Database Info

[Q] What exactly is gonna happen with Wallet?

I don't care if you don't use it, I didn't ask you. This is for the people who actually use it.
Is there any possible way somebody can come up with a form of accessing the app in the near future? Google has dropped support for Rooted phones.
Or are we pretty much ****ed forever unless we have our phones completely stock?

Nah, personally I am waiting for my bank (Chase) to roll out their own version. I have a Visa, and would rather be able to choose debit or credit when using my phone. I think Fifth Third does something similar with their plastic card.
Basically wait until the iPhone gets an NFC chip, and watch mobile payments take off.

I have a Visa too, so I guess that would be a good alternate. Hopefully they actually support rooted users or I'll be pissed.

Yeah, wish we could spoof the root-check. Not like Google Wallet running on my rooted phone is any less secure than my regular wallet.

DaveRichardson said:
Yeah, wish we could spoof the root-check. Not like Google Wallet running on my rooted phone is any less secure than my regular wallet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, and I have a bit less money and less important things in it!
I tried going back to the original and it doesn't work either
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

I'm hoping someone will come up with a fix. I still have $20 on my Wallet app and I can't use it..... Would still love to use it.
Pretty convenient too since my campus has so many vending machines that accepts NFC payment..

Can't you turn root on and off in cyanogenmod 9? It's in the development options. Give that a try?
kernels ; battery ; ROM ; gov/sched
Now with summaries in the first posts. Convenient for XDA app users!

bedalus said:
Can't you turn root on and off in cyanogenmod 9? It's in the development options. Give that a try?
kernels ; battery ; ROM ; gov/sched
Now with summaries in the first posts. Convenient for XDA app users!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
supercurio's Voodoo OTA RootKeeper has that function to temporary unroot. I still get insufficient privileges..

Is it really only a root issue? My rooted stock NS4G had wallet running just fine last week before I flashed a different ROM. I thought Google was just blocking devices it didn't recognize.

So if we spoofed the device name, etc. Would it work?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

i think wallet will still work but its not supported on rooted devices. basically they are saying they are not liable if you lose money because you were rooted

I'm rooted on vhGomez rom ( which is so awesome btw and i advise you to try it out) with matr1x kernel 17.5 and I can't get my card to hook up right I'll upload a screenie in a sec.
Edit: Uploaded!
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Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

i thought prepaid cards are disabled for everyone. rooted and non rooted

I may be mistaken but I thought they were turned back on with the update.
EDIT! Important!
I figured out how to make it not say your device is not supported! Just move Google wallet from
system/app/
to
data/app/
Then restart and boooom! No bar saying its not supported. Idk if this will affect how it works so try at your own risk.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

Google wallet will still work for everyone, its just that if you're rooted they're not liable if you lose money, so they're legally warning you with that banner. People have been reporting that even while rooted it has worked and some have even heard it straight from Google. Check out the Galaxy Nexus forums, there's a thread on it. And as of now new cards get provisioned just fine, but if you already had a card and you're trying to re-add it then you have to wait until the next update, Google has stopped that and gave the time frame 1-2 weeks from when they released the last update.

Ok, that makes alot more sense I thought my card wasn't adding because I was rooted.
Thank you.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

NS4G.John said:
Ok, that makes alot more sense I thought my card wasn't adding because I was rooted.
Thank you.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Problem

Google Wallet for someone with SE error (like me )

Nick N said:
Google Wallet for someone with SE error (like me )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got locked out of the secure element chip, Google is suppose to release an update to fix that. That happened because you cleared data or removed wallet without resetting wallet from within the app itself in options, if you have a titanium backup saved then restore and reset within the app, then you'll still have to wait until Google let's you re-add your card, like me and NS4G john, but you won't be locked out. Also if you restore with titanium backup you still won't be able to use your card even though its there, you'll get a payment not sent error when you try to pay, I know from personal experience.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

I use my NS4G unactivated without service (as an Android iPod touch, basically).
Since Google Wallet uses NFC, can I use it even though my phone's not activated? Is the entire handshake/exchange with the register done between the phone and the store's NFC reader, or does the phone call home over cell signals every time you make a transaction?

Is rooting worth it?

Hi everyone, i got the razr hd from fido a few days ago. It's also my first android device. It came stocked with a bunch of bloatware that i would like to remove, and apparently the only ways it can be done is by rooting the device. I also got the warranty from future shop, and i don't want to void it. Does rooting the device void the warranty and if it does, can it be reset like the ipad when jailbroken? Also what are the risks of rooting the device, and what are the benefits? And if i do root my device can i still update it with jellybean whenever it is released in the next year? Thanks for replying with any help.

bruce671 said:
Hi everyone, i got the razr hd from fido a few days ago. It's also my first android device. It came stocked with a bunch of bloatware that i would like to remove, and apparently the only ways it can be done is by rooting the device. I also got the warranty from future shop, and i don't want to void it. Does rooting the device void the warranty and if it does, can it be reset like the ipad when jailbroken? Also what are the risks of rooting the device, and what are the benefits? And if i do root my device can i still update it with jellybean whenever it is released in the next year? Thanks for replying with any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup is a good reason to root your device. The root method I used, was an exploit available on xda, so afaik if you restored factory defaults no one would know you've rooted the device, so you shouldn't have to worry about warranty. You don't need to unlock the bootloader or do any of those kinds of warranty voiding mods.
You've made a great choice for your first android device. I think this phone is impeccable, one of the first things I loved about it over every other droid I've owned, is that its THE most superior phone I have ever used, call quality, reception, etc, are all second to none. This phone makes calls were others cannot. I have been waiting years for a smartphone that I can truly rely on and the Razr HD (finally) is THAT phone... Motorola are the unsung heroes as far as I'm concerned! It embarrases my old S3 and Lumia 920.
Also, I got JellyBean OTA 2 days ago from Telstra. Hopefully you don't have to wait but to answer your question, I got root when using ICS, then used Voodoo Rootkeeper to keep root after upgrading to JB. I highly recommend reading the associated tutorial.

Try disabling those apps you don't want to see. Go to settings - > apps then scroll to all and select the app you want to disable. There will be a disable button if the carrier didn't lock it out.
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Sent from my DROID RAZR Maxx HD

Rooting is worth it.
Before JB comes out you can download custom roms (if they are available) and most of the time those custom roms are faster, got super awesome improvements and are just better.
You can also just download stock roms (same as official)
Apps that worth it:
Titanium backup
SetCPU
Lucky Patcher
And many more
Rooting is absolutely a awesome thing.
But be carefull!
Sent From My Rooted Samsung Galaxy S2
JB 4.1.2 (GT-I9100)
If I helped you, please press the ''Thanks'' button.

Rooting is totally worth it. For all the reasons mentioned above and many more that you'll soon read about here in the forums I'm sure.
BUT... Rooting WILL void your warranty.

Yep, but if you use your phone normal and dont trow it and stuff like that you are okay.
Sent From My Rooted Samsung Galaxy S2
JB 4.1.2 (GT-I9100)
If I helped you, please press the ''Thanks'' button.

Ha, I agree with you. I rooted mine 2 months after owning it and didn't care about the warranty. The OP asked though, so I answered Sounded like he/she paid extra for a warranty, so wanted him/her to know that it would be wasted money paying for the extra warranty if they rooted.
You never know, some people go buckwild crazy changing and deleting things after rooting when they don't know what they're doing and end up with a very expensive paper weight, thinking that their warranty will save them. Nope. Sorry. Thanks for playing.

bruce671 said:
Hi everyone, i got the razr hd from fido a few days ago. It's also my first android device. It came stocked with a bunch of bloatware that i would like to remove, and apparently the only ways it can be done is by rooting the device. I also got the warranty from future shop, and i don't want to void it. Does rooting the device void the warranty and if it does, can it be reset like the ipad when jailbroken? Also what are the risks of rooting the device, and what are the benefits? And if i do root my device can i still update it with jellybean whenever it is released in the next year? Thanks for replying with any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my advice...
Is everything working on the phone as you need? If it is, you probably don't need to root it. I had my last 2 phones rooted and my tablet its also rooted, but there is a lot more management and a lot more stuff can go wrong on a rooted phone.
I'm actually living on a non-rooted phone right now, and have disabled all of the Rogers bloat apps I don't use. The phone is fast as heck and my battery lasts a good while, so there isn't much I feel that I need to tweak.
I have rooted in the past in order to get additional functions (like tethering, better signal) of the phone up and running on my carrier, because I didn't but a phone that was offered by Rogers. Unless you have an exact reason to root, don't bother just.
Sent from my XT925 using Tapatalk 2

One word.... Adfree
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

Unless there is something that you need that requires root, no IMHO.
The stock ROM works very well. You can get rid of 90% of the bloat without rooting, through the stock app manager. You can backup and restore all your apps with Astro File Manager, which does not require root. Saves all the APK's to the SD card and if you had to factory reset the phone, just install Astro and restore all your apps. Although, most apps should install automatically from Google anyway.
Until I see a ROM that offers a substantial benefit over stock, I am just leaving it alone... The phone runs great as is, and the peace of mind of not having to worry about messing it up or having a warranty issue is nice.
I do my rooting and ROMs on my Nexus 7.

I would think that anyone that considers themselves a power user, would benefit from rooting.
My two reasons(besides the ones mentioned):
Tasker and Avast. With avast it can hide the installation better and on a lower level.

[INFO] Bootloader Will Be Locked

I'm sure we all knew that but I had a small bit of hope. I began a chat with samsung and my assumption was confirmed.
This is the log of my chat.
Selwin: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Visitor: I have one question about the galaxy s 6 that I know you already know. Will it be bootloader locked for verizon. I need to know if I need to buy it or the Google Nexus
Visitor: I'm assuming your going to lock the bootloader on all verizon branded GS6, I was hoping you could save me a month of waiting
Visitor: to find out
Visitor: You locked the bootloader on the GS5 per verizon
Selwin: I'd like to inform you that Samsung doesn't recommend to root the devices and it voids the warranty of the device also.
Visitor: ok that's cool
Visitor: i still would like to know
Visitor: should be a big deal to go ahead and tell me
Visitor: shouldn't
Selwin: However, we still have no exact information about the Galaxy S6.
Visitor: sure you do your releasing it next month
Visitor: actually this month
Selwin: I'd like to inform you, S6 and S6 edge are going to be released on the second week of this month.
Visitor: ok cool, so I'm sure samsung knows about a phone they already made
Visitor: so it the bootloader going to be locked?
Selwin: If you want I can help you with the specs of the S6 devices.
Visitor: yes I would like that
Visitor: The specs in question are of the bootloader type
Visitor: what's the spec on the galaxy s 6 verizon bootloader
Selwin: http://www.samsung.com/us/explore/galaxy-s-6-features-and-specs/#preorder
Visitor: If your unsure could you ask your manager
Visitor: It's something I know you know or can find out
Selwin: May I have three minutes to research the required information? Meanwhile, get attracted viewing the amazing functionality of Samsung products by visiting us at http://samsungsimulator.com/
Visitor: I love Samsung but due to the locked bootloaders I'm not going to buy another device that is locked by your on verizon
Visitor: yes I'll wait
Visitor: thank you
Selwin: You are welcome.
Selwin: Thank you for waiting.
Visitor: AT&T and Verizon require you to lock your phones on their networks before they will sell them. I just want to know if they have had you lock them on Verizon again. It's a selling point for me.
Selwin: I'd like to inform you, that we have no exact information about the release of the developer editions of S6.
Visitor: ok are you saying that the non dev edition of the phone on verizon is bootloader locked?
Selwin: Yes, you are correct.
Selwin: I request you to contact after the release date of the S6 for exact information.
Visitor: thank you so much for your help.

maybe they'll find an exploit since all models will have the same chip

GreeleyXda said:
maybe they'll find an exploit since all models will have the same chip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
we'll see I guess.

Verizon's locking down of their devices is not going to change anytime soon...they are making huge sales in corporate and military contracts. WIth those contracts are upgrade provisions, so they would lose those contracts if the phones became less secure. When you combine that with their coverage area they can do this without worries. Add to that, the reduction in customer service use by people that messed up their phones by rooting and flashing. A good amount of us always knew how to recover from these things..but there are many out there, try the stuff about rooting and flashing without reading, reading, reading, mess it up, panic, and run right to Customer Service "My phone is broke, can I haz another?"
So the benefits of them locking down devices is tremendous. Of course there will always be those developers who like a challenge and will keep trying to break into it for root or unlocking...but the S5 is showing they did a pretty good job of locking it so far.

Glad I saw this thread, gonna be a no-buy for me unless someone cracks it. Wankers :|

You realize that guy probably has a barely there handle of English, is reading from a manual, and told you a few times he didn't know the answer. You basically forced him to say yes or no, and he responded by saying that AT&T and Verizon's phones are CARRIER locked. I wouldn't take this as confirmation AT ALL.
HOWEVER, considering AT&T and Verizon's history of a locked bootloader? Bet on the locked bootloader.
There, I gave you an answer that was just as accurate as "Selwin's", but using prior experience rather than guessing.

entropism said:
You realize that guy probably has a barely there handle of English, is reading from a manual, and told you a few times he didn't know the answer. You basically forced him to say yes or no, and he responded by saying that AT&T and Verizon's phones are CARRIER locked. I wouldn't take this as confirmation AT ALL.
HOWEVER, considering AT&T and Verizon's history of a locked bootloader? Bet on the locked bootloader.
There, I gave you an answer that was just as accurate as "Selwin's", but using prior experience rather than guessing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right, but he did mention the developer edition. This would indicate that he might know what unlocked bootloader meant. Though, like you, I already assumed it would be locked and would be absolutely shocked if it wasn't.

This is sad.... So much pleasure from my Galaxy S3 and Note 3. The Note 4 with locked bootloader was a total disappointment, and now this. It is the Apple story all over. Now internal battery, no sd, and locked bootloaders. Basically in the same jailbreaking scenario that apple users have been in, uphill battle from here.

If I decide to upgrade to the S6, I really don't need the bootloader unlocked. But I am hoping I can at least get basic root.

TheCrowing said:
If I decide to upgrade to the S6, I really don't need the bootloader unlocked. But I am hoping I can at least get basic root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. All I really need is root to change around a few things and I'll be happy. The one thing that I need to be sure of is the ability to wirelessly tether. Other than that I don't mind new phones the way they are. Speaking of which is there a working app for tethering on Lollipop? I have unlimited data still and this is the most important thing for me when choosing a new phone.

OK... at the risk of trolling (which is totally NOT my intent)... I just bought a (barely) used Verizon LG G3 on Swappa for around $325.
- Fast, 32GB internal memory, microSD supported to 126GB, removable battery
- Root & bootloader
- Super awesome ROM (SkyDragon) with crazy good battery life
I really wanted to love my Galaxy S4, but it was not a great phone. I'm kind of done with the new Samsung direction. Am very, very, VERY happy with my new LG G3.
Good luck everyone!

All I care would be root. There's the ever helpful Xposed anyways.

pablomoca said:
Agreed. All I really need is root to change around a few things and I'll be happy. The one thing that I need to be sure of is the ability to wirelessly tether. Other than that I don't mind new phones the way they are. Speaking of which is there a working app for tethering on Lollipop? I have unlimited data still and this is the most important thing for me when choosing a new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screenshot of the default tethering (by searching the settings)
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carlbettag said:
OK... at the risk of trolling (which is totally NOT my intent)... I just bought a (barely) used Verizon LG G3 on Swappa for around $325.
- Fast, 32GB internal memory, microSD supported to 126GB, removable battery
- Root & bootloader
- Super awesome ROM (SkyDragon) with crazy good battery life
I really wanted to love my Galaxy S4, but it was not a great phone. I'm kind of done with the new Samsung direction. Am very, very, VERY happy with my new LG G3.
Good luck everyone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm selling my Verizon G3 for an S6

Welp. That pretty much kills any chance of me getting this phone.
M9 here I come

CreepersCrawlers said:
Welp. That pretty much kills any chance of me getting this phone.
M9 here I come
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the Verizon M9 is also locked...

MOS95B said:
Screenshot of the default tethering (by searching the settings)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the default tethering works on an unlimited plan. It tells you to call Verizon and add a tethering plan (or something to that affect). Unless this is screen shot from a different app such as foxfi. In that case, I usually have multiple devices tethered to my phone, which is why I want wifi tethering to work.

geoff5093 said:
I'm pretty sure the Verizon M9 is also locked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the M9 can be unlocked easily by going to HTC's dev site and registering.

First things first... you're*
Bootloader will be locked.

elprofet said:
I'm pretty sure the M9 can be unlocked easily by going to HTC's dev site and registering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
M9 is already unlocked the exploit haven't been released yet.
Sent from my Extremely powered S6 using Tapatalk

[Q] Upgrade/Downgrade/headaches.

This is my first post here so please be gentle. I have a Note pro 12.2 (p900/WiFi) tablet that I purchased last year after 2 months of reading/doing research/and hands on between it and the Surface3 pro. Biggest problem was I had to go to Florida to actually get my hands on a Pro because no one in the tri state area (MD/PA/NJ) had it in stock or even as a display. And when I bought it i HAD to order it.
Past all that, the Note has been invaluable to me, 64GB plus 128GB card. I use it every day, 8-12 hours minimum. I have not rooted it because I am worried about support. I also have a Note 3 running 4.4.2 - I turned off the auto updates and have refused to allow the upgrade to Lollipop on that device because of all the problems I have been reading about. That device works perfectly. My wife's first S4 did and auto update which completely messed up that phone. So I have experience trying to get those children at the Sprint store to try to help. _anyway, I digress. Today, I checked, an update is available for the Note Pro (+1GB file to download by the looks of it) I would not mind trying it but first I want to do a complete backup snapshot of my device. Just like I do on my pc's and laptops. For example, I use Clonezilla and can image the whole thing, perfectly, and restore it COMPLETELY - at will. I have not found ANY tool that allows me to do that to ANY android device. It is like I am being help hostage. I hate it.
1. I want to be able to get a complete (Clonezilla style image) of my NOTE PRO and I want to be able to restore that should the Lollipop experience be Lollypoop.
2. I want to be able to capture that snapshot of the device with all its settings intact - including the Knox
Can this be done? What tool is there that allows a real complete snapshot of an android device and allows you to restore a previous or older version, SHOULD I CHOOSE TO (from 5.02 to 4.4.2 - something the Sprint children told me is not possible with android)
Any useful help and pointing into a direction that can do this would be greatly appreciated. I know that I am not alone in this frustration with Google forcibly controlling EVERYTHING ( I was livid last year when my Notes upgraded to 4.4.2 and I lost the ability to write to the external card on nearly every app that I had paid for, even sent multiple e-mails to Samsung, to no avail)

Following along
I'm curious about whether that is possible as well beyond a nandroid backup. I'm not likely to upgrade to the 5.02 firmware because I have the logitech keyboard case. If
I've been an XDA member for nearly 7 years, but I don't usually ask much in the way of questions. I hardly post at all, actually. I can usually find my answers by searching and reading the forums. This is my first Samsung device (I've always had either Nexus or HTC phones. & Nexus tablets) and I find working with it to be kind of frustrating. I've kept it stock at 4.4 because it works 95% of the time. The only problem I have is with wifi at times.
I'd like to put an alternate ROM on it and find a way to keep most of the S-pen functionality, but so far the array of "X works, but Y" doesn't info associated with various roms I've read about is daunting.

serious lack of understqnding
Can you imagine, making an upgrade and blowing out a major manufacturer like Logitec? Not some hokum chinese knockoff, but a name brand. This is exactly what is wrong with android. It seems inexperienced and oblivious children are driving it. That is one of the major reasons android was lacking serious professional support and respect all these years. Making boneheaded decisions that destroy existing functionality, for what? A new color scheme? A flat screen lay out? Really, thats what we need?
And when they PUSH the upgrades, its like you are trapped. A cloned backup and the ability to restore to a previous good setup is absolutely essential. I have looked at all these mods of the kernel and tweaks, etc. The fact is that NONE of them have 100% functionality. You always lose something, sometimes a lot. And the gains do not seem to be worth destroying the stock setup. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN NOT UNDO IT.
The loss of direct access to external sd cards for example, because google is pushing phones with no external sd slots. Really? I avoided apple products EXACTLY because there was no expansion slot. Then google goes and kills it.
Here is a suggestion. NOT ALL DEVICES ARE PHONES. Tablets have been around for years. Enough already with phone upgrades for tablets. Tablets should have their own firmware and operating system.
Here is a novel idea. You want loyal customers? Give them what they are clamoring for. Give them the ability to save their systems. Then upgrade fo your hearts content. BUT IF IT IS A CRAP UPGRADE. Allow them to undo it. Think about how much less bad feedback and emergency support you can avoid. Thats real dollars being save.
And by the way, as unresponsive as Samsung has been, they see the writing on the wall. Android on Samsung devices is heading the way of the dodo. Some skinned version of a tablet/phone linux replacement is coming. It will be one of the first major rejections of google power grab by a major player in the market.
So give us the ability to backup our systems. WITHOUT HAVING TO ROOT, when even that does not guarantee 100% sucess

and the list grows
Judging by the slew of problems, an ever increasing list, Lollipoop is so not a worthwhile upgrade. This is exactly why we need to be able to snapshot/backup the complete system BEFORE ANY UPDATES.
After two days of waiting, it is disappointing to me that no answer has been posted. I thought if any place had it it would be here. I might be wrong.

globalsearch said:
Judging by the slew of problems, an ever increasing list, Lollipoop is so not a worthwhile upgrade. This is exactly why we need to be able to snapshot/backup the complete system BEFORE ANY UPDATES.
After two days of waiting, it is disappointing to me that no answer has been posted. I thought if any place had it it would be here. I might be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you've guessed, you're basically looking for an answer that doesn't exist, at least not the specific one you want. The one you don't? . . . Root and install custom recovery? . . that's the only answer at this point . . and yes it trips Knox . . it is what it is . . Trust me, you're not the first or only person to lament about the situation. I've been up on my own soap box many times too.

ah..
muzzy996 said:
As you've guessed, you're basically looking for an answer that doesn't exist, at least not the specific one you want. The one you don't? . . . Root and install custom recovery? . . that's the only answer at this point . . and yes it trips Knox . . it is what it is . . Trust me, you're not the first or only person to lament about the situation. I've been up on my own soap box many times too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a premonition, considering how no one touched my question. You can get a lot of answers by just by asking the right question, even when they don't answer.
As long as Android remains attached to this childish, closed sandbox and its restrictions, then its days are numbered. From the standpoint of a business owner, if I was a major company with product in the pipeline that needs something to run as the basic operating system, I WOULD BE LOOKING SOMEPLACE ELSE.
Google is not the end-all be-all of software. There were other operating systems before them and there will be operating systems after they move into the dustbin of history. I hope they are paying attention here. I personally have been in the field since the mid-70's, I see a strong pattern here.
Anyway, thank you for flipping on the light bulb. I will contain my rage and re-direct it to something more productive (like those dweebs at Papyrus - jesus)

I was searching the forum looking for an answer to something like this... I have to say, I'm also shocked there have no answers given
regarding Knox... no you cannot restore that under any circumstances.
snapshot of everything else... yes and no. you cannot snapshot (aka nandroid aka twrp backup) your bootloader or STOCK recovery.
bootloader: you can only change this via Odin or OTA updates, and depending on the specific update cannot downgrade these below a certain point of the currently installed (if at all)
recovery:
you can freely flash new versions without a pc, but you cannot backup the stock recovery in a nandroid because the nandroid is generated using twrp -- a custom recovery that takes the place of stock recovery (mostly useless). if you find a copy of the stock recovery on the forum, you could then flash it back using Flashify from Google Play, but you'd then lose the ability to restore your nandroid until TWRP is restored.
also, you cannot take OTA updates while TWRP is installed, and in some cases at all / ever again after installing TWRP or root.
edit:
I can confirm that OF4 (the initial lollipop update) can be downgraded to NK1 (the newest kitkat update). if anyone can confirm for me whether or not OI1 can be downgraded to kitkat NK1 I would greatly appreciate it!

Depending on what version of Note Pro you have, LTE versions have locked bootloader, so they cannot downgrade.
Wifi Note Pro doesn't have locked bootloader, but downgrade from Lollipop to Kitkat you need bootloader for Kitkat along with the firmware NK1. If you read the threat LogicTech keyboard not working after update to Lollipop, you will see the link to Kitkat bootloader.
Without this bootloader, your tablet will hang at boot up after you flash the Kitkat firmware.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=62371717&postcount=125
This is my current Lollipop OI1
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
I downgrade it to NK1, this process only takes 5 minutes
I did it only for demonstration but personally I think Lollipop has a better graphic interface, then I go back to Lollipop .
I can go back and forth from Kitkat to Lollipop with ease as long as right bootloader is loaded.
Since I loaded the OH2, the tablet is updating now to OI1 and it's wifi version SM-P900 Note.

Beut said:
LTE versions have locked bootloader,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not entirely true.
The USA LTE versions have a locked bootloader.
The International P905, however, does not. (Device-locking of any kind is illegal under EU law.)
Now, whether you can downgrade the P905 I really can't say, because mine has been comfortably sitting on 4.4.2, and I have no desire to let Lollipop anywhere near it. :laugh: Just thought I'd clarify that the US and EU devices are not the same

ShadowLea said:
thought I'd clarify that the US and EU devices are not the same
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can post your tablet with back cover removed, I can tell if it's different from US device. I once opened a tablet sold in England, I did not see any differences from US device except the hardware code indicates it's not from US. I swap a mainboard from SM-P907A, an LTE tablet from AT&T to SM-P905V, an LTE tablet from Verizon, it runs normally except the software customized for AT&T. I don't change anything from the Verizon tablet, except the mainboard from AT&T.
Even with a LTE mainboard, I can use any part of a Wifi Note Pro SM-P900 except the rear camera as they are exactly the same.
Or I can change a LTE Note Pro to a Wifi Note Pro by swapping the mainboard and rear camera, the rest are identical.
From my experiences of varieties of Samsung tablets, I don't see any major differences of Note Pro LTE and Wifi versions as they almost use the same parts.
By using a mainboard of Tab Pro in a Note Pro tablet, I can even change a Note Pro to a Tab Pro as they are using the same parts except the Tab Pro mainboard doesn't have S Pen cable connector, it works normally as a Tab Pro.
That means I can downgrade a LTE Note Pro to Wifi Note Pro or Wifi Tab Pro by only swapping mainboard and rear camera.
Given the fact that LTE tablets sold in US have different names but actually they are Identical , I can tell Samsung makes the same tablet but the differences
are software and firmware loaded into it, like SM-P905A, SM-P907V, SM-P907T, they're branded by LTE providers but the hardwares are the same

VZ Device Maintenance

I have both the AT&T S8+ (work device) and VZ S8+ (personal). I noticed that the actual "Device optimization" feature that's present in AT&T is not present in VZ model. Has anyone tried copying the apk for this app from AT&T model to a VZ model? I absolutely love that feature on AT&T and am puzzled why it's not there in VZ, but I digress from the main question with this statement.
Thanks

Verizon removes it to get users to buy into their support and protect app. It is controlled through the cscfeature.xml and on Verizon can only get it with root. With csc can also get the Macfee antivirus virus working.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

Switch to the unlocked firmware. Been using it since it was first discovered to switch from VZ to UL.

Thanks to the both of you. For others with this similar question, here is the thread concerning switching firmware:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/switch-to-carrier-firmware-100-t3609487

eddyo1993 said:
Switch to the unlocked firmware. Been using it since it was first discovered to switch from VZ to UL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see it on the unlocked firmware after flashing it. Does the optimization really make a difference?

anewday said:
I don't see it on the unlocked firmware after flashing it. Does the optimization really make a difference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you start your phone do you still get the Verizon boot up screen? Make sure you used the right files. I'm not sure it has always been smooth with no problems. At least with the unlocked firmware you get all the features Samsung intended (I.E. Samsung Cloud, caller ID, etc.)

eddyo1993 said:
When you start your phone do you still get the Verizon boot up screen? Make sure you used the right files. I'm not sure it has always been smooth with no problems. At least with the unlocked firmware you get all the features Samsung intended (I.E. Samsung Cloud, caller ID, etc.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, because I applied the wifi calling via a workaround.
I see the device maintenance now, had to switch to simplified view in settings. However, the screen looks different from yours and is missing the device security option.

anewday said:
Yes, because I applied the wifi calling via a workaround.
I see the device maintenance now, had to switch to simplified view in settings. However, the screen looks different from yours and is missing the device security option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forgot to attach the screenshot.

anewday said:
Forgot to attach the screenshot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could only have one or the other unless there's a different way. If Wi-Fi calling is very important as well as visual voicemail, video calling then stay with the firmware you have now. If you want all the removed features as well as no bloat of course the unlocked firmware.

anewday said:
I don't see it on the unlocked firmware after flashing it. Does the optimization really make a difference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally, I just liked that it was a built in, "Samsung Official" optimizer. For now I'm looking into 3rd party apps until my warranty expires since I want to maintain my warranty for now. Rooting will certainly void that warranty and I'm unsure if flashing firmware will too; better safe than sorry for the time being.

P05TMAN said:
Personally, I just liked that it was a built in, "Samsung Official" optimizer. For now I'm looking into 3rd party apps until my warranty expires since I want to maintain my warranty for now. Rooting will certainly void that warranty and I'm unsure if flashing firmware will too; better safe than sorry for the time being.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The current rooting method as far as I know does not void the warranty. Switching firmware will not void anything as well since it is the official Samsung firmware. If it did void it I wouldn't have switched to the unlocked firmware.

eddyo1993 said:
The current rooting method as far as I know does not void the warranty. Switching firmware will not void anything as well since it is the official Samsung firmware. If it did void it I wouldn't have switched to the unlocked firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough. :good:

P05TMAN said:
Fair enough. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I was able to root.. and while I was rooted, I got the custom unlocked logo on the main boot screen.. but once I flashed back to stock, there is nothing triggered to indicate it was ever rooted. Knox is still 0x0 and the custom logo is gone.