New to Android, question about Bootloader

[Pink401k]

I know the Atrix's bootloader is locked, and it might be potentially very difficult to root, so I was wondering what the repercussions of that might be to a new Android user. I want a phone that I'll be able to tinker with, and I realize that's not really possible on the Atrix, since it's locked and all. Will I be able to install custom apps though? Like having a SNES emulator on the phone?

If not, would going with the HTC incredible be the better choice, or should I maybe even wait for a new AT&T phone that isn't locked and is just as powerful? (have any even been announced?) Thanks for the help guys!

 

[SirGeorgeKillian]

I am new to android too, but have been on the iPhone for a while. Every update apple came out with they said couldn't be broken, and it was weeks, sometimes days before it was. I imagine that the Atrix will be the same.

 

[WilliamC]

Based on the info I've come across this is not like the iphone. Motorola uses a chip with 1024-bit encryption to lock the bootloader. It's pretty difficult to break and to date it hasn't been broken at all. You can still root the phone and install custom roms based on the kernel that the phone came with, but not a full rom that replaces the kernel.

I'm really new to this, so someone with more experience can correct me if need be.

HTC phones tend to be pretty easy to unlock. I believe most phones come with a locked bootloader, it's just motorola's gone to extreme measures.

 

[El Jefe]

All a locked bootloader means is that you can't install a custom kernel. That's it. Soon after release (if not before), someone will get the Atrix rooted, if it won't already work with previous Motorola methods (like z4root), & custom Roms will come soon after.

Getting a SNES emulator is as easy as going to the market and downloading an app, Snesoid (paid) or Snesoid Lite (free), no customization is necessary for that. (This isn't like iOS, you don't need to jailbreak your device to get it to do what you want it to do!)

You will be able to customize your Atrix all you could want. I have a Droid X (also a locked bootloader) which is rooted, there are plenty of custom Roms available for it, & could even be overclocked & undervolted if I wanted to. The people who complain about locked bootloaders are typically fanboys of other devices & tend to try to make a big deal out of something they don't know much about...it isn't an issue at all.

 

[WilliamC]

All a locked bootloader means is that you can't install a custom kernel. That's it. Soon after release (if not before), someone will get the Atrix rooted, if it won't already work with previous Motorola methods (like z4root), & custom Roms will come soon after.

Getting a SNES emulator is as easy as going to the market and downloading an app, Snesoid (paid) or Snesoid Lite (free), no customization is necessary for that.

You will be able to customize your Atrix all you could want. I have a Droid X (also a locked bootloader) which is rooted, there are plenty of custom Roms available for it, & could even be overclocked & undervolted if I wanted to. The people who complain about locked bootloaders are typically fanboys of other devices & tend to try to make a big deal out of something they don't know much about...it isn't an issue at all.

Yes, you can put custom roms in there, but none of those roms replace the kernel. So, unless motorola releases an update for gingerbread, you won't have it. I don't agree that it's fanboy complaints. If you want to install a rom to upgrade to the latest android... well you can't on your device because that kernel will always remain the same. I will admit that I know very little about these devices and I am just now switching to android from an Iphone, but I do know OS'es and a kernel is a pretty big thing. No kernel replacement means that even if that rom says android 2.3 it's really not. No cyanogenmod either.

This is only a concern for full custom roms. Root will let you do know most things, it's just when updating to another android version that you will run into an issue.

 

[dwd3885]

Yes, you can put custom roms in there, but none of those roms replace the kernel. So, unless motorola releases an update for gingerbread, you won't have it. I don't agree that it's fanboy complaints. If you want to install a rom to upgrade to the latest android... well you can't on your device because that kernel will always remain the same. I will admit that I know very little about these devices and I am just now switching to android from an Iphone, but I do know OS'es and a kernel is a pretty big thing. No kernel replacement means that even if that rom says android 2.3 it's really not. No cyanogenmod either.

This is only a concern for full custom roms. Root will let you do know most things, it's just when updating to another android version that you will run into an issue.

Well technically, even if you can replace the kernel, if Moto doesn't release the kernel then you are screwed as wel. Think about Samsung. Nothing locked about that. There are a few 2.2 ROMs on the Epic, but nothing great because Samsung hasn't released the kernel for 2.2. So you are still stuck. IMO, it's not a big deal, unless you want Cyanogenmod.

 

[El Jefe]

Well technically, even if you can replace the kernel, if Moto doesn't release the kernel then you are screwed as wel. Think about Samsung. Nothing locked about that. There are a few 2.2 ROMs on the Epic, but nothing great because Samsung hasn't released the kernel for 2.2. So you are still stuck. IMO, it's not a big deal, unless you want Cyanogenmod.

Exactly! Plus, I don't get the big deal about Cyanogenmod anyway. Check the Droid X forums and see what people are saying about the Liberty & Apex roms. They have features of Gingerbread...Cyanogenmod 7 has nothing on them.

Custom kernels really don't mean a lot.

 

[eallan]

Exactly! Plus, I don't get the big deal about Cyanogenmod anyway. Check the Droid X forums and see what people are saying about the Liberty & Apex roms. They have features of Gingerbread...Cyanogenmod 7 has nothing on them.

Custom kernels really don't mean a lot.

Cm7 has been incredible on my n1. I would love to have it on my atrix.

 

[El Jefe]

I'm not saying CM7 isn't a good Rom...just that there are other ROM developers just as good, if not better than Cyanogenmod, that develop for other devices.

 

[uberspeed]

Exactly! Plus, I don't get the big deal about Cyanogenmod anyway. Check the Droid X forums and see what people are saying about the Liberty & Apex roms. They have features of Gingerbread...Cyanogenmod 7 has nothing on them.

Custom kernels really don't mean a lot.

I'd disagree that "custom" kernels don't mean a lot. Most of the gains are seen in the kernel.
For example:
FroYo kernel 2.6.32.x
Gingerbread 2.6.35.x
2.6.37.x has mentions of Tegra
The Linux Kernel Archives

If I can't go above FroYo kernel it's a big deal for me and the base OS as a whole actually.

 

[WilliamC]

Some really good info here