To Unlock Bootloader or not

[Mac58]

SO I purchased my GN yesterday bright and early, and I love it so far. I have been looking at methods to unlock the bootloader in this forum and Im contemplating on doing it. However, when looking at why I would be doing it I was stumped. I know you can unlock boot loader to flash roms and root. But the whole reason I bought the Nexus was for a pure google experience. If I wanted to flash roms then I would have just got some other phone. Sure down the line I may unlock the boot loader but it seems as if I would be giving up OTA's from and would have flsh them manually. Also I do want google wallet, but Im HOPING verizon and google release it for this device.

The only reason I ever rooted a phone previously was to get rid of bloatware and now through ICS, you can do that natively, and there is no bloatware on device. So why are you guys unlocking boot loader? Is there any more positives that I may not be aware of or have listed? Thankx!

 

[mechapathy]

Unlocking the bootloader does not prevent you from getting OTA updates. But down the line you may decide to do some modding. That's why I unlocked it. When you do it, it wipes the phone, so it's a good first things first type process.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[auburngirl]

I pondered this same question for a few days prior to launch, but I went ahead and unlocked last night.

Here are my reasons FWIW.

1. I will probably be using wireless tether at some point.
2. I want Google Wallet.
3. I have no current intention of flashing a ROM, but I like to play, so I am not sure how long I will hold out.
4. I like sticking it to the "man".

Since it wipes EVERYTHING when you do it, and I thought the chances that I would eventually do it were high, I went for it. Seems easy enough to go back if I wish.

 

[Mac58]

Unlocking the bootloader does not prevent you from getting OTA updates. But down the line you may decide to do some modding. That's why I unlocked it. When you do it, it wipes the phone, so it's a good first things first type process.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Thanks for the quick response. I looked at a few forums and there seemed to be no definite answer to this. Some said yes and some said no to receiving OTA updates. I am really leaning towards doing it though and praying that you and everyone else who said I will receive OTA's are correct lol

 

[Mac58]

I pondered this same question for a few days prior to launch, but I went ahead and unlocked last night.

Here are my reasons FWIW.

1. I will probably be using wireless tether at some point.
2. I want Google Wallet.
3. I have no current intention of flashing a ROM, but I like to play, so I am not sure how long I will hold out.
4. I like sticking it to the "man".

Since it wipes EVERYTHING when you do it, and I thought the chances that I would eventually do it were high, I went for it. Seems easy enough to go back if I wish.

Thanks! I think Im going to do it. I REALLY want to get google wallet lol

 

[captaincaveman]

Thanks for the quick response. I looked at a few forums and there seemed to be no definite answer to this. Some said yes and some said no to receiving OTA updates. I am really leaning towards doing it though and praying that you and everyone else who said I will receive OTA's are correct lol

I unlocked mine before I even activated my phone. About two hours after I unlocked and activated it, I got the OTA update.

 

[politjunkie]

If I do it now after having the phone for a day I understand that it will wipe it, but will all my apps auto sync again back on the phone?

 

[Nechasin]

Mine did. But if you have already taken pictures or have other data, make sure you back that stuff up. Also have patients after your first boot after you unlock. that is when it is actually wiping the phone. Wait 30 minutes before you start to panic.

 

[sectachrome]

Basically there doesnt really seem to be a reason NOT to. If you never end up doing anything that would have required unlocking, no biggie. If by chance you do, its already done and you dont have to worry about losing anything.

 

[lockerc18]

Doesn't unlocking void your warranty?

 

[DaPoets]

Unlock right away or else it will suck a bit when you want to later on (say 9 months from now randomly) and you have all your info wiped clean.. "Do it now!" ( in my Arnold voice)

 

[davey11]

Unlock right away or else it will suck a bit when you want to later on (say 9 months from now randomly) and you have all your info wiped clean.. "Do it now!" ( in my Arnold voice)

I had my phone all set up nice and just now unlocked the bootloader. Good advice, I would hate to do it couple months down the road when you REALLY have it set up to your liking at it gets wiped.
So yea do it as soon as you can.

 

[Local_Hero]

Doesn't unlocking void your warranty?

Unlocking does void the warranty, but you can re-lock it and they can't tell the difference.

(unless you flashed a new ROM)

 

[davey11]

The procedure to get to the bootloader and gaining root is so much different from the 2 samsung devices I have owned (fascinate and charge). Nowhere have I seen the program odin being used. That program was essential with most any samsung phone.

Its fun learning a new way to hack...seems more straightforward with this phone

 

[matt91]

i'd do it to be able to install ad-block

i can't stand seeing all the ads on web sites.

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

The procedure to get to the bootloader and gaining root is so much different from the 2 samsung devices I have owned (fascinate and charge). Nowhere have I seen the program odin being used. That program was essential with most any samsung phone.

Its fun learning a new way to hack...seems more straightforward with this phone

The other samsung phones you had already had the bootloaders unlocked. Thats why you could use Odin to flash unapproved software to the device.

 

[Qazme]

The only reason so far I plan to unlock mine is for adblock and WiFi tether. Other than that this phone has what I always wanted when I rooted my phone. I'm sure some other uses will pop up at some point. However I'm going to wait my 14 days out to make sure something doesn't pop up where I need to return the phone. Once that period hits I just redownload my apps. Everything else sync with Google services so I'm not worried about losing data.

 

[kwatch]

What's the difference between unlocking bootloader and root?