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It's remarkable how fishy the whole ecosystem around Android ROMs and flashing tools really is. 95% of the posts are in barely comprehensible English. Seemingl

by kbwt 9y ago

It's remarkable how fishy the whole ecosystem around Android ROMs and flashing tools really is. 95% of the posts are in barely comprehensible English. Seemingly every guide tells you to run a random binary from a file sharing host or generic domain. As a rule, source code is non-existent. Downloads are attributable to a forum handle in the best case. Oh and you have to run it with elevated privileges to both your host computer and the device. Even the shadier warez communities have more accountability and trust. In my opinion Google has really done a huge disservice by dropping support for their devices so rapidly and condoning planned obsolescence by handset manufacturers. They are directly responsible for channeling a significant fraction of Android users into this mess.

realusername 9y ago
Android is as mature as Windows XP, every vendor has their own where they customised everything and no-one has a pristine one. And also the pre-installed ROM is also often the same quality as the warez.
voltagex_ 9y ago
Yep. It's better than it was - most XDA developers understand what a GPL violation is. I imported my Galaxy S8+ to save over $400AUD on retail. This meant I needed to find a ROM on an obscure site to flash to the phone using a stolen (?) piece of factory software. I can only trust my phone because a Samsung in default configuration won't accept a "modified" update - only one from and signed (?) by Samsung themselves. Is LineageOS still using "test-keys"? It's been possible to do much better for years: https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/31765.html https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/31765.html
- porfirium 9y ago
  >using a stolen (?) piece of factory software You mean ODIN! That's probably leaked. Many good memories of that tool.
- discreditable 9y ago
  > using a stolen (?) piece of factory software If you're referring to Odin, there's an open-source alternative in Heimdall (https://www.glassechidna.com.au/heimdall/ https://www.glassechidna.com.au/heimdall/).

by kbwt 9y ago

realusername 9y ago

Android is as mature as Windows XP, every vendor has their own where they customised everything and no-one has a pristine one. And also the pre-installed ROM is also often the same quality as the warez.

voltagex_ 9y ago

Yep. It's better than it was - most XDA developers understand what a GPL violation is. I imported my Galaxy S8+ to save over $400AUD on retail. This meant I needed to find a ROM on an obscure site to flash to the phone using a stolen (?) piece of factory software. I can only trust my phone because a Samsung in default configuration won't accept a "modified" update - only one from and signed (?) by Samsung themselves. Is LineageOS still using "test-keys"? It's been possible to do much better for years: https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/31765.html https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/31765.html

porfirium 9y ago
>using a stolen (?) piece of factory software You mean ODIN! That's probably leaked. Many good memories of that tool.
discreditable 9y ago
> using a stolen (?) piece of factory software If you're referring to Odin, there's an open-source alternative in Heimdall (https://www.glassechidna.com.au/heimdall/ https://www.glassechidna.com.au/heimdall/).