4 ms·

You are right with respect to the Google-sold devices. Unfortunately, these are only a minority - and this step will make it significantly harder to root device

by ge0rg 13y ago

You are right with respect to the Google-sold devices. Unfortunately, these are only a minority - and this step will make it significantly harder to root devices made by Samsung, HTC, Sony and all the others...

veeti 13y ago
So? That has nothing to do with Android 4.3 as far Google or the AOSP is concerned. Don't buy a device that doesn't give you control if you want that control. And no, the Nexus line is not the only line that lets you do what you want to. Although not officially supported, Samsung's flashing protocol has been reverse engineered and they've made no changes to block those efforts. HTC's newest One supports the same fastboot procedure that the Nexus line does. Most of Sony's models can also be unlocked and some even have AOSP support. This is the right move for security. It is not a move to "take control" from anyone. Instead, it is your duty to vote with your wallet. Don't buy carrier-locked phones or other phones that don't give you that control.
fluidcruft 13y ago
Yes, this is what happens when Google owns Motorola. Things that Motorola cares about (tight control), Google now cares about.
igravious 13y ago
The point is, you shouldn't need to root the device. That's a red herring. You can completely modify the source and then flash the device. All these manufacturers give you methods for flashing. You mention Sony[1], Samsung[2], HTC[3], here you go ... In time projects like Cyanogenmod will have ROMs baked for you that'll give you root. But why should it be easy for a user to root their device? If the user can do it a malicious program can do it. There is nothing wrong with extra security so long as the platform stays relatively open, which it seems to be. If anything handset manufacturers seem to be getting more not less dev friendly. Would you want Windows or MacOSX easy to root? [1] Sony Android source based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project) http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/open-source/android-open-source-project-for-xperia-devices/ http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/open-source/a... [2] Samsung Android source n stuff (unfriendly interface, a little digging is necessary, Samsung's got a lot of products) http://opensource.samsung.com/ http://opensource.samsung.com/ [3] HTC Android source n stuff, "Kernel Source Code, Binaries and Updates for HTC Android Phones" http://www.htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads http://www.htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads --- Google's AOSP n drivers (for completeness) http://source.android.com/ http://source.android.com/ https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/drivers https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/drivers
- vetinari 13y ago
  You need root, because there are apps you want to run, that need root permissions. The use cases for these apps are very wide, from ad blocking to repairing OEM fuckups (I'm looking at you, Asus). Anyway, it is easy to "root" Windows or Mac OSX. It is just logging in as administrator in Windows or using sudo in OSX. The paranoia and preventing the user to really control the device they bought is a new thing, that came with mobile OSes. It wasn't so widespread before.
RyanZAG 13y ago
It won't make Samsung devices any harder to root - Samsung devices are bootloader-unlocked. You don't need any vulnerabilities, you simply flash your custom firmware using tools such as Samsung's Odin. Most other providers are moving towards methods to allow bootloader unlocking. The ones that lock the bootloader usually get negative social media response and lower sales, so I think this trend will continue for now.
sergiosgc 13y ago
HTC supports unlocking their devices: http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader Just buy the device free, not subsidized by an operator, and you're set.

by ge0rg 13y ago

veeti 13y ago

So? That has nothing to do with Android 4.3 as far Google or the AOSP is concerned. Don't buy a device that doesn't give you control if you want that control. And no, the Nexus line is not the only line that lets you do what you want to. Although not officially supported, Samsung's flashing protocol has been reverse engineered and they've made no changes to block those efforts. HTC's newest One supports the same fastboot procedure that the Nexus line does. Most of Sony's models can also be unlocked and some even have AOSP support. This is the right move for security. It is not a move to "take control" from anyone. Instead, it is your duty to vote with your wallet. Don't buy carrier-locked phones or other phones that don't give you that control.

fluidcruft 13y ago

Yes, this is what happens when Google owns Motorola. Things that Motorola cares about (tight control), Google now cares about.

igravious 13y ago

The point is, you shouldn't need to root the device. That's a red herring. You can completely modify the source and then flash the device. All these manufacturers give you methods for flashing. You mention Sony[1], Samsung[2], HTC[3], here you go ... In time projects like Cyanogenmod will have ROMs baked for you that'll give you root. But why should it be easy for a user to root their device? If the user can do it a malicious program can do it. There is nothing wrong with extra security so long as the platform stays relatively open, which it seems to be. If anything handset manufacturers seem to be getting more not less dev friendly. Would you want Windows or MacOSX easy to root? [1] Sony Android source based on AOSP (Android Open Source Project) http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/open-source/android-open-source-project-for-xperia-devices/ http://developer.sonymobile.com/knowledge-base/open-source/a... [2] Samsung Android source n stuff (unfriendly interface, a little digging is necessary, Samsung's got a lot of products) http://opensource.samsung.com/ http://opensource.samsung.com/ [3] HTC Android source n stuff, "Kernel Source Code, Binaries and Updates for HTC Android Phones" http://www.htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads http://www.htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads --- Google's AOSP n drivers (for completeness) http://source.android.com/ http://source.android.com/ https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/drivers https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/drivers

vetinari 13y ago
You need root, because there are apps you want to run, that need root permissions. The use cases for these apps are very wide, from ad blocking to repairing OEM fuckups (I'm looking at you, Asus). Anyway, it is easy to "root" Windows or Mac OSX. It is just logging in as administrator in Windows or using sudo in OSX. The paranoia and preventing the user to really control the device they bought is a new thing, that came with mobile OSes. It wasn't so widespread before.

RyanZAG 13y ago

It won't make Samsung devices any harder to root - Samsung devices are bootloader-unlocked. You don't need any vulnerabilities, you simply flash your custom firmware using tools such as Samsung's Odin. Most other providers are moving towards methods to allow bootloader unlocking. The ones that lock the bootloader usually get negative social media response and lower sales, so I think this trend will continue for now.

sergiosgc 13y ago

HTC supports unlocking their devices: http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader Just buy the device free, not subsidized by an operator, and you're set.