Sorry, this is probably a really stupid question, but if you have an unlocked HTC Hero (i.e. not from T-Mob or Orange), do you still need to root it to replace the roms? On my sim-free G1 from the Google Dev Network, I can replace the roms, but obviously it is aimed specifically at developers so might be different.
The reason I ask is that I have just bought an unlocked HTC Hero with a new contract from Mobiles.co.uk, but customer retention on my existing contract have just offered me a frankly unbelievable deal with a free HTC Magic which is really tempting me. However, if I would not have to root the Hero, but would have to root the Magic and thus void the guarentee, that might swing it.
Thanks!
an "unlocked" phone just means it is sim unlocked and you can use it with other GSM cariers. Just pop in a different cariers sim and you can use the phone on their network.
It does not have anything to do with modding a phone. So if you would like to mod your phone with new roms and what not, root is still required for most situations.
I am on AT&T. Should I order an Unlocked T-Mobile, as I hear they do not have locked bootloader?? Or just stick with AT&T version. I know AT&T record with Updates is also Terrible and Slow.
With the AT&T version is there a way to delete the AT&T apps with a locked bootloader?
I'm stuck with AT&T mainly because I'm a little strapped for cash, so I'll be taking advantage of the $200 promo at Best Buy and get it at an upgrade price.
I guess we won't know for certain if the AT&T version will have a locked bootloader (probably will) or if it will be encrypted. The HTC One M8 on AT&T was unlockable, which definitely surprised me.
I'm coming from a Note 2. Hopefully AT&T will play nice and not encrypt the bootloader like they did on the S5.
My girlfriend has an S5. It's encrypted, which means I can't mess with her phone, which also means she has nothing to yell at me about...
silentecho13 said:
I'm stuck with AT&T mainly because I'm a little strapped for cash, so I'll be taking advantage of the $200 promo at Best Buy and get it at an upgrade price.
I guess we won't know for certain if the AT&T version will have a locked bootloader (probably will) or if it will be encrypted. The HTC One M8 on AT&T was unlockable, which definitely surprised me.
I'm coming from a Note 2. Hopefully AT&T will play nice and not encrypt the bootloader like they did on the S5.
My girlfriend has an S5. It's encrypted, which means I can't mess with her phone, which also means she has nothing to yell at me about...
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They vowed a year ago that all their upcoming phones would have locked bootlaoders. They said something like, "we will not support unlocked bootloaders." And I don't get that because their version of the M8 can have its bootloader unlocked.
MattMJB0188 said:
They vowed a year ago that all their upcoming phones would have locked bootlaoders. They said something like, "we will not support unlocked bootloaders." And I don't get that because their version of the M8 can have its bootloader unlocked.
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I think it's because HTC themselves released a method of unlocking the M8's bootloader. I doubt Samsung will ever do something like that.
My previous phone was the galaxy s4 sgh-i337. Thanks to you guy's I was able to root, and install ss. I was under the impression that all ATT phones where boot locked, but I have seen some htc m8 say unlocked.
I am confused. I recently changed over to T-Mobile, due to data overages, and locked boot.
My question is can I buy any of the variants and be safe? or should I stick with a T-Mobile branded version.
All versions of the M8 are bootloader locked (with exception of Developer's Edition), but can be easily unlocked via official means through HTC's website HTCDev.com. Once bootloader unlocked you can flash custom recovery, root, flash custom ROMs, and lots of other things. Not nearly as locked down as recent Samsung devices on AT&T.
If you are on T-Mobile, you should probably get the T-Mobile branded version if you want a phone that is compatible with T-Mobile's bands, out of the box.
You can flash the T-Mob radio to an AT&t version, but S-off is required ($25 via sunshine). Not worth having to mod the phone to get it fully running on T-Mob, if you can just buy the T-Mob version. There really isn't any benefit to getting the AT&T variant.
Awesome thanks for the reply. I looked again at some phones, and noticed the nexus 6. It looks good too. I know its more expensive, but is there a reason to choose the htc over the nexus 6?
TireIron431 said:
I know its more expensive, but is there a reason to choose the htc over the nexus 6?
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N6 is a very nice looking phone, and Nexus OS updates is certainly a nice perk. And some reviews compare the front-facing speakers on the N6 as being comparable ("almost" as good) to the impressive BoomSound speakers on the M8.
On the other hand, the N6 is really big, so you might want to make sure you are okay with that before buying. And while still very nice, the N6's back is plastic, so you may want to compare it in hand to the gorgeous metal M8.
The camera on the N6 is described as "average"; although the M8's camera is pretty divisive, as well.
All in all, I don't think you can go wrong either way. Both are excellent phones. Aside from sheer size difference, it comes down to some pretty subtle, and rather preferential differences.
redpoint73 said:
N6 is a very nice looking phone, and Nexus OS updates is certainly a nice perk. And some reviews compare the front-facing speakers on the N6 as being comparable ("almost" as good) to the impressive BoomSound speakers on the M8.
On the other hand, the N6 is really big, so you might want to make sure you are okay with that before buying. And while still very nice, the N6's back is plastic, so you may want to compare it in hand to the gorgeous metal M8.
The camera on the N6 is described as "average"; although the M8's camera is pretty divisive, as well.
All in all, I don't think you can go wrong either way. Both are excellent phones. Aside from sheer size difference, it comes down to some pretty subtle, and rather preferential differences.
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Once again thank you. I will check them out in person. I may still go for the m8. Don't know if I really want to drop 6-700 on a phone.
Is there anything special about the Harmon kardon edition other than the headphones?
TireIron431 said:
Is there anything special about the Harmon kardon edition other than the headphones?
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Yes. The audio libs and ADSP are different than stock BoomSound. If you get S-Off you can convert to H/K and back to BoomSound again, so if you have nice headphones already, the standard model should do. But the H/K headphones are a pretty good deal for the small markup in price.
I'm finding some better deals on the HK edition, than I am the regular htc. I like the look and feel of the grey standard one. Is it possible to turn a regular one into the HK edition? I plan on custom installs and everything. I don't have a good pair of headphones. The ones that come with the hk edition are good from what I can tell. I am on T-Mobile, so I would have to flash it to T-Mobile. Is this a problem? I'm just trying to get all the answers before I buy.
Thanks again.
TireIron431 said:
I'm finding some better deals on the HK edition, than I am the regular htc. I like the look and feel of the grey standard one. Is it possible to turn a regular one into the HK edition? I plan on custom installs and everything. I don't have a good pair of headphones. The ones that come with the hk edition are good from what I can tell. I am on T-Mobile, so I would have to flash it to T-Mobile. Is this a problem? I'm just trying to get all the answers before I buy.
Thanks again.
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If you are rooting, then yes you can flash the H/K mod. You will need to be S-Off to do it, and that costs $25 from Sunshine (it's the only way now). It's totally worth it though to pay for. Besides getting the H/K sound, you will always be able to stay on top of the latest firmware. Otherwise to update it you have to flash a stock backup, a stock recovery, take the OTA (when it comes available), then go through the rooting process again. With S-Off, you just flash a firmware.zip and you are done.
TireIron431 said:
I'm finding some better deals on the HK edition, than I am the regular htc. I like the look and feel of the grey standard one. Is it possible to turn a regular one into the HK edition? I plan on custom installs and everything. I don't have a good pair of headphones. The ones that come with the hk edition are good from what I can tell. I am on T-Mobile, so I would have to flash it to T-Mobile. Is this a problem? I'm just trying to get all the answers before I buy.
Thanks again.
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I don't recommend getting a Sprint phone if you have T-mobile
So $25 from Sunshine is the only way to fully unlock an HTC now? It seems the more I find out about root, custom roms, and anything else we want to do with our phones is becoming more and more ridiculous to do.
I got off ATT because I was tired of knox, and have been researching that them and Verizon were the ones you didn't want because of the encrypted bootloaders. I got T-Mobile because from what I read they do not encrypt their bootloaders.
I was real excited to be able to customize my phone however I wanted. Im still new to all of this. The only phone I have ever modded was the sgh-i337.
Am I going to have spend 25 bucks every time I want to customize or reload something?
Sorry if i'm coming across as ungrateful or something. It's just that with the experience with the i337 I thought I was past that stuff.
You can root and unlock without s-off. You're just slightly limited to android version, for example. Once htc update to lollipop that particular problem will end. The cost is unfortunate but justified.
TireIron431 said:
So $25 from Sunshine is the only way to fully unlock an HTC now? It seems the more I find out about root, custom roms, and anything else we want to do with our phones is becoming more and more ridiculous to do.
I got off ATT because I was tired of knox, and have been researching that them and Verizon were the ones you didn't want because of the encrypted bootloaders. I got T-Mobile because from what I read they do not encrypt their bootloaders.
I was real excited to be able to customize my phone however I wanted. Im still new to all of this. The only phone I have ever modded was the sgh-i337.
Am I going to have spend 25 bucks every time I want to customize or reload something?
Sorry if i'm coming across as ungrateful or something. It's just that with the experience with the i337 I thought I was past that stuff.
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Samsung is the one with "locked bootloaders" All the recent HTC Phones have bootloader unlock Via HTCDEV.com you just have to create an account and go through a few steps to unlock. Unlocked Sim is totally different and has nothing to do with htc. All the carriers have some forum of Sim lock so their no advantage of one over the other. Whats important to note is the 2 different Radio technologies used by the different carriers. GSM = T-mobile / AT&T / International / Developer Edition / Rogers / Vodaphone and/or CDMA = Verizon / Sprint / Boost / Virgin Mobile
The Sim Unlocked GSM One is the most desirable. And if Wifi calling is important to you only the T-mobile model will support it out of the box.
As For the S-Off that all depends on how you use the phone. I don't recommend everyone get s-off. But at some point if you need to return the phone to Stock for warranty proposes S-Off will be necessary.
S-Off is only done to a Device One time, their is no need to ever turn it back to s-on
S-Off allows you to change your CID / MID and firmware that you can't normally use / Do
This allows you to say convert your AT&T phone into a GPe or a Developer Edition and receive OTA updates the same as they do. I hope this clears some things up for you.
I will probly s-off anyway. I just thought there was another way to do it.
@clsA thanks for the clarification. So to make sure I got this right...
I only need s-off if I plan on converting the phone to developer or such. without s-off I will still be able to root, install custom recovery such s philz, or twrp correct?
Aswell as any custom rom.
TireIron431 said:
I will probly s-off anyway. I just thought there was another way to do it.
@clsA thanks for the clarification. So to make sure I got this right...
I only need s-off if I plan on converting the phone to developer or such. without s-off I will still be able to root, install custom recovery such s philz, or twrp correct?
Aswell as any custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can still use Sunshine to unlock and s-off if that's what you choose. but not needed to just flash roms
TireIron431 said:
I will probly s-off anyway. I just thought there was another way to do it.
@clsA thanks for the clarification. So to make sure I got this right...
I only need s-off if I plan on converting the phone to developer or such. without s-off I will still be able to root, install custom recovery such s philz, or twrp correct?
Aswell as any custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will also be able to flash the newest versions of firmware way before your carrier updates, and therefore run the newest versions of ROMs without worrying a out not getting wifi and connection issues.
Awesome thanks for the assist guys.
another question. I was looking at the E8, and noticed they are very similar except the E8 has a way better camera. Would I be able to use it, or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Also I like the look and feel of the gun grey m8, could I buy an m8 body casing and just switch it out? or is it to much trouble and not worth my time?
I'd get the AT&T branded M8 as it has more bands and should support T-Mobile LTE in your area (atleast mine does).
The extra bands may be beneficial if you switch carriers down the road.
Will I be able to use wifi calling with the ATT version?
TireIron431 said:
Will I be able to use wifi calling with the ATT version?
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No its only on the t-mobile software
Guys,
I'm able to expense a phone through my employer every two years. I'm able to do this in November and would like to get a Note 5.
I have no intentions of rooting the device so the locked bootloader isn't a deal breaker.
I can easily walk into my local AT&T store and pick one up with full warranty and 14 day return policy. The international version I'd have to find a reputable seller on eBay or Amazon that hopefully has a good return policy in the event something is wrong.
I know the AT&T version will come with carrier bloat but that's easily taken care of using Package Disabler Pro.
Those of you with the AT&T version, would you give it up for the international version?
Thanks!
I've rooted every Android device I've had. Feel no need with the Note 5 and happy with it on AT&T. Great battery life, stable, fast. No need to mess with a working formula.
If I want root I go play with my other devices.
daystrom said:
I have no intentions of rooting the device so the locked bootloader isn't a deal breaker.
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IF you are okay with the locked bootloader (and no root), I'd most definitely get the AT&T version. Here's why:
14 day return for any reason whatsoever. (If you decide you want to change colors, just tell them that the camera flash is wonky or something so they don't hit you with a restock fee.)
1 year warranty (and advance warranty exchanges via AT&T) (Most international versions won't have any warranty)
0% financing.
On the other hand, with international, you don't have any warranty, but you do get (disregarding bootloader/root):
No carrier IQ. (Not as big of a deal as people make it out to be.)
AT&T tends to charge more for their devices than MSRP. (Example: $839 for the 64GB device instead of $799 elsewhere.)
International versions will get updates much, much, much faster than anything AT&T branded.
To me, the 0% financing offsets the extra that AT&T charges. Carrier IQ really isn't a big deal. So, the contrast is between firmware updates and a warranty. You might want the firmware updates. On the other hand, you might NEED the warranty. $700-800 isn't cheap!
Do the international versions get their updates directly from Samsung?
daystrom said:
Do the international versions get their updates directly from Samsung?
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You know, I have no clue. Each time I've had a non-carrier device, I've always blocked OTA's and would manually update only after doing full backups and waiting a few days for other people to "discover" what might have broken in the update.
Yes because there's no carrier modifying of the software. Carriers are typically the reason why phones take so long to get updates sometimes months later.
daystrom said:
Do the international versions get their updates directly from Samsung?
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I have a 3 yr old Galaxy S5 I'm about to retire. It was acquired from AT&T. This model has been notoriously difficult to root.
With whatever I get I don't want to be as stuck in no-root hell as I have been with this S5. (The phone itself has been great, I have just wanted to get in and mess with it.)
Generally speaking, if I buy an unlocked phone off of Amazon, for example, are these easier to root than versions that come from the carriers? In my periodic research on rooting the S5, for example, I've found that versions from other carriers are rootable but AT&T's has not been. So that's leading me to believe that the carrier's software is either 1/ more secure or 2/ more vulnerable, depending on the degree to which the carrier invests in making it bullet proof.
I've been so happy with the Samsung, buying an S8 seems quite logical. But like I said, I don't want to be stuck in no-root hell for the forseeable future.
Thanks.
Jim
Essential phone..... cheaper...... mod heaven