Stride brings gesture-based unlock to jailbroken iOS devices
updated 05:00 am EDT, Wed April 11, 2012
Utilizes different implementation than Android
A new tool for jailbroken iOS devices allows users to set up and draw a gesture to unlock the device, replacing the "slide to unlock" bar or passcode method currently used by the devices. Called Stride, it uses a pre-defined gesture drawn by the user to override the default lock controls, though the program has a bit of "fuzziness" built-in so users don't have to replicate the gesture exactly. It sells for $3 on the unofficial Cydia store.
The program will "fall back" to the four-digit passcode normally set by security-minded users in iOS if the gesture can't be recognized. Users can tap the lower right corner of the device to bring up the passcode lock. Stride uses a stylish "8-bit" grid look for the gesture, and initial reports suggest the program is working as expected without any significant bugs, rare for an unofficial 1.0 product.
Stride does require that the iOS device be jailbroken in order to install and use it, and no untethered jailbreak yet exists for the current version of iOS 5.1. Tethered jailbreaks and untethered ones for earlier iOS versions and older devices are available.
