4 ms·
Nexus devices are the closest you'll get - can be unlocked by a vendor supported, fully reversible ADB command.
by NeutronBoy 10y ago
Nexus devices are the closest you'll get - can be unlocked by a vendor supported, fully reversible ADB command.
- 77pt77 10y agoI have a Nexus 7 II (2013). I can reversibly root it?!
- NeutronBoy 10y agoI mean, I'm pretty sure you can lock the bootloader again after you've unlocked it.
- e12e 10y agoFrom what I've read and seen, nexus devices are in general best supported for development (ie: custom software). I've had some success running custom roms on an old HTC phone, various Samsung devices (the original i9000 Galaxy, a Note2 and 3). After looking for a while into various phones, I ended up getting a Sony Z3+ -- as it combines many things I want (water proof, memory card slot) with a pretty strong commitment from Sony: http://developer.sonymobile.com/open-devices/ http://developer.sonymobile.com/open-devices/ Ironically, I've yet to actually experiment with different roms and other software on my Sony phone, but there it is.
- voltagex_ 10y agoWhat happens when one day http://developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/ http://developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/ isn't available any more? (see also similar pages for Xiaomi and Motorola) The code "protecting" the bootloader is good enough that it could be very, very difficult to unlock your bootloader without official support.
- e12e 10y agoI'm not particularly happy with Android as a platform in general - it is way too "open on paper, closed in practice" - and I agree abandonware is a real concern. However, if you just bought a device, it seems a bit less likely the unlock page will disappear before you manage to unlock your device. And once unlocked, it'll stay unlocked? I feel this is a little bit different from the "zune drm hole" where you "buy" (rent) content, but might loose all access once the provider goes under/closes shop. (See also: the case of Amazon recalling copies of "1984" it had sold as an e-book without a proper license).
- voltagex_ 10y ago> However, if you just bought a device, it seems a bit less likely the unlock page will disappear before you manage to unlock your device. And once unlocked, it'll stay unlocked? What if I buy it from eBay 5 years later?
- e12e 10y agoI agree that it leads to a new kind of "planned obsolescence", and would prefer something more open.