Carriers
T-Mobile responds to G2 rooting controversy
October 7, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
T-Mobile
Earlier this week, we reported that T-Mobile and HTC shipped the new G2 with fail-safe that prevents users from obtaining permanent root. Though it’s possible to root the device temporarily, all changes made are promptly erased when the user reboots the device. While not as frustrating as the similar anti-root efforts perpetrated by the Motorola Droid X, people interested in the G2 have been disappointed.
T-Mobile has responded to the controversy by issuing a statement explaining why the carrier and HTC have opted to include components that block root. A spokesperson sent us this message in response to our previous article:
As pioneers in Android-powered mobile devices, T-Mobile and HTC strive to support innovation. The T-Mobile G2 is a powerful and highly customizable Android-powered smartphone, which customers can personalize and make their own, from the look of their home screen to adding their favorite applications and more.
The HTC software implementation on the G2 stores some components in read-only memory as a security measure to prevent key operating system software from becoming corrupted and rendering the device inoperable. There is a small subset of highly technical users who may want to modify and re-engineer their devices at the code level, known as “rooting,” but a side effect of HTC’s security measure is that these modifications are temporary and cannot be saved to permanent memory. As a result the original code is restored.
Are you satisfied with this response? Though security is often a fail-safe response for why companies get in the way of user customization, it’s still disappointing that T-Mobile and HTC would make the phone less hacker-friendly. The beauty of owning HTC devices, aside from the popular Sense UI, is that the hardware was friendly to tinkering. One can only hope that this is not the first of a budding trend from the Taiwanese manufacturer.
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
More about this app
What a total load of Crap. I was actualy thinking of going back to TMO from Verizon with the new MyTouch coming out, but now, forget it. If Verizon goegs this route, I will be going to AT&T and the iPhone
It's getting really difficult to decide which phone to get next. I won't go without a good smartphone, but I won't pay for capped connections. That means my Droid will be my last Verizon phone. I was excited about the G2, but with this hardware lockout I'm not sure I want that either. The iPhone will always have capped connections, so that's out too.
i went from the iphone 3GS to 850/1900 version of the nexus one for the very reason of 'easy' root access and in my misguided enthusiasm pre-ordered the g2 planning to switch to t-mobile. i'm giving good money for a device and as far as i'm concerned, it's mine. so my butt is back to the iphone with an eye on upcoming meego devices. never in a million years did i think htc would stoop to motorola's level. actually shows you how well apple is playing the game. good bye android, it was fun and i'll miss ya.
Your Verizon data plan wont be capped unless you CHANGE. So if you leave the data plan you are currently on, then you will never get that unlimited back. Verizon's new plans will not be forced on people that already have older data plans. Better stick with what you have and just keep upgrading the devices, not the plan.
If this is a real pres release it stinks. Not that I would want to root but if I did, its my phone and I should be able to root it or do anything else with it I want. I am not leasing it or renting it. It is mine. I am guessing that they want to ensure that whatever is on it does not interfere or affect their network in any way. At lease give us the option of killing the crapware they have pre-installed on the G2. Facebook I will never use. I want it off my phone, but you cant uninstall it. There are others too. I am skeptical about this press release as well This press release is not on the http://press.t-mobile.com/ site…at least not yet.
Dear T-Mobile: I have had a G1 now for the last two years. I rooted my telephone early on and have enjoyed using it immensely. Fortunately for me, I decided not to pre-order the G2 until it had been successfully (and permanently) rooted, as as to allow the installation of custom roms. I will not be renewing my contract or purchasing a G2 until this protection has been circumvented or removed. In the meantime, if another carrier releases a phone that appeals to me more, then you'll lose my business.
So t-mobile are clearly evil. I wouldn’t buy anything from then if they are the last people on the planet.
Everyone in this comments section is being a doomsday crybaby. You guys do realize that the hacking community has done things that were never intended on ALL android devices. Here is a short list of milestones for different devices that I can recall off the top of my head: 1. Getting Android 2.2 on the G1 even though the G1 did not ship with enough ROM dedicated to the OS to even fit 2.2. 2. Bypassing Motorola's security lock out on the Droid X, Droid 2, Cliq, Cliq XT, and Backflip so well that you can root and install a custom ROM/Recovery. No you cannot modify the bootloader, but that hasn't stopped the community. 3. Beat Motorola and Samsung in releasing newer versions of Android before they're ready. 4. Allowed you to unlock and overclock your processor beyond the defaults (Original Droid up to 1.2GHz, up from ~700mhz). 5. Created apps and unlocked wireless Hotspot on devices that never shipped with it. 6. Bypassed Samsung's proprietary file system (RFS) and put on EXT2,3,4 increasing the speed of all Galaxy S phones nearly 2 fold (along with a 3rd party kernel). If anything, the modding community will simply cook up a ROM that reads from another memory source for the OS, much like DangerSPL did for the G1. Quit your complaining and let the developers deal with the problem, and they will overcome it, just like they've overcome everything else. If you do not want to wait, then pick up another device that does not have this lock.
You are missing the point, as most RTFM trolls do.
If My new G2 is not successfully rooted (permanently) I will return my phone within the 14 day return policy. Android was designed for customers to be able to expand their device the way they want. This is so much bull shit. I have been a huge T-Mobile supporter and my Nexus One has been my dream phone for a while now. I will keep my Nexus One, send back the G2 which I will miss very much. IMO a very well built and looking device that HTC and T-Mobile ruined by throwing in junk hardware. Shame on you for ruining a great device. PS I have faith in the XDA developers to find root and maintain it.
I will not be getting a G2 because of the issues brought up in the article and comments. My contract is up for renewal in a few months. I may not even go with tmobile.