To Root Or Not To Root

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MikeB
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That is the question. I have a Galaxy S3 through a Globe post paid plan, I think I am a little over half way through a 2 year data/voice contract. Although I never received the contract but that's a different story. It is unrooted, not sure if it's locked to Globe or not, need to test that with a different micro SIM and don't have one. Received the 4.3 upgrade over the air a few weeks ago so it's current and everything works perfectly and has since I first turned it on. There is no carrier bloatware, the only way you would know it's affiliated with Globe is when it first boots up and identifies the carrier or by going into settings. Not really interested in "opening up an infinite number of possibilities" or whatever. I need a phone that works period. I am fairly computer-literate but not so much with phones.

 

My question is for those familiar with smartphones and Android. Is it worth it to root, install custom recovery/ROMS, etc and risk bricking or voiding the warranty (although probably not much of a warranty at this point)?

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BrettGC
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Posted (edited)

Mate if you're happy with 4.3, and can wait for a new phone for Kit-Kat, can deal with the Globe startup window, can live with some of the apps you don't use sitting there dormant but asking for updates - twitter, dropbox etc in my case - It's probably not worth the risk of bricking your phone.  Rooting can be tricky at best.  The only reason I can see to do it is to be able to load unauthorised apps on your phone; which I've done in the past myself, but in many cases they don't go through the rigorous bug/security vulnerability testing of those available in the Play Store (this from the guy that runs a dual-boot Windows/Linux PC).  I did it with the expectation that I might have to buy a new phone.  HTC by the way. I believe with Samsung you'll have the little yellow error triangle icon up the top after successfully completing the process. 

Edited by BrettGC
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MikeB
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Thanks, from what I'm reading if you have a valid reason to root, do so. If not, don't. Unlocking it is a very valid reason but I have to 1st determine if it's locked. According to the experts, Android has improved a lot since the early days and doesn't need all the tweaking it did previously.   

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Lordblacknail
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Is there an expert rooter on the forum? I would like some help.

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BrettGC
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Is there an expert rooter on the forum? I would like some help.

 

LOL see I chuckle every time I see this thread.. Root is Aussie vernacular for sex :thumbsup:

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robert k
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I believe that taking the carrier lock or regional lock does not require rooting the phone. Rooting is to give yourself administrator access and you could accidentally perform an action that would brick your phone. Unlocking should be fine if you need to, I would take it to a reputable person (preferably your carrier) with the unlock box though.

 

Off topic but, I have a Huawei Honor /Glory 2, 3G 5 band phone that will get 3G anywhere in the world you can get a service provider for it, that I bought unlocked and it boots in about 4 seconds from powered off and people on youtube were raving about it. I also have an unlocked Lenovo A820 phone and it boots from powered off in 2 seconds. I'd recommend both for the Philippines if you don't need google playstore. I bought the Lenovo In the US for $160 shipped from Hong Kong [ expedited ], much cheaper than advertised in the Philippines, it also has radio that works without jacking headphones into the phone for an antenna. The Huawei Honor/Glory 2 was $225 [has beautiful 4.5 inch retina grade high def screen with dragontrail glass ] shipped slow from Singapore. Phones can be interesting.

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frosty (chris)
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Like you Brett, I opened it and was disappointed, I thought it would be about the young ladies he has been seeing hahahahahha, gee rooted is a great word.

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MikeB
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I believe that taking the carrier lock or regional lock does not require rooting the phone.

Yes, if the carrier will give you the code or you buy it online, etc but if you use an app like GalaxSimUnlock it needs root access. I asked the Globe sales guy and he said they don't do it but you can't really trust what they say. I cut down an old SUN sim and it's asking for a code so it is locked. The old way of dialing a string of numbers/characters and voila unlocked doesn't work anymore.

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robert k
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Right, I mentioned the unlock box, a gadget that unlocks phones. I believe they sell the unlock box on Ebay, several times probably if the unlock codes do not come with it! :hystery:

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Jollygoodfellow
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Is there an expert rooter on the forum? I would like some help.

 

I know a guy who runs another forum who often would say he was. Not sure why he could never keep a relationship going.  :rolleyes:

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