[PSA]Bootloader, recovery, and kernel lockdown? Overturned! [UPDATE 5/26]

[uofajac]

I see how that might make sense testacon, but HTC did the same thing with the sensation which is on another carrier. Sprint has the nexus s 4g and the sg2 which are both open. I'm thinking HTC is to blame here.

[testacon]

Originally Posted by uofajac

I see how that might make sense testacon, but HTC did the same thing with the sensation which is on another carrier. Sprint has the nexus s 4g and the sg2 which are both open. I'm thinking HTC is to blame here.

I guess a better comparison would be to include overseas carriers as well, opposed to solely America ones. If HTC locked down their GSM phones within the rest of the world than yes, it's probably strictly HTC then. All US carrier are starting to crack down on ROM flashing, not just Sprint. Google owns Android so that weight might make Sprint less likely to try and push policies onto the Nexus line of phones. Has Samsung released the SG2 phones here yet on any carrier, if not, there is still time for them to arrive here locked down. I know the Epic was release in late August, but I don't follow the other carriers as closely as Sprint/Verizon.

[uofajac]

That makes sense. If that's the way things are going then google's phones are going to take over don't you think?

[testacon]

Originally Posted by uofajac

That makes sense. If that's the way things are going then google's phones are going to take over don't you think?

That's really a hard question to answer, because personally I just bought 2 Epic's off contract opposed to getting the Nexus S. I just couldn't see getting that phone with a new 2 year contract with stale technology within it, ESPECIALLY after losing my yearly upgrades. Google needs to step up and drop a dual core phone with a tegra 2 or better chipset in it to attract me in. I do have faith though that this community will overcome the locked boatloader in time, but I refuse to buy a phone that "might" be upgradable. Only buy a phone that you can live with as is, the rest will then be all gravy...

[boe]

Hello,

I'm new to the Android world but know that WM phones sucked unless you flashed them with the better roms available here. I'm a bit concerned I'll feel that same way about the EVO 3D.

Does anyone know if the Galaxy S II will be locked down as well or does it depend on the carrier?

[testacon]

Originally Posted by boe

Hello,

I'm new to the Android world but know that WM phones sucked unless you flashed them with the better roms available here. I'm a bit concerned I'll feel that same way about the EVO 3D.

Does anyone know if the Galaxy S II will be locked down as well or does it depend on the carrier?

I"m pretty sure that the EVO 3D being locked down was a shock especially since after the Thunderbolt dropped locked, nearly everyone here thought it was only a Verizon thing--HTC loves the community and wouldn't do it. Considering that this information is only a day or so old, I doubt anyone really knows what's going to happen. I would NOT be the least bit surprised to hear that the SG2 was locked too at release but hope it is not so. The only thing we can hope for if this does stay true that HTC left a bug, purposely or not that can be exploited into being able to use custom ROMS. Time will tell all, everything else is pure speculation.

[Mswezey]

Originally Posted by testacon

I"m pretty sure that the EVO 3D being locked down was a shock especially since after the Thunderbolt dropped locked, nearly everyone here thought it was only a Verizon thing--HTC loves the community and wouldn't do it. Considering that this information is only a day or so old, I doubt anyone really knows what's going to happen. I would NOT be the least bit surprised to hear that the SG2 was locked too at release but hope it is not so. The only thing we can hope for if this does stay true that HTC left a bug, purposely or not that can be exploited into being able to use custom ROMS. Time will tell all, everything else is pure speculation.

the thunderbolt is locked? i know one person off hand that has a thunderbolt and he is flashin roms to it

[BlackDynamite]

Originally Posted by Mswezey

the thunderbolt is locked? i know one person off hand that has a thunderbolt and he is flashin roms to it

The Thunderbolt was locked at first, but the stuff needed to unlock it "leaked" so now it can be unlocked.

[draghn]

That's different than a signed bootloader...

[antjones21]

HTC just posted this on Facebook and Twitter:

HTC
‎"There has been overwhelmingly customer feedback that people want access to open bootloaders on HTC phones. I want you to know that we've listened. Today, I'm confirming we will no longer be locking the bootloaders on our devices. Thanks for your passion, support and patience," Peter Chou, CEO of HTC