Database Users

Droid X has a locked bootloader or "how motorola killed the Droid X for me"

i was really looking forward on getting myself a droid/milestone X/2 when it's available in europe. but i just read that the droidX (and maybe all upcoming motorola devices according to http://community.developer.motorola...OMs-and-Motorola-s-Android-Handsets/ba-p/4224) will have a completely locked bootloader as the original milestone had. it's as of today not possible to flash a custom rom on a >7 month old milestone, how weak is that?!
although i like the hardware of the moto-devices and really wanted one, this is definitly a no-go for me and defeats the purpose of android as a open(source)/linux os! i'm done with motorola, just ordered a galaxy s which is completely open!
i don't believe that motorola cares if 10.000 geeky people won't buy theire device because it's locked but it would nevertheless be good to show them that we care!
i'm curious what others think about that!

I think it's horse**** that they are locking it
I mean what's it to them if we can flash our phones??
Maybe they don't want their rom software to be leaked out? besides that I see no other reason for this

sp1kez said:
I think it's horse**** that they are locking it
I mean what's it to them if we can flash our phones??
Maybe they don't want their rom software to be leaked out? besides that I see no other reason for this
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that's my point. if i buy a piece of hardware, i should own it completely and do with it what i want! also one would think that motorola would (or at least could) appreciate a bunch of developers modding and patching their devices to make them more appealing to the community. i just installed cm6 (froyo) on my htc magic. it works better than ever, how cool is that! would not be possible with a locked bootloader...
example milestone: although no custom rom's can be booted (the bootloader boots only moto-signed kernels) the device can be rooted and so it should be no problem to get a rom-dump. so that can't be the reason...

I was ready to pull the trigger on the Droid X until I heard this. I hate it. You are right, we buy the phone we should own the phone. I still might buy this phone, a vote of confidence to the devs.
I want the large screen. There's nothing out there with as large a screen. The evo, but I've already been burned by that. Maybe if they swap the screen for a better one.

I'm just as angry at Motorola, but I'm still going to purchase a Droid X. It has everything I'm looking for in a phone hardware-wise, and I can't wait any longer to dump the dumbphone I've been using for years. I'm a huge fan of tweaking every piece of technology I have (e.g. hackintosh netbook just for kicks), but I'm going to stick it out with a one-year contract on the Droid X until a better phone comes along.
I've taken a look at the Galaxy S/Fascinate, but it looks far too much like an iPhone to appeal to me, rootable as it may be. Samsung's post-release support is also less than stellar. As closed as Motorola may be by using this bootloader, they are still providing 2.2 to the original Droid this summer, which is more than can be said of a /lot/ of manufacturers.

Yea I had it preordered and everything til I figured out they locked it down, guess they are okay with losing sales by turning unto an apple type company stupid
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App

Mikerrrrrrrr said:
...
I've taken a look at the Galaxy S/Fascinate, but it looks far too much like an iPhone to appeal to me, rootable as it may be. Samsung's post-release support is also less than stellar. As closed as Motorola may be by using this bootloader, they are still providing 2.2 to the original Droid this summer, which is more than can be said of a /lot/ of manufacturers.
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i agree. i don't like the iphony-look of the galaxy-s either and i feel like the droid X casing is much more stable. also the omap seemed more appealing to me than samsungs hummingbird. and so on ...
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty e.g. by sending a request to a moto-server or something similar.
maybe it has something to do with drm-stuff as i also wondered that one can only use the (awesome) hdmi-out for self-made media ... kills >50% of the potential of the hdmi-out in my opinion.

jodue said:
i agree. i don't like the iphony-look of the galaxy-s either and i feel like the droid X casing is much more stable. also the omap seemed more appealing to me than samsungs hummingbird. and so on ...
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty ...
maybe it has something to do with drm-stuff as i also wondered that one can only use the (awesome) hdmi-out for self-made media ... kills >50% of the potential of the hdmi-out in my opinion.
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I agree, but as it stands, I'm still going to get the phone and hoping out hope for root, although this link (http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...-locked-down-let-me-tell-you-what-i-know.html) has me worried about that too.

Mikerrrrrrrr said:
I agree, but as it stands, I'm still going to get the phone and hoping out hope for root, although this link (http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...-locked-down-let-me-tell-you-what-i-know.html) has me worried about that too.
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i hope the best for you mate. maybe it's not that bad and in 2 weeks we are laughing about motorola because some 14 years old hacker has already torn the bootloader apart

I am officially passing on the x droid2 and whatever else Motorola decides to release sorry but I would rather have an open galaxy s than a locked down droidx. IPhone like ui can be changed with a launcher. But their isn't much hope for a double locked bootloader

whoops... has root

Am I wrong to say that the Milestone is still stuck at the OS ver. that it was sold with? And if so, I hear that 2.2 is coming to the X by the end of the summer. I'm sure and exploit can be found in the update process, or hope so.

I'm going to switch to this, simply because I believe that the devs WILL find a way to get around this problem. This is XDA we're talking about, along with a bunch of other communities dedicated to this stuff. Someone will find a way to pull it off, it's just a matter of time. But I plan on having this phone for at least a year, so I have the patience for it.

jodue said:
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty e.g. by sending a request to a moto-server or something similar.
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i think you explained 2 reasons for the lock down.
1 is warranty issues
2 is that motorolla can control the life of their product. if after 2 years they give updating the software then you'll be left in the dust and forced to upgrade if want new features.
it's like dlc for games. what used to be free by modding communities has now become a way to squeeze more money out of gamers.

I also agree with you on point 2. This phone is pretty powerful even for me. I consider myself a power user but dont really see how I need a faster phone that this.
This phone, If completely hacked, can have a very long lifespan.

this takes one moto dev
to be on the modder's side.
All this takes is one dev to mess with an official moto update, and this will be tossed due the massive amount of phones that are bricked.
total BS. Knowing Verizon, and why they were late jump on the android bandwagon(because they couldn't "control" an open source opertaing system), this probably came from Verizon pushing Moto to do this. Moto is so desperate to corner the market(unlike HTC) with Verizon, they said yes'maam. Sure no problem you are giving ungodly sums of money why cant we "scratch" your back.
bull****

Let's say that we DON'T unlock this phone.... Would anyone be surprised to see Motorola keep up to day within months of releases in the future???
I see people mentioning the reasoning for it being locked it to control the life of the device.... But seeing how powerful this is and how it is you could say Moto's Flagship model, wouldn't it be int their best interest to keep their customers happy????
Or does everything sell and do you really think they will fall behind on updates...??

Seriously if you really hate the device being locked this much work on an email. I will be shooting an email over to Motorola and Verizon Wireless Customer Support. I can post the email that I am sending on here if you guys want, when I finish typing it.
As for the device being locked it is extremely sad, but many hardware developers are starting to do this. The thinking is that the more they can control what the user does the better the end experience is. That is hardly the truth so just keep cracking the devices so that they get the message we want our own control on the device.
Other than that good luck to all the dev crews out there working to crack the device.

i second the email plan. if enough people fight for an open device, motorola will listen...

12yan said:
i second the email plan. if enough people fight for an open device, motorola will listen...
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Nope. Every single Droid and Droid X user could email Motorola and they wouldn't care unless it affected sales. The bottom line speaks the loudest. Hell, more than that, it's the ONLY line that speaks

[Q] Why have things been so quiet on the dev front?

Why have things been so quiet on the dev front lately?
There was an initial flurry of activity, and most of the big ticket items were taken care of like rooting, sideloading, enabling tethering, webtop hacks, HDMI mirroring, etc. Thanks to DG and the other devs for that!
However, afaik we've only got 2 ROMs so far. I was hoping to join in the dev community when I get the time, but there doesn't seem to be much of one anymore.
Other moto devices with locked bootloaders do have significantly more activity. I'm tempted to jump ship to the Verizon Thunderbolt now... pity because I really like the Atrix despite it's locked bootloader.
(I don't mean to disparage the work done so far... I realize that one of the reasons activity has slowed down is because the big ticket items have been taken care of

Like I've stated in another post in a different thread. Without an unlocked bootloader, you're going to be hearing crickets in these forums soon, as peoples 30 day trial periods are soon coming up. Sure not everyone is returning it but no dev support means a dead device for those of us that want custom roms. There is nothing more to say. If for some off chance the bootloader becomes unlocked you can always buy it again if you still want to support motorola. But don't keep this device based on hope. Accept that moto screwed you and return it while you still can. I am 7 days to go...

No, I'm not keeping it based on hope. I want to keep it because I really like the form factor of the phone as well as its resolution and battery life. I also wanted a phone with HDMI out.
You don't need a custom kernel to have a ROM - sure that imposes limitations on what you can do. In fact, the GingerBlur ROM proved that you can get some enhancements of newer Android releases without changing the kernel.
I can understand though that fewer DEVs would be motivated to work on a phone with a locked/signed bootloader. However, the Droid X forums seem to be pretty active...

i too am a little disappointed at the shrinking dev base - i've seen some leave. however of AT&T android phones, regardless of the software this one appeals to me the most for its form factor/size (i wanted 4" over 4.3"), front-camera and color (all black). the HDMI out (+enabled webtop) is nice too, along with the screen resolution.

'Tis a shame. From what I've been hearing, the Atrix was a sales flop. So much wasted potential.
Well, I'm sticking with it regardless. I got it on launch day and I plan to enjoy it to the fullest.
The tegra 2 game that I want isn't even out yet.

NoNameAtAll said:
'Tis a shame. From what I've been hearing, the Atrix was a sales flop. So much wasted potential.
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Maybe this'll be a lesson for Motorola and they might decide to unlock the bootloader after all. I'm this close to jumping ship to the HTC Thunderbolt... I'll probably be grandfathered into their unlimited plan for the foreseeable future.
I tried to get ATT to give me an additional GB by threatening to switch to Verizon, but all they gave me was crappy $25 credit. **** Motorola and **** ATT!!

professor_chaos said:
Maybe this'll be a lesson for Motorola and they might decide to unlock the bootloader after all. I'm this close to jumping ship to the HTC Thunderbolt... I'll probably be grandfathered into their unlimited plan for the foreseeable future.
I tried to get ATT to give me an additional GB by threatening to switch to Verizon, but all they gave me was crappy $25 credit. **** Motorola and **** ATT!!
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I just bought a thunderbolt. Patiently awaiting its arrival.
Screw moto.

I just found out that DG has left us... this totally blows, though at least Kenneth is still working on the GingerBlur ROM.

eallan said:
I just bought a thunderbolt. Patiently awaiting its arrival.
Screw moto.
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Did just that and never looked back. LTE Blows at&t out the water where I live and even tough single core...it feels just as fast.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

It does suck we have one person creating roms. Ken is doing an amazing job but only one man can only do so much. I feel that if more devs were here creating roms people would stick around. I plan on keeping mine for awhile since I bought it outright...I'm due for an upgrade soon so well see.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

I'm so mad...these devs see all this negative stuff about how people don't like their Atrix, why the hell WOULD they want to develop for it? Everyone saying "i'm leaving" "returning it" "bought htc (whatever)" doesn't help. Keep it positive at least. Nobody wants to do work for a bunch of winers...
If you're going to return it, keep it to yourself. Nobody cares.
I'm surprised Ken's still working for all of you moaners.
A new rule would be nice, say something useful or don't say anything at all.

It's not the devs fault that Moto screwed them, most folks got it on the hint that moto had changed for the better and was going to make the bootloader open.
I can't blame the folks for taking them back.
Hell I have a Captivate, Hardware outstanding ( just like the Atrix, ok minus the GPS ) Software flat out sucks, at least the devs could do something with the Captivate with the open bootloader. It makes it a pretty damn good phone.
Just imagine what could done with the Atrix if the devs could actually do something with it, Kens isn't real happy either as I'm sure his considerable talent is being stifled by Moto, that burns his ass a lot more than folks returning it because moto rammed it home hard.
I'm sitting on couple of upgrades right now and would get the Atrix in a heartbeat IF Moto and ATT would allow it to be open for the devs. In the meantime I'll wait and may switch to Sprint ( even though I've been Orange for over ten years ) for the Evo3d ( think I read somewhere it has Wimax and LTE radios in it ), that thing is looking real nice and about as future proof as it get's in this industry.

Atrix is a bust Motorola really blew it with the locked bootloader. They underestimated the developer communities influence and it's coming back to bite them in their fat greedy ass.

BravoMotorola said:
I'm so mad...these devs see all this negative stuff about how people don't like their Atrix, why the hell WOULD they want to develop for it? Everyone saying "i'm leaving" "returning it" "bought htc (whatever)" doesn't help. Keep it positive at least. Nobody wants to do work for a bunch of winers...
If you're going to return it, keep it to yourself. Nobody cares.
I'm surprised Ken's still working for all of you moaners.
A new rule would be nice, say something useful or don't say anything at all.
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It's not like everyone is saying that. But the ones saying that are really being vocal about it. I don't get all the hate. Phone has not even one month and mostly I see people complaining about the locked bootloader. Eventually, that will get cracked.

Devnant said:
Eventually, that will get cracked.
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such optimism. The droidX has been out how long? That is still locked down nice and good. I know there are differences, but be reasonable here. It would appear MOTO knows what they are doing.

cegna09 said:
such optimism. The droidX has been out how long? That is still locked down nice and good. I know there are differences, but be reasonable here. It would appear MOTO knows what they are doing.
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and at the same time they absolutely have no idea what they are doing to themselves

live4nyy said:
and at the same time they absolutely have no idea what they are doing to themselves
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i don't believe this statement for a second. I really don't think this phone is being returned in droves by average users.
in the Eyes of Motorola reliability for 90% of users > support of 10% who want to hack. and a locked down phone is much better for reliability.

cegna09 said:
i don't believe this statement for a second. I really don't think this phone is being returned in droves by average users.
in the Eyes of Motorola reliability for 90% of users > support of 10% who want to hack. and a locked down phone is much better for reliability.
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Given the specs of this phone and the capabilities I think that the development community represents a higher percentage in the overall buyers base for this phone. Rooting and custom ROMs are becoming more "fashionable" to average users. I'm not saying that there will be an immediate impact within the lifespan of this phone but if Moto continues these methods it will turn around to bite them

look at the other dual core tegra phone(optimus 2x). the devs and the the people there seems to be really happy with their phone now that clockwordmod is available and some custom kernels are already taking into place(optimus 2x is not yet release here in US and some part of europe)
so i think the locked bootloader is one of the major culprit why most devs are leaving atrix and so are some people who wants custom roms for their phone. its a big disppointment really, moto and at&t are [insert word here]
its a good phone but motorola is acting like apple.

"Bootloader Solution" isn't what we hoped for..

Hey all,
While looking on an Austrailan Android news website I stumbled across this post, which basically confirms the fears and worst nightmares of Atrix 4G owners.
http://ausdroid.net/2011/04/26/the-little-aussie-taking-on-motorola-u-s/
Seems the bootloader solution is only going to apply to future 2011 devices, and only if carriers allow it.
-Sigh- I'm glad we still have some talented Dev's working the case! They're doing great things for everyone and I encourage you donate generously!
Thanks
- DarkRyoushii

I think it means devices that are current, but not starting until late 2011.
DarkRyoushii said:
Hey all,
While looking on an Austrailan Android news website I stumbled across this post, which basically confirms the fears and worst nightmares of Atrix 4G owners.
http://ausdroid.net/2011/04/26/the-little-aussie-taking-on-motorola-u-s/
Seems the bootloader solution is only going to apply to future 2011 devices, and only if carriers allow it.
-Sigh- I'm glad we still have some talented Dev's working the case! They're doing great things for everyone and I encourage you donate generously!
Thanks
- DarkRyoushii
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

dLo GSR said:
I think it means devices that are current, but not starting until late 2011.
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ahh yes fair point, I sorta read it quite quickly in hopes for an answer

Fat chance AT&T ever allows this on the Atrix. They got your subsidized phone fee and locked you in for 2 years, do you honestly think they care whether or not the bootloader is unlocked? *queue imperial march*

Hey, at least thats a start, if not this phone...maybe their next phone will be unlocked. You have to think big picture....in about a year this phone will become obsolete, just like the nexus one. You're already starting to see phones that are about to come out with 1.2ghz Tegra chip...can you imagine in another year..we might go 2ghz or maybe a quad core.
You have to think about this, the Motorola Xoom was unlocked because Google designed it with them. That IS the developer tablet. The Atrix wasn't made for developer reasons, i'm pretty sure Motorola was using this phone as a Guinea pig.
I can see why ALOT of people went to the Inspire, Bigger screen, HTC quality, and you have a phone that you can mod. Some of us are staying with this phone just on hopes that later it might be unlocked. For all we know, this phone may be locked for good.

I love my atrix even with the locked bootloader. I can't mod it as much as I'd like but Greyblur/Gingerblur are great and I'm very happy with the performance of the phone. It is only going to get better when 2.3/2.4 gets shipped OTA. I am happy with my decision to keep the Atrix instead of returning it. Even with it's flaws it is the best phone I've ever owned.

AT&Trap would save $
dcarpenter85 said:
Fat chance AT&T ever allows this on the Atrix. They got your subsidized phone fee and locked you in for 2 years, do you honestly think they care whether or not the bootloader is unlocked? *queue imperial march*
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If you kept the same phone longer and kept their service they wouldn't have to pony up the subsidized new phone every two years and would save in the end. I think it would be in their better interest aside from tethering hacks which we already have.

Motorola using Xoom as an example is a slap to every other Motorola device owner. Xoom is a Google Experience tablet and they were forced to provide an unlock just like the Nexus One/S.

Recon Freak said:
If you kept the same phone longer and kept their service they wouldn't have to pony up the subsidized new phone every two years and would save in the end. I think it would be in their better interest aside from tethering hacks which we already have.
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That is assuming you don't jump ship to a new carrier for a newer/better phone that isn't offered on AT&T. Their primary interest is keeping you locked into contract with them for as long as possible, since they make far more over the 2 years of a contract than a phone is worth.

DarkRyoushii said:
Hey all,
While looking on an Austrailan Android news website I stumbled across this post, which basically confirms the fears and worst nightmares of Atrix 4G owners.
http://ausdroid.net/2011/04/26/the-little-aussie-taking-on-motorola-u-s/
Seems the bootloader solution is only going to apply to future 2011 devices, and only if carriers allow it.
-Sigh- I'm glad we still have some talented Dev's working the case! They're doing great things for everyone and I encourage you donate generously!
Thanks
- DarkRyoushii
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for posting this one. I did update it in my thread, but happy to see it shared further.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=988634
I'm waiting to hear clarification from Motorola on which devices will be included.
Will let everyone know when I have an answer.

Hope Motorola is not saying this to get people to slow down the protest. I won't believe anything till Motorola publicly announces this new info. Reps say about anything through email.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

JayRolla said:
Hope Motorola is not saying this to get people to slow down the protest. I won't believe anything till Motorola publicly announces this new info. Reps say about anything through email.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
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Very true. Good point. Lets see if motorola if willing to redeem themselves.
Good news if this is true! Hope we won't be disappointed.
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App

dcarpenter85 said:
That is assuming you don't jump ship to a new carrier for a newer/better phone that isn't offered on AT&T. Their primary interest is keeping you locked into contract with them for as long as possible, since they make far more over the 2 years of a contract than a phone is worth.
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Click to collapse
I didn't look at it that way. I've been with them since they were cingular I've been very happy with them. I always wait til they come out with a device I like.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

The truth about the bootloader

http://www.vampii.com/dcom/componen...-x-bootloader-already.html/blogger/czerdrill/

Indeed I saw a presentation from a guy who worked for a major phone hardware company recently about recent advances in 'locking down' hardware. They are getting better and closing more loopholes with every generation. 2048-bit encryption, complete trust chains, burying sensitive traces, chip-swapping detection and on and on. Even digging right into the hardware it is getting harder and harder to find weaknesses if the manufacturer is determined to lock something down.
If you look at older phones like Droid X and Milestone that still haven't cracked there is almost no chance the Atrix has a weakness unless someone majorly goofed or there is a leak.

Well there is one 4th option that I think that what devs are trying to do and, IMO, is the real meaning of cracking: Finding a security hole and exploit it.
But as haloimplant already mentioned that's highly unlike to happen...

Unfortunately nothing said was news to me. I gave up a long time ago when my Milestone never got cracked.
Mods still make the phone fun, but it's night and day different of what you can do with say a Galaxy S...

Until applications stop supporting Froyo/Gingerbread/ICS/whatever the final update Motorola pushes is, I dont see the need for a custom kernel. Stuff like 2init that allow everything but the kernel to change would be enough for almost everything you'd want to do. As long as Motorola pushes semi-recent kernels, we should be ok.

From what I've read, in the bootloader bounty topic, we have something close to release.
Bootloader might not ever get cracked completely, but there are certainly ways around it. Look at the iPhone, they can modify it with various levels of exploits. (iBoot, ramdisk, userland) and they don't have it cracked completely.
Also, number 3 on that list could be pure speculation, or it could be complete truth. There could be hundreds of people that know it, or just 1.

PixoNova said:
From what I've read, in the bootloader bounty topic, we have something close to release.
Bootloader might not ever get cracked completely, but there are certainly ways around it. Look at the iPhone, they can modify it with various levels of exploits. (iBoot, ramdisk, userland) and they don't have it cracked completely.
Also, number 3 on that list could be pure speculation, or it could be complete truth. There could be hundreds of people that know it, or just 1.
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+1. Us Atrix users obviously don't have the userbase that iDevices have, but we have the *new* nVidia chipset, there are bound to be holes. Some talented dev needs to find it. But we have like 1/20 the users that iDevices have. And like 1/1000 of those are devs. But coming as a jailbreak dev on the iPhone. Im gonna take a plunge and see myself.
Sent from my screaming Atrix *4G* using the XDA App

Jotokun said:
Until applications stop supporting Froyo/Gingerbread/ICS/whatever the final update Motorola pushes is, I dont see the need for a custom kernel. Stuff like 2init that allow everything but the kernel to change would be enough for almost everything you'd want to do. As long as Motorola pushes semi-recent kernels, we should be ok.
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Click to collapse
Motorola will have an "Official Gingerbread" out this year. Will they have an "Official ICS"? Highly doubtful
There will be partial ICS available through mods, but why play the waiting game when the update is available and easy to flash? Most of the waiting is for sales/marketing purposes anyway.
^ Look at the HTC Desire, Froyo was available to be installed early last summer. One major carrier didn't release it till Halloween. Guess what, the "Official version" was the exact same as the leaked version (I used both to compare). Then there's the T-mobile Galaxy S "Froyo incident" (which everyone knows that story by now). Verizon Fascinate, (the list goes on and on).
The average Joe will sit around and wait for an OTA, but the average XDA user knows better.
That's why any exploits found on the Bootloader will still better than nothing...

PixoNova said:
From what I've read, in the bootloader bounty topic, we have something close to release.
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Click to collapse
Seriously? Will it allow us to finally get rid of blur via another Rom?

Goodbye Moto, you suck & I hope we never meet again

I took delivery of my UK Xoom 3G on 2 May 2011 and fell in love with it. I knew it had bugs but I still loved it because love is blind.
I knew updates would come....I had a Google Experience Device so I just knew I wouldn't be left with a crippled device, so I kept on loving it.
Then 3.1 was released in the US. EXCELLENT I thought, in a couple of weeks we in the UK would also be shown some love by the mighty Motorola. It never came.
Other devices came late to the party and were given these mysterious software updates, my friends mocked me and my wife pleaded with me to get an iPad which would show me the same amount of love as I would give it, but I kept faith...I loved my Xoom you see.
Its now June 19th and Motorola have abandoned me, they refuse to talk to me and refuse to love me back, my poor beautifully built Xoom sits there happily force closing at every opportunity and I sit here pondering how my investment so full of promise has become a mere missed opportunity. How sad....Some relationships aren't meant to be and I for one will now be looking for a divorce. Bye Moto, I hope you can live with yourself
Sent from my Motorola Xoom 3G (now on Ebay)

I have a bit the same feelings like you...! I like my xoom really, but it piss me off that the NEW update policy of google only works in US well! Thats unfair, and this is one point why i would go to apple! Yes i have a lot of rules and things what i CANT do but i get allways software updates, for the next 2years / generations. And everyone gets the updates at the same time...!
And to Moto, Motorola should push google to deliver more update or make it like samsung to update apps over the market!!
For me at the moment, it was my first Moto device and the last one, maybee the last android...

I hoped you signed the petition floating around in here!!

Hay can you send it too me I would love to have a second Xoom. I see your selling it, oh well. Sounded like you should throw it in the garbage as bad as it is.
Edit:
My device works perfect I rarely if ever get FCs. My ***** is LTE. I understand that I am one of the very, very few whos device works perfectly. I don't know maybe its the user.

zone23 said:
Hay can you send it too me I would love to have a second Xoom. I see your selling it, oh well. Sounded like you should throw it in the garbage as bad as it is.
Edit:
My device works perfect I rarely if ever get FCs. My ***** is LTE. I understand that I am one of the very, very few whos device works perfectly. I don't know maybe its the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're also in the US. Where we got the 3.1 update. So ours is working better than theirs.

csseale said:
I hoped you signed the petition floating around in here!!
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Click to collapse
I have indeed signed the petition (74th signature) on there. Lets hope it makes a difference although I fear it won't

zone23 said:
Hay can you send it too me I would love to have a second Xoom. I see your selling it, oh well. Sounded like you should throw it in the garbage as bad as it is.
Edit:
My device works perfect I rarely if ever get FCs. My ***** is LTE. I understand that I am one of the very, very few whos device works perfectly. I don't know maybe its the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes mate spot on its me the user who is at fault, I also take responsibility for the unfinished OS Google allowed to be released and the lack of any updates outside of the US ruining my experience with this device! All my fault

andyiacovou said:
I have indeed signed the petition (74th signature) on there. Lets hope it makes a difference although I fear it won't
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But at least they SEE

andyiacovou said:
Yes mate spot on its me the user who is at fault, I also take responsibility for the unfinished OS Google allowed to be released and the lack of any updates outside of the US ruining my experience with this device! All my fault
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew you were going to take it that way because that's how people think. I was referring to me overclocking, unlocking and rooting. Having a device that I can play with and not one locked down. Thats what I mean by the user.
Let me ask you this:
Do you have an Android phone?

Let me also add this:
If you would have said that you were going to a Transformer or a HTC View then I would have thought it was the device. Instead you said a iPad which means its the operating system and using the device that you don't like. Maybe your Xoom is defective. Did you try getting it replaced?

zone23 said:
I knew you were going to take it that way because that's how people think. I was referring to me overclocking, unlocking and rooting. Having a device that I can play with and not one locked down. Thats what I mean by the user.
Let me ask you this:
Do you have an Android phone?
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Click to collapse
Yes I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 and its amazing. I also had a Dell Streak 5 and a Galaxy Tab (original) so am very used to the Android OS. I did not say I was getting an Ipad, I said my missus wants me to get one because she feels its the best available 10" finished tablet solution at the moment....
I have considered the Asus Transformer but I need 3G and a 3G version is not available yet. The Galaxy 10.1 is also not yet available in the UK. I do not feel confident rooting and installing custom ROM's and to be honest I shouldn't have to go down this route to get a working product, especially one which cost me £580

andyiacovou said:
Yes I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 and its amazing. I also had a Dell Streak 5 and a Galaxy Tab (original) so am very used to the Android OS. I did not say I was getting an Ipad, I said my missus wants me to get one because she feels its the best available 10" finished tablet solution at the moment....
I have considered the Asus Transformer but I need 3G and a 3G version is not available yet. The Galaxy 10.1 is also not yet available in the UK. I do not feel confident rooting and installing custom ROM's and to be honest I shouldn't have to go down this route to get a working product, especially one which cost me £580
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya it sucks that other country versions of the Xoom suck so bad that is lame. We don't do apple in our house as a matter of fact we don't even speak of it. Also I did not root to fix problems I root so I can overclock and backup my device. So basically you bring that baby home turn it on and its FC city, wow.

If you like your Xoom so much why havent you done what lots of others have done, Root it and Load the US Version, I have to say though its still not perfect.. There are no good Office apps out there so its far from being capable of being used for business. Facebook App force closes quite regularly, the mail app looks a bit mickey mouse and basic. What I wouldnt give for Thunderbird and Open Office on it!!!..

Non-US Xoom is not Google Experience device, thats what I read in many Xoom forum posts. So, thats why you dont get update directly from Google. I read from Moto forums that it will be updated in couple of months.
Granted, thats not good enough. Couple of months is way too long.

gogol said:
Non-US Xoom is not Google Experience device, thats what I read in many Xoom forum posts. So, thats why you dont get update directly from Google. I read from Moto forums that it will be updated in couple of months.
Granted, thats not good enough. Couple of months is way too long.
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Click to collapse
If i'd known on the 2nd May that it's wasn't a GED and updates would be this slow, I probably wouldn't have purchased it. I don't think anyone knew at that point!
People keep telling me to root and flash US ROM, but as well as losing my 3g and voiding my warranty, I'm not sure I want to risk it and why should I?
Sent from my Xoom 3G

I'd be tempted to mention your dissatisfaction on the Motorola Facebook page too. Perhaps a little naming and shaming will push them a little harder, other than that, it may give other prospective European customers a little insight into the current support situation?
http://www.facebook.com/motorolaeurope

hey you guys I just popped in here from the transformer forum, I would think that google is not at fault with OTA updates only the state of 3.1 at the moment. my transformer was on 3.0 when it arrived on the first of June, and an update was available straight away. Ordered in the UK and shipped to spain. Same with my desire HD quickly updated to gingerbread. Its a Moto Thing.
Just glad Asus have gone down the same route as HTC, Great design and features just need the bugs in honeycomb ironing out now.

Just done mine this afternoon. Now on 3.1 with SD card support and 3G. Like you say though, shame I had to void my warranty in order to get a working device....

It really is a shame that moto has gone down this route of misleading its customers. I have owned a few android devices over the past 2 years from different manufacturers ; however the Xoom is my first device from moto and will most definitely be the last one from them.
The only reason that the US Xoom has gotten the 3.1 update (which isn't perfect, but addresses many of the 3.0 glitches) is because its backed by Google (GED)
Many many people outside the US have bought the Xoom fully expecting it to be a GED and rightfully so. Seems that once moto got their money the relationship was promptly ended.
I'm not sure if this applies to you, but over here, the Xoom does NOT come with the Google logo on the back.. this seems to be the indicator as to whether or not its a GE.

mickgeorge said:
Just done mine this afternoon. Now on 3.1 with SD card support and 3G. Like you say though, shame I had to void my warranty in order to get a working device....
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Click to collapse
What I really need is a simple step by step guide to rooting, flashing the US ROM and get my 3g working. Sounds a lot to ask but if anyone can help I would be really grateful and might convince me to keep it.
I've looked at some of the threads in the development section but they are a little complicated to follow
Sent from my Xoom 3G