Quote:
Originally Posted by outerpip
Root comes from it being the beginning directory of an operating system, which is a program that runs. To root a phone means to change the program and how is appropriates itself, also know less lazily as reprogramming.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stparker38
Very familiar with terms "root" and "unlock"... but if you look up the definition to reprogram it is when you change the original program of something.... so reprogramming fits. ..you all sometimes sound like Droids using the same "lingo"...
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Root is the name of the superuser or administrator account in Linux and Unix. "Rooting" an Android phone, which runs on Linux, means to gain access to the superuser account. It's a slang term that is very specific in it's meaning. The etymology and definition are pretty black and white and not really up for debate.
Reprogramming is a very vague term and can mean many, many things.
Please see the following Wikipedia article for further information on the Root account in Unix/Linux:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_user