4 ms·

I don't understand the thinking here. You pay for the hardware (either directly or through your service contract). The software is free and open source. What

I don't understand the thinking here. You pay for the hardware (either directly or through your service contract). The software is free and open source. What do they think they are protecting? Why not make it OS agnostic, like a PC? They can still limit support to the original OS (like many PC vendors). It seems they just making it hard to root because that's the way they've always done business - and change is hard for them.

dolinsky 16y ago
They are protecting from unsigned, unauthorized malware to be installed on the phone which could cause a large amount of harm to the network at large. Does this open up the possibility of "abuse" of this feature on the part of Motorola and others who employ this "feature"? Sure, but it's not pure evil either.
- macemoneta 16y ago
  Rooting isn't impossible on the Droid X, it's just annoyingly difficult. If someone wanted to distribute malware ROM images, they just need to wait for the root to be accomplished by someone else. There's no real protection. If it's Verizon that's behind this to "protect the network" it's starting to sound like we're heading for another "Carterfone Decision": https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Modem#The_Carterfone_decision https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Modem#The_Car... The Nokia N900 doesn't make life difficult for users. To root it you just download and run 'rootsh'. Done. The network hasn't exploded simply because it's easy to root and update ROMs.
  - fragmede 16y ago
    Similar to the N900, the Palm WebOS devices (Pre & Pixi) are a joy to 'root' - enter the Konami code on the keyboard.
  - fragmede 16y ago
    "The FCC has indicated that it is unlikely to take action on Wireless Carterfone beyond a possible rule requiring carriers to unlock handsets at the end of their contract periods." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone
- Groxx 16y ago
  >which could cause a large amount of harm to the network at large. What kind of harm? I don't see any harm you could do with this phone that you can't do with another / an antenna. And if it's P.R. harm they're afraid of, people who replace their OS / jailbreak are usually proud to claim they did so to anyone in the vicinity, so any bad experience on their part isn't spread to others from what I can see.
  - Tichy 16y ago
    A phone that goes havoc can induce a lot of costs for it's owner. Calls cost money, SMS cost money, not all data plans are unlimited.
    - seancron 16y ago
      A rogue Android application can do that too.
      - Tichy 16y ago
        If you install an application, you get to see what services the app can do. It pays off to apply some common sense. In theory you are right, though.
        Groxx 16y ago
        This implies the average person reads those, much less understands them or cares. If anything, because of that an Android app is significantly more dangerous than jailbreaking, as a jailbreaker is more likely to know what they're doing. Remember the failure of Vista's security dialogs? And how everyone just kept hitting "yes"? Same story. The average user wants it to work, not to not work. If A and B are required for it to work, they'll add A and B without a second thought.
        Tichy 16y ago
        I think even a normal user will have to think at least a little bit. A smartphone is a powerful device. You can't just hit the street with your new car either, you need a drivers license. Just saying - much as I pity the average user for their helplessness, but their is a limit to the level they can be accommodated.

dolinsky 16y ago

They are protecting from unsigned, unauthorized malware to be installed on the phone which could cause a large amount of harm to the network at large. Does this open up the possibility of "abuse" of this feature on the part of Motorola and others who employ this "feature"? Sure, but it's not pure evil either.

macemoneta 16y ago
Rooting isn't impossible on the Droid X, it's just annoyingly difficult. If someone wanted to distribute malware ROM images, they just need to wait for the root to be accomplished by someone else. There's no real protection. If it's Verizon that's behind this to "protect the network" it's starting to sound like we're heading for another "Carterfone Decision": https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Modem#The_Carterfone_decision https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Modem#The_Car... The Nokia N900 doesn't make life difficult for users. To root it you just download and run 'rootsh'. Done. The network hasn't exploded simply because it's easy to root and update ROMs.
- fragmede 16y ago
  Similar to the N900, the Palm WebOS devices (Pre & Pixi) are a joy to 'root' - enter the Konami code on the keyboard.
- fragmede 16y ago
  "The FCC has indicated that it is unlikely to take action on Wireless Carterfone beyond a possible rule requiring carriers to unlock handsets at the end of their contract periods." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carterfone
Groxx 16y ago
>which could cause a large amount of harm to the network at large. What kind of harm? I don't see any harm you could do with this phone that you can't do with another / an antenna. And if it's P.R. harm they're afraid of, people who replace their OS / jailbreak are usually proud to claim they did so to anyone in the vicinity, so any bad experience on their part isn't spread to others from what I can see.
- Tichy 16y ago
  A phone that goes havoc can induce a lot of costs for it's owner. Calls cost money, SMS cost money, not all data plans are unlimited.
  - seancron 16y ago
    A rogue Android application can do that too.
    - Tichy 16y ago
      If you install an application, you get to see what services the app can do. It pays off to apply some common sense. In theory you are right, though.
      - Groxx 16y ago
        This implies the average person reads those, much less understands them or cares. If anything, because of that an Android app is significantly more dangerous than jailbreaking, as a jailbreaker is more likely to know what they're doing. Remember the failure of Vista's security dialogs? And how everyone just kept hitting "yes"? Same story. The average user wants it to work, not to not work. If A and B are required for it to work, they'll add A and B without a second thought.
        Tichy 16y ago
        I think even a normal user will have to think at least a little bit. A smartphone is a powerful device. You can't just hit the street with your new car either, you need a drivers license. Just saying - much as I pity the average user for their helplessness, but their is a limit to the level they can be accommodated.