Root Nexus 7 abroad

[CoastalDroid]

I am looking at possibly puchasing a Nexus 7 from the UK, although I shall be using it primarily in Portugal. Based on Google Play availability I am not sure how this affects me with regard to the possible need to get "creative" with my new device.

I have rooted phones before (all on 2.3 or below), but have heard that the N7 is so sweet out of the box, that people are hesitant to customise.

I have read that OTA updates can cause issues on rooted devices etc., although I am not sure if this is just because Jellybean is a lot cleverer then previous releases. Before I purchase an N7 from the UK, I pretty much know I will not want to stick a custom ROM on any time soon, therefore just need some guidance:

(i) with regard to Google Play access, will I need to unlock and/or root, and if so, what additional steps would be required to access the market?
(ii) if I root the device, can I still (as with older devices) easily make a backup of Google stock using some of the familiar tools, just in case I do encounter any issues with future updates.

Please advise. Thanks.

 

[Teknologic]

I am looking at possibly puchasing a Nexus 7 from the UK, although I shall be using it primarily in Portugal. Based on Google Play availability I am not sure how this affects me with regard to the possible need to get "creative" with my new device.

I have rooted phones before (all on 2.3 or below), but have heard that the N7 is so sweet out of the box, that people are hesitant to customise.

I have read that OTA updates can cause issues on rooted devices etc., although I am not sure if this is just because Jellybean is a lot cleverer then previous releases. Before I purchase an N7 from the UK, I pretty much know I will not want to stick a custom ROM on any time soon, therefore just need some guidance:

(i) with regard to Google Play access, will I need to unlock and/or root, and if so, what additional steps would be required to access the market?
(ii) if I root the device, can I still (as with older devices) easily make a backup of Google stock using some of the familiar tools, just in case I do encounter any issues with future updates.

Please advise. Thanks.

If anything, nexus devices are easier to root and more compatible with common tools then the average device.

Google Play never gets disabled based on your location, if a device is Google certified or however it's called, it's allowed to have the Google apps and play store regardless of where it's sold or exported.
What will change based on location, is the content of the play store. Google generally rolls out new services in the US first and gradually expands location. As a result, movies, series and magazines are available in the UK, Canada and a few others, but won't appear in the play store anywhere else. The respective apps will also be disabled btw, which is fixable if you're rooted.

But to be clear, the Nexus 7 is sold in many many countries already and it's really great out of the box. However if you're going to tinker with it or are used to root access, you might wanna unlock it after you checked it works fine because unlocking wipes your device.
But stock jellybean is a really great experience, even outside the US.

 

[CoastalDroid]

As I am not purchasing a phone, I doubt the device would come with a vendor specific ROM, although I am guessing it will be a country specific ROM -- correct? How would such a ROM differ from "stock Jellybean"?

Without any adaption to the device out of the box, can I not just load an apk of the aforementioned unavailable apps (from say FTP, as there is no external storage) and run them (with VPN if appropriate)? Or is there some other level of protection without rooting?

 

[Teknologic]

Incorrect. The software on the tablet is exactly the same out of the box in China as it is in the US (and the rest of the world). The rom will be stock jellybean. You're purchasing a nexus device, the key point to the Nexus line is that it's on stock android and will receive new android versions as one of the first devices in the world, through online updates.

As for the apps, you can't side load them, since they are already there. They just get disabled in countries where the service isn't available. Like some other apps in the play store that are geographically dependant.
A vpn would indeed remedy this. If it's one from the countries that do support the service, the content of the play store will be unlocked and I do believe the apps will be enabled after a reboot. They will however get disabled again if you reboot while not on the vpn. But if you're rooted, you can move them out of the system partition, which effectively stops them being disabled permanently.

 

[rootbrain]

A Broad using a Nexus 7 is easier to figure out than using a Nexus 7 abroad.

Ohh, that was a good one. I so clever! :smokingsomb: <-- too many Tequilas, GOOOO Broncos!


(American axiom. You'll have to Google it, just too hard to explain)