Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROM's, and why?

[Ed Briggs]

1) Because everything is working
2) Because it is already fast
3) Because it is already reliable
4) Because I can already disable most anything I need/want
5) Because I have other things to do with my time
6) Because it is still under warranty
7) Because it will break DRM and be incompatible with certain media apps

Agreed.

 

[mysilly]

I did not find any reason to, and I did not want to invest any time learning how to do it. Although I would like to fiddle around with the phone, I just don't have the time.

 

[gidgiddonihah]

7) Because it will break DRM and be incompatible with certain media apps

Just curious, what apps are affected in your experience?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[crxssi]

Just curious, what apps are affected in your experience? [DRM breaking]

None for me YET... but I know the TiVo app, when it FINALLY supports streaming, will break. I believe that some of the HBO and that type apps will also break. There are other apps too, but I don't know which right now.... they check for rooting and if rooted, will refuse to work. It sucks- remember, we paying customers have to be punished.

 

[monsieurms]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

Just curious as to why you are NOT doing either. As for me, I just don't see a need for it. Especially when Google will provide timely updates whenever they become available. Plus, I see over at xda that all of the roms are not running perfectly yet.

I did run a custom rom on my samsung infuse for a while, but that's because att was not sending out updates, and I would have been stuck with android 2.2 froyo. My Sexy Nexy is running perfectly, and would like to keep it that way. I'm not against custom roms by any means, it's just not for me at this time. You?

--It's a lot of effort, for little perceived gain at this point.
--I'm always concerned it will affect some carrier software or create other unpredictable events that will be hard to find answers on.
--Upgrading may be a hassle instead of automatic
--If I screw up, I brick the phone
--Warranty issues
--I always wonder what happens if you sell it...

and most of all...

I'm content with the way it is and I like my current setup. I don't feel like I need to expend time and effort for some incremental gains, especially when the gains may be outweighed by problems....

 

[gidgiddonihah]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

1. I'm always concerned it will affect some carrier software or create other unpredictable events that will be hard to find answers on.
2. Upgrading may be a hassle instead of automatic
3. If I screw up, I brick the phone
4. Warranty issues
5. I always wonder what happens if you sell it...

Just thought I'd help you out .

1. The Nexus 5 doesn't have carrier bloatware. Rooting affects 0 stock apps.
2. Could be a very valid point. But if you remain completely stock and just root (no system modifications) it should update just fine.
3. Nexus devices are almost impossible to brick. I promise you not, you could try to brick it and it's recoverable. As long as your EFS partition remains intact - which it should since you, the user can't touch it with a ten foot pole, the phone is nearly 100% ***** proof - Android Central is very sensitive to language for it to block out ***** proof .
4. You can always unroot and relock before sending it back. If it can't boot they won't tell anyways. Plus I'm pretty sure Google's pretty lenient with rooting and warranty since it is a developer/Nexus device.
5. Not sure what you mean. I do know the device value can go up because it's rooted...

Hope I was helpful !

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Ed Briggs]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

Just thought I'd help you out .

1. The Nexus 5 doesn't have carrier bloatware. Rooting affects 0 stock apps.
2. Could be a very valid point. But if you remain completely stock and just root (no system modifications) it should update just fine.
3. Nexus devices are almost impossible to brick. I promise you not, you could try to brick it and it's recoverable. As long as your EFS partition remains intact - which it should since you, the user can't touch it with a ten foot pole, the phone is nearly 100% ***** proof - Android Central is very sensitive to language for it to block out ***** proof .
4. You can always unroot and relock before sending it back. If it can't boot they won't tell anyways. Plus I'm pretty sure Google's pretty lenient with rooting and warranty since it is a developer/Nexus device.
5. Not sure what you mean. I do know the device value can go up because it's rooted...

Hope I was helpful !

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

You make some valid points, but I guess from reading people's responses, the gist of it is that a lot of people will get no benefit from rooting/ROMing. I didn't start this thread to have arguments, as there are reasons why someone may choose to root/rom. I'm not against it at all. I and others just don't feel the need to alter what we consider to be near perfect.

I just wanted some opinions on the subject, that's all. If anyone does root/rom, feel free to state your opinion, but let's not argue about it. We are all using one heck of a device and should enjoy it the way we see fit.

 

[Ed Briggs]

I don't root anymore or flash custom roms. For me that was more of something to do when Android was not as good as it is now. I remember having to put custom roms on older devices to get a stable full experience. I can't think of what I'd want to do with root now let alone custom roms.

I agree. To me, it's perfect as is. Like you, I've had older devices that needed a new ROM. I just feel that the N5 is what I've wanted all along, so no need to change it. But I get why people do it. I'm a tech tinkerer and like to try new things, but mostly in virtualbox on my linux pc. I'm about stability now, and things "just working".

 

[gidgiddonihah]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

You make some valid points, but I guess from reading people's responses, the gist of it is that a lot of people will get no benefit from rooting/ROMing. I didn't start this thread to have arguments, as there are reasons why someone may choose to root/rom. I'm not against it at all. I and others just don't feel the need to alter what we consider to be near perfect.

I just wanted some opinions on the subject, that's all. If anyone does root/rom, feel free to state your opinion, but let's not argue about it. We are all using one heck of a device and should enjoy it the way we see fit.

I don't need a custom ROM but I wouldn't do well unrooted. Life with root is too sweet to give up .

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[monsieurms]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

I don't need a custom ROM but I wouldn't do well unrooted. Life with root is too sweet to give up .

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Well, what advantages do you see? Because it is still effort to do and with potential downsides if not knowledgeable and careful. As others have alluded to, things have changed with Android.

For the record, btw, I don't have Nexus, but S4 and like what they offer. Yes, I'm an interloper in a sense, but some of the questions are of general import to everyone with different shades of importance.

 

[gidgiddonihah]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

Well, what advantages do you see? Because it is still effort to do and with potential downsides if not knowledgeable and careful. As others have alluded to, things have changed with Android.

For the record, btw, I don't have Nexus, but S4 and like what they offer. Yes, I'm an interloper in a sense, but some of the questions are of general import to everyone with different shades of importance.

Titanium backup, file Explorer and Greenify are apps I use every day.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[monsieurms]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

Titanium backup, file Explorer and Greenify are apps I use every day.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

The others don't make much impact on me given my phone context, but you make a good point with Titanium. Titanium is the one app that almost made me root. I did hate, when I switched to Andoid from Palm, how inefficient and incomplete the backup process was. That seems improved these days--if only by backing up key things to the cloud. Setting up my new phone was a breeze. But there should still be more complete options available!

 

[Robbie317]

Just curious as to why you are NOT doing either. As for me, I just don't see a need for it. Especially when Google will provide timely updates whenever they become available. Plus, I see over at xda that all of the roms are not running perfectly yet.

I did run a custom rom on my samsung infuse for a while, but that's because att was not sending out updates, and I would have been stuck with android 2.2 froyo. My Sexy Nexy is running perfectly, and would like to keep it that way. I'm not against custom roms by any means, it's just not for me at this time. You?

I didn't root my Nexus 5 because I am pretty happy with the phone the way it came out the box.... I rooted my EVO and Galaxy S3 but that was mostly to remove all the bloatware and the skins.... with no real bloatware or skins added to the Nexus I have not really seen the need....

 

[Ed Briggs]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

The others don't make much impact on me given my phone context, but you make a good point with Titanium. Titanium is the one app that almost made me root. I did hate, when I switched to Andoid from Palm, how inefficient and incomplete the backup process was. That seems improved these days--if only by backing up key things to the cloud. Setting up my new phone was a breeze. But there should still be more complete options available!

I don't get the whole titanium backup thing. When I went from my moto G to the Nexus 5, all I had to do was sign in with my google email and everything was reinstalled along with pics, settings, etc. I didn't have to do a thing. I was actually blown away by the fact that google automatically backs up everything for me. Besides, I do most things in the cloud anyway, so backup is not my main priority.

 

[monsieurms]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

I don't get the whole titanium backup thing. When I went from my moto G to the Nexus 5, all I had to do was sign in with my google email and everything was reinstalled along with pics, settings, etc. I didn't have to do a thing. I was actually blown away by the fact that google automatically backs up everything for me. .

That has ultimately become my conclusion for the most part, which is why I've ignored the whole thing. The backup process is actually pretty good now. It keeps track of your apps. Restores your wi-fi connection. And a lot of essential data like contacts are stored in the cloud, too, and sync'd automatically. So, I shrug and move along. It is still not a complete backup process, though, and when I switched from Palm OS to Android, my one complaint was the backup process..

A "whole device" backup is a very different matter. For instance, in the old Palm Treo days, I actually bought a 2d Treo as a spare. Because you could do a mirror image backup, you could just push a button and restore your most recent backup to the 2d phone. Then, I would bring the 2d phone along with me on vacation, giving me a backup phone if I needed it and also a device that would have more juice if I needed that and the first one was running down. Plus, if I lost one while at home, when the new one would come--presto. Restored just as it was. Exactly. Isn't that nice?

The Google cloud backup is pretty good in terms of restoring a lot of wi-fi settings and reinstalling apps---but it doesn't do a lot of other things that go with setting up phones. It leaves some work to be done. You still have to set up, personalize, etc.

 

[eazyweazy3]

Stock everything for me. When I first jumped into Android several years ago and read up about Root, it seemed as though having a Windows PC was the only way to Root (I have a Mac). Now I'm sure that has changed since then and I hope people on Macs can now root, but since it wasn't an option for me back then, I never really looked into it. So far the stock experience has done me well and plan to keep it this way for the time being.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[gidgiddonihah]

Titanium Backup does SMS and app data backup: two things Google does not do. It also allows me to uninstall anything I want, including system apps.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[pseudoware]

Google "best root apps". Some are useful, others not so much. But I like being able to check any of these out that I think sound interesting.

And rooting a Nexus is easy. A caveman could do it. (All due respect.)

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[regression]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

I don't get the whole titanium backup thing. When I went from my moto G to the Nexus 5, all I had to do was sign in with my google email and everything was reinstalled along with pics, settings, etc. I didn't have to do a thing. I was actually blown away by the fact that google automatically backs up everything for me. Besides, I do most things in the cloud anyway, so backup is not my main priority.

Can you describe which settings were restored? And your pics, they were not put back on your device right? Do you mean you have them backed up in Google+ and you saw them on your new phone?

I think Google's backup process has a long way to go. Sure, it will reinstall apps, but then you have to go to each one a configure them. IE, setup all my weather locations in WeatherBug. Restore folder pairs in the FolderSync app. Restore home screens in Nova. And the list goes on.

I have solved most of this using the Helium app which will backup app data for non-root users (as well as root users). I think Google needs to build this into Android so another app isn't needed.

 

[Shilohcane]

Re: Who is NOT rooting and NOT using custom ROMs, and why?

Can you describe which settings were restored? And your pics, they were not put back on your device right? Do you mean you have them backed up in Google+ and you saw them on your new phone?

I think Google's backup process has a long way to go. Sure, it will reinstall apps, but then you have to go to each one a configure them. IE, setup all my weather locations in WeatherBug. Restore folder pairs in the FolderSync app. Restore home screens in Nova. And the list goes on.

I have solved most of this using the Helium app which will backup app data for non-root users (as well as root users). =I think Google needs to build this into Android so another app isn't needed.

If I take a picture with my Nexus 5 then when I get around a Wi-Fi that picture is uploaded to my Google+ account and stored there. When I get on my windows laptop with my home screen in Google I see the picture I took has a notification it was uploaded there for viewing. Then the picture is automatically downloaded to my Nexus 7 tablet. Since I have the old Gallery folder and new Photo folder for pictures I don't even care about the option to back up pictures to Goggle Drive that is another backup option.

BTW, I have been using Textra for SMS/MMS but just tried Hangout again after the new update and when I delete text it says they are archived when I flick them. I don't want any more backup for pictures or Apps.