Is there a single big reason why you did it, or was it a collection of small things?
Many folks flash ROMs (Cyanogen, Paranoid Android, etc). Again, Why?
(For those of you reading who don’t know what a ROM is, it is basically a different version of the Android operating system.)
I am asking this because people seem passionate about this and I don’t quite get it. I see some small advantages, such as;
[ul]
[li]The ability to delete, rather than just disable bloatware. Perhaps for people who use all the memory on their phone, this might be a reason, but it is a problem more easily (if less cheaply) dealt with by getting a phone with more memory or an sd card.[/li][li]Some of the ROMs give you the ability to create easily accessible toggles for settings. For instance, you might like to control whether your screen auto rotates or not without having to dig through the settings.[/li][li]Geek cred.[/li]
[/ul]
I am sure there are other things. Edumacate me.
Not phones, but I have two Nook tables that run Android and I’ve rooted them both.
The first is my Nook Simple Touch (the lowest end model). It is sold as just an e-ink reader. But after rooting I can run several Android apps. E.g., some games, Opera browser, etc. But the small grey-scale screen, old version of Android, etc. limits things. OTOH, I run FBReader which is 5 times better than the built-in reader. Also get a bunch of USB capabilities that the original can’t do. E.g., plugging in a sound dongle, keyboard, mouse, whatever.
More recently, I got the Nook HD+. This is a really sweet device for very little money. Widely regarded as the best bang-for-bucks tablet out there. Rooted it right away and then later did Cyanogenmod. This gives me a current version of Android, especially going forward. And I get to make low level changes that get around “features” in apps that are a big hassle. Also get to run a wider set of apps.
Yeah, I uninstalled some stuff. The first thing to go are always the calendar apps. Those always seem to be the most intrusive and I never use them.
One of the little things: The NST has awful screen backgrounds and such. Got rid of those and did my own graphics. (This is key for e-ink since the screen doesn’t go blank when “off”. So having a personalized pic is really nice.)
It is also easier to backup and restore a rooted device.
One of the biggies is the ability to run an ad-blocker and/or a firewall. There are just some types of apps that require the kind of low-level access that can only be gotten through root access.
I rooted my HTC One so I could ditch Sense and install a ROM with the Google Edition software. Well, okay, I actually rooted it just because I can, and because I like being able to change anything I want, and the Google Edition software is my current preference.
For some types of devices, the experience you get at stock is nothing like a root & flashed experience- Nook, Kindle, etc. You root those because you want the full android experience instead of B&N or Amazon’s walled gardens, not necessarily because you need root otherwise.
For phones and tables running vanilla android or close to it, you root and flash roms because:
You can install some apps that you couldn’t otherwise - Titanium Backup and Adblockers, for example
You can update your device beyond what the carrier/manufacturer allows, or sometimes sooner than the carrier/manufacturer will. For phones especially this is the big one, as the carriers tend to give you one or zero updates because they are incentivized to keep you on the upgrade treadmill so you don’t realize what a crap deal from a financial perspective all postpaid plans are in the USA.
The ability to get rid of bloatware, install whatever ROM I like, and to back up all my items without trouble. Really, just the backing up part is enough reason for me.
I use Cyanogenmod because it is the easiest ROM to get that is very well-tested and as close to the stock android OS as possible. As such, it comes with 0 bloatware from the get-go. Easier to install it than to manually get rid of bloatware that may drive specific parts of the custom OS the phone came with.
And of course, 2 or 3 years from now when I’m still clinging to the same phone, cyanogenmod will still be coming out with versions supported for my device. While some devices never officially made it to ice cream sandwich or jelly bean, cyanogenmod filled that gap.
Yes, to get rid of AT&T bloatware. Their apps are also very hijacky, making use of other better replacements a hassle. Also, when some battery-leeching adware creeps into the phone, rooting gives a lot more flexibility to run scanning and system-fixing apps.
Backups also become a simple drag-and-drop or script instead of a slow, bloated pushware crap (e.g. Kies).
You can also make use of new Android versions much sooner instead of having to wait for a custom-spun authorized version from AT&T. Nothing like being forced to wait 9 months unable to install jellybean-enabled apps or functions to finally give the carrier the finger and root the phone.
I have mostly done it to bring older phones up to date. I have had several devices that were uncerimoniously dumped by the manufacturer after only a few months. One of my devices was abandoned by Samsung at Android 2.3 that is still supported by CyanogenMod.
N7 (2013), I’ve got the Bulletproof II kernal and CleanROM 1.6 running. Nice and fast plus better battery usage.
Along with the stuff already mentioned, Bulletproof II gives you the ability to put the tablet to sleep by swiping R–>L across the home buttons, you can wake by doing a L–>R swipe in the same place or double tap on the centre of the screen.
BTW, in Australia the term “Rooted” can also mean ‘had sex with’ or ‘broke beyond repair’ which makes the thread title a joy to behold
Voiding warranty. Possibly bricking your device depending on how you have to root it. It can be time consuming and confusing if you aren’t good at following directions. Technically illegal since rooting requires unlocking, and unlocking your phone without carrier permission is illegal according to the FCC (though this may change?).
Along with all of the above, there are a rare few apps that refuse to run on a rooted phone because of percieved security issues. Of course, if the apps are worth a damn there is someone out there who has created a root-capable version that you can install. You just have to be able to trust what they did with the app while they were in there removing the phone check.
I guess I’d say both. There isn’t an insistent need to do so, as Android has come a long way since 2009, but there are still many advantages. For me, the big reason is because I like it. The many small reasons only add up to that big reason, and serve to reinforce it.
When Verizon said we couldn’t use Wallet/NFC for purchases, I was using Wallet/NFC for purchases. Not trying to be a rebel, but it’s also a way for consumers to explore new aspect of the market, without having the carrier decide for them what they should be doing.
Funny thing is, just yesterday I switched from PA to CyanogenMod. In this example, the Cyanogen devs had gotten Google Voice to integrate with the default messenger application, so that all text messages are handled in one unified application. As I plan to port my existing number to Google Voice and go full time with a new plan, this was something I wanted to test.
On the other hand, while Google handles some backups rather well, they’re pretty terrible about data backups, especially with anything local. In order to run an actual robust backup utility, it’s best to do so with root privileges, and so that’s part of why I root. I also want to do things like adjust color temperature and other bits via custom kernel settings, as well as get the quickest updates with enhanced features.
[quote]
I am asking this because people seem passionate about this and I don’t quite get it. I see some small advantages, such as;
[LIST]
[li]The ability to delete, rather than just disable bloatware. Perhaps for people who use all the memory on their phone, this might be a reason, but it is a problem more easily (if less cheaply) dealt with by getting a phone with more memory or an sd card.[/li][/quote]
Here again, funny that you mention it, as I’m running into this exact issue. 1GB of RAM simply isn’t enough, with the amount of services I have active, many times, and so ROM selection or some aggressive task management by Android, are required. It certainly functions, but it’s time for a hardware upgrade.
Also, an SD card (less devices come with this, now), or expanded storage help with local space, not necessarily services (both cached and active), using up memory. I have over 18GB of free space on my device, but it will still start to chug once I increase the demand and begin running multiple applications at once.
[quote]
[li]Some of the ROMs give you the ability to create easily accessible toggles for settings. For instance, you might like to control whether your screen auto rotates or not without having to dig through the settings.[/li][/quote]
Guilty as charged. At times, I forget which items are default Android, and which are long-term features, constantly shared by the community.
[quote]
[li]Geek cred.[/li][/quote]
I guess this matters, some, but more in the sense that it’s nice when others share the same interest. I have no interest in performing benchmarks, for example, or trying to push the limits of my device. But as with many other things, I do like it to be tailored to my desires, and if it doesn’t have the capability, I’ll go looking for a way to resolve it. That won’t happen on a locked, un-rooted device.
I believe that form of unlocking refers to carrier unlocking. Unlocking your bootloader can void the device warranty, but IIRC, it’s not illegal to do so. They thankfully sell some devices with unlockable bootloaders and give access codes.
