Posted: 1/22/2010 7:35:01 PM EDT
|
So, I bought a Nexus one, and found a really nifty app that I want for it. However, I have to "root" the phone to get this app to work, and I have a few questions:
I know that Android is basically a Linux build, but I've not played with Linux much. What are the dangers of "rooting" my phone? How do I root said phone? I read that rooting the phone will void your warranty. If anything happens, is it possible to unroot the phone? Thanks, GD |
|
Quoted:
So, I bought a Nexus one, and found a really nifty app that I want for it. However, I have to "root" the phone to get this app to work, and I have a few questions: I know that Android is basically a Linux build, but I've not played with Linux much. What are the dangers of "rooting" my phone? How do I root said phone? I read that rooting the phone will void your warranty. If anything happens, is it possible to unroot the phone? Thanks, GD Dangers? Think of it this way by me modifying your question: So, I bought a neat item for inside my home from a vendor I do not know, nor are they trusted enough to sell said app through a legitimate app store. However, I have to leave the front door to my home unlocked at all times to get this app to work, Should I do it? the danger is not having any of your data secured, loss of passwords to email addresses you use on said phone, viruses sent through your phone to your friends email address (that they check on their iphones, Droids, etc)... Yes, linux is "Secure", but it is only secure from attacks written to target Windows machines. Nowadays, there is that temptation to write a virus for it to target android builds, since it is becoming a big market, and the iphone still appears to be totally proprietary to apple. Heres a link on how to root your phone: http://ilikemygooglephone.com/2010/01/06/complete-guide-with-images-unlock-bootloader-and-root-google-nexus-one-mac-windows-linux/ In a nutshell, why dont you wait until you can buy said app in an app store, and it has been tested to make certain that there are no back doors in it? |
|
I personally don't understand having a smartphone that isn't unlocked and that you don't have full access to. Then again, I'm still using my developer phone –– it gives me the ability to load anything I want, including any OS I want, onto it.
Dangers, well, it's possible you could brick your phone, I guess, but the odds are pretty much in your favor –– it looks like it's a pretty simple process. Other than that, you're pretty much good to go –– the post above mine with the rant about viruses and leaving your front door open and such is pretty badly misinformed. As far as warranty goes, if you root your phone and then it breaks, how would you put it back to stock? Most likely you wouldn't be able to, even it is possible to "unroot" your phone. I assume the app you want to run is one of the tethering apps? If so, you can also use PDANet, which is in the market and works fine even on a non-rooted phone –– the only caveat is that you have to install a driver for it on your computer. It works very well –– I've used it quite a bit. |
|
Actually, I just want to install the N1 Torch program, which IS available through the Android Marketplace, and tells you right when you download it that it requires the phone to be rooted. So, yes, it's a real, vetted app that Google allowed on the marketplace, and requires the phone to be rooted, which voids the warranty, even for blatant hardware defects that have been "known problems" with the N1 headset (trackballs falling out, loose screens, etc.).
Rumor is that HTC is backing off a bit on this, though, so I'll probably just wait a week or two. |
|
Quoted:
Actually, I just want to install the N1 Torch program, which IS available through the Android Marketplace, and tells you right when you download it that it requires the phone to be rooted. So, yes, it's a real, vetted app that Google allowed on the marketplace, and requires the phone to be rooted, which voids the warranty, even for blatant hardware defects that have been "known problems" with the N1 headset (trackballs falling out, loose screens, etc.). Rumor is that HTC is backing off a bit on this, though, so I'll probably just wait a week or two. Probably a good idea, but if you decide to do it anyway, here's some discussion of the issue. There's more you have to do than just rooting the phone. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Actually, I just want to install the N1 Torch program, which IS available through the Android Marketplace, and tells you right when you download it that it requires the phone to be rooted. So, yes, it's a real, vetted app that Google allowed on the marketplace, and requires the phone to be rooted, which voids the warranty, even for blatant hardware defects that have been "known problems" with the N1 headset (trackballs falling out, loose screens, etc.). Rumor is that HTC is backing off a bit on this, though, so I'll probably just wait a week or two. Probably a good idea, but if you decide to do it anyway, here's some discussion of the issue. There's more you have to do than just rooting the phone. Oh, I read all that too. Thanks for looking for me, though!  I love this phone so far.
|