[Q] bootloader labelled as "RELOCKED"...will this look suspicious to tmobile?
my htc sensation got a little beat up and im going to try to get a warranty replacement this week. i unrooted my phone fine, got s-on after a little frustration and i relocked the bootloader using fastboot oem lock. like the title asks, will this look suspicious to tmobile? everything is totally stock just like it would be out of the box except for that "RELOCKED" label in the bootloader
Should be OK, hard to say really without sending it back!
Hm, i dont think they would notice. I heard many people sending their rooted/custom rom phones for warranty, and never got an issue with it.
hi, thinking of buying this phone on verizon, wanted to know if it is shipped bootloader unlocked so i can load custom roms on it and get the hotspot working.
thanks
Its not shipped unlocked but it can be via exploits, allowing to flash to your heart's content
Sunshine is the only Garanteed method at this point to unlock boot loader and acheive s-off. Firewater method may or may not work depending on hardware configuration.
The only way to get a phone with an unlocked bootloader usually, is to buy the "Developer Edition" if it's offered. Most don't even know but the Samsung Galaxy S3, and S4 both have Dev Editions, so if you really wanted an s4 that's unlocked, it's possible.
there first firsmtware of the S4 if you are lucky enough to not take an OTA and not need a refurb you have the Loki exploit which is as good as a bootloader unlock which is very rare to find in good condition, and the ones out there are way expensive.
sorry for off topic.
Basically HTC also offers, HTCDev.com to unlock bootloader within minutes of getting home with your new device, but Verizon make HTC block their phones unfortunately. But thanks to amazing developers like Beaups and Jcase you can get S-OFF. It will cost $25, but a very small price to pay for the amount of time they put into giving us this wonderful option.
without root, Id be on an iphone....
weak.
Hello, so i need to see some answers, and also know what is the best for any consumer who will be buying a phone anytime soon
So, i am not living in the states, but i will soon and i will upgrade my phone as well...
And some of my friends mentioned me having a contract.. and i am wondering whether it is a good idea or not.. and there are many ways to see it and i even have some concerns about some stuff that i am not sure of, and it will be discussed in these parts:
1-How much do we have to pay extra in a month if we ever got a locked phone? is it much more than an unlocked contract?
2-If so, which do you think is the best for a contract?
3-If you are going to have a contract, would you have it for one year or two years? why?
4-Are there any pros of having a locked phone? do you have a guarantee for it or a warranty? would you be able to give them back your locked phone and get a discount for your upgrade or anything closer in that matter?
5-Does having a locked phone means that it is somehow different than the unlocked one? example: would i be able to install the same rom on both of them or i need to have a specific rom for the locked phone?
6-is there anyway that you can buy a phone unlocked, but you would have to pay for it in months?
7-Would rooting a locked device voids warranty, or somehow is breaking a rule in the contract?
8-Do i need to wait for the carrier update for the locked phone? or would i be able to install an international update and get it stock? if i could, would that ever damage the contract?
and anymore information would be really helpful.. would really love to see what the community here are interested in and what they usually avoid doing..
an off-topic question: Do you think i should wait for the new phones to come? i am really interested on having a HTC M8 right now, but seems like the new "hima" is going to be released soon, any thoughts of what i should do? Thank you
(as a non-american)
I thought a locked phone simply ment that your mobile subscription was locked to your carrier for a given amount of time. And you can do whatever you want with your phone except changing carrier for the specified time. (?)
I don't think that is how it works, especially with the warranty..
as well as i have seen that there are different roms of the phone that are specific for let's say T-Mobile, i really don't know the nature of this contract..
Purchased my m8 soon after release. Purchased sunshine. I've had insurance, and my phone's a little dinged up. If I claim the insurance, has the root process and s-off remained the same since release? (Or since I've done it)
Also do I need to run dotta back to stock? Will that get me s-on again? Do I need to worry about that?
FYI
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/10/12/verizon-pixel-xl-updates-google-same-time/
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/10/12/13258286/verizon-google-pixel-fast-android-updates
Google also confirmed this.
From Ars
Update 2: Google agrees! The company told Ars "OS updates and monthly security patches will be updated on all Pixel devices (Verizon and non-Verizon versions) simultaneously."
Bootloader still won't be unlockable, but this is a step in the right direction.
Frankly, if software is updated quickly along with Google it makes an unlockable bootloader less important to a lot of people.
Verizon has a mixed past with this and Google. They screwed up the Galaxy Nexus but did OK with the Nexus 6.
I'm still happy to buy from Google since I see the ability to unlock the bootloader as insurance against Verizon changing it's mind a year down the road when everyone is paying attention to something new.
atlp99 said:
Frankly, if software is updated quickly along with Google it makes an unlockable bootloader less important to a lot of people.
Verizon has a mixed past with this and Google. They screwed up the Galaxy Nexus but did OK with the Nexus 6.
I'm still happy to buy from Google since I see the ability to unlock the bootloader as insurance against Verizon changing it's mind a year down the road when everyone is paying attention to something new.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, with a locked bootloader, there's absolutely no way to flash the Google stock image over it, correct?
Let's say down the road someone figures out a way to root the device and unlock the one sold by VZW. Theoretically, couldn't we then flash the factory stock Google firmware, effectively turning it into the same model as the Google Store one? Then we wouldn't have to worry about VZW pushing updates that would relock it if we flashed those? Of course I know one wouldn't take an OTA on a rooted, unlocked phone, but if you had to return to stock...you could go straight to Google's firmware.
If the VZW phones are going to get updates pushed straight from Google, then those images would have to be different from all the other Google updates, right? They would have to include the VZW bootloaders...would there be a way to inject the Google Unlockable bootloader into that OTA and then flash that?
Jank4AU said:
So, with a locked bootloader, there's absolutely no way to flash the Google stock image over it, correct?
Let's say down the road someone figures out a way to root the device and unlock the one sold by VZW. Theoretically, couldn't we then flash the factory stock Google firmware, effectively turning it into the same model as the Google Store one? Then we wouldn't have to worry about VZW pushing updates that would relock it if we flashed those? Of course I know one wouldn't take an OTA on a rooted, unlocked phone, but if you had to return to stock...you could go straight to Google's firmware.
If the VZW phones are going to get updates pushed straight from Google, then those images would have to be different from all the other Google updates, right? They would have to include the VZW bootloaders...would there be a way to inject the Google Unlockable bootloader into that OTA and then flash that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming that we only have one US version (which I think has been confirmed), and the fact that verizon bloat gets installed on first boot with sim card activation, I want to say that the phones are the same. Maybe the only difference between the google phone and the verizon phone is the "oem unlock" toggle will not work on the verizon phones. Or maybe they will have different bootloaders. Then there would be multiple firmware images, one for verizon, one unlocked. If you could get root, then you could possibly get an ota for an unlocked phone and install it, thus replacing the verizon bootloader (if it is in fact different). I am growing more and more skeptical that there is any difference at all between the verizon and google phones. I wonder if this is all going to fizzle out in a week when everyone gets their phones.
I have 1 on preorder from google and an upgrade preorder from Verizon right now. I'm torn on which one to go with because I will save a good bit of money by going through Verizon. All I really want to do is root, so I "might" be worried for no reason. Time will tell.
Yeah, I canceled my order through the Google Play store to get it through VZW on my company account once I learned Big Red wasn't holding up the updates. Ultimately, I may be okay with the locked bootloader as I'm getting older and have 3 kids. I don't have to time to mess with android like I used to. :crying:
---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
dbrohrer said:
Assuming that we only have one US version (which I think has been confirmed), and the fact that verizon bloat gets installed on first boot with sim card activation, I want to say that the phones are the same. Maybe the only difference between the google phone and the verizon phone is the "oem unlock" toggle will not work on the verizon phones. Or maybe they will have different bootloaders. Then there would be multiple firmware images, one for verizon, one unlocked. If you could get root, then you could possibly get an ota for an unlocked phone and install it, thus replacing the verizon bootloader (if it is in fact different). I am growing more and more skeptical that there is any difference at all between the verizon and google phones. I wonder if this is all going to fizzle out in a week when everyone gets their phones.
I have 1 on preorder from google and an upgrade preorder from Verizon right now. I'm torn on which one to go with because I will save a good bit of money by going through Verizon. All I really want to do is root, so I "might" be worried for no reason. Time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this phone is truly carrier unlocked, if you paid for it outright at Best Buy or where ever you decided to get it and took it to another carrier, how would future updates work? Maybe the Google store phones IMEI's are all stored as the unlocked bootloader batch and get updates from set A, while all other IMEI's get updates from set B to maintain the unlockable bootloader. If I'm on AT&T, with a phone purchased from any store other than Google, what's to keep that phone from getting the same Google update as the ones bought from the Play Store? I'm sure hoping there will be a way to flash the stock Google image over the top of the VZW phones, that would be ideal.
Jank4AU said:
If this phone is truly carrier unlocked, if you paid for it outright at Best Buy or where ever you decided to get it and took it to another carrier, how would future updates work? Maybe the Google store phones IMEI's are all stored as the unlocked bootloader batch and get updates from set A, while all other IMEI's get updates from set B to maintain the unlockable bootloader. If I'm on AT&T, with a phone purchased from any store other than Google, what's to keep that phone from getting the same Google update as the ones bought from the Play Store? I'm sure hoping there will be a way to flash the stock Google image over the top of the VZW phones, that would be ideal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point. If 2 separate firmware images are in circulation, Google has to give you the ability to get updates after you leave Verizon (I hope...). The more I think about it, the more I believe that there isn't going to be any difference. Fingers crossed that evleaks and every android blog site blew this way out of proportion.
Nexus 6 was sold by Verizon and was identical to the google play store phone. Bootloader could be unlocked and any factory image could be flashed on it.
The Nexus 6 was basically this way. Verizon kept their hands off it except for the branding on the back of the phone body. If they treat the pixels the same as the Nexus 6, there is little to no reason to buy straight from Google if you want to buy from Verizon.
The only difference for me is that i would have been able to spread out payment on my bill if I went through Verizon. Buying through Google meant that I had to pay for it up front.
For me, avoiding the possibility of an non unlockable bootloader was worth paying up front for.