Root after rc30

[JessicaSkie]

Anyone know of a way to get root access after having the rc30 update? I didnt think Id need or want it, But the app in the market came out for only people w/ root access, and it has the automatic screen roataion. I searched for a thread... ?

[NismoG35]

I remember reading somewhere that once the RC30 update from google is installed your out of look.

The only way to do it is to install the modified RC30 update while your on RC 29 or below.

[jdwme]

are replacement devices now being shipped with rc30?

[CJ Chitwood]

It would seriously surprise me if replacement units manufactured (or still at the factory undergoing final touches) after RC30 was released weren't updated already. It would defeat the entire purpose of the update in the first place.


To Jess: I'm curious. Why do you think you want root? I think a lot of people have no clue what root is. Not saying you're one of them, but it seems to me you want root so that your screen will rotate. I saw one app a few days ago for people with root, "superuser", and it had no mention of screen rotation. Which app did you see that mentioned this? (again, curious)



What root is, for those who don't know, is merely "administrative" access rights to the phone, so you can move/edit/rename (hack) system files. On a computer, it's similar to being the administrator as opposed to being "a lowly end-user". It allows you full control; full access to the system files.

If you don't know what you're doing, you probably won't hurt much with root. You have to know Linux/Unix commands for it to be at all useful, but with the right instructions, you could very easily brick the phone. Further, having root access means your programs run as root, meaning the *programs* have full uninhibited access to the system files and can change whatever the programmer wants. This obviously opens up security risks (if trojans, worms, viruses or the like were to come your way by means of specially crafted website or e-mail, and you have root access, they could use your root access rights to propagate to the next phone).


I think this was the main reason why G decided not to allow root access to the owner. That, and, the number of people who would seriously foul up their phone and want a replacement because they tried some "hack" they read on the Internet and were foolish enough to trust.


However, I for one believe that as owner of the system I should have root access by default. It should be some special "administration mode" or some such so that you would need a special set of keystrokes to gain access to it, but only to prevent you from bricking the phone under normal use. It should be one of those "we tried warning you; since you didn't listen, you're now the owner of a 1.2 pound plastic brick" things.

[Jwatling]

i updated to 30 because i didn't want people to have access to my root.


although now there is an application out to protect yourself as well as an application to allow the phone to sensor flip orientation (which needs root).

alongside this i would like skinning (which would require root)

... tbh though one of the following will happen in the future

- new way to gain root
- the rootless will gain these through official updates.


so im not going to cry over it quite yet

[CJ Chitwood]

^^^Agreed. All in good time, either through hack or official channels.

[kitsunisan]

Makes me think back to psp hacking, people are waiting for a way to downgrade the G1 to allow some more useful apps to be installed. Hopefully a downgrader is possible, but that would require looking for exploits, maybe a buffer overrun, etc, and honestly, I don't see the G1 as getting that big a modding scene.

[Jwatling]

True I can't see android being such a huge hacking scene but once this operating system expands onto many mobiles developers will go mad for it.

[CJ Chitwood]

But when you think about it, who's most attracted (WRT computing) to this device?

People who don't know the diff between Linux and Windows won't care. But then, these are the same people who don't care if they get root. They just want a phone that plays games and does cool pseudo-geek stuff (because we all know who the REAL geeks are).

Now, that being said, what do most hackers prefer to do their coding in?

Linux, isn't it?

Now, what O/S is Android based on?

Now, with all the options, what phone is a true hacker (as opposed to T.V.'s "definition" of a hacker) going to prefer? One that runs Windows Mobile? One that runs a proprietary, closed OS that you can't do crap with (Verizon)?

See where this is going?

[Jwatling]

Yeah true I do see where your going with it

Hmm it makes me ponder now.. hmmm

I'm sure the majority of android phones will remain unmodded and leave a large customer base for offical pay for apps to keep devs happy.


P.s. where is signature edit....? Its not in the profile edit page.