I don't want to know how to root, I can find my answer for that on Google, however what I don't get is what it does...
I know it unlocks the device somehow, but can't I simply access everything in the system if I compile android from source and install it on the device?
I have downloaded the android source and I believe I can access every possible thing, so why is rooting needed?
If I install an app as a system app, won't it automatically have the permissions to do what I need it to do?
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
If you have a new phone and want to install one of the many custom ROMs around, you simply need a rooted phone.
A custom ROM is in easy terms a custom made User Interface for the phone.
There is lot more complicated stuff going on under the hood, but in general you change the look and feel of you phone's UI.
The phone has to be rooted, because the manufacturers and net providers around pack a lot of useless crap called "bloatware" (like Samsung Shop and Samsung Play and Samsung Sing and Dance and Music and whatnot) on your phone, which often makes it slower than it can be without it.
But naturally the big corps don't want you to be able to get rid of that **** too easily, which is why you don't have access to the system folders as a normal user.
I guess in your case it's possible that you (if you compiled android from source and installed it on your device) so to say have an already rooted phone, since Android itself is rooted by default. Like I said, the manufacturers are the ones to unroot Android in order to dictate which apps their customers might or might not use.
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
meh, hope that helped a bit at least...
root- you would love to do it after reading this..
Root? what is it?
it is what i call full access to our phone, flash new roms, have dual boot (example- you can have to os like ics and JB), can access the evasive /data folder which holdes the apk/setups of apps installed from playstore and many other things..
If you are concerned about warranty you can unroot your phone and give in your phone for warranty. i have given my phone for warranty like this.
The most important thing i like about root is that i can fix my phone myself (if it is a software problem). any other question please ask, and i will answer it.
Thanks if helped!
I don't have the time for development anymore. I used to play with stuff like that years ago, but life has taken me away from it. I'd still like to be able to access everything on my phone and play with custom roms, and root lets me do that. The end consumer comment is a good one.
As for to root or not root, I tell most people who ask me to root for them what they use their phone for and explain what they would get out of rooting, and explain the risks involved. Seems that people who understand what rooting does are able to do it themselves, and the ones that ask you to do it for them usually decide against it after hearing "there is a tiny chance that your phone could get bricked" lol
If you just want to play emulators etc, how would you benefit from rooting?
IMO rooting is very useful if you want to keep touching system things in a stock rom, optimizing and debloating it, installing other people ROMs, etc... I believe that if you compile your own flavour of android and find no restriction doing whatever you want, you don't need to.
Android phone without root is nothing
McFex said:
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
McFex said:
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some phones can just be flashed (for example via usb) which gives you full control, others can be cracked.
Let me start by saying I'm not the new kid on the block. I've been using Android since it's inception. I am an Android fanatic. I root, tinker with roms, apps, settings, kernels, mods, etc. . You name it, I do it( as far as android is concerned). I say this with a singular purpose, don't flame me for this question because to me it seems completely valid.
Why does android not have the ability backup itself built in( this should not require root) ?
Why has Google not implemented the ability to do so from a computer? <<- This should be identical to how an iPhone is backed up ( don't flame on this because it's actually one of the things iPhone does better than anyone else, and I hate Apple. However I give credit where it's due)
Don't tell me we have plenty of options even if we're not rooted, if this we're the case then people would not rely on clockwork mod recoveries, twrp, or the like. Those types of restores should be available without having a custom recovery, custom rom, or root in and of itself.
Also don't bring up the backup using adb, it's hidden, and it is mediocre. It fails to backup a lot of things.
I'm asking only about a complete backup option, with possibly the option to select and deselect certain types of data<<--This to should be similar to backing up an iPhone .
Now who here would like this to be a feature implemented in the next version of android?
If you answer my questions please just be clear and concise.
I will respond should it be warranted, or requested.
This is not a flaming thread, don't do it.
I look forward to all of your responses.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
playerjunglejosh said:
Let me start by saying I'm not the new kid on the block. I've been using Android since it's inception. I am an Android fanatic. I root, tinker with roms, apps, settings, kernels, mods, etc. . You name it, I do it( as far as android is concerned). I say this with a singular purpose, don't flame me for this question because to me it seems completely valid.
Why does android not have the ability backup itself built in( this should not require root) ?
Why has Google not implemented the ability to do so from a computer? <<- This should be identical to how an iPhone is backed up ( don't flame on this because it's actually one of the things iPhone does better than anyone else, and I hate Apple. However I give credit where it's due)
Don't tell me we have plenty of options even if we're not rooted, if this we're the case then people would not rely on clockwork mod recoveries, twrp, or the like. Those types of restores should be available without having a custom recovery, custom rom, or root in and of itself.
Also don't bring up the backup using adb, it's hidden, and it is mediocre. It fails to backup a lot of things.
I'm asking only about a complete backup option, with possibly the option to select and deselect certain types of data<<--This to should be similar to backing up an iPhone .
Now who here would like this to be a feature implemented in the next version of android?
If you answer my questions please just be clear and concise.
I will respond should it be warranted, or requested.
This is not a flaming thread, don't do it.
I look forward to all of your responses.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you want some gain, you would have to bear some pain.......
Well... to be honest, i really don't use backups much, just titanium backup and we've got non-root alternatives as you stated, so , it's not a matter of great attention to me.... I like fresh and clean installs
playerjunglejosh said:
Let me start by saying I'm not the new kid on the block. I've been using Android since it's inception. I am an Android fanatic. I root, tinker with roms, apps, settings, kernels, mods, etc. . You name it, I do it( as far as android is concerned). I say this with a singular purpose, don't flame me for this question because to me it seems completely valid.
Why does android not have the ability backup itself built in( this should not require root) ?
Why has Google not implemented the ability to do so from a computer? <<- This should be identical to how an iPhone is backed up ( don't flame on this because it's actually one of the things iPhone does better than anyone else, and I hate Apple. However I give credit where it's due)
Don't tell me we have plenty of options even if we're not rooted, if this we're the case then people would not rely on clockwork mod recoveries, twrp, or the like. Those types of restores should be available without having a custom recovery, custom rom, or root in and of itself.
Also don't bring up the backup using adb, it's hidden, and it is mediocre. It fails to backup a lot of things.
I'm asking only about a complete backup option, with possibly the option to select and deselect certain types of data<<--This to should be similar to backing up an iPhone .
Now who here would like this to be a feature implemented in the next version of android?
If you answer my questions please just be clear and concise.
I will respond should it be warranted, or requested.
This is not a flaming thread, don't do it.
I look forward to all of your responses.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it seems like a interesting idea, when i had a ipod touch back then, i jail broke it and after a few days it decided to not want to turn on (stayed at apple logo) and iTunes detected it and i was able to restore it to brand spanking new. i dont think it would be possible for google to do so without root ( and a few Sues here and there from apple ) Android is based off linux right? we can make backups on linux because we have Super User permissions, we own this Computer, we can do all the Admin Crap we want. for android, Samsung owns your phone or HTC owns your phone, You do not have full Admin permissions on your device to make a backup (of the sort we are talking about) also im sure the OEM's would be angry with people easily being able to Restore their broken device so they wont buy that phone a second time or even get a bigger more expensive phone.
The reason I bring it up is not because of fresh installs, or whatever.
Here is an example:
A regular non techie person, has Android phone x. They make a complete backup using the aforementioned capabilities that isn't implemented yet. There phones screen goes out, they drop there phone in water, whatever the phone is not in working condition. Well if they had the capabilities that I'm referring to, that phone would need to be called on warranty, or for the latter insurance. Either way they are sent a new device, same model as they had previously. Now they sync there backup, and there back up and running.
The way it is now, that person would have to hope that Google syncs back there apps ( it has never worked for me, except for contacts, and for the most part developers aren't backing up there app data to Google so that is not something you get back).
Not to mention settings are never synced, so there's that.
Point being android does not have any good options to make a complete backup. The only real options require root, which an average consumer will not have. This is why I'm saying it should be simplified, to where we can do it via one click on a pc.
I personally would like to start a petition for this, as anyone could benefit from this function.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
eatsleep said:
Well, you want some gain, you would have to bear some pain.......
Well... to be honest, i really don't use backups much, just titanium backup and we've got non-root alternatives as you stated, so , it's not a matter of great attention to me.... I like fresh and clean installs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but if it's implemented within android that's not really an issue.
Look at it like this, we used to need root to screen shot, to Hotspot, to install apps out of the Android market ( not really been an issue since it hasn't been Google play because android was fairly mature by then). Point is Google gave those features, and implemented them natively, this removing need to root to do them. The same could be done with the ability to make backups.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Trozzul said:
it seems like a interesting idea, when i had a ipod touch back then, i jail broke it and after a few days it decided to not want to turn on (stayed at apple logo) and iTunes detected it and i was able to restore it to brand spanking new. i dont think it would be possible for google to do so without root ( and a few Sues here and there from apple ) Android is based off linux right? we can make backups on linux because we have Super User permissions, we own this Computer, we can do all the Admin Crap we want. for android, Samsung owns your phone or HTC owns your phone, You do not have full Admin permissions on your device to make a backup (of the sort we are talking about) also im sure the OEM's would be angry with people easily being able to Restore their broken device so they wont buy that phone a second time or even get a bigger more expensive phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ment to quote you in the above quote.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
playerjunglejosh said:
Ment to quote you in the above quote.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i think google has done enough to make google as great as it is today, im thinking the reason why we dont have one of these options could be that they want us to make a program for this? im sure eventually they will have such a option to download multiple apps on a que so we can install them quickly without have to go over Each specific one.
Well actually what I'm referring to would have to be done by Google.
Here's why, locked bootloaders, encrypted boot loaders, etc.
The developer community could make such a program, but it's going to need root to be able to do what I'm referring to.
Google would have to make the OEMs use a standard, so that it could be accomplished without exposing there software. This would probably mean our backups would have to be encrypted on a per Google account basis.
It's not an impossible feat.
1) It would simply require Google to make the standard, and ensure that it's enforced. Ignoring it would mean no Google services, which to most is a huge negative.
2) Google release the program.
3) OEM would need to ensure compliance with said program, and submit software drivers to Google, or simply distribute them via there website( as they do now). Preferably submitting them to Google.
4) Making backups would become so much easier, especially for the average joe
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Trozzul said:
well i think google has done enough to make google as great as it is today, im thinking the reason why we dont have one of these options could be that they want us to make a program for this? im sure eventually they will have such a option to download multiple apps on a que so we can install them quickly without have to go over Each specific one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One big problem with this is the syncing of app data. I don't want to have to restart my games every time I get a different device( especially a replacement device that is the same model as my prior device).
Another thing, I keep an electronic checkbook, and would be thrilled if I could keep that app data from here on out, even when I change devices. However this definitely something I don't want Google's prying eyes on. So only local backup, which makes the complete backup via pc even more vital.
Maybe since businesses are the next aim, they will implement this feature because it can be vital certain data be absolutely private, but still have backups.
Sent from my LG-E980 using xda app-developers app
Hello,
I've had my S4 for a little over a year and have been pretty happy with it. I came from using an iPhone for a few years before. With the upgrade in Kit Kat and not being able to easily access folders has been very frustrating and I wanted more control on my phone (turn on/off GPS for example and other things Tasker is blocked from doing). My understanding is that rooting would fix those issues. However I'm a little scared as how to proceed.
Here are some of my questions/concerns:
Will I get better performance from my phone (assuming I have all the same sort of settings)?
Are there apps that will not work on a rooted phone?
Which is an appropriate ROM to choose? (Stock Android, CyanogenMod, etc.)
Is there a way to backup an entire image (data and everything) of what I have now on my Samsung so I can restore it if I really mess up. I am thinking this would be similar in Windows, where I can make a disk image to be able to restore the entire OS and all the data.
What is the best way to reload apps I currently use (and have paid for) back onto the rooted device? Do I just make a list on paper and then go one-by-one and re-install them?
Will rooting effect my access to the Google Play Store?
How badly can I brick my phone? Can I get it to a point that it is completely restoreable? That is assuming I didn't do anything outside of following instructions and didn't connect it to my car battery
Will I be able to access my S4 like a drive or is that a hardware issue?
Is TouchWiz really that lousy?
Fortunately there is a lot of information out there, but it is overwhelming. Besides this site, are there other ones you recommend reading?
Thank you for the help.
OK, I didn't realize how crappy web browsing is with out Adblock! I can't live like this! I'm so tempted to bootloader unlock and root. But my concern is losing camera features. Can someone really outline EXACTLY what I will lose if I bootloader unlock and how different the camera is as well.
I actually don't take a lot of photos with my camera anyway, but I really want a list of things that change to help me make the right decision. I haven't even installed all my apps yet because we all know what happens when you BL unlock. Actually now that I think about it...I didn't install my apps because I can't restore using Titanium Backup because I have to be rooted. How anyone lived without root, adblock/adaway, and Titanium backup is beyond me. But I'm also a chronic phone swapper. It's a nasty addiction. My favorite phone thus far has been the M8 though. Definitely covered all the bases all it was missing was 3GB of ram and wireless charging. I didn't even mind Sense which I thought I would immediately get rid of and convert it to a GPe edition.
Anyway anyone with UL BL that can tell me exactly what changed I would appreciate it.
I don't know myself, but you might want to ask in the Q&A section instead.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/bootloader-unlock-t2888735 - This thread contains a fair amount of information relating to what is lost, and what isn't lost.
Something worth considering and not listed nearly as often as a possible result of unlocking without trim area / DRM backup (to restore later) ~ upcoming sony apps / not yet released apps that will rely on the keys to run. (hypothetically, a video version of track I'd is released and needs the keys not to fc)
Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk
Thanks all. I figured this has been answered but couldn't find a comprehensive list
Still.open to any other feedback that thread didn't go into a lot.of detail.
Use Firefox +ADBlock for now
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Hats off to everyone on this forum. It's been awhile since I been on here and I am happy to see it still going strong.
I am new to the S8+ and new to modding in 2019. I haven't messed around with this stuff since the "getting the evo to work on boost" days. I am looking for some advise/recommendations on what to choose as far as roms, etc., from the gate from someone who may have had an experience in what I'm trying to achieve rather than going through hundreds of rom post to find the answer I'm looking for. I stepped away from "smart" phones for awhile and came back only when I found out I could lock them down as much as possible using programs like bk disabler (rip). Even root at the time didn't list the "apps in the background" (if you know what I mean) for me to edit or disable them.
I am looking to root (if needed anymore) my device and install an ultra slim/lite rom, no extra apps on it that don't need to be there, especially social media apps. Not sure if roms still come with a separate gaps install option but not having them is fine as well as I will not be signing into any account on my phone and will only want to use youtube as far as the only goog service used, so i wont be able to use any of them anyway besides tube (unless of course there is now a way to use maps and such without signing in?). If theres such a rom out there of course it would need to be stable. I do not want android 9 as none of the apps I actually use (like bk disabler/acr/etc) work with pie from what I have read. Goog wants all the tracking to themselves now I guess, hence why I am looking for a rom that is as slim as possible. I just want to make calls, text, browse the web and use the tube without having all kinds of accounts and sign ups for any of it. I am really tired of big tech but going back to a black and white nokia in 2019 is not an option anymore.
So a few questions I have would be.. Whats the best root process? I see Odin is still a thing so which version should I be using, also which kernel should I be using? Are different roms still based off different kernels, if so which is better? And lastly what rom should I choose or which rom creator is now the person to look out for?
I know I'm oldshool at this point so please bare with me on these questions. Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be very much appreciated. Thanks!