Related
Hi guys,
I am sure you all know about geohot (http://iphonejtag.blogspot.com/)
I am sure we there was a reliable/safe way to go back to S=ON and a locked bootloader state + warranty, the modding community and thus, the Android community indirectly, would expand like never before. That's one of the reasons behind the huge ass success of the iPhone jailbreak community. Infact, we have got it relatively easy when we compare it to the amount of work it takes them (with every iPhone OS release) to defeat's Apple protection and 'JB' the devise. Since all it takes is a restore to stock F/W to erase all signs of any 'software' jailbreak, they do not loose 'hardware' warranty by just running a custom program on the phone.
I have contacted George over email and requested him to look at the problem we are facing. He has agreed to look into it if we can give him a Nexus One. I mean, a collective $530 is a very small price to pay when it comes to restoring hardware warranty to a army of phones which were only rooted to install more capable programs
What do you guys think? Should we collect donations and send a phone over to George Hotz? There is no guarantee that we will get a solution... but if anyone can approach it from a hardware perspective... it is him.
Do let me know your thoughts... (and please don't mind the various grammatical mistakes... I just woke up and saw Geohot's email... hence posted this asap.)
Regards,
KiD0M4N
I dont think this is a good idea. Geohot is a great iphone dev but he has no experience whatsoever on android or HTC bootloaders. There are much better devs for this type of work.
melterx12 said:
I dont think this is a good idea. Geohot is a great iphone dev but he has no experience whatsoever on android or HTC bootloaders. There are much better devs for this type of work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Just give it some time bro. I bet you someone will find a way. If there is an option to unlock your bootloader through a ui, i dont think it will be THAT hard to manipulate that to relock your bootloader. I mean, there are devs like NCommander that have tackled much harder projects such as reverse engineering the eclair camera drivers for the G1/MT3G.
melterx12 said:
I dont think this is a good idea. Geohot is a great iphone dev but he has no experience whatsoever on android or HTC bootloaders. There are much better devs for this type of work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that guy is also responsible for the virgin iPhone unlock(from OS 1.0 days.) But care to suggest some other names?
nephron said:
+1
Just give it some time bro. I bet you someone will find a way. If there is an option to unlock your bootloader through a ui, i dont think it will be THAT hard to manipulate that to relock your bootloader. I mean, there are devs like NCommander that have tackled much harder projects such as reverse engineering the eclair camera drivers for the G1/MT3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am all for giving it time, we need to do something to get the attention of them brainies.
Its kinda sad though... HTC did a wonderful job making it easy to root the devise, but them fugged it all up by a all or nothing warranty statement. It would be fine if they would apply it for obvious mis use cases, but such a blanket statement only hurts the community.
And honestly speaking, it it wasn't for the XDA community, i would not have even thought of getting the Nexus One.
i think if geohot gets an android device he would probably be able to help us re-lock the boot loader, and maybe even more things we did not know about android.
we are a week into the life of the nexus one and you already want to pay for outside help?
give it time... we had the thing rooted before it even came out for christ sakes...
I am going to begin a bounty to all of our devs of $100 to whomever can get a working unlocked bootloader for the Verizon 4GLTE P605V Samsung Galaxy 10.1 2014 edition. It's complete nonsense that going as far back as far as April (the first post I found searching for this) that there isn't a solution.... If you own this tablet variant as well, please jump on board.
Most devs for the 10.1 2014 have moved to the pro version. So this may be really hard to get. if you look at the unlocked versions there is little to no support for them right now as well.
Sent from my T-Mobile HTC One M8
All the Verizon/Samsung locked bootloaders have been unlockable to date as well as the AT&T varieties. Check the S4, Note 3 and S5 threads.
KennyG123 said:
All the Verizon/Samsung locked bootloaders have been unlockable to date as well as the AT&T varieties. Check the S4, Note 3 and S5 threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't really care about the S4, my Note 3 is already unlocked, and could care less about the S5 as well. What I AM concerned with is getting my 10.1 2014 Verizon edition unlocked so I can actually get TWRP on it an put on custom ROM's. For a forum filled with lots of experts and geniuses, no one seems to want to take any time or make any effort. I am literally begging! Using any version of Odin has failed trying to get TWRP on my tablet. All the ROMs I have looked at say to install that as a prerequisite. So what is a guy to do? Should I just put a round from my .45 through it and call it a day? I am outside the 14 day return window now with Verizon, so unless someone can give me a clue as to what I am doing wrong, then I am royally screwed..........
Don_Pachuco said:
I don't really care about the S4, my Note 3 is already unlocked, and could care less about the S5 as well. What I AM concerned with is getting my 10.1 2014 Verizon edition unlocked so I can actually get TWRP on it an put on custom ROM's. For a forum filled with lots of experts and geniuses, no one seems to want to take any time or make any effort. I am literally begging! Using any version of Odin has failed trying to get TWRP on my tablet. All the ROMs I have looked at say to install that as a prerequisite. So what is a guy to do? Should I just put a round from my .45 through it and call it a day? I am outside the 14 day return window now with Verizon, so unless someone can give me a clue as to what I am doing wrong, then I am royally screwed..........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are missing the point. Bootloaders are not a simple security hack. They are the proprietary coding that allows the device to boot. There is NO decompiling, sorting through code, figuring out the lock and then unlocking it. There needs to be an exploit to get in and change it. Which means there is a 99% chance the wrong exploit attempt will brick the device...an not the "brick" all these people talk about mistakenly on this site...a REAL brick...dead paperweight. Think that it is an issue with this sites "geniuses" not wanting to do it? Maybe you would understand better if you blindfolded yourself and tried to assemble a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle....only you get an electric shock with every wrong piece you play.
I mentioned the other devices not to see if you "care"...it is to let you know the same method is employed to lock those as your tablet and they are just as popular with the "geniuses" that genuinely want to unlock the bootloader. AND have large bounties on them.
As to what are you supposed to do? Research next time. Buy products from a carrier that does not lock down their devices or buy a device that is not a commercial push to the military and corporate so that Verizon wants it locked down tight for more sales and contracts. Or continue to hold your breath throwing this tantrum you seem to be doing. Or...I don't know...use the tablet as it was designed to be used when sold and seems to work fine for the millions of customers who know nothing of XDA or rooting.
KennyG123 said:
You are missing the point. Bootloaders are not a simple security hack. They are the proprietary coding that allows the device to boot. There is NO decompiling, sorting through code, figuring out the lock and then unlocking it. There needs to be an exploit to get in and change it. Which means there is a 99% chance the wrong exploit attempt will brick the device...an not the "brick" all these people talk about mistakenly on this site...a REAL brick...dead paperweight. Think that it is an issue with this sites "geniuses" not wanting to do it? Maybe you would understand better if you blindfolded yourself and tried to assemble a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle....only you get an electric shock with every wrong piece you play.
I mentioned the other devices not to see if you "care"...it is to let you know the same method is employed to lock those as your tablet and they are just as popular with the "geniuses" that genuinely want to unlock the bootloader. AND have large bounties on them.
As to what are you supposed to do? Research next time. Buy products from a carrier that does not lock down their devices or buy a device that is not a commercial push to the military and corporate so that Verizon wants it locked down tight for more sales and contracts. Or continue to hold your breath throwing this tantrum you seem to be doing. Or...I don't know...use the tablet as it was designed to be used when sold and seems to work fine for the millions of customers who know nothing of XDA or rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would have to say that in reading text, it is generally hard to understand the tone of the text. While I wasn't throwing a tantrum, the tone of your reply is pretty unmistakable. When someone comes here genuinely looking for help and assistance with a device, is it a general practice to publicly belittle and berate them? As to my bounty, I started off low to see if others would jump on board or not. As to my carrier, I have been with Verizon from day one, get a rather large corporate discount from them on devices and accessories, and have 6 lines through them, so why just to get this tablet to do what I want it to, would I change carriers? Every device that I have had in the 'smart'phone era has been Verizon, and someone has found a way to unlock them. So I apologize if I came of looking like a prick, as that was not at all my intention. I would gladly personally pay up to $100.00 if someone could help. It is very frustrating to only be able to do half of what I want to achieve with my tablet. I'm as far as I personally can go on it. If anyone was offended by my wording, again, I am sorry for that. BTW, I changed the avatar that was only taken offense to after my post. Have a happy Sunday Funday! I know I will as I am already on bloody Mary number 4 here.
Don_Pachuco said:
I would have to say that in reading text, it is generally hard to understand the tone of the text. While I wasnt throwing a tantrum, the tone of your reply is pretty unmistakable. When someone comes here genuinely looking for help and assistance with a device, is it a general practice to publicly belittle and berate them? As to my bounty, I started off low to see if others would jump on board or not. As to my carrier, I have been with Verizon from day one, get a rather large corporate discount from them on devices and accessories, and have 6 lines through them, so why just to get this tablet to do what I want it to, would I change carriers? Every device that I have had in the smartphone era has been Verizon, and someone has found a way to unlock them. So I apologize if I came of looking like a prick, as that was not at all my intention. I would gladly personally pay up to $100.00 if someone could help. It is very frustrating to only be able to do half of what I want to achieve with my tablet. Im as far as I personally can go on it. If anyone was offended by my wording, again, I am sorry for that. BTW, I changed the avatar that was only taken offense to after my post. Have a happy Sunday Funday! I know I will as I am already on bloody Mary number 4 here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phrase that asks if you should put a bullet into your tablet certainly sounded like a bit of a tantrum. Sorry if I somehow misconstrued that. Then also sounding like you were belittling XDA developers because they did not unlock the bootloader yet.. Sounded a bit entitled. There are devices years old that have never been unlocked. I have done my best to explain why there should never be a time limit or expectations of the bootloader ever being unlocked yet you also shot that down as selfishly exclaiming you did not care about those examples and were only concerned about what matters to you. Did I leave anything out? Sorry if I somehow misinterpreted any of that. Sounds like you need to start making a decision as to what is more important to you, your corporate discount or an unlocked bootloader. Have your bounty but I already explained older Verizon devices with the same locked bootloaders has stumped the security geniuses so far.
$100
$100.00
$150.00?
The devs were never really all that involved with this tablet. It is highly unlikely they will unlock the Verizon version unless they figure out the other Samsung products. Even if they would unlock the tablet you my not get any devs that are willing to port their Roms over to the Verizon version.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
Ok, I give up
Don_Pachuco said:
Ok, I give up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Say my friend..don't give up There are to many smart people at this forum... (and other forums) Trust me just have to be patient lol.. I am in the same boat some one will figure this out..
OK, I have a SM-P605v with a broken LCD (not the screen itself, but the display is discolored and not displaying correctly). It was previously Rooted and I have gotten screen emulators working when hooked up to my laptop. I would be willing to donate this to any Dev willing to work on the exploit. If there is a risk of bricking the device, then rest assured it's no biggie since the screen is bad on it. Please PM me if you are interested.
It's been a while now, anyone figure it out yet?....................................................
Has anyone tried the unlock script for the note 3 and note 4?
Here is the link to note 3.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...l/official-note-3-verizon-bootloader-t3359370
I just got a SM-P605 that is unlocked. Once I figure out where the kernal came from perhaps I can be of help here. I really want to get this thing rooted and connected with my carrier. I had had a SM-P600, but it was smashed and could not be repaired. That's why I bought this tablet. Otherwise this P605 is totally stock and runs like a very well behaved powerhouse should.
Rob
i looked at this page it says u need root to use this .
Nappyloxs said:
Has anyone tried the unlock script for the note 3 and note 4?
Here is the link to note 3.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...l/official-note-3-verizon-bootloader-t3359370
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but dont you need a unlocked bootloader to get root ?
No you don't need unlocked bootloader to root. I think I used towel root years ago to root this tablet.
Link200 said:
The devs were never really all that involved with this tablet. It is highly unlikely they will unlock the Verizon version unless they figure out the other Samsung products. Even if they would unlock the tablet you my not get any devs that are willing to port their Roms over to the Verizon version.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know I really loved my SM-P600, but it was badly damaged and I don't know how or where to order in the left speaker, on/off switch from. So got really frustrated advanced ordered an SM-P605v instead and was able to get one that has an unlocked boatloader. I've not rooted it yet, or mounted TWRP on it. I may not root it though I'd like to. Even so, I'm looking into it and while, though I'm extremely happy with it,I may eventually root it.
I've explored a lot of options so far and none of them, so far, work for an SM-P605v running Android 5.1.1.
I'll get back with you about a week from now.
By the way, this tablet, and the SGN Pro are still much more powerful and capable than the Surface Pro or IPad Pro. This, even though they are getting a little older.
By the way,I spoke to a friend of mine who owns the large IPad Pro today. Apple hasn't optimised the Home screen yet, even after all these months. You'd think they'd have done better by their consumer base by now.
Even so, I'm so pleased with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1(2014), both with the SM-P600, and the SM-P605. Unless Samsung releases a Tab A that has an S Pen and 32 gigs memory, or releases a substantial upgrade to the SM-P600,SM-P605, and SM-P607, or puts out a new SGN in the series with 64 our 128gigs internal, I'm not open to trading my tablet in. It'll be over my cold, dead body.
This whole thing just died from no interest other than from me, huh?
I'm sure many of you are more knowledgeable about this than I am. I recently upgraded to a S7E from a note 4. I was pretty bummed out learning afterwards that the S7E from Tmobile has a locked bootloader thus no root (twrp, roms, etc)
So is this just the future reality for all new upcoming carrier locked devices from Samsung? I usually get my devices from my carrier to finance them on my bill. So I doubt I'd be a buyer for any international (exynos) versions of future devices from Samsung.
I had read that the note 7 from usa carriers were fully root able? But I never had one, so I don't know for sure.
So I guess my question is, do you folks who are "in the know" about this more so than I am, think locked bootloader (ie: no root) is the future of Samsung devices now?
I have to be honest, if that's the case - I'll be forced to look at alternative devices that will be fully root able. Experimenting with roms, tweaks, etc... That's part of what attracts me to Android devices over the fruity competition. So bottom line for me anyway, if the Galaxy S8 and/or Note 8 will have locked bootloaders and no root and development for those future devices, I'll have to consider alternative devices.
I ask the question because I'm sure there are people here who better understand the industry better than I do.
Thanks for you time in reading my insanely long and complicated post. I look forward to reading your replies and speculation to what the future of Samsung devices hold for us.
Many thanks!
Sent from my SM-G935T
Araltd said:
I'm sure many of you are more knowledgeable about this than I am. I recently upgraded to a S7E from a note 4. I was pretty bummed out learning afterwards that the S7E from Tmobile has a locked bootloader thus no root (twrp, roms, etc)
So is this just the future reality for all new upcoming carrier locked devices from Samsung? I usually get my devices from my carrier to finance them on my bill. So I doubt I'd be a buyer for any international (exynos) versions of future devices from Samsung.
I had read that the note 7 from usa carriers were fully root able? But I never had one, so I don't know for sure.
So I guess my question is, do you folks who are "in the know" about this more so than I am, think locked bootloader (ie: no root) is the future of Samsung devices now?
I have to be honest, if that's the case - I'll be forced to look at alternative devices that will be fully root able. Experimenting with roms, tweaks, etc... That's part of what attracts me to Android devices over the fruity competition. So bottom line for me anyway, if the Galaxy S8 and/or Note 8 will have locked bootloaders and no root and development for those future devices, I'll have to consider alternative devices.
I ask the question because I'm sure there are people here who better understand the industry better than I do.
Thanks for you time in reading my insanely long and complicated post. I look forward to reading your replies and speculation to what the future of Samsung devices hold for us.
Many thanks!
Sent from my SM-G935T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Yep
Carrier bought is bootloader locked
The way of the future
Sent from my SM-G935U using XDA Premium HD app
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Phones have had locked bootloaders for a while. They may used to be able to be hacked. Not sure to security improvements they have basically become unbreakable. This combined with many of the great XDA devs from the past taking jobs to help prevent hacking the phones had lead to the phones being completely locked down.
Unless some new talent steps up and figures out how to unlocked them and get around the signatures xda it's dying. For most users is just to much effort to get an international model or too much loss in cell service, because of LTE bands compatiblity.
The days of rooting phones and flashing custom software are going away. This is only further being pushed by the convenience of tap and pay and the fact that it will most likely never work on modified devices.
Buying international version for me at least, is not "easy" like simply getting from my carrier with monthly payments. Well if the bigger name brands like Samsung are going to have unbreakable locked bootloaders in the future released devices - that is really disappointing. I see development is strong on some of the smaller brands like OnePlus.... I guess it may be time to look at other devices. SAD DAY FOR ANDROID FANS IMHO.
I know that eventually one dev with have the time to root and possibly find a way to unlock the bootloader. I am starting this pot for the dev/s that can pull this off and maybe even get us some TWRP for ROMing.
I'll put down:
$25 for working root
$45 for a unlocked bootloader
And $100 for root, bootloader and TWRP
I do this for because I can't and to motive development.
good luck
Sent from my SM-N930F using XDA-Developers Legacy app
If no one has figured out how to unlock the S7 by now then this one isn't getting unlocked either.......
SBERG117 said:
If no one has figured out how to unlock the S7 by now then this one isn't getting unlocked either.......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not at all true. Sometimes ways are found.
billydroid said:
That's not at all true. Sometimes ways are found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There has been nothing to show that anyone is remotely close to unlocking the bootloader. Yes... anything is possible but this has been going on for a long while now. The devs that work on stuff here are uber talented, no doubt. It just doesn't look good at this point...
These bounties are pointless now-a-days. Samsung KNOX has a bug bounty program, they also work with Bug Crowd and HackerOne. Each of these programs offer some nice size payouts to people who find vulnerabilities in Samsung Products. Bootloader exploits would be a rather huge payout, because Samsung doesn't want people messing with the chance to make money on Samsung Pay. So IF there ever is a bootloader unlock discovered, pray said hacker does not go the way of the coin and still favors the open source community. Samsung is no ones fool, they'd gladly pay out a few $100,000 to some random dude in Russia than to loose out on secure devices that investors know has no current exploit for unlocking.
Or, I could be full of it, and we get our bootloaders unlocked tonight! While the porn star of our dreams gets cured of anything that AJAX can't get rid of, gives us the best night of our collective lives and.... the hot pocket we pull out of the microwave does not burn our mouths or have a frozen center. (here's hoping)
Love the positivity at the end but you are partially right. Money is what usually drives things now and maybe for developers as well seeing as this is a hobby more than a job, but I have seen some developers dedicated to this line of work (ie the M7SPR forums where they are on nougat on a 2013 device).
ShadowDXS said:
These bounties are pointless now-a-days. Samsung KNOX has a bug bounty program, they also work with Bug Crowd and HackerOne. Each of these programs offer some nice size payouts to people who find vulnerabilities in Samsung Products. Bootloader exploits would be a rather huge payout, because Samsung doesn't want people messing with the chance to make money on Samsung Pay. So IF there ever is a bootloader unlock discovered, pray said hacker does not go the way of the coin and still favors the open source community. Samsung is no ones fool, they'd gladly pay out a few $100,000 to some random dude in Russia than to loose out on secure devices that investors know has no current exploit for unlocking.
Or, I could be full of it, and we get our bootloaders unlocked tonight! While the porn star of our dreams gets cured of anything that AJAX can't get rid of, gives us the best night of our collective lives and.... the hot pocket we pull out of the microwave does not burn our mouths or have a frozen center. (here's hoping)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting info. Thanks.
I only got the S8+ because I got tired of LG being so behind on technology and innovation. LG has usually always been rootable.
Hopefully the Pixel 2 will be better than this S8+ and be carried on T-Mobile. Pretty sure the few last remaining devs with superior skills on XDA will focus on that device.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
billydroid said:
That's not at all true. Sometimes ways are found.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And sometimes not...
S7 is over a year old and hows that progressing for an unlock?
Security gets harder to work around each year..the days of things like safestrap and Loki are over
Sent from my Note 7, S7 Edge or S6
force70 said:
And sometimes not...
S7 is over a year old and hows that progressing for an unlock?
Security gets harder to work around each year..the days of things like safestrap and Loki are over
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a matter of demand. The iPhone gets jail broken every time. The exynos version don't have to deal with this and have root and unlocked bl. That causes the need to be diminished. It's software and it can be cracked. It's a matter of getting the attention of people with the extreme skills to do it. I'm sure jcase and company could do it. But it is alot if work and they don't need the headache, understandable. But maybe since this phone sales are way higher than the S7 we might get it this time around. Coupled with the fact that every update breaks the process , if there is one. Who wants to deal with that?
No software security is foolproof, it just isn't. That doesn't mean someone will find the way. But it certainly is possible
My prediction, having seen how things are since the days of gakaxy note 1, is that 1) there will be no unlocking of the bootloader 2) an engineering kernel will leak soon which will allow rooting (like it happened for s7).
With all the flexibility worked into these newer phones reasons for rooting have become much fewer. I rooted my s7 when the rootable kernel became available but the kernel was buggy and needed a lot of tweaking, and some of my apps didn't work well with the root so I reverted. Honestly the phone ran so smoothly on the stock rom that I never missed root.
thowersome said:
I know that eventually one dev with have the time to root and possibly find a way to unlock the bootloader. I am starting this pot for the dev/s that can pull this off and maybe even get us some TWRP for ROMing.
I'll put down:
$25 for working root
$45 for a unlocked bootloader
And $100 for root, bootloader and TWRP
I do this for because I can't and to motive development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why would you mirror what's already being done?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/bounty-thread-snapdragon-usa-variants-t3598271
hazmad said:
why would you mirror what's already being done?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/how-to/bounty-thread-snapdragon-usa-variants-t3598271
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the links but check your dates on when posts are made. This post was made 04/25/2017 and the linked post was made 04/29/2017. I don't care which post gets followed as long as someone can help the forum. Not trying to be an @$$ but always study sources before posting.
thowersome said:
Hey thanks for the links but check your dates on when posts are made. This post was made 04/25/2017 and the linked post was made 04/29/2017. I don't care which post gets followed as long as someone can help the forum. Not trying to be an @$$ but always study sources before posting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Post dates are like instruction manuals - I ignore them
These carrier sub-forums get little traffic. If you had posted this to the Main S8+ page, you would have been golden
I'm a sprint user and I'm torn between getting this and the HTC U11.
I'm concerned about the openness of the device and how supportive it is to a proprietary carrier like Sprint. I've read around but it's month old information so I just wanna make sure:
Is it true that due to the phone's poor sales, there are very little developers?
Being a sprint user, do I have to worry about my own firmware/OS/ROMs/whatever, or can I just flash something like Lineage or Slim and be completely fine across all variants?
As well, is the signal/gps/etc safe if I do a complete OS change like stock to Lineage?
There's a lot of information about stock firmware and open bootloader, there's articles saying that they're currently public but around here I see that they "have yet to be released". Does the lack of awareness have to do with lack of devs or am I missing something?
Sorry if it's questions asked a ton of times but I just want to make sure I have up to date information before I commit to anything, I'm unfortunately a little paranoid. I love the open source community, so I wanna make sure I can utilize it with a pure android experience in even a locked down carrier like sprint. Thanks for the help.
Fivavoa said:
I'm a sprint user and I'm torn between getting this and the HTC U11.
I'm concerned about the openness of the device and how supportive it is to a proprietary carrier like Sprint. I've read around but it's month old information so I just wanna make sure:
Is it true that due to the phone's poor sales, there are very little developers?
Being a sprint user, do I have to worry about my own firmware/OS/ROMs/whatever, or can I just flash something like Lineage or Slim and be completely fine across all variants?
As well, is the signal/gps/etc safe if I do a complete OS change like stock to Lineage?
There's a lot of information about stock firmware and open bootloader, there's articles saying that they're currently public but around here I see that they "have yet to be released". Does the lack of awareness have to do with lack of devs or am I missing something?
Sorry if it's questions asked a ton of times but I just want to make sure I have up to date information before I commit to anything, I'm unfortunately a little paranoid. I love the open source community, so I wanna make sure I can utilize it with a pure android experience in even a locked down carrier like sprint. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're a little late to the party. You just missed an awesome deal on the phone through Sprint. Today they changed the deal, however if you intend to remain a Sprint customer for the next 18 months, the deal can still be good for you.
Since nobody else has replied so far, and I've been living on XDA ever since I ordered my first Essential, I'll try to answer your questions (plus I don't have anything else to do right now).
"Supportive to a proprietary carrier like Sprint"? Not sure exactly what you mean, it works well on Sprint but it's not a Sprint-only device if/once it's unlocked.
I believe the lack of development is due to the phone being a new phone from an entirely new company combined with a relatively small following at this time. Plus the marketing isn't very good. I've been looking for a phone exactly like this for months and I hadn't heard about until a week ago when I was doing a Google search for new and interesting phones for the 15th time. Also, invisiblek is currently working on Lineage for the phone, and I hear he's really good at what he does.
Why would you have to worry about your own firmware/OS/ROM? My phone, on Sprint, already got two OTA updates. I hear the unlocked ones get updates faster. Once ROMs are available, they should work on Sprint and non-Sprint phones just the same. From what I've read, the hardware is all the same.
Signal/GPS/etc will depend on how good the ROM is, just like any other phone.
Also not sure what you mean about the experience you'll have with a locked down carrier like Sprint. My phone (from Sprint) has stock android with zero bloatware. Well, I take that back, it automatically downloaded one Sprint app when I got home, but I immediately deleted it and it let me. Sprint phones have an unlockable bootloader just like non-Sprint phones. I wouldn't have gotten a Sprint version otherwise. I don't see how anything from Sprint will stop you (and me) from having the same experience I've had on my Moto X2 Pure Edition, which was notorious for having a 99% stock Android experience and an unlockable bootloader out of the box. If anything, the Essential has an even more pure Android experience because my Moto had it's special Moto Actions and the apps that went with them. Though I REALLY wish the Essential had the Moto Actions... I'd be in heaven then.
Maybe I'm looking at it differently because every phone I've ever had has been open and unlocked for development and I don't know what it's like to not be able to root or flash a custom recovery and a new ROM. But If that's what you're worried about, dive in.
Thanks for responding, I'll try to elaborate further:
DrvLikHell said:
"Supportive to a proprietary carrier like Sprint"? Not sure exactly what you mean, it works well on Sprint but it's not a Sprint-only device if/once it's unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a family member who was with sprint for longer than I was, and when I went to look into the development of his phone, they usually separated development of every other phone and sprint's phone. Where the non-sprint alternative got a lot of development, the sprint version stayed pretty inactive. I'm just verifying that it's not the same with the Essential.
DrvLikHell said:
Why would you have to worry about your own firmware/OS/ROM? My phone, on Sprint, already got two OTA updates. I hear the unlocked ones get updates faster. Once ROMs are available, they should work on Sprint and non-Sprint phones just the same. From what I've read, the hardware is all the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's one aspect I was rather confused about, from the reason stated above and other examples I've ran into the past, some carriers lock down their devices and I didn't know if Sprint was the same. It's good to know if I "unlock" the device then I get similar treatment despite being on Sprint. I don't wanna feel left out because I chose a carrier that holds me back y'know?
DrvLikHell said:
Also not sure what you mean about the experience you'll have with a locked down carrier like Sprint. My phone (from Sprint) has stock android with zero bloatware. Well, I take that back, it automatically downloaded one Sprint app when I got home, but I immediately deleted it and it let me. Sprint phones have an unlockable bootloader just like non-Sprint phones. I wouldn't have gotten a Sprint version otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope I'm not starting to sound redundant but again, but I had a few bad experiences with other carriers who lock down their devices for everything even though it's rather open otherwise. I'm just making sure haha
Thanks for the info.
This phone is what most developers have been pushing for... good hardware, a progressive company and an unlocked bootloader! I would hope that the developers jump on this phone. If not we may never have the opportunity again. IMHO
Fivavoa said:
Thanks for responding, I'll try to elaborate further:
I have a family member who was with sprint for longer than I was, and when I went to look into the development of his phone, they usually separated development of every other phone and sprint's phone. Where the non-sprint alternative got a lot of development, the sprint version stayed pretty inactive. I'm just verifying that it's not the same with the Essential.
Yes that's one aspect I was rather confused about, from the reason stated above and other examples I've ran into the past, some carriers lock down their devices and I didn't know if Sprint was the same. It's good to know if I "unlock" the device then I get similar treatment despite being on Sprint. I don't wanna feel left out because I chose a carrier that holds me back y'know?
I hope I'm not starting to sound redundant but again, but I had a few bad experiences with other carriers who lock down their devices for everything even though it's rather open otherwise. I'm just making sure haha
Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I get where you're coming from now. Like when I was into the Samsung Galaxy S3. Each phone from ATT, TMO, VZW and Sprint had different configurations, different roms and different bootloaders. The VZW S3 bootloader is still not unlockable and is stuck at Android 4.4.2, while the TMO S3 has Android 7.1 via Lineage available for it.
In that respect, the Sprint version of the Essential will have the same developer support that the unlocked version will have. All the bootloaders are the same and are equally unlockable because all the phones are the same. If I remember right, there are a couple labels somewhere in the phone that differ, but that's all. There is just one phone to rule them all, and this is it.