Gah, protected bootloader?

**tekhna** · 07-06-2012, 03:01 PM

Are you freaking kidding me? Hopefully there's a workaround right quick or this phone is worthless.

**VicVinegar** · 07-06-2012, 03:03 PM

Ah, the joy of Verizon. No wonder they came late.

**tekhna** · 07-06-2012, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by VicVinegar

Ah, the joy of Verizon. No wonder they came late.

Yeah, that's what it comes down to, huh? Hopefully it's not too locked down, but this phone is going back or will be sold if rooting is impossible.

**rion_j** · 07-06-2012, 03:11 PM

wow, what a joke! typical verizon. i'm sure the dev community will get around this at some point, but if this crap continues with verizon i'll take my business elsewhere.

**Nakrohtap** · 07-06-2012, 03:11 PM

The only guarantees on Verizon nowadays is the Nexus. It was never a given, which is why the Nexus will always have more value. Clearly, the SIII is the best phone on the market, hardware-wise. It's just something else that needs to be taken into consideration with Verizon.
Hopefully, someone will crack this bootloader. Good luck!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

**Forgetful** · 07-06-2012, 03:12 PM

Damn Im kinda glad my phone isn't coming till next week. If its locked like moto products ill sell it before I open the box

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

**biff6789** · 07-06-2012, 03:13 PM

I think it's too early to tell the damage at this point and there is hope that the wizards on XDA will figure out a way around this (if you don't believe me, go look at the insanely creative way they got around the EVO 3D's bootloader).

But if it turns out to be locked then I might as well have gotten a Moto

**VicVinegar** · 07-06-2012, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by tekhna

Yeah, that's what it comes down to, huh? Hopefully it's not too locked down, but this phone is going back or will be sold if rooting is impossible.

Not surprised. Way back when, I had a Samsung flip phone they crippled the bluetooth on. Then the Samsung Omnia where they locked the GPS to force you to use VZ Navigator.

Someone usually figures a way around it though. I guess we'll see. The fact they allowed the Nexus on their network had me thinking they were changing for the better. Wrong again.

**Dave4321** · 07-06-2012, 03:57 PM

Phones will locked boot loaders can still be rooted. Hopefully they will at least figure out how to bypass the extra root security.

**Rapta619** · 07-06-2012, 04:04 PM

man I remember the hub bub about the DROID x with the kill switch boot lock. they got around that.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

**Tomab** · 07-06-2012, 04:15 PM

Who at VZ makes these decisions?!? Anyone who roots their phone knows the risk THEY are assuming. What would possess someone to think they are doing the right thing by preventing open access? They must be an absolute delight to live with.

**asmallchild** · 07-06-2012, 04:40 PM

I'm sticking with the Nexus if this is true...

**trter10-imore** · 07-06-2012, 04:47 PM

This pisses me off, and I'm not even getting the phone!

Verizon, what is your deal!?!?!

**martian_11** · 07-06-2012, 05:22 PM

Damn this sucks... my phone already shipped. Why does Verizon do this to us.? Verizon sure knows how to [deleted] us good. I really hope devs can find a way to gain root.

**syrianrue** · 07-06-2012, 05:56 PM

here i am all excited, phone in hand, setting up apex and getting everything rocking...and i read this news, ultimate sigh...oh well, i know the devs will get around it in no time

**Cory Streater** · 07-06-2012, 06:03 PM

There's nothing to worry about here... tons of phones ship with locked bootloaders, including the Thunderbolt and many of Moto's phones. The One X's bootloader was locked as well, so it's not just a Verizon thing. They are all trying to protect their IP and lower support costs. Someone will have the bootloader unlocked, and it probably won't take long.

**sfobrien** · 07-06-2012, 06:04 PM

Just give it some time. There is no doubt the devs will take care of this in no time.

**ultravisitor** · 07-06-2012, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Rapta619

man I remember the hub bub about the DROID x with the kill switch boot lock. they got around that.

And as someone who had the Droid X on launch day, I remember that it took very long for a workaround to be found.

My Nexus just looks better and better every day.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

**skinnytoo2** · 07-06-2012, 06:09 PM

So stupid!!! But I give it till the end of the weekend for someone to pop that bad boy open!!

**Crispy** · 07-06-2012, 06:27 PM

I won't be getting this phone if this is true. Typical Verizon - finding new ways to screw their loyal customers.

Every Samsung device in the world has unlocked bootloaders except this.

**Crispy** · 07-06-2012, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Cory Streater

There's nothing to worry about here... tons of phones ship with locked bootloaders, including the Thunderbolt and many of Moto's phones. The One X's bootloader was locked as well, so it's not just a Verizon thing. They are all trying to protect their IP and lower support costs. Someone will have the bootloader unlocked, and it probably won't take long.

Samsung phones have unlocked bootloaders and that makes them almost impossible to brick and very easy to customize. Its nothing like HTC devices (with their S-ON/OFF) or the hacking needed for Motorola.

This is very much a Verizon thing. Samsung have no reason to lock anything and there's no IP VZW have on the phone.

**dubge** · 07-06-2012, 06:47 PM

you have to wonder, if we the hackers are the minority then why do they lock the bootloader? There must be more of a problem with us hacker then everyone thinks

**biff6789** · 07-06-2012, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by dubge

you have to wonder, if we the hackers are the minority then why do they lock the bootloader? There must be more of a problem with us hacker then everyone thinks

The fact that Titanium Backup, Root Explorer, and SetCPU are consistently finding themselves in the top 10 paid apps in the market, you'd think that there are a lot more rooters out there than originally thought.

**tekhna** · 07-06-2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by dubge

you have to wonder, if we the hackers are the minority then why do they lock the bootloader? There must be more of a problem with us hacker then everyone thinks

I don't think so. I did the math once over on xda. Using Cyanogen installs as a proxy for rooting (admittedly an imperfect proxy) I worked out that rooted phones account for something like .01% of all phones.

**VAVA Mk2** · 07-06-2012, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by ultravisitor

And as someone who had the Droid X on launch day, I remember that it took very long for a workaround to be found.

My Nexus just looks better and better every day.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

I got the Droid X late September after it lauched earlier in the summer and now am running the Galaxy Nexus and have been since launch. I have to say I share your feelings and feel more and more happy to have my Nexus now in spite of so many new powerful devices coming out which are not nearly as easy to hack or get the latest and greatest from the Google.