[Q] Sony Xperia U and the (un)locked bootloader

[Q] Sony Xperia U and the (un)locked bootloader - Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go

Hello!
First, I'm sorry to post this message in the wrong place! I'm new at this! So I'l transcribe what I've already written.
I've never been a huge fan of Android, but when my Nokia N95 died I didn't have many choices to buy a Cell which was not Android. So I bought a TMN (Portuguese) locked Xperia U, which had a great coast/quality (apparently) good.
Soon it bothered me the fact of the huge branded and useful stuff that it brings by factory and what drove me mad was the fact that I couldn't uninstall or customize my phone because it was not rooted! Then I rooted it, by flashtool, and soon after I installed a customized ROM (Zperience) which made the phone faster and cooler (in the mean time I've updated to ICS, but I sort have to ask "please" to the phone, so I could make a phone call or send an SMS (SO SLOW!!!!)).
But, as I now more about Android, I found out that if I install a custom kernell (I'm thinking in the Mujaedin) it would make my phone even faster and I could (finally!) get the full profit from my hardware! But I have my bootloader locked and my phone says that I can't unlock it even if I took the chance of loosing my warranty!
All this text to ask: why some come with the bootloader unlocked, others came with it unlockable and others that can't be unlocked???
..it's so confusing for me that drive's me crazy!!!
My girlfriend has one like mine (from other operator from Portugal) and it's not yet in ICS, but it's really faster then mine!
Thank you for any help or any "enlightenment"!
Kabwenga

Usualy when you buy a phone by an operator (TMN, Vodafone, TIM, etc etc) it comes with locked bl. Why is that?
Just because no operator wants you to remove or customize anything and thus keeping your phone without its bloatware.
Anyway, usualy just by rooting the phone, you can remove bloat and keep your device with locked bl.
The other issue with unlocking it is that you lose your warranty. This happens because with an unlocked bl you can install custom kernel, and with great powers, comes great responsability: with custom kernel you can overclock the cpu, install different governors / schedulers, and thus hightening the chances of a hard brick (making your phone run always at full speed keeps it from cooling off, and some have reported phones heating as much as burning their hands / ears - but not from XU, so i've heard).
Nevertheless, you always can relock your bootloader. I recommend doing so if you think you're gonna need the warranty, or just to sell the phone to someone you think will mess with it and blame you
So, some phones come with unlocked bl, others come with locked. This is just the companies acting on their own behalf, to keep themselves safeguarded from angry customers with burning phones

It's unfortunate that you can't unlock your boot loader as it does open up possibilities for what otherwise appears to be an end-of-life phone.
My XU started on Gingerbread and as you noticed of your girlfriend's phone, was very usable. When the Ice Cream Sandwich update arrived I jumped at it, but to be honest I still to this day wish I hadn't as ever since that point it has been one thing after another that's just not quite right about the phone.
I'm currently using pipi14's Jelly Bean ROM (as of a few days ago) and although I'd say performance is better than ICS, it's still nowhere near GB, and now things like the LED bar don't work quite right which is annoying as I do value it.
If I were in your position I would look for a tweaked "stock" Gingerbread ROM which should offer better performance but that you should still be able to use, even with your locked bootloader. If you don't want to "downgrade" you could always try one of the locked bootloader-compatible ICS ROMs but their performance will never be as good as the GB ones.

raf.lozano said:
Usualy when you buy a phone by an operator (TMN, Vodafone, TIM, etc etc) it comes with locked bl. Why is that?
Just because no operator wants you to remove or customize anything and thus keeping your phone without its bloatware.
Anyway, usualy just by rooting the phone, you can remove bloat and keep your device with locked bl.
The other issue with unlocking it is that you lose your warranty. This happens because with an unlocked bl you can install custom kernel, and with great powers, comes great responsability: with custom kernel you can overclock the cpu, install different governors / schedulers, and thus hightening the chances of a hard brick (making your phone run always at full speed keeps it from cooling off, and some have reported phones heating as much as burning their hands / ears - but not from XU, so i've heard).
Nevertheless, you always can relock your bootloader. I recommend doing so if you think you're gonna need the warranty, or just to sell the phone to someone you think will mess with it and blame you
So, some phones come with unlocked bl, others come with locked. This is just the companies acting on their own behalf, to keep themselves safeguarded from angry customers with burning phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Locked bootloader we cant do anything i know dat but there are some roms which can be used by locked bootloader......
1) Paranoid android----http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2216702
2) AOKP Rom ---- http://www25.zippyshare.com/v/76535564/file.html
For both the above u shud flash Gapps http://goo.im/gapps/gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip
Hope it helpss.....
Happy flashing

First of all, thank you for your time and answers!
I'm very new to this android stuff, as I was very resistant to migrate to android mainly because of this: it drives me mad the fact I have a "ferrari" limited to 30 mph! It's very good hardware and very limited software, so it's very general to all brands and models...
That being said, I sent my Xperia to warranty, because I don't believe it was "normal" the way that my display was responding to touch (sometimes didn't respond at all, other times displayed several keys when I was not touching it). Nevertheless, I still don't understand why some phone's came with the bootloader unlockable and other don't, despite the consequences... :S
Cheers!

Kabwenga said:
First of all, thank you for your time and answers!
I'm very new to this android stuff, as I was very resistant to migrate to android mainly because of this: it drives me mad the fact I have a "ferrari" limited to 30 mph! It's very good hardware and very limited software, so it's very general to all brands and models...
That being said, I sent my Xperia to warranty, because I don't believe it was "normal" the way that my display was responding to touch (sometimes didn't respond at all, other times displayed several keys when I was not touching it). Nevertheless, I still don't understand why some phone's came with the bootloader unlockable and other don't, despite the consequences... :S
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.
From my experience, i would recommend you to just root your device, install the newest, .100 debranded rom and use it.
I have unlocked my bootloader and tried using Transcendence and Sliding kernels, but both were driving me crazy: apps were closing while i was using them, system was unbearably laggy, at the end it took me 5minutes to enter phone.apk and make a call (i managed to make it after removing battery, because i couldn't even restart the phone).
Now i'm running .100 firmware debranded by pirej and it works like a charm .
So don't worry about custom kernels, root only and have fun

Related

Hi, new photon owner

Just wanted to drop a line as a new Motorola Photon owner.
I have been an XDA member for years and owned multiple devices. The Photon is replacing a HTC Shift. I additionally own a Sony S tablet.
Enjoying this new device!

dtaylorr said:
Just wanted to drop a line as a new Motorola Photon owner.
I have been an XDA member for years and owned multiple devices. The Photon is replacing a HTC Shift. I additionally own a Sony S tablet.
Enjoying this new device!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to the Photon community!

Yea, welcome to the Family!

Welcome! I'm new too. Long time lurker, brand new poster. I have the Motorola Electrify, which is basically the same as the photon with some slightly different software, and no 4G =(. If you see people saying things like "Will you make an Electrify Version?" or "Does this work on Electrify?" That's just because the Photon and Electrify are so similar that making two forums is kind of silly. Unfortunately for me, my BL is locked, but I believe all versions of the Photon can be unlocked, so if Custom ROMs tickle your fancy, you're in luck!

Iorchova said:
Unfortunately for me, my BL is locked, but I believe all versions of the Photon can be unlocked, so if Custom ROMs tickle your fancy, you're in luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not say unfortunate, I was unlocked and custom for months. 2/15/2012 I went bone stock and never looked back!!! MotoBLUR is not the best, but play with it long enough and you get things where you want them, you become confortable? Matter fact, if you put 10 photons side-by-side, I could pick mine on the first try!

dsims7_2000 said:
I would not say unfortunate, I was unlocked and custom for months. 2/15/2012 I went bone stock and never looked back!!! MotoBLUR is not the best, but play with it long enough and you get things where you want them, you become confortable? Matter fact, if you put 10 photons side-by-side, I could pick mine on the first try!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm mostly fine with stock. I love it honestly. I just want to remove anything that's tracking me (a root should probably help with that) and to replace webtop with Ubuntop or Webtop+ (I'm still researching this.). I wouldn't mind switching to a custom rom if it still offered the full encryption, improved Exchange connectivity and the ability to get a real read on my extended battery.
I don't mean to hijack the thread, I just finally found a post with someone that likes stock and may know enough to be able to compare both or at least help me out in my searching.

srkelley said:
I don't mean to hijack the thread, I just finally found a post with someone that likes stock and may know enough to be able to compare both or at least help me out in my searching.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see it as jacking, I see it as a "one shop stop" for a new member and bring them up to speed on a few items/post that may interest them.
The encryption/tracking issue has been around for some time. Personally, I dont care. I go to work, home, maybe the grocery store, mall sometimes, and law enforcement is not looking for me (I dont think). secondly, once all carriers ditch CarrierIQ (is that the company that did their tracking?, that pretty much eased some mines. Personally, my GPS and WiFi (unless I need it) are off, you may get close off cell phone tower, but exactly where I am...............
As for Stock, ROM's gave me a headache. One day the phone worked, next it did not, would get home and it was working again? When I finally decided to put it back, I made a serious effort to see what stock had to offer, 2 days later I was happy and decided to dig deeper. Yes, I have a lot of bloatware, I just don't use it! Matter fact, I really don't hit the "App's" icon. Everything I do on a normal is on one of the Panels that I can find easily. But since I use the phone so much, if I'm in e-mail and I want to chack my bank, I just press and hold the home button and the last 10 current apps come up anyway, then I open the bank.

Thanks everyone.
I am a heavy modder, and spent 5 hours the first night I had my Photon downloading apps and setting up everything the way I like.

dtaylorr said:
Thanks everyone.
I am a heavy modder, and spent 5 hours the first night I had my Photon downloading apps and setting up everything the way I like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
F.Y.I., downloading apps and setting everything up and modding are apples and oranges. Like srkelley and I, I have downloading apps and set everything up, stock! (matter fact, at one point I had 230+ apps, broke that down to less than 60!
Modding = Rooting (gaining Admin Rights to root directory) and unlocking (kicking Sprint to the door and taking control of your phone to do anything you damm well please, Like blowing away SprintNSCAR and installing whatever you want!)

dsims7_2000 said:
I don't see it as jacking, I see it as a "one shop stop" for a new member and bring them up to speed on a few items/post that may interest them.
The encryption/tracking issue has been around for some time. Personally, I dont care. I go to work, home, maybe the grocery store, mall sometimes, and law enforcement is not looking for me (I dont think). secondly, once all carriers ditch CarrierIQ (is that the company that did their tracking?, that pretty much eased some mines. Personally, my GPS and WiFi (unless I need it) are off, you may get close off cell phone tower, but exactly where I am...............
As for Stock, ROM's gave me a headache. One day the phone worked, next it did not, would get home and it was working again? When I finally decided to put it back, I made a serious effort to see what stock had to offer, 2 days later I was happy and decided to dig deeper. Yes, I have a lot of bloatware, I just don't use it! Matter fact, I really don't hit the "App's" icon. Everything I do on a normal is on one of the Panels that I can find easily. But since I use the phone so much, if I'm in e-mail and I want to chack my bank, I just press and hold the home button and the last 10 current apps come up anyway, then I open the bank.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I'm too boring for big brother, but if anything were to ever occur then I'd like to make things as difficult as possible for them legally. I just don't like people going through my stuff but pretty much have to accept that it happens in our lives now. Not without a fight and exercising all of my rights though!
I'm probably going to back up stock and try something else for a while. I honestly don't feel limited in stock, just in Webtop. If I'm going to really go through with modifying anything then I may try underclocking the processor to see if I can get better battery life without losing performance in regular use. I don't do anything too taxing on the phone so it's power is mostly wasted on me outside of keeping things smooth.

hello
Welcome,have you unlocked and rooted?

Hi,
I also bought it few days back and I have rooted it and installed CWM too. My photon is unlocked meaning I can put any operators sim and use it. I am now in India and using it with Tata Docomo.
If I change the rom, do I have to unlock it again or it will stay unlocked forever ?
Thanks.

kikloo said:
Hi,
I also bought it few days back and I have rooted it and installed CWM too. My photon is unlocked meaning I can put any operators sim and use it. I am now in India and using it with Tata Docomo.
If I change the rom, do I have to unlock it again or it will stay unlocked forever ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've unlocked the bootloader, so you can install custom ROMs, kernels, etc.
GSM isn't locked unless you are in the US, its a world phone.

Another Electrify user here, but I'm neither new here, nor new to the device. I've had it for a little over 4 months now. And I will never go back to stock. Screw that. The closest I will consider going is CM7.2. CyanogenMod+Gingerbread. I really don't want to downgrade from ICS, though. It's too nice. I will admit part of the thrill is having something most others (93% of Android users!) do not, but I genuinely like it on its own as well. I just got a huge performance increase going from stock to Joker's CM9, and ICS requires more resources than Gingerbread. Yet the phone runs faster? How does THAT work? It's because of bloatware. And Blur is just terribad. I imagine CM7.2 would be pretty slick since it doesn't require the power of ICS and has all the crap from Blur removed.
kikloo said:
If I change the rom, do I have to unlock it again or it will stay unlocked forever ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope! If you unlock the bootloader, it's unlocked. Flashing ROMs doesn't touch the bootloader. To re-lock the bootloader you would have to flash a locked bootloader. I haven't heard of anybody doing that, though.

[Q] Xperia S Back from the dead

Hi guys!
I thought i'd share my experience with you you see if this has happened to anyone else!
I bought a nearly new Xperia S off ebay for £200 It was in good condition but came without the smart tags and headphones so if anyone has got spares they'd like to donate PM me please lol
Anyway the phone was 3UK locked and branded so I flashed generic UK firmware abd unlocked it and started using it. After a short while I got the usual urge to stsrt modifying it (as i've done with half a dozen previous HTC's) so looked into flashing a modified ROM. I quickly discovered that the bootloader needed to be unlocked si I did the check on my handset only to find it was not possible on my unit, gutted!
A few weeks usage rolled past when the phone ran out of battery while using google nav on a journey, I plugged the phone in when I got home but the phone would not charge, I tried 3 different USB leads and 2 othewr mains adaptors but it never showed any signs of life from that point on.
I sent the phone away for warranty repair which took about 2 weeks and when it finally came back it worked fine (new battery and a flex replaced). The phone had also had a software flash and when I checked in the service menu it now reads "Bootloader Unlockable:Yes"!!! Now i'm torn between modifying my phone and keaving the warranty intact lol!!
Just wondered if anyone else had come across anything like this...

£200? Da fuq?

drews said:
Hi guys!
I thought i'd share my experience with you you see if this has happened to anyone else!
I bought a nearly new Xperia S off ebay for £200 It was in good condition but came without the smart tags and headphones so if anyone has got spares they'd like to donate PM me please lol
Anyway the phone was 3UK locked and branded so I flashed generic UK firmware abd unlocked it and started using it. After a short while I got the usual urge to stsrt modifying it (as i've done with half a dozen previous HTC's) so looked into flashing a modified ROM. I quickly discovered that the bootloader needed to be unlocked si I did the check on my handset only to find it was not possible on my unit, gutted!
A few weeks usage rolled past when the phone ran out of battery while using google nav on a journey, I plugged the phone in when I got home but the phone would not charge, I tried 3 different USB leads and 2 othewr mains adaptors but it never showed any signs of life from that point on.
I sent the phone away for warranty repair which took about 2 weeks and when it finally came back it worked fine (new battery and a flex replaced). The phone had also had a software flash and when I checked in the service menu it now reads "Bootloader Unlockable:Yes"!!! Now i'm torn between modifying my phone and keaving the warranty intact lol!!
Just wondered if anyone else had come across anything like this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check sony's unlocking website and read carefuly:
As far as I understand from reading it, unlocking your bootloader won't "automatically" void your warranty unless the hypothetical damage is caused by hacking misuse (exteme overheat due to ridiculous overclocking, etc).
If it can't be attributed to software flashing then it's still supposed to be covered (as far as I understand, better go read it yourself).

gtrab said:
Check sony's unlocking website and read carefuly:
As far as I understand from reading it, unlocking your bootloader won't "automatically" void your warranty unless the hypothetical damage is caused by hacking misuse (exteme overheat due to ridiculous overclocking, etc).
If it can't be attributed to software flashing then it's still supposed to be covered (as far as I understand, better go read it yourself).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, you read it correct.
Most people just scroll through it assuming the warranty is voided upon unlocking your bootloader. It just says "may", which leaves them not liable if you break your device via the reasons you mentioned above.
In the past, various Sony (Ericsson then) devices have been sent in with unlocked bootloaders for various issues, and I'm pretty sure people have sent in their S devices as well (yellow tint, broken ports, bad batterys).
So pretty much...unlock responsibly!
Ps: If you are unlocking your bootloader for just root and such, when ICS is out there will probably be a non-unlocking root at some point, just incase you don't want to fully modify your device.

Suggestions for a new owner

Hi I have been a samsung freak.
Been using Odin and tars and stuff since ages , so much so that I can flash root update my phone with ease 100 times a day.
My photon will be shipped tomorrow . It will be used for GSM purposes when I all be outta country or my dad will use it when he will be going to Asia
May be later it all be used on the cdma network
Are there any suggestions for me on how can I go about this new phone. ( rooting .. updating.. unlocking and all )
What should I know and what should I do upon receiving it .
Buttery Smooth THS15 Deviled

First read the important threads in dev section. Everything is written there.
Compendium, tegra flashing, unlocking,torpedo rooting and other. You must read it, if you want to use some custom things. Do not skip this step. You don't have to understand everything for the first time, but read it, you will understand it later.

Thanks mate.
The update says it all be at my doorstep in 3 more he's.
Ans then I will be heading to the section.
Regads
Buttery Smooth THS15 Deviled

lord dredd said:
Thanks mate.
The update says it all be at my doorstep in 3 more he's.
Ans then I will be heading to the section.
Regads
Buttery Smooth THS15 Deviled
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to a superior phone and manufacturer. No, really, as far as build quality and radio, Sammy doesn't hold a candle to moto.
But yes, as Peetr said, read everything. Sammy users for some reason tend to have a hard time adjusting to our way of doing things. A couple things to watch out for...
1) there is a possibility that your phone will come with 2.3.5 installed. If this is the case, DO NOT try to unlock or install any custom anything. The only thing you can really do is root.
2) if you are on 2.3.4, DO NOT take the ota update when it prompts you. This will prevent you from installing ROMs and such.
3) open the door
4) get on the floor
5) everybody walk the dinosaur

Acvice said:
Welcome to a superior phone and manufacturer. No, really, as far as build quality and radio, Sammy doesn't hold a candle to moto.
But yes, as Peetr said, read everything. Sammy users for some reason tend to have a hard time adjusting to our way of doing things. A couple things to watch out for...
1) there is a possibility that your phone will come with 2.3.5 installed. If this is the case, DO NOT try to unlock or install any custom anything. The only thing you can really do is root.
2) if you are on 2.3.4, DO NOT take the ota update when it prompts you. This will prevent you from installing ROMs and such.
3) open the door
4) get on the floor
5) everybody walk the dinosaur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Loving 3,4, & 5.
I just received a brand new one, shipped with 2.3.4 and I haven't been bothered about an update yet (4 days later) - still not guaranteeing his will be 2.3.4.... But according to sprint, that's what they ate currently shipping with.
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

You might also want to check out qbking77 on YouTube. He has a lot of videos on how to root, unlock, flash roms etc
sent from my MoPhoKing CMX MoPho

mine is shipped
and its still on .4 , it came thru a third party and not sprint ,
already rooted , donno which method though ,
bootloader still locked.
trying to find how to unlock it , hope its not dependent upon the method of rooting .
Biggest disappointment, 8MP crappy camera , just didnt expect it to be so horrible in low light ,
just trying out mant camera apps which can brighten and make the low light snaps a bit sharper

lord dredd said:
mine is shipped
and its still on .4 , it came thru a third party and not sprint ,
already rooted , donno which method though ,
bootloader still locked.
trying to find how to unlock it , hope its not dependent upon the method of rooting .
Biggest disappointment, 8MP crappy camera , just didnt expect it to be so horrible in low light ,
just trying out mant camera apps which can brighten and make the low light snaps a bit sharper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to unlock your bootloader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwRjFrzClBs
Dealing with lowlight pics: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.worldiety.athentech.perfectlyclear

Acvice said:
How to unlock your bootloader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwRjFrzClBs
Dealing with lowlight pics: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.worldiety.athentech.perfectlyclear
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Acvice : thanks for the help !!
but the bootloader unlocking pudding thread has been updated, the video shows older files and all.
still am confused coz with the looks of it , it all seemed as if the phone should be stock when unlocking bootloader with stock recovery and after the unlocking , rooting should be undertaken
I am 0 when adb comes , no knowledge whatsoever abount adb
any help would be highly appreciated,
than

~moved~

Totally second the "read everything". I'm a Linux/CLI/ADB noob, but I read everything I can. It doesn't always make sense, but it's good to have it floating around up there.
Also, not sure if anyone told you, but if you can unlock the bootloader, you lose everything. As in, when you turn it back on, you will have to re-activate it, and all your apps and data will be gone. Activation was painless and automated with US Cellular (even the second time). Also, if you use Titanium Backup to backup Gingerbread stuff, do not restore it under CM9/ICS. You will boot loop. Download the apps from Google Play, and then use Ti to restore their data. And restore no system data. Hold onto your Gingerbread Ti backups, but stick 'em on a hard drive somewhere, but keep 'em off your SD card once you go ICS. They'll just get in the way.
You said you couldn't find the derpunlock.sbf? Derpunlock is included in the Electrify unlock file. An Electrify's just a 3G Photon, so don't take my word for it, but I bet the file's the same. You can find the Electrify.zip in the downloads section at Team US Cellular (another phone community/dev site). Not sure if you have to be a member to download. If so, PM me and I'll get you the file somehow.

~ Mods please lock this thread ~

Thread closed as per OP request.
MD