There was a lot of talk about Apple changing the number of maximum pages of apps from 9 to 11. This means instead of having a maximum of 148 apps, the new iPhone OS 3.0 app limit is now 180 apps, right? Wrong!
We have discovered that while it’s true that you can only have 11 pages on your springboard with a possible 180 VISIBLE apps, the actual number of apps you can have installed and accessible on your device is unlimited. Well, I suppose the limit is until you run out of storage space on your iPhone or iPod Touch, which may be difficult to do if have a 32GB model.
So, if you have more than 180 apps installed, how do you actually use the ones you can’t see? The answer is… Spotlight! You can use the new search tool in OS 3.0 to call up any app on the device, even the ones you can’t see. So by using Spotlight as your launcher, you’ll never have to delete an app to download another one. It’s nice to know that Apple agrees 180 apps is just not enough.
This neat trick got me thinking of a feature I’d really like. Since we no longer need the app icon displayed to launch an app, wouldn’t it be nice if we could choose to hide (not display) certain apps? This could help you keep your springboard screens nice and tidy, and even allow you to hide those apps that you love but are not so proud to own. Anyone else want to be able to hide apps on a case by case basis?
Woah! Totally cool news! You have just made my day.
PS. So if I had nasty, embarrassing apps, which of course I don’t, but if I did just load after the 11 pages are full and they should be hidden. Right? What a great day!
All i say is Poof
I don’t know about you shady people trying to hide apps, i mean they haven’t approved porn yet have they? But cool to have more space for apps none the less.
Jessica – Obviously you don’t have the Cute Asian Girls app installed on your device.
they havent approved porn yet, but the did just approve the first iphone vibrator app:
http://gizmodo.com/5295987/myvibe-thighs+on-first-iphone-vibrator-app-approved-by-apple-nsfw
Curious once you get past the screen limit how would you move a new app over to one of the screens if you wanted it there?
with a jailbroken iPhone it is possible to hide any icon you want.
jailbreaking is the only way the iPhone should be imo.
there is an app to view porn.
its called safari.
but my point was going to be that if i could just make frakking stocks and contacts hide, id probably pee my pants.
How about “App Folders” and passwords on app folders? And if you loose your passwords. there can be a password vault App with a master password.
Folders with custom made,(by you), icons.
OK and an app that customises App Icons and allows you to apply them in a way so that you have a choice of updating the icin with software updates or can have the update, update the icon.
etc.
Try the app called Categories, it allows you to create a certain folder on your springboard and you can add any apps to it. Afterwards, you can use an app like Lockdown to lock that folder with a password.
Cheers…
I am surprised that the simplest ideas sometimes elude the ’smartest’ people.
What is the point of searching in spotlight, if you cannot remember the name of the app you wish to run?
The real solution to the apps screen limit? Folders, folders, folders!
There is no better (and natural) way to organize your apps. Organization into folders, compartments, drawers, or whatever you want to call it is a concept that has been with us since the dawn of civilization.
Just because some of you do not have a need for more than a few apps, don’t criticize the rest of us apps whores! I have 32GB of space… if I want to fill it up with apps, I should have that option and right to do so. Unfortunately, Apple’s limit of 11 screens is utter nonsense. Even the Android OS allows folders (and this is Google….the folders are evil company!)
I don’t want my apps all jumbled together… I want a folder for only networking apps, one for only games, another for only my navigation tools, etc.
Why is this so difficult a concept for some to grasp?
Fortunately, I can do all the above by jailbreaking!
Unfortunately there is a limit. I have 7000 apps (all legitimate, so shut up). I don’t know what the limit is, but long before all apps copy over to a 3G, the (non-jailbroken) phone will crash and reboot (and then crash again before it finishes rebooting, infinitely). This happens on 3.1.2. I’m guessing this is due to the iPhone storing the icon permanently in memory.