[Q] Z2, root, unlocking bootloader, DRM keys and Titanium Backup - Xperia Z2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
So after reading a bunch of posts, I want to verify if I understand the current state of things with the Z2
- There is no current way to backup the TA partition on the Z2 right now.
- Because there is no way to backup the TA partition, if i unlock the bootloader I will lose all the DRM keys
- There is no other way to root the phone then unlocking the bootloader
If I understand that correctly, a few questions:
- besides X-Reality, trackid, what are some of the important/desireable features that will not work without DRM keys?
- I'm coming from an S2. How might i transfer apps and data onto the Z2? I was planning to use Titanium Backup but without root this doesn't seem possible
thanks in advance.

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Everything works, x reality, track id blah blah :-/
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

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Mr.R™ said:
Everything works, x reality, track id blah blah :-/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that even if i root and lose the DRM keys, X-reality and trackID will still work?
If so, what are the DRM keys used for? i.e. what will break because DRM keys are gone?

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Yes they will work, DRM = Digital Rights Management which is for protected digital content only
Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

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Mr.R™ said:
Yes they will work, DRM = Digital Rights Management which is for protected digital content only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, after more digging, it appears that the xperia Z line uses DRM to also lock things like "Bravia engine" (x-reality) and other things like screen mirroring.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53134830&postcount=328
even tho you can toggle it in settings, it is permanently disabled.
on a side note, regarding migrating over from S2 to Z2 when it doesn't support root, I found helium.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup

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[w] said:
Ok, after more digging, it appears that the xperia Z line uses DRM to also lock things like "Bravia engine" (x-reality) and other things like screen mirroring.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53134830&postcount=328
even tho you can toggle it in settings, it is permanently disabled.
on a side note, regarding migrating over from S2 to Z2 when it doesn't support root, I found helium.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
X-Reality can still work after unlocking your bootloader and rooting, plenty of threads.
X-Reality is not the same as Bravia engine
Screen mirroring, 4k video, blah blah blah, everything works except for the DRM related apps such as Music unlimited and Video unlimited.
Camera function and quality is also NOT affected.

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[w] said:
Hi,
So after reading a bunch of posts, I want to verify if I understand the current state of things with the Z2
- There is no current way to backup the TA partition on the Z2 right now.
- Because there is no way to backup the TA partition, if i unlock the bootloader I will lose all the DRM keys
- There is no other way to root the phone then unlocking the bootloader
If I understand that correctly, a few questions:
- besides X-Reality, trackid, what are some of the important/desireable features that will not work without DRM keys?
- I'm coming from an S2. How might i transfer apps and data onto the Z2? I was planning to use Titanium Backup but without root this doesn't seem possible
thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing at all stops working when you unlock your bootloader
There currently isnt any way to backup TA or drm keys
If you unlock ,your TA is wiped along with your data and internal storage
TA partition is where drm keys are stored
You can use google services to backup your apps and this can be found in your settings for some devices, there is app2zip which i use to use but i think app data doesent work right on KK
When i can ill be posting a ref/info thread on all you need to know in the QnA ill ask for a mod to pin it
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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Camera quality might decrease someway (MAY decrease, i'm not sure)
this surely occur on z1, but looks like no one test it seriously on z2

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KWOKSFUNG said:
Camera quality might decrease someway (MAY decrease, i'm not sure)
this surely occur on z1, but looks like no one test it seriously on z2
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Click to collapse
No, nothing at all changes when you unlock your bootloader, besides your TA and the fact that your warrenty is voided
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Envious_Data said:
No, nothing at all changes when you unlock your bootloader, besides your TA and the fact that your warrenty is voided
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are u so sure??
did someone already make serious test like they did on Z1?

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KWOKSFUNG said:
Why are u so sure??
did someone already make serious test like they did on Z1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh let me add some details i missed
All xperia devices that have KK 4.4 are not affected by Unlocking your bootloader, its been proven quite alot here on XDA,
Unless sony treat a spesific device differently which may be the Z1 which i doubt because KK FW for xperias are very alike, just minor config differences and device spesifics aside the kernel
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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Envious_Data said:
Oh let me add some details i missed
All xperia devices that have KK 4.4 are not affected by Unlocking your bootloader, its been proven quite alot here on XDA,
Unless sony treat a spesific device differently which may be the Z1 which i doubt because KK FW for xperias are very alike, just minor config differences and device spesifics aside the kernel
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info
actually Z1 has all other features including X-reality work on 4.4 except the extra camera quality, which the effect is proved to be significant in low light
if all sony kitkats are similar, then i have a bad news for z2....
hope it isnt anyway, and hope some1 can port the LB exclusive effect to z1

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KWOKSFUNG said:
Thanks for the info
actually Z1 has all other features including X-reality work on 4.4 except the extra camera quality, which the effect is proved to be significant in low light
if all sony kitkats are similar, then i have a bad news for z2....
hope it isnt anyway, and hope some1 can port the LB exclusive effect to z1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well remember this although KK being simular its based on Z2 firmware, sony are lazy, they dont rebuild, they port
So sony probably lowered quality of KK for Z1 in an attempt to lure people to other xperias but it seems to be failing
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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Envious_Data said:
Well remember this although KK being simular its based on Z2 firmware, sony are lazy, they dont rebuild, they port
So sony probably lowered quality of KK for Z1 in an attempt to lure people to other xperias but it seems to be failing
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
O maybe u got me a bit wrong
i mean the quality of camera on Z1 with LB is significantly better than a Z1 with UB, there's a thread about it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2722106
(well, X-reality still works on UB Z1)
Unlike Z1, Z2 has no return for unlocking the bootloader. U cant swap between locked and unlocked to test the difference
so i doubt there might be somehow of difference between LB and UB in Z2 even if u still think photo looks great on UB Z2
Has any other sony kitkat devices made such test between LB and UB photo???

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KWOKSFUNG said:
O maybe u got me a bit wrong
i mean the quality of camera on Z1 with LB is significantly better than a Z1 with UB, there's a thread about it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2722106
(well, X-reality still works on UB Z1)
Unlike Z1, Z2 has no return for unlocking the bootloader. U cant swap between locked and unlocked to test the difference
so i doubt there might be somehow of difference between LB and UB in Z2 even if u still think photo looks great on UB Z2
Has any other sony kitkat devices made such test between LB and UB photo???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not, i know UB and LB is exact same with Z2, because i posted screenshots and stuff proving everything works
It seems only Z1 is affected by UB all others are totaly fine, im unsure of Z1 compact though, seems to be lacking solid information
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Envious_Data said:
Probably not, i know UB and LB is exact same with Z2, because i posted screenshots and stuff proving everything works
It seems only Z1 is affected by UB all others are totaly fine, im unsure of Z1 compact though, seems to be lacking solid information
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the info
could u give a link for that?

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And besides, there's a way to activate xreality even in unlocked bootloader

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KWOKSFUNG said:
Thanks for the info
could u give a link for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53154677
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53155690
these two posts show xreality still work
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

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Envious_Data said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53154677
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53155690
these two posts show xreality still work
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Come on I'm talking about camera quality not X-reality
X-reality works on all sony 4.4, we agree that
I mean the photo u took after unlocking the bootloader may have worse quality compared to that in locked bootloader

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KWOKSFUNG said:
Come on I'm talking about camera quality not X-reality
X-reality works on all sony 4.4, we agree that
I mean the photo u took after unlocking the bootloader may have worse quality compared to that in locked bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems not to have made any difference for me
I did take 2 pics one from before and after unlocking my bootloader
(forgot who reminded me to do this test)
Settings:
Manual
Iso 100
Spot metering
Exposure 0.0
White balance, cloudy
15.5mp/16:9
Edit:1st one is before
2nd one is after
Analysis, 0 differences aside light assistance
Test result: nul
End results: UBL affects nothing
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