[Q] request: a (preferably full) list of bootloader locked devices - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

Hi ppl,
I've been looking into obtaining an Android smartphone. I find enough info about tech specs but not about some details that are important. I'm refering to locked bootloaders. Funny thing is that it's a well-known and well-documented fact on Motorola's phones yet there are MORE android phones with locked bootloaders. I recently discovered that Sony-Ericsson's devices ALSO have locked bootloaders (yet nobody writes about them like they do on Motorola). Just as I was completing the decision to get the SE Experia Neo (which seems IMHO the most interesting of the new upcoming Xperia range). I discovered this about SE android phones. :-(
How is LG in this respect?
So this comes to my question: Is there a definitive list with ALL devices that contain locked bootloaders?
If so please point me out to it (my attempts to find this info on Google came with individual reviews that mentions this).
If there isn't it is possible to create such a list and make a sticky out of it.
Apologies if this is not the right thread to post this.

Generally ALL retail Android phones have locked bootloaders. As far as I know only the Google developer phones (i.e. Nexus one and S) can be easily unlocked from adb command line.
What you're probably talking about are more sophisticated protection added by phone manufactures, like SIGNED bootloaders in Motorola phones or NAND protection on HTC phones.

Related

[Verizon] Write a Review on VZW stie & put some legitimate heat under VZW A$$.

Realistically,If you're a member of this forums, we account for a small percentage of Verizon's Customer User Base. We are not the casual phone users, we purchased an Android phone for it's open platform, and the ability to make it truly OUR Phone. I'm sure I am one of many on here who is upset about the locked Bootloader.
Here is what I'm proposing or asking GSIII users to do. I'm asking that you please write a sincere review of the phone on VZW website. I bought a 16GB Model, and it has 94+ Review with a 4.5 stars.
Now, mind you, it's a good phone out of the box, but you cannot deny that Verizon has neutered it by locking down the bootloader. I don't need to explain to many of you how much that limit's the phone capability and life span. Locking down the bootloader puts all the control in Verizon's hands. We are forced to wait months for new OS updates, bug fixes, and limits our ability to do what we really want to do with our phones. With a locked bootloader, a phone's lifespan is truly limited by not allowing it to take advantage of new Android OS as it becomes available. Locked bootloaders forces us to buy a a whole new phone that has the newest Android OS, when you're current phone is most likely able to handle it. Consider this, with an unlocked bootloader and with the great developers this community has, Android 4.1.1 ROMs would already be available for our phones. With locked Bootloaders, we will most likely have to wait 6 months or more to get 4.1.1 on these phones, if ever, and by then, the new Android OS would most likely only be a few months after that.
I'm not asking you to lie or make up stories, just be honest and share with the people who are not in the "know" how much Verizon is limiting it's customers by locking the bootloader.
Apologies for the poorly written post, thought about this post while I was working last night, and I just woke up, so I'm sure there are some grammar mistakes
My .02 cents

[Q] Comprehensive list of mobile makers by policies towards bootloaders and rooting?

Is there anywhere to get a comprehensive list of official company policies and stances towards unlocked bootloaders and rooting of mobiles? Which companies are least ****ty about the whole thing? I know to avoid LG and Motorola like the plague, I've heard HTC is at least a little open. what of Samsung, etc>?

Samsung region locking?

I once read an article about samsung locking even older phones with the region lock nonsense, including the S3, by locking with upcoming android updates, probably 4.4.
Anybody can confirm this? I surfed the net, but its cluttered with Note 3 being region locked, so i am not sure anymore. Would help me alot.
What would happen if somebody were to unlock the phone with an unknown carrier? Probably getting a simlock I guess...
I am really sad by this development because Samsung used to be the only OEM that produced phones with removable batteries and sd slots.
I am sure somebody will find a hack to this, or when custom roms get released but its still a bummer.
http://gigaom.com/2013/10/07/app-re...ion-lock-but-samsungs-motives-remain-unclear/
Meh...
As a sidejoke:
In 2020, OEMs will read your minds and the phones will initiate a self destruct sequence if you think about selling it to a thirdparty or installing unauthorized 3rd party stuff. If you somehow survive that, your email will spammed with blackmail and you will be targeted with drones that will hunt you and your family...

Why Sony makes devices, whose bootloaders cannot be unlocked at all?

So, as the title states, why sony does this? I mean, they provide official instructions about how to unlock your bootloader, but in the same time they sell devices that cant be unlocked at all (The notorious: "bootloader unlock allowed: no"). And I don't mean the devices that are simlocked by the operator, but the devices you buy from a store that has nothing to do with your carrier eg. amazon or e-bay. What they get from it?
Cmon guys.. Lets have a discussion
Hmm...
Sounds like a attempt by Sony to keep you running stock. Reminds me of the old PSP days. Each new model had additional security to prevent modders and homebrew creators from running unauthorized Operating Systems and software. Knowing this track history, I would stay away from Sony for phones
It also seems LG for the most part also does this. For modding Go with anything s6 or older

Can someone explain why unlocking hardlocked bootloader is such a hard task?

People are hacking things left and right to effortlessly gain root or remove pattern locks on their Androids and thanks to devs of this wonderful resource they're not spending a dime in the process, but for some reason unlocking a hardlocked bootloader, an age-old problem, has no other method but the one costing $30. I'd love if someone could explain to me what makes it such a conundrum to figure out and why aren't more people trying to come up with a free solution for everyone.
Hi @4qx.
For devices that have OEM Unlocking grayed out (so you can't unlock the bootloader), there can never be a single solution that would work for every device. Different device manufacturers have their own ideas about security and contain proprietory code specific to that manufacturer, and it's further refined as new models from the same manufacturer come out.
Sometimes a device-specific vulnerability is found and can be taken advantage of to gain root. Sometimes the manufacturer makes a very specific but easy-to-find mistake on one particular version of Android on a single device that lets users officially unlock their bootloader, but that mistake is corrected with the next update for the device.
Even though you might not hear of someone working to root particular devices, it doesn't mean that no one is trying. It's common and expected that attempts that involve vulnerabilities would be kept as secret as possible so that a manufacturer can't patch them before developers can take advantage of what they found.
So the combination of different manufacturers, different models, different variations of models, different Android versions, and different manufacturer or device-specific security makes it near impossible to find a way to root all devices without exception.
Lastly, the easiest and universal method to start the path to being rooted is to have a device that lets you unlock the bootloader officially - preferably with no penalties like some manufacturers do. Anyone who buys devices that you can unlock the bootloader officially probably has no interest in finding a way to root other ways since it's so easy to do with an unlocked bootloader.
Edit: Also, regarding "free for everyone", it takes developers time to achieve what they do, so finding a way to root a device usually isn't a way to make money to live, so they do what they can when they can.
give it a try
https://github.com/bkerler/edl#for-generic-unlocking
If you're citizien of EU and bought an Android device in the territory of EU you never will have troubles with unlocking a phone's bootloader and rooting phone's Android.
Huawei will stop providing bootloader unlocking for all new devices
Earlier this month, we wrote about Huawei and Honor users not being unable to access the page for generating bootloader unlock codes. Now, they will stop providing unlock codes completely.
www.xda-developers.com
You shouldn't post here if you've NO knowledge about current legal situation in EU.
I am from germany too and can tell you Vodafone still sells Huawei devices. There are other brands with non-unlockable bootloader (Google, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo). OEMs tend to lock down their devices entirely for reason
aIecxs said:
give it a try
https://github.com/bkerler/edl#for-generic-unlocking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless I misinterpret what it says, it seems to be for enabling OEM unlocking. I was referring to unlocking a hardlocked bootloader.
Sorry maybe I didn't get you right. kindly share definition / example or at least descripe what you mean with "hardlocked bootloader"?
roirraW edor ehT said:
For devices that have OEM Unlocking grayed out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was talking about something different, though I appreciate the info.
@aIecxs check this out. Some Xperia models, mostly Japanese ones, have unlockable OEM but are not allowed to have their bootloader unlocked.
Fairly enough there exist quit few devices where manufacturer provides official unlock code, but carrier locked down bootloader by ignoring, disabling or hiding OEM unlock toggle or other device specific methods. I feel "hardlocked bootloader" is a good way to differ from "non-unlockable bootloader" where bootloader is locked from manufacturer entirely (like Huawei)
If you can have it unlocked for £23 obviously XZ1C is unlockable, so if you can find sony leaked prog_ufs_firehose_8998_ddr.elf I would give it a try at least. Björn Kerler is a leading reverse engineer in scene and did good job to oppo rooting.
(you can check /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/* if devinfo or config exist and decide if it's worth a try)

Categories

Resources