[Q] Which OEM's offer official bootloader unlocks? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Other than HTC, which OEMs offer official bootloader unlocks,including their devices that are subsidized by AT&T? I'm hoping LG might, as the G2 looks really nice, and the price recently dropped because of the Flex.

trevorftard said:
Other than HTC, which OEMs offer official bootloader unlocks,including their devices that are subsidized by AT&T? I'm hoping LG might, as the G2 looks really nice, and the price recently dropped because of the Flex.
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Yea, ATT isn't real big on letting manufacturers have their phones get unlocked like that. If it is really that big of a concern, you would be best served to buy an international version of the phone you like or get a developer edition model. Alternatively, most Tmo versions of phones that ATT has locked down are not for their network and once unlocked, have all the bands to work on ATT properly with 2g/3g/4g/LTE where as many ATT phones have part of Tmo bands locked down.

trevorftard said:
Other than HTC, which OEMs offer official bootloader unlocks,including their devices that are subsidized by AT&T? I'm hoping LG might, as the G2 looks really nice, and the price recently dropped because of the Flex.
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Right now the G2 doesn't have a unlocked bootloader instead it uses Loki flash, LG has a up and down record of unlocked bootloaders. Sony devices the days usually always have the ability to unlock the bootloader. If you really want a great device for ATT with an easy official unlockable bootloader the Nexus 5 is an excellent choice. As previously mentioned ATT has ratcheted up it's stance on locking bootloader, so keep that in mind as well when buying devices, I second looking at developer edition or unlocked edition devices if you can swing it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

shimp208 said:
Right now the G2 doesn't have a unlocked bootloader instead it uses Loki flash, LG has a up and down record of unlocked bootloaders. Sony devices the days usually always have the ability to unlock the bootloader. If you really want a great device for ATT with an easy official unlockable bootloader the Nexus 5 is an excellent choice. As previously mentioned ATT has ratcheted up it's stance on locking bootloader, so keep that in mind as well when buying devices, I second looking at developer edition or unlocked edition devices if you can swing it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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I know they have a terrible history with this. The thing is, I want to take advantage of the fact that I have 15 months left on my contract and I can upgrade already on Next and pay close to the same as what I'm paying now. I don't care much for HTC, but I can't stand OEM skins, and I already have a Moto X Dev Edition and a Nexus 4, and if HTC is the only one I can flash, that's the brand I'll be going with. Tell me more about Loki Flash...

trevorftard said:
I know they have a terrible history with this. The thing is, I want to take advantage of the fact that I have 15 months left on my contract and I can upgrade already on Next and pay close to the same as what I'm paying now. I don't care much for HTC, but I can't stand OEM skins, and I already have a Moto X Dev Edition and a Nexus 4, and if HTC is the only one I can flash, that's the brand I'll be going with. Tell me more about Loki Flash...
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Essentially Loki Flash is was of injecting boot, recovery.img's without tripping the secure boot of devices. More info on how it works and what it is can be found in the README for the Loki source code found here.

shimp208 said:
Essentially Loki Flash is was of injecting boot, recovery.img's without tripping the secure boot of devices. More info on how it works and what it is can be found in the README for the Loki source code found here.
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That sounds awesome. Has it been patched yet on the G2?

trevorftard said:
That sounds awesome. Has it been patched yet on the G2?
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Yes it has check out this thread for an example http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2449670
:thumbup:.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

A few words for my fellow Photoners

My contract with Sprint is going to be up soon and, sadly, I am moving on to a different device. Although my Photon was a great device the unfulfilled promises from Moto/Sprint and lack of a trouble free ROM above Gingerbread leaves me no other suitable option but to upgrade. Tie that to the fact that I have moved to an area where Sprint service barely exists and my P4G's fate is sealed.
That said, everyone here in the Photon forums will be missed. There are some very talented dev's here that I owe a great amount of Thanks to. Loki, th3bill, jokersax and so many others made it possible to unlock much of my device's potential. If only Moto would have coughed up what they promised the Photon would have truly been a formitable device for anyone to reckon with.
Anyone have suggestions on the best place to list a near mint Photon4G with an unlockable bootloader? I'm sure it could possibly be of some use to a devloper somewhere.
(Mods please don't delete, I am not trying to sell here. Just want to know the best place to list.)
I got a Photon Q used for $100. No LTE here yet, but was able to Unlock bootloader and running CM10.2
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
rbeavers said:
I got a Photon Q used for $100. No LTE here yet, but was able to Unlock bootloader and running CM10.2
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Sounds like a good deal. For me I'm going to Big Red, Sprint has no local service here (only roaming) and everyone else is either more $$ or bad service (did a lot of research). So I gave in and am getting the GS4.
The Moto X will be available soon on Verizon.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
rbeavers said:
The Moto X will be available soon on Verizon.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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But will it be rootable and romable??
FernBch said:
Sounds like a good deal. For me I'm going to Big Red, Sprint has no local service here (only roaming) and everyone else is either more $$ or bad service (did a lot of research). So I gave in and am getting the GS4.
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I switched to ATT for the same reasons you're talking about Verizon. I also got the S4 and I LOVE it. It has the best battery life of any phone I have ever had, bar none. I bought two extra batteries and a charger, as I always do when I get a new phone, it's been two months now, and I have yet to use them. One day I got the battery down to 17%, but otherwise, never below 30%, and I do use the phone a lot. I don't miss my Moto phones at all. Never again. Regarding selling your phone, I think they promote swappa around here. You could always use craigslist too. But if you're in a position to consider it, as I was, think about donating to one of the developers. I donated my phone and honestly hope some good has come of it.
rbeavers said:
The Moto X will be available soon on Verizon.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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For me, I cannot think of a phone I want LESS than this moto phone. They used to have better radios but I don't think that's true anymore. My S4 works everywhere I've needed it. No dropped calls, 4G service that's much better than Sprints service, and we had 4G LTE here in Houston. Step away from the moto addiction, you won't be sorry you did. There is GOOD life without moto, and Punit Soni doesn't need your buisness, trust me on that. That guy has deluded himself about his honesty and ethics, to the point that he doesn't even realize he talks out of both sides of his mouth.
I agree with the sentiments expressed on the development here, and the community that was built. It was the friendliest, most helpful group of people I'd ever been around bar none. I miss that a lot, but I haven't missed the photon for 5 minutes. Well, I kind of missed it while I used the Galaxy Nexus I bought off ebay for six months, that thing had horrible battery life, but otherwise was an equivalent phone. Since I've had the S4, not missed the photon for a minute.
Thanks retailguy, you're the second person that has told me good things about the GS4. Hopefully I'll get the MDK build instead of ME7 when I pick it up this week.
I'm ditching smartphones completely and moving to the Omate TrueSmart. If I'm going to loose Ubuntu for Android functionality I see no reason for me to waste my money on a smartphone.
FernBch said:
But will it be rootable and romable??
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Most likely. Motorola has built a website to unlock the bootloader. But beware, the moment you use it, your warranty will be voided.
---------- Post added at 08:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:26 PM ----------
FernBch said:
Thanks retailguy, you're the second person that has told me good things about the GS4. Hopefully I'll get the MDK build instead of ME7 when I pick it up this week.
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Truthfully, I don't know which build I even have. Other than access to wireless tethering, and removing the ATT bloat, I see no reason to even root the phone. It's THAT good.
retailguy said:
Most likely. Motorola has built a website to unlock the bootloader. But beware, the moment you use it, your warranty will be voided.
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Moto may have built the site but I have read in many places that VZW does not support or allow unlockable BL's from the mfg's.
FernBch said:
Moto may have built the site but I have read in many places that VZW does not support or allow unlockable BL's from the mfg's.
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Yep, you're right. Not having Verizon, I forgot about that. Unless someone finds an exploit, the bootloader will stay locked. And considering that no one has found an exploit for the Photon, it's doubtful that anyone will find one for the X. Personally, I believe that's why Motorola never unlocked the photon bootloader, it was their unofficial "test" to see if the community could defeat their security. But, I've also been accused of being a bit paranoid too.
You must be talking about the Photon Q. I remember reading that before it was released. The Photon 4G was put out with an unlockable bootloader. That was the reason I picked one up. Mine runs CM10.2. I really like the features that Cyanogenmod puts into their ROMs. That's why I'm hoping to get the MDK build. If I do CM will be on my GS4 in a matter of hours.
If you are on Verizon or AT&T, expect every phone you buy to be locked down tighter than Fort Knox. To the people looking for the MDK build of the S4, YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. YOUR PHONE WILL BE PERMALOCKED OOB. The turnover was brutally fast, and 99.9% of all new units after the OTA were shipped with ME7 pre-installed. That's for both carriers. Unless you buy used or can verify that it wasn't updated. My friend has the AT&T one, and I keep telling him that I feel his pain haha.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
There is going to be a Verizon developer edition Moto X with an unlocked bootloader out of the box.
FernBch said:
You must be talking about the Photon Q. I remember reading that before it was released. The Photon 4G was put out with an unlockable bootloader. That was the reason I picked one up. Mine runs CM10.2. I really like the features that Cyanogenmod puts into their ROMs. That's why I'm hoping to get the MDK build. If I do CM will be on my GS4 in a matter of hours.
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Motorola pushed an update that locked the bootloader. Anyone who had 2.3.4 and accepted that update got a present of a locked bootloader that no one has been able to defeat. My understanding is if you got 2.3.5 from the factory you did not have this problem. Only those who participated in the soak test have locked bootloaders.
You must have a factory 2.3.5 phone, or one that originally had 2.3.4 and was not updated as part of the soak test.
Koopa777 said:
If you are on Verizon or AT&T, expect every phone you buy to be locked down tighter than Fort Knox. To the people looking for the MDK build of the S4, YOU WILL NOT FIND IT. YOUR PHONE WILL BE PERMALOCKED OOB. The turnover was brutally fast, and 99.9% of all new units after the OTA were shipped with ME7 pre-installed. That's for both carriers. Unless you buy used or can verify that it wasn't updated. My friend has the AT&T one, and I keep telling him that I feel his pain haha.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
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Wow. This is surprising and disappointing, but truthfully, I haven't even thought about unlocking the bootloader on this phone. The stock rom does everything I want it to do, and since it's the most popular Samsung phone out there , it'll probably be supported longer than I care to use it. It will affect what I buy next time, the whole locked bootloader really ticks me off, but c'est la vie. I will survive. At least they didn't lock it during a soak test and take functionality away from me. I stupidly didn't investigate before I bought the phone. Won't do that again...
retailguy said:
Motorola pushed an update that locked the bootloader. Anyone who had 2.3.4 and accepted that update got a present of a locked bootloader that no one has been able to defeat. My understanding is if you got 2.3.5 from the factory you did not have this problem. Only those who participated in the soak test have locked bootloaders.
You must have a factory 2.3.5 phone, or one that originally had 2.3.4 and was not updated as part of the soak test.
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Could be. My understanding is if you have 2.3.4 you can unlock. If you have 2.3.5 you cannot unlock, regardless of how you got it. Root is still obtainable either way.

Possible Good News Towards Bootloader Unlocking

Evening everyone. Just thought I would share an article I found over on Droid Life today.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/08/07/moto-x-bootloader-unlock-qualcomm/
While there is no specific mention of the G3 (only G2), this is an intriguing bit of news. Dan Rosenberg has pulled some outlandishly amazing stuff in the past, so if he says this a vulnerability that affects all Snapdragon processors, I believe him. The S5 and M8 may have been patched already, but I have a feeling that if we keep our devices from updating, this could be something that works for us.
Food for thought, people.
Tillmorn said:
Evening everyone. Just thought I would share an article I found over on Droid Life today.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/08/07/moto-x-bootloader-unlock-qualcomm/
While there is no specific mention of the G3 (only G2), this is an intriguing bit of news. Dan Rosenberg has pulled some outlandishly amazing stuff in the past, so if he says this a vulnerability that affects all Snapdragon processors, I believe him. The S5 and M8 may have been patched already, but I have a feeling that if we keep our devices from updating, this could be something that works for us.
Food for thought, people.
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This won't work for us, Samsung and LG can't be unlocked through trustzone
Really? That's rather troublesome. What is the discrepancy with those two?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
Really? That's rather troublesome. What is the discrepancy with those two?
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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I knew someone would ask so I went and found his post https://twitter.com/djrbliss/status/497552086171533312
I personally don't have experience in unlocking bootloaders, want to but not yet so I couldn't tell ya
Ah. That is certainly a shame. Well, here's to hoping that the other methods in the works come to fruition.
I'm in the same boat as you though. Eventually I plan on getting into the development side of things. But Security+ and CCNA certifications are my current focus.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
Ah. That is certainly a shame. Well, here's to hoping that the other methods in the works come to fruition.
I'm in the same boat as you though. Eventually I plan on getting into the development side of things. But Security+ and CCNA certifications are my current focus.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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Yeah, I have experience in custom kernels and roms, also other minor projects unrelated to phones
It seems like almost everyday theres new information on the progress of the bootloaders for the g3 but not all of it seems to be pointed out on xda
If you want really good news, read the last few pages of the bootloader unlock thread for the AT&T G3. Should also work for Verizon.
manaox2 said:
If you want really good news, read the last few pages of the bootloader unlock thread for the AT&T G3. Should also work for Verizon.
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The LG official unlock?
I signed the thing but I doubt it will happen anytime soon
I don't think the official unlock will be done anytime soon. I just like that those guys are working hard at it and seem pretty confident that they will be able to get all variants unlocked with their method they are developing. It will be a while, but I'm thinking it's very possible still have it before the new year.
I believe the "official" unlock may happen in time. It wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if LG adopted the same practices as HTC in that regard. With that said, it's not something Verizon will ever allow on their devices. In the past, we may have gotten lucky. Now, we only have that option if Verizon and the manufacturers offer us a "Developer" or Google Experience edition. Personal advice would be to lock down your phone via Titanium Backup concerning OTAs, regardless of how enticing they may be, and wait for the Dev community to release their method.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
I believe the "official" unlock may happen in time. It wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if LG adopted the same practices as HTC in that regard. With that said, it's not something Verizon will ever allow on their devices. In the past, we may have gotten lucky. Now, we only have that option if Verizon and the manufacturers offer us a "Developer" or Google Experience edition. Personal advice would be to lock down your phone via Titanium Backup concerning OTAs, regardless of how enticing they may be, and wait for the Dev community to release their method.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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Apparantly you didnt have a m8.
*shakes head* Did HTC actually release the S-Off method for Verizon devices? Thought it got unlocked by devs via firewater because when S-Off was first released by HTC for the M8 the Verizon version was not included.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
*shakes head* Did HTC actually release the S-Off method for Verizon devices? Thought it got unlocked by devs via firewater because when S-Off was first released by HTC for the M8 the Verizon version was not included.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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Verizon was not included. You either must use the exploit of find someone with a USB S-Off service card.
Verizon probably won't even let the official unlock work as it'll "mess up the network". Oh FFS.
Verizon just plain sucks as far as these things go...they lock everything down, then also they don't even want us having any Nexus devices. But it's OK you can pay around $650 with tax for a Dev S5 or something that you have to get from Samsung lol
Ridiculous
- Tapatalked from the G3
Mistertac said:
Verizon just plain sucks as far as these things go...they lock everything down, then also they don't even want us having any Nexus devices. But it's OK you can pay around $650 with tax for a Dev S5 or something that you have to get from Samsung lol
Ridiculous
- Tapatalked from the G3
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Agreed. If I was in a part of the country with better coverage from the other providers, I would have sold my unlimited line and jumped ship a long time ago. But alas, only AT&T has decent coverage outside of cities in SC besides Verizon, and their coverage drops significantly if you veer off an interstate onto a back highway surrounded by countryside around here. So Verizon it is.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Tillmorn said:
Agreed. If I was in a part of the country with better coverage from the other providers, I would have sold my unlimited line and jumped ship a long time ago. But alas, only AT&T has decent coverage outside of cities in SC besides Verizon, and their coverage drops significantly if you veer off an interstate onto a back highway surrounded by countryside around here. So Verizon it is.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
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Could not possibly agree any more...I wished VZW weren't so locked down on everything. I'm in the exact same situation here in NE. AT&T's the only one who's even close coverage-wise, and really they aren't. So yep, our choices out here include Verizon, Verizon, ooorrrrrr...Verizon! :silly:
Emailed LG about a bootloader unlock since there rumors floating. LG's response was that I'd have to get it from Big Red. Fat chance of that happening.
LG G3 flies faster than a G6
OG RAZR XT912 got 4.4 before S4

Will the G5 have an unlocked bootloader?

Hi,
I've always been a Samsung guy but the LG G5 has sparked my interest since it has a removable battery and SD slot. I see that some versions of the G4 have an unlocked bootloader. I was wondering if there was any information on the G5 having an unlocked bootloader for the US version? I've tried looking around but couldn't find anything about it. If they haven't announced anything yet are they likely to have it unlocked? Having root is crucial for me but being able to use different ROMs is even better. Thanks!
It's not going to be unlocked out of the box, so no one will know until they come out and people start to get them. Looking at the past, going from the G2 > G3 > G4, the ability to unlock and root has gone down hill, especially with carrier versions. I've seen significantly less dev support for each phone, and I'd expect the G5 to be even more locked down.
W1nks said:
Hi,
I've always been a Samsung guy but the LG G5 has sparked my interest since it has a removable battery and SD slot. I see that some versions of the G4 have an unlocked bootloader. I was wondering if there was any information on the G5 having an unlocked bootloader for the US version? I've tried looking around but couldn't find anything about it. If they haven't announced anything yet are they likely to have it unlocked? Having root is crucial for me but being able to use different ROMs is even better. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Out of the box" there are no devices that come with the bootloader unlocked (any more). You need to go through steps to unlock. LG has been no different.
In terms of US BL unlockable, the only carrier quick to offer this has always been T-Mo. G2,3 & 4. That said, we won't know prior to release
TonyStark said:
"Out of the box" there are no devices that come with the bootloader unlocked (any more). You need to go through steps to unlock. LG has been no different.
In terms of US BL unlockable, the only carrier quick to offer this has always been T-Mo. G2,3 & 4. That said, we won't know prior to release
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. Tmo generally DGAF about bootloaders being unlocked, so hopefully that continues here. I'm interested in this device but no Root would suck.
I also hope this device will have an unlocked bootloader. It seems like a pretty sick little phone. I am still on a S4 with AT&T, which was my first phone with a locked bootloader. I know you can load other ROMS on it via SafeStrap, but that just seems like such a gimpy way to go. My previous S2 (international version) was unlocked, and I loaded all sorts of ROMS. I hate the concept of a manufacturer locking down a phone you purchase.
Have the previous LG G phones been unlocked, or at least rooted? I know I could do the research, but I am feeling a bit lazy right now.
Thanks
G2 and G3 where unlockable. G4 was rootable but not unlockable. V10 was sealed up tight.
I want the G5 but if I can't at least root it on Verizon it's a no go for me. I'll give up new phones like the G5 and S7 and stick with my totally unlocked Moto X Pure until another manufacture makes something with a sd card and a unlockable bootloader with CDMA bands.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
That's so frustrating. I'd be furious if any computer I purchased was like that. I want to do what I want to the **** I own. Maybe I will just have to rethink my hesitations about the 6P's size.
yugotprblms said:
That's so frustrating. I'd be furious if any computer I purchased was like that. I want to do what I want to the **** I own. Maybe I will just have to rethink my hesitations about the 6P's size.
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The 6 p is the best phone I've ever owned. Had most samsung HTC and lg phones. I have a g4 that I gave to my son because the lack of unlock on the Sprint version. If there's a version of the g5 which is unlock able with Sprint radio capability I'll try one out. Looks really cool.
Mahapederdon said:
The 6 p is the best phone I've ever owned. Had most samsung HTC and lg phones. I have a g4 that I gave to my son because the lack of unlock on the Sprint version. If there's a version of the g5 which is unlock able with Sprint radio capability I'll try one out. Looks really cool.
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Click to collapse
I really do want the 6p, but it is just such a large phone. That is my only hang up, and it is such a bummer.
I hope there will be a way around it. And being on Verizon doesn't help. I might have to skip it and go for something along the lines of joshw0000.
joshw0000 said:
G2 and G3 where unlockable. G4 was rootable but not unlockable. V10 was sealed up tight.
I want the G5 but if I can't at least root it on Verizon it's a no go for me. I'll give up new phones like the G5 and S7 and stick with my totally unlocked Moto D Pure until another manufacture makes something with a sd card and a unlockable bootloader with CDMA bands.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
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The V10 bootloader is fully unlockable - not sure what you are talking about.
ShermCraig said:
The V10 bootloader is fully unlockable - not sure what you are talking about.
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Click to collapse
Not Verizon. XDA for the Verizon V10 is almost empty.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
joshw0000 said:
Not Verizon. XDA for the Verizon V10 is almost empty.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
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People still get phones from telcos? Never do that. Its a loss loss loss, no matter where you look at it from.
devsk said:
People still get phones from telcos? Never do that. Its a loss loss loss, no matter where you look at it from.
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Do you know anything about Verizon? Or phones in general? I'll give you a hint. Google "CDMA".
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
joshw0000 said:
Do you know anything about Verizon? Or phones in general? I'll give you a hint. Google "CDMA".
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
LOL...there are a plenty good phones which work with CDMA. I can vouch for MXPE. Try it. Always buy unlocked outright, man!
PS: G4 unlocked works with CDMA. You can buy it from B&H. I can get you a link if you want. BTW, welcome to 2016....
devsk said:
LOL...there are a plenty good phones which work with CDMA. I can vouch for MXPE. Try it. Always buy unlocked outright, man!
PS: G4 unlocked works with CDMA. You can buy it from B&H. I can get you a link if you want. BTW, welcome to 2016....
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Click to collapse
Dude, look at my signature. I'm on a MXPE. That's basically the newest unlockable bootloader phone that can be used on Verizon. I had a VZW M9 that I sent to a developer to be unlocked but got bored with it. The VZW G4 doesn't have an unlockable bootloader and an "unlocked" G4 will not work on Verizon. With exception to the Nexus line, that's it but I have to have an sd card. I've used the N6, N5X, and N6P. They're not for me.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
devsk said:
LOL...there are a plenty good phones which work with CDMA. I can vouch for MXPE. Try it. Always buy unlocked outright, man!
PS: G4 unlocked works with CDMA. You can buy it from B&H. I can get you a link if you want. BTW, welcome to 2016....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, 2016 is the year of locked down carrier restrictions. Unless you are on T-Mobile or AT&T, it's difficult to do what you're saying. I am considering jumping off Verizon when my contract ends in June so I can get something global.
xocomaox said:
Yes, 2016 is the year of locked down carrier restrictions. Unless you are on T-Mobile or AT&T, it's difficult to do what you're saying. I am considering jumping off Verizon when my contract ends in June so I can get something global.
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My father has verizon and I have talked with multiple verizon reps and it seems like most of then are pushy any not really intereted in the devices themselves. The latest rep I spoke with said that the s7 didn't have a good camera which seems to be completely off since the s7 has an amazing camera (tested it in stores as well as reputable reviews). I agree with you and was going to switch to Verizon but might not anymore, because of their restrictions and other limited information,
Let's quickly set the record straight on the G4: NONE of the carrier variants allowed for bootloader unlocking--only the H815 "international" model had this as an officially supported option (which btw, is not the model sold by t mobile--that was h815t and isn't the same). I agree with others here that NOT buying the carrier versions is always the best option. They're carrier unlocked out of the box and provide the greatest flexibility if you travel between countries. They also typically provide a few more cellular frequencies. However, while they may be compatible with AT&T's network, that doesn't mean they have all of the frequencies that AT&T uses (as was the case for the G4). Also for those who may be confused, carrier unlocked has no relation to bootloader unlocking.
Anyway, I would also like to know if there will be a G5 variant with official bootloader unlock support. I wish they would announce this soon!
devsk said:
People still get phones from telcos? Never do that. Its a loss loss loss, no matter where you look at it from.
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Question: what about carrier-specific features like T-Mobile's Wi-Fi calling? The MXPE didn't support that, but the Nexus 6P and 5X do. Could an unlocked/unbranded LG G5 hypothetically do the same?

S7 bootloader unlock petition

Anybody interested in the bootloader and unlocking it I encourage you to sign this petition. These phones are ours to use how we see fit and the more noise we make the better our chances are. I bought this phone under the assumption that nothing had changed and for Samsung to change their policies without notice isn't acceptable for me and hopefully you as well. Thank you
Petition
brendan802 said:
Anybody interested in the bootloader and unlocking it I encourage you to sign this petition. These phones are ours to use how we see fit and the more noise we make the better our chances are. I bought this phone under the assumption that nothing had changed and for Samsung to change their policies without notice isn't acceptable for me and hopefully you as well. Thank you
Petition
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Bootloaders have been locked down on samsung devices for a long time. Tmobile was lucky enough to have them open. This will never happen.
this is the end..
signed.
Signed
Never happened with the Note 3 despite similar petitions, likely never going to happen with the S7 either. I do agree that if you own the phone outright (not on a lease from AT&T) then you should be able to do as you please with it and once you completed the lease then you should be allowed to unlock the bootloader.
naiku said:
Never happened with the Note 3 despite similar petitions, likely never going to happen with the S7 either. I do agree that if you own the phone outright (not on a lease from AT&T) then you should be able to do as you please with it and once you completed the lease then you should be allowed to unlock the bootloader.
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I would like to say that technically through ATT it is not a lease, it is a payment plan. That would be like buying a house or a car not leasing in which case they are both considered yours right off the bat. Yes you are making payments on it but if the deal is done properly you will never return the phone to ATT making it yours, unlike a lease.
whoamanwtf said:
I would like to say that technically through ATT it is not a lease, it is a payment plan. That would be like buying a house or a car not leasing in which case they are both considered yours right off the bat. Yes you are making payments on it but if the deal is done properly you will never return the phone to ATT making it yours, unlike a lease.
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That is a very good point, however I can at least understand with AT&T that until you pay for that phone in full it is not considered yours. I would not be surprised if they have something in the fine print on the Next plan that says something to that effect. Note - I do agree with you entirely, I am paying for a phone and should be able to do whatever the heck I want with it.
If you're going to write a petition to these companies, you should run it through a proofreader and spell check. Nobody will take that seriously written the way it is. Also, if you want it to gain more traction, you should probably share it in the Galaxy S7 subreddit as well at www.reddit.com/r/galaxys7.
Don't think it will happen with Samsung Pay. They are very protective of it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
With no upgrade availability for any of the phone numbers on my account, I paid full price for my S7 Edge, so I own my phone outright and want the bootloader unlocked!
What happens when this reaches 1500? With a locked bootloader aren't things such as root and safestrap still feasible?
TheZander said:
What happens when this reaches 1500? With a locked bootloader aren't things such as root and safestrap still feasible?
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Yes root it possible. Not sure about safe strap.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
billydroid said:
Yes root it possible. Not sure about safe strap.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
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Root is still a longshot and I'd go as far as saying that safestrap won't happen at all. Look at the past, the AT&T S6 barely got root, still doesn't have more than like 2 ROMs, and is entirely dependent on one root method that supports two specific builds and an app called Flashfire. Samsung, on behalf of the carriers, is doing everything in their power to make rooting and custom ROMs an impossible feat. With that being said, let's take a look at the AT&T Note 5. It still has just received root from the same people who are supporting root on the S6 (from what I've seen, PingPongRoot was born and died with an earlier S6 build). The majority of the big devs who used to put in the work for supporting Samsung devices have all jumped ship to devices that aren't as heavily locked down. Unfortunately, I think the dev scene for Samsung devices that aren't the international or T-Mobile versions is pretty much dead (even the Tmo Note 5 isn't getting much love). The only redemption here is that the S7 uses a qualcomm processor, not an exynos, which is much more heavily documented, meaning that if someone is able to crack open the bootloader, the ROMs (and more importantly, the kernels) will be much easier to build. This is all just my 2 cents, I hope someone does accomplish the unthinkable and achieve all of this, but in the meantime, if you want to stick with Samsung, buckle up and enjoy the stock touchwiz. You'll probably be on it for a while.
TekGadgt said:
Root is still a longshot and I'd go as far as saying that safestrap won't happen at all. Look at the past, the AT&T S6 barely got root, still doesn't have more than like 2 ROMs, and is entirely dependent on one root method that supports two specific builds and an app called Flashfire. Samsung, on behalf of the carriers, is doing everything in their power to make rooting and custom ROMs an impossible feat. With that being said, let's take a look at the AT&T Note 5. It still has just received root from the same people who are supporting root on the S6 (from what I've seen, PingPongRoot was born and died with an earlier S6 build). The majority of the big devs who used to put in the work for supporting Samsung devices have all jumped ship to devices that aren't as heavily locked down. Unfortunately, I think the dev scene for Samsung devices that aren't the international or T-Mobile versions is pretty much dead (even the Tmo Note 5 isn't getting much love). The only redemption here is that the S7 uses a qualcomm processor, not an exynos, which is much more heavily documented, meaning that if someone is able to crack open the bootloader, the ROMs (and more importantly, the kernels) will be much easier to build. This is all just my 2 cents, I hope someone does accomplish the unthinkable and achieve all of this, but in the meantime, if you want to stick with Samsung, buckle up and enjoy the stock touchwiz. You'll probably be on it for a while.
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I agree with you. The real kicker for me is what T-Mobile is doing, which is my carrier. Almost every device on tmo had the ability to get root and be unlocked. But they are getting on board with Verizon and AT&T and requested devices be locked down. Then they lie to us and say it's the manufacturers. They had them lock down the LG g5, which LG always gave us a unlock method,.garbage.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
dubbactrumpetmsu said:
If you're going to write a petition to these companies, you should run it through a proofreader and spell check. Nobody will take that seriously written the way it is. Also, if you want it to gain more traction, you should probably share it in the Galaxy S7 subreddit as well at www.reddit.com/r/galaxys7.
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I agree with you, I would love to sign a petition and I'm glad someone started one, but this petition has too many mistakes to even count. I doubt any company is going to take it very seriously. No disrespect intended to the person who wrote it, but it needs to be re-written.
Best hope for us is for the mandatory arbitration clause to go away. That would enable a group of users to sue when a locked bootloader prevents them from upgraded their phone. Older phones are susceptible to vulnerabilities because AT&T doesn't continue to roll out updates and the locked bootloader prevents you from updating the phone on your own.
I could be wrong, but I think this could be a pathway.
In the history of these sites and smartphones I don't think any company has ever unlocked the bootloader for any petition, and there have been plenty of them. I don't think they ever will. As much as I agree that it shouldn't be locked, especially if you outright own the phone, this is just a lost cause.
This thread about an app called "crom" in China is interesting: http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-s7-edge/help/code-t3379915/page24
Posted in the Sprint S7 edge forums. I guess the China varient is able to have its bootloader unlocked with this app...
xjimmy said:
This thread about an app called "crom" in China is interesting: http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-s7-edge/help/code-t3379915/page24
Posted in the Sprint S7 edge forums. I guess the China varient is able to have its bootloader unlocked with this app...
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China's bootloader isn't as locked down as ours in the states is...[emoji30]
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA-Developers mobile app

Why is it not possible to unlock the boot loader for the AT&T LG V10?

I just simply do not understand why it cannot be unlocked, because I mean a lot of other phone's bootloaders are locked and a lot of them are unlocked just using adb... I could be missing something, don't understand. I also heard you can make custom roms if you build it on the stock kernel, is this true?
Generally speaking it is up to the carrier to lock the bootloader if they wish it to be locked. Most carriers opt to lock it down so they "can ensure a good experience for all their users". T-mobile has been leaving the bootloader unlocked recently this is why, with the t-mobile variant of the v10 you can just issue a fastboot command and then go to flashing. Nexus devices are also in this category, as well as a lot of international variants.
When a carrier decides to lock the bootloader down it has to generally be cracked or have a factory unlock method like that of htc with the Java card. If it gets unlocked at all its most likely going to be a long wait unless someone jumps in that is intimately familiar with the chipset/bootloader.
nymica said:
Generally speaking it is up to the carrier to lock the bootloader if they wish it to be locked. Most carriers opt to lock it down so they "can ensure a good experience for all their users". T-mobile has been leaving the bootloader unlocked recently this is why, with the t-mobile variant of the v10 you can just issue a fastboot command and then go to flashing. Nexus devices are also in this category, as well as a lot of international variants.
When a carrier decides to lock the bootloader down it has to generally be cracked or have a factory unlock method like that of htc with the Java card. If it gets unlocked at all its most likely going to be a long wait unless someone jumps in that is intimately familiar with the chipset/bootloader.
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I mean, I would really love to become a developer for these sort of things, I just don't know where to start with Androids. I am really familiar with PC repair and Windows, Linux, Mac OS (ugh not that os) and would love to learn how to master Android, but it is very different from what I have been doing. Do you know where to start learning? I would really love to help.
ZVNexus said:
I just simply do not understand why it cannot be unlocked, because I mean a lot of other phone's bootloaders are locked and a lot of them are unlocked just using adb... I could be missing something, don't understand. I also heard you can make custom roms if you build it on the stock kernel, is this true?
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Because it's AT&T, move to TMO and enjoy the freedom.
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Charliebill33 said:
Because it's AT&T, move to TMO and enjoy the freedom.
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
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Oh trust me, I would if I could. But im 14 and chained against a wall to AT&T. I got a free phone, can't complain... but I can complain about the carrier. This is unacceptable. I can see why they would want the boot loader locked, and why it is not a priority to have it unlocked.
Charliebill33 said:
Because it's AT&T, move to TMO and enjoy the freedom.
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA-Developers mobile app
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And even if I did switch carriers, I would have to get another phone, as the software will still be the same and the bootloader will as well.
ZVNexus said:
Oh trust me, I would if I could. But im 14 and chained against a wall to AT&T. I got a free phone, can't complain... but I can complain about the carrier. This is unacceptable. I can see why they would want the boot loader locked, and why it is not a priority to have it unlocked.
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Sorry then I was being flip, I recall 14 but it was a long time ago. The V10 is a great device but the "problem" is that it's rather limited release, so there simply isn't the install base for lots of folks to be modding. I have not paid close attention to what has gone on with AT&T's version but do recall seeing something about the international version recently being rooted.
Charliebill33 said:
Sorry then I was being flip, I recall 14 but it was a long time ago. The V10 is a great device but the "problem" is that it's rather limited release, so there simply isn't the install base for lots of folks to be modding. I have not paid close attention to what has gone on with AT&T's version but do recall seeing something about the international version recently being rooted.
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Yeah, all models have root atm even mine right now. And I am rooted. The bootloader is still locked tho.

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