme. I have installed a couple of categories icon packs. Any solutions or ideas on this? Thanks
nice app, but HOW CAN I REMOVE IT ?
it`s not in "packages" in cydia.help !
@kevsta
no problem
just install SB SETTINGS from cydia if not already happend and go to more – hide icons and switch them on. Respring!
é voilà they are back again. worked fine4me
greetz from da hoff
how come it didn't popup to let me choose the icon of the folder ?
It is gr8
Heyy,
I know how to use this apps.
Because my iphone was jailbroken.
But not anymore. i update it to 3.1.3 so i can not jailbreak anymore, so wanne buy a apps like this one on itunes does somebody know a apps like this one here ?
Thanks !
what happens if you did what they said not to do in update 1?
"Update 1:
The Categories app's disclaimer states to "be very careful", and to "remove all apps from folders and uninstall before updating" to the latest firmware update.
iPhone users who have not done this are facing issues as the apps that were moved to the folders are no longer visible after the update."
i did that and i cant get the apps out, HELP PLEASE!!!
Hello,
PLEASE tell me where you got those icons from? I've been trying to find them everywhere.
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How about checking this new iPhone app called MyURLs. It’s basically an app that helps you organize, manage and secure your online accounts.