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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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] will the droid 2 ever get gingerbread?

if yes so officially from motorola or by a rom?

It is my understanding that Gingerbread would require a change in kernal that can't be done due to it's locked bootloader. Though I could be wrong on that. As for a OTA update, I've read several lists that list the Droid 2 as a "possible" upgrade. In otherwords, it can happen, but I wouldnt hold my breath.

Yeah, Moto and Verizon have kept silent about what phones are getting upgrades. It would be nice if they would just put out a list, even if they don't give out dates.

I have been told by a VZW insider to not count on it. Note however this same source told me the Eris was dead, and just last week the Eris received an OTA update to fix things that needed to be fixed.
I only wished my Motorola insiders would tell me something, but they won't say a darn word, and they are friends, good friends.

I would imagine it's more of a decision of Moto than Verizon. I don't really see Verizon not releasing an upgrade for a phone that Motorola released. Thus I would pry more at the Moto guys than the Verizon guy, cause they'd likely just be guessing at what Moto will do.

In my personal opinion I really dnt think it matters if we get GB since we already have a lot of stuff better than the blur GB such as gummyjar, liberty! I mean if we do get it, were still going to bootstrap it and change the rom, well atleast I will lol
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

I'm almost positive we will get gingerbread. It would be pretty messed up for a high end device to never get one upgrade. Remember the D2 launched with froyo.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App

Very true.

I say if we don't get timely upgrades to keep our phones functional, we launch a class action lawsuit against Motorola.

Well the only thing about that is
A. Our phones are functional even without further updates
and
B. As far as I'm aware, there was nothing in the contracts we sign saying they HAVE to update our phones...
So from a legal standpoint, I doubt you could even get a class action lawsuit far.
(I realize you were probably joking, but this is true)

From what I've read, it looks like we could get Gingerbread on our own, because it doesn't require a new kernel.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA Premium App

OMG, why all wants new and new version of Android? GB totally suck, nothing new, only new graphic and ctrl+c and ctrl+v ... I don't like gingerbread almost. Its just only number, nothing more

Actually, I'm quite serious. If they hold us by contract to a single phone for two years, it is their responsibility to keep it updated with patches.
Rooted Droid 2 running Froyo 2.2 with the 2.3.20 update

Actually, unless it is something totally crippling, then once they've sold you the phone they don't have to anything. Because unless it is something crippling then there can be no argument made for usability, and as long as the phone is usable you would have no case.

-Gilgamesh- said:
Actually, unless it is something totally crippling, then once they've sold you the phone they don't have to anything. Because unless it is something crippling then there can be no argument made for usability, and as long as the phone is usable you would have no case.
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Exactly. They are not held by the contract you signed to update the android operating system AT ALL. Patches are one thing, as long as they are critical to the functionality of your phone. Seeing as how the current 2.3.20 is working fine with no major problems, they have no obligation to update android.

Google could require manufacturers to make any patches they put out available.
2.3.20 has problems, such as the phone sometime rebooting itself or not coming out of sleep mode when the power button is pressed. Those are issues that Motorola is supposed to address and fix. I paid for a working phone, not a problem.

silverfang77 said:
Google could require manufacturers to make any patches they put out available.
2.3.20 has problems, such as the phone sometime rebooting itself or not coming out of sleep mode when the power button is pressed. Those are issues that Motorola is supposed to address and fix. I paid for a working phone, not a problem.
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Click to collapse
I see your point. However, 2.3 isn't a patch, its a complete system upgrade. Besides, forcing phone makers to push out EVERY udpate google puts out would be very expensive for the makers, and deter them from making further android phones.
I do think Moto should fix problems like those with maintenance releases, but that still does not obligate them to update them to 2.3
Don't get me wrong, I would love to have 2.3 on my d2, but I'm not holding my breath.

Sorry to jump in but what about the security issues present in the phone? They put people in harms way by not attempting to patch phones.You could make a case that the the security issues were unknown at the time you signed the contract making it invalid. I understand your point but the security factor is why just saying the phone works its not acceptable..at this time there is nothing a person can do to patch these exploits and we have the text message bug that could ruin your life..Its an interesting situation that needs too be fixed.please correct me if I am missing something here.
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

I actually love how people keep bringing up the contract. You have your service with Verizon, whom is also who sold you the phone, thus your contact is with Verizon, not Moto. Thus, your contract has not thing one to do with Moto, thus they could care less what your contract says. And because Moto is the one responsible with issuing the updates, not Verizon, Your contract doesn't relate in any way to any type of updates.

If you want class action, it should be against Motorola for their eFuse malware. This is the real reason we have no gingerbread on our phones. Custom ROMs would already be here which would be good enough for everybody but the most incompetent non-techies too afraid to even root.
I'd also argue that Motorola is fraudulauntly branding these devices as android. Every other manufacturer that sells android devices does not cripple them. I even did a little bit of research before I purchased my device and saw nobody warning about this. I figured "hey, android is open source, these are the most popular devices, what could go wrong?"
Absurd.

Important post by P3droid (For GB users especially)

P3droid posted some information on the coming lockdown from Moto and Vzw. Please read this and decide where you want to go from there. I for one am SBF'ing right now.
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...rooting-manufacturers-carriers.html#post65013
Edit:
The gist of the post is that VZW and Moto are actively going after those of us running non-approved software and even root users. This is probably the cause of the Wifi tether issue.
Again, please read this folks!
Edit:
P3droid updated his post.

I have never been so scared thanks for informing!

yawdapaah said:
P3droid posted some information on the coming lockdown from Moto and Vzw. Please read this and decide where you want to go from there. I for one am SBF'ing right now.
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...rooting-manufacturers-carriers.html#post65013
Edit:
The gist of the post is that VZW and Moto are actively going after those of us running non-approved software and even root users. This is probably the cause of the Wifi tether issue.
Again, please read this folks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually if you know the background and read all of it he says its NOT JUST VZW and motorola as htc has been locking bootloaders and having signed images, thunderbolt, soon to be incredible S

Yeah I know I read the whole page and puked litterly. Not kidding.

Not buying any of it, they may try to make it harder but I highly doubt any of this will effect us long term.

For what its worth, Verizon has systems in place already to monitor those who do not pay for tethering (one way is to check the resolution). This doesn't really surprise me however...

With these policy changes and increasing rates the smartphone phone market is really going to slow down. The only reason it grew so quick was due to cheap devices and good data plans. The carriers are really shooting themselves in the foot and will take notice once these sales decline.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

I honestly don't even know how to respond to this. The platform I have supported and loved for some time now for its openness and freedom... is being restricted as we speak. I can't speak for everyone when saying this but, I root my phone just to customize it to my liking. If companies didn't junk up their phones with bloatware and just made the phones for their consumer, this will be solved. The only time i ever use wireless tethering is when i absolutely need to. My droid x (after being rooted and install a custom ROM) is completely capable of doing anything i would need to tether a laptop for. There are some very good points in this thread:
1. Unlimited data IS Unlimited data. Why charge more for tethering when you already pay for unlimited data.
2. You pay A LOT (unreasonable amount) of money for your phone.... IT'S YOURS!!! Why can't you do what you want with it. I understand the argument against this. "Wireless tethering steals data" NO IT DOESN'T. We pay a lot of money for unlimited data. It's required for smartphones on Verizon.
3. The warranty program. I understand there are people that don't know what they're doing when they flash new firmware, and brick their phones. I'm sure there is a simple solution for this. Just restrict those people from getting new phones under the warranty program. Don't punish everyone for customizing their phones to their liking... you know... the phones THEY PAID FOR.
I know there are thousands of people that feel the same as i do on this subject but i need to vent. The Droid X is an amazing phone... physically. If we could get stock Gingerbread on the phone, with no bloatware and motoblur, this phone would be blazing fast and i would have absolutely no need for rooting. As i said before, if the phone is capable of handling certain tasks, there is little to no reason (for me) to teather. I don't know who to be mad at. I used to think Google was amazing. I absolutely love everything they do (android, gmail, docs, chrome, the list goes on). I'm starting to change my mind. They're holding back on honeycomb so that we can't customize that, do we blame them? Motorola locks/encrypts their bootloaders, do we blame them? Verizon takes advantage of having the best service/signal and rapes their customers on the bill (and still wants more for tethering), do we blame them? Should I give in, and be unhappy with my phone as stock 2.2 froyo with tons of bloatware that ill never use and slows down my phone every day? Should i deal with the horribly coded motoblur that slows down my phone more than the bloatware? Maybe i should just go back to a standard style phone and use Boost mobile or something cheap and use use my droid x that I PAID FOR, off network as a multimedia device. That way, "the man" can't tell me what i can and can't do. What is everyone else thinking on this subject? I started to think this petition to motorola for the locked bootloader may actually make an impact. I'm begining to think now that we're making an impact in the wrong direction that we want.
Edit: On a (related) side note: As i was sbf'ing and flashing new firmware the other night, I had a lot of trouble activating my phone. I had to wait until the next morning to do so. I don't know if this has any relation or if verizon was just having technical difficulties.

yawdapaah said:
P3droid posted some information on the coming lockdown from Moto and Vzw. Please read this and decide where you want to go from there. I for one am SBF'ing right now.
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...rooting-manufacturers-carriers.html#post65013
Edit:
The gist of the post is that VZW and Moto are actively going after those of us running non-approved software and even root users. This is probably the cause of the Wifi tether issue.
Again, please read this folks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately this is not isolated to just VZW and Moto, this will pertain to all carriers and all device manufacturers.

sdicker89 said:
Edit: On a (related) side note: As i was sbf'ing and flashing new firmware the other night, I had a lot of trouble activating my phone. I had to wait until the next morning to do so. I don't know if this has any relation or if verizon was just having technical difficulties.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it was probably just the network ive sbf'd like 5 times the past few days and sometimes it doesnt want to cooperate this happen occasionally when i was factory resetting my droid eris back in the day also if it fails just skip it if u can and dial *22899 same thing just does it automatically instead of calling and having to choose it out of a list. this would never hold up in court because of the definition of unlimited. its so broad verizon wouldnt stand chance. its about like bottled water why the **** would you pay for it wen its free. i think its high time the community put their collective minds (and money) to come against verizon with a class action lawsuit. oh wait recently LOL was accepted into the oxford english dictionary i think next up is verizon trying to get the definition of unlimited changed to "what we think is appropriate". its like going to a buffet, you pay for all of it and as much as you want. then going up for ur 4th plate of dessert and getting told no sir the $5 doesnt include THAT much.

Funnyface19 said:
it was probably just the network ive sbf'd like 5 times the past few days and sometimes it doesnt want to cooperate this happen occasionally when i was factory resetting my droid eris back in the day also if it fails just skip it if u can and dial *22899 same thing just does it automatically instead of calling and having to choose it out of a list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to have that problem ALL the time with my droid eris. Never really happens with my droid X and i'm constantly sbf'ing and flashing roms, especially lately with the GB leak and drew garen roms for the GB leak.

Ok, after reading some of P3droid's twitter, im hoping this isn't just drunk talk. This better not be another hoax like the unlocked bootloader a little while back from someone else. Im really getting fed up with all this drama/rumor stuff going down.

Excellent point(s) sdicker89. I'm with you 100%. Besides, I really think this issue would have a lot more publicity if were completely true.
This is a pretty big issue and would have a huge impact on the whole market.
I think I remember a rumor a while back similiar to this. I think only time will tell tell...
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App

DroidzFX said:
With these policy changes and increasing rates the smartphone phone market is really going to slow down. The only reason it grew so quick was due to cheap devices and good data plans. The carriers are really shooting themselves in the foot and will take notice once these sales decline.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Playing devil's advocate here, but would it be so bad if the smartphone market shrank? I am just one of many people who believe the industry took a huge downturn one these phones became so cheap and plentiful.
Devices that were once reserved for the "tech crowd" are now in the hands of people who could barely use a Razr 3 years ago. Which brings us 180d back around to the warranty/tethering/rooting.
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Sent from my Gingerbread-powered Droid X using a full featured version of Tapatalk, better known as Forum Runner.

I honestly don't know what to make of this. There has been so much childish drama going on in the community as of late it's getting out of hand. Hopefully we aren't just getting ' trolled' like the unlocked bootloaders several weeks ago.
I've thought about it for a bit after reading this post and I can honestly say I don't want my smart phone without at the very least having root access. The phone is filled with tons of apps that I can't even remove? Honestly, don't add 20 bloatware apps if I can't remove them. I also really love SetCPU. Without that my battery life is ****.
Maybe if people in the community were literate enough to read 10 simple directions we wouldn't have this problem, but who knows. I'm still reluctant to believe all of s. If they, solidly, know who is rooted and who isn't what can they do? I'm not SBF'ing to stock. I paid for this phone and until they lock it down I'll do whatever I want with it.
Sent via Droid X

They can't dictate how we use our devices.
What if Dell, HP, Compaq, etc forbade its customers from uninstalling all the bloat that comes installed on OEM machines? Or worse, penalized the end user for uninstalling Windows, and installing Linux instead?
Lawsuit.
This is my phone, and as long as I make my payments every month I can do with it as I damn well please.
And as far as the data is concerned I pay for UNLIMITED data. Unless they are using a different dictionary than I am, unlimited means no cap. Not unlimited up to a certain amount.
There is documentation some where, forgive me not remembering where I read it, but when AT&T discontinued their unlimited data plan for new customers and gave them a 2GB cap each month, they admitted that only 2% of their customers EVER went over that.
So as a last resort Verizon, employ the same rules for your new customers to keep your data overages in check, but leave my phone alone.
But you know what, it will probably happen. They will indeed impose these restrictions and you know what we will do? ***** about it, and nothing else. We will share our discontent to each other on this forum and call Google, and VZW blood sucking bastards while sitting on our hands with our bottom lip stuck out, and go about our business.
If this happens its because we let it. Plain and simple.

Scottbg1 said:
They can't dictate how we use our devices.
What if Dell, HP, Compaq, etc forbade its customers from uninstalling all the bloat that comes installed on OEM machines? Or worse, penalized the end user for uninstalling Windows, and installing Linux instead?
Lawsuit.
This is my phone, and as long as I make my payments every month I can do with it as I damn well please.
And as far as the data is concerned I pay for UNLIMITED data. Unless they are using a different dictionary than I am, unlimited means no cap. Not unlimited up to a certain amount.
Right. But one thing is wondering how do we BLOCK VERIZON FROM KNOWING that we are happily rooted?
There is documentation some where, forgive me not remembering where I read it, but when AT&T discontinued their unlimited data plan for new customers and gave them a 2GB cap each month, they admitted that only 2% of their customers EVER went over that.
So as a last resort Verizon, employ the same rules for your new customers to keep your data overages in check, but leave my phone alone.
But you know what, it will probably happen. They will indeed impose these restrictions and you know what we will do? ***** about it, and nothing else. We will share our discontent to each other on this forum and call Google, and VZW blood sucking bastards while sitting on our hands with our bottom lip stuck out, and go about our business.
If this happens its because we let it. Plain and simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right. But one thing is wondering how do we BLOCK VERIZON FROM KNOWING that we are happily rooted?

If they mess with me I'll take my 3 phones all with unlimited data plans and move to sprint... Nexus s here I come lol.
Plain and simple this is my phone I'll do with it what I please I pay for insurance every month never returned a device except my moms droid iris because the track ball quit working right.
I am running rooted gb I don't tether and I plan to keep doing what I'm doing if they don't want my business that's a choice formthem to make unless I'm forced to make it for them.
My dad always says companies work for us we pay them.

DroidzFX said:
With these policy changes and increasing rates the smartphone phone market is really going to slow down. The only reason it grew so quick was due to cheap devices and good data plans. The carriers are really shooting themselves in the foot and will take notice once these sales decline.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pda sales are up 22% this year...
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Its really not that big of a deal... Sure 9 out of 10 phones are going to be locked down now.
However there will always be google experience devices like the Nexus line where its a requirement for them to be unlocked with no carrier intervention.
All thats going to happen is the general public will keep doing what their doing and all of us will end up with nexus phones
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[OFFICIAL OFF-TOPIC LOUNGE] Talk about (most) anything

Hi all you Verizon Note 4 owners,
I noticed there wasn't an off topic thread for you guys & gals to talk about non-Note 4 related things, so I've created this place to do just that. This will be the only place off-topic discussions are allowed.
Of course, not anything goes, stick to the rules and keep it civil. Report any questionable post(s) & don't let things get out of hand or it'll be closed.
Thanks & Enjoy!

So anyone read theres speculation that Lollipop isnt coming to the Note 4 till may. Im not too worried about it myself cause my DE is perfect, however my wife is disappointed (she has retail version) as some of her friends got it on their phones (S5, and some other brands) and she cant understand what's taking so long, after I explained things to her shes not convinced and feels lile we are being screwed. Ahh the joys life.

Matttrix said:
So anyone read theres speculation that Lollipop isnt coming to the Note 4 till may. Im not too worried about it myself cause my DE is perfect, however my wife is disappointed (she has retail version) as some of her friends got it on their phones (S5, and some other brands) and she cant understand what's taking so long, after I explained things to her shes not convinced and feels lile we are being screwed. Ahh the joys life.
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I'm in the same boat as you. I got the DE and wife got retail. She wants some lollipop. I told her she's out of luck and the only lollipop she'll be getting is from me lol

I love the android system but there is one game I miss the most from apple. Fantastic Contraption. If you never heard of it YouTube it. It is an amazing game. I am sure this is probably one of the dumbest question ever but can it be ported to android?
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Android_Fr3ak said:
I love the android system but there is one game I miss the most from apple. Fantastic Contraption. If you never heard of it YouTube it. It is an amazing game. I am sure this is probably one of the dumbest question ever but can it be ported to android?
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
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I miss one thing about apple, camera+ app. The best photo editing app in existence and the developer "tap tap tap" doesn't want to come to android. Just being an a$$.
Other than that apple is like a bad history for me. lol

I learned a shocking feature on iPhones the other day, if you go into the privacy settings there is a feature in there that tracks your address the time you spent there where you travel to everything you do in plain English and very easily accessible. Does android have a feature like that built in? I hope not lol not that I go any place bad it just seemed a little intrusive. I do know they have GPS and all that but that was really precise.
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droidxxxxx said:
I learned a shocking feature on iPhones the other day, if you go into the privacy settings there is a feature in there that tracks your address the time you spent there where you travel to everything you do in plain English and very easily accessible. Does android have a feature like that built in? I hope not lol not that I go any place bad it just seemed a little intrusive. I do know they have GPS and all that but that was really precise.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
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I don't know, but we do have a file in the system called "mobile tracker" that is, I think, used to track your phone just in case you lose it. Not sure, but I usually freeze/delete it with titanium back up. Also, if you're rooted, you can always install xprivacy module that prevents anything you suspect.

What's the longest you guys ever went without rooting your devices? I would say a month, I've just gotten my first Android phone (ZTE Warp) and the bootloader wasn't unlocked yet, I checked the forums every day until I seen the almighty *HOW TO ROOT ZTE WARP* boy was I excited. Ever since then I've never owned a android if I couldn't root it but this might be my first time, I'm looking to purchase the note 4 this April or May I only have the option of getting the att&t or Verizon variant (just my luck, lol) most likely I'll chose which ever gets rooted first. I'm sure by either April or May it should be rooted.

MartyMar_XVII said:
What's the longest you guys ever went without rooting your devices? I would say a month, I've just gotten my first Android phone (ZTE Warp) and the bootloader wasn't unlocked yet, I checked the forums every day until I seen the almighty *HOW TO ROOT ZTE WARP* boy was I excited. Ever since then I've never owned a android if I couldn't root it but this might be my first time, I'm looking to purchase the note 4 this April or May I only have the option of getting the att&t or Verizon variant (just my luck, lol) most likely I'll chose which ever gets rooted first. I'm sure by either April or May it should be rooted.
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I had my Verizon HTC One M7 for a couple months before it was rooted, and even then you had to send your phone away and pay $25. I think a month or two after that beaups and someone else came up with a method that worked pretty well on linux and that was it. Then I had the M8 for a couple of months until there was a way but it also cost $25 and ran directly on the phone. I'm not so much concerned about root, really. I just want ****ing lollipop.

Hey everyone. Trafalger888. Used to be an RC but haven't been around for a couple years. Life happened. Just getting back into everything. Lits of catching up to do. Just wanted to make a quick introduction.

murderdock said:
I had my Verizon HTC One M7 for a couple months before it was rooted, and even then you had to send your phone away and pay $25. I think a month or two after that beaups and someone else came up with a method that worked pretty well on linux and that was it. Then I had the M8 for a couple of months until there was a way but it also cost $25 and ran directly on the phone. I'm not so much concerned about root, really. I just want ****ing lollipop.
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U gotta be [email protected]$!n me! You had to send your phone away? Lol
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You know I wasn't so bothered at first by the lack of lollipop, in my past I was changing roms several times a week or day to get things going however thats changed now since I got my DE. What bothers me now now about the delay and the S6 and other things do I want to stay with Samsung anymore after this breaks or I want a new phone. Is it really time to say that Samsung is just isnt what it could should be?

Matttrix said:
You know I wasn't so bothered at first by the lack of lollipop, in my past I was changing roms several times a week or day to get things going however thats changed now since I got my DE. What bothers me now now about the delay and the S6 and other things do I want to stay with Samsung anymore after this breaks or I want a new phone. Is it really time to say that Samsung is just isnt what it could should be?
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I don't know. I have always enjoyed their product. But the delays can be frustrating. I agree. This is the one thing lacking for me. Yet I still continue to purchase their phones, because in the end they still do make the best phone. Just my opinion of course.

My wife has a retail note 4 and while she doesn't understand all the issues tied with lollipop right now she feels dumped. I dont see the big deal myself as im happy the way my phone is however for roms things have been VERY slow going... but then again im not really sure what other roms are going to bring that I cant do myself. Which I think most of us DE owners can do. I think if root was found and oprn bootloader things might be alot different but whats bothering me is Samsung's direction right now. If this is signs of the Note 5 and 6 etc. I just might go elsewhere. Some videos were released today showing the note 4 against the S6 and only slight speed differences in actual use and even camera loading. So over all for now Im happy to have a removable battery and SD card and a unlocked bootloader.

I can imagine how overloaded this section will be the minute root has been achieved, 404 errors and everything, lol. Anyway being that this is a off topic thread, I would like to say that the snow here in NY is annoying -__- .

How about the release of Sprints SM-N910P Lolipop.. Two questions who wants to see what they can do with it and see what works (of course it will lack advanced calling version X. Then comes the question will this influence Verizon to release it.

Matttrix said:
My wife has a retail note 4 and while she doesn't understand all the issues tied with lollipop right now she feels dumped. I dont see the big deal myself as im happy the way my phone is however for roms things have been VERY slow going... but then again im not really sure what other roms are going to bring that I cant do myself. Which I think most of us DE owners can do. I think if root was found and oprn bootloader things might be alot different but whats bothering me is Samsung's direction right now. If this is signs of the Note 5 and 6 etc. I just might go elsewhere. Some videos were released today showing the note 4 against the S6 and only slight speed differences in actual use and even camera loading. So over all for now Im happy to have a removable battery and SD card and a unlocked bootloader.
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And yes root and an open bootloader would be nice. Look what happened with the S3 though. But I truly feel that the release and things like the locked bootloaders are not so much the manufacturer but the carrier. I may be wrong but I beleieve that pressure from the carrier is the main reason they do this.

What are the chances of me swapping a one month old Note 4 for a Nexus 6? Good or slim to none

Did you use a regular 2 year upgrade or edge to get the note 4?
Your best bet would be calling customer service. But even that is entirely dependent on how nice of a rep you get. If one says no politely hang up and call back. They make notes on your account when you call so don't call a bunch in 1 day. I work at an authorized retailer and most stores can't do anything after the 14 days.
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Samsung vs. HTC now that some key features are being taken away. Hmm.

I Know this was asked b4, but will the Verizon Droid turbo 2 ever get rooted ?

I know I will probably sound annoying, I recently purchased this phone refurbished and it came like new, I only looked at the specs and fell in love with it, unfortunately I forgot to check here first cause I just thought that EVERY android phone eventually gets rooted , so now I'm stuck with a great phone that will probably never be rooted, can't even find info to know if anybody is working on this, I would really appreciate if any expert here can give me a little bit of hope. Thank you !

Welcome to the party... I've given up on this phone ever getting Root.
Actually no root on this phone is made better by using AdGuard to block ads. I do miss the custom ROMS and customization available with Root but with AdGuard it's bearable.
My next phone will be bought directly from Google so it does not get the Verizon locked Bootloader and Verizon Bloatware BS. And than the phone will get ALL the released Security updates not just the ones Verizon wants to bother with.

Don't hold your breath. I haven't really missed root personally, I just disabled the VZW bloatware and the Moto apps aren't really intrusive.