XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone   
   From: mariasophia@comprehension.com   
      
   Happy New Year!   
      
   What are technical restrictions preventing useful apps on iOS?   
      
   Offhand, I know of these... but what other useful categories of   
   functionality are not only not on iOS, but on every other OS?   
      
   1.  Real background daemons   
       Reason: iOS does not allow long-running background processes.   
       Examples: Tasker (Android), cron (Linux), launchd services (macOS)   
      
   2.  System wide VPNs with full packet control   
       Reason: iOS does not expose raw sockets or packet level APIs.   
       Examples: WireGuard full mode (Android/Linux), OpenVPN TAP mode   
      
   3.  Tor relays or exit nodes   
       Reason: Tor needs background tasks and raw network access.   
       Examples: Orbot relay mode (Android), Tor daemon (Linux)   
      
   4.  Torrent clients   
       Reason: Torrents need background networking and filesystem access.   
       Examples: qBittorrent (Windows/Linux), Transmission (macOS)   
      
   5.  WiFi analyzers and packet sniffers   
       Reason: iOS does not allow monitor mode or packet injection.   
       Examples: Wireshark (Windows/Linux), Kismet (Linux), Airodump-ng   
      
   6.  Mock location apps   
       Reason: iOS does not allow apps to override system GPS data.   
       Examples: Fake GPS (Android), developer location spoofers   
      
   7.  System wide ad blockers or firewalls   
       Reason: Apps cannot intercept or modify traffic from other apps.   
       Examples: AdAway (Android), Pi-hole (Linux), Little Snitch (macOS)   
      
   8.  File managers with full storage access   
       Reason: iOS sandboxes every app and blocks filesystem access.   
       Examples: Total Commander (Windows), Dolphin (Linux), Finder (macOS)   
      
   9.  Emulators with JIT or dynamic code loading   
       Reason: iOS forbids JIT and dynamic code execution.   
       Examples: Dolphin Emulator (Android/PC), RetroArch (Android)   
      
   10. Virtual machines or containers   
       Reason: iOS does not allow hypervisors or low level CPU control.   
       Examples: VirtualBox (Windows/Linux), VMware, Docker (Linux)   
      
   11. System wide automation tools   
       Reason: Apps cannot modify system settings or hook system events.   
       Examples: Tasker (Android), AutoHotkey (Windows)   
      
   12. Custom launchers or home screens   
       Reason: iOS does not allow replacing the system shell.   
       Examples: Nova Launcher (Android), Lawnchair (Android)   
      
   13. Custom dialers or SMS apps   
       Reason: iOS does not allow replacing system communication services.   
       Examples: Truecaller dialer (Android), QKSMS (Android)   
      
   14. Debuggers or system profilers   
       Reason: Apps cannot inspect other processes or system logs.   
       Examples: strace (Linux), lsof (Linux), Activity Monitor (macOS)   
      
   15. Theming engines or UI modifiers   
       Reason: iOS does not allow modifying system UI or injecting code.   
       Examples: Substratum (Android), KDE themes (Linux)   
      
   16. Kernel level tools   
       Reason: No root access and no kernel extensions.   
       Examples: sysctl tools (Linux), kernel modules, kexts (macOS)   
      
   17. Backup tools that copy apps or IPAs   
       Reason: iOS deletes the IPA after install and blocks access to app   
       bundles.   
       Examples: Titanium Backup (Android), full app backup tools   
      
   18. Sideloading tools without developer mode   
       Reason: All apps must be signed with Apple issued entitlements.   
       Examples: APK sideloading (Android), pkg install (macOS/Linux)   
      
   19. Apps that modify routing tables or DNS system wide   
       Reason: iOS does not expose routing APIs or allow DNS override.   
       Examples: ip route (Linux), NetGuard (Android), dnsmasq   
      
   20. Apps that monitor notifications or other apps activity   
       Reason: iOS does not allow cross app inspection or event hooks.   
       Examples: Notification Listeners (Android), system monitors   
   --   
   To even be able to ASK these questions, you have to understand iOS.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)