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Opinion: Root/Bootloader

Z

zetroc

Android Enthusiast
OK, what are people's opinions...

My phone is the same iit was on day one, locked and unrooted. I rooted my Inc cuz I wanted a pure/cleaner Android experience, and cuz I was just too behind with updates. With the GNex that shouldn't be much a problem, so do I want to unlock my bootloader and root if I don't really intend in flashing a custom ROM? I like my phone as is. I read somewhere that I do want to now before the OTA comes out, in case something changes and unlocking/getting root becomes too difficult.

So what aare the pros and cons of unlocking/rooting now vs letting it be?

<Mods, this is about root but intended for opinion/discussion from rooted and non-rooted users, that's why I posted here. Move if you see fit, and if so, sorry for the trouble :-) >
 
Rooting shouldn't change that much if at all after an OTA. The Gnex is an easy phone to root and should remain that way for having the nexus brand.

Without knowning what exactly you want to do with root I can't make many good reason for you. Really the only benefit of rooting that I can see for you is the use of apps like TiBU to backup your apps if you need. I rooted because I like what comes with custom roms.

When you unlock the bootloader it will wipe the SD card and currently there is a root method that allows you to root without unlocking the bootloader so you can backup your apps and move everything to the SD card. It should work later but it is not a certian thing. So if you may want to try roms later unlocking the bootloader now may be a good idea.

Really the choice is up to you.

I think you may get more responses from rooted users if this was in the root section so if you would like this thread moved there just let us know and a guide or mod will move it for you :D
 
Personally, I think the main reason of owning a Nexus device is to unlock/root! If you enjoyed the development of your Inc (and I know there was a ton), you'll love it for the Nexus.
 
I unlocked and rooted nearly right away, because it doesn't change the stock experience on its own, opens up a few extra useful apps, and if you DO change your mind in the future, you don't have to wipe everything you have built up on your phone.

My Droid Incredible and my Thunderbolt were both stock. I like the stock experience. I wasn't planning on putting a ROM on my phone, but when 4.0.4 leaked, I decided to jump on it. It is still the stock experience, I just get some bug fixes earlier than if I wait for the OTA. And I am very pleased with it.

Its all personal preference, but with how easy it is to do (and undo if needed), I personally figured, why not!
 
i think the #1 reason for me and a lot of people to root are for extended battery life.

A lot of ROMS have a lot of optimization done to the stock build and with the use of a custom kernel as well you can get much better battery life.
 
the main benefit of rooting for me was custom ROM's. after having the Thunderbolt on CM7, i got really used to having my toggles in the notification bar. there are work arounds, but i like to run my phone with as few apps as possible. rooting has allowed me to get rid of a 3rd party dialer (for T9 capabilities), an SMS app (didn't like stock look, but now have a themed stock app that i love) toggles in the notification bar (used to have to have a program like widgetsoid), baattery percent on the stock icon (used another widget to tell my my juice left)

not only that, but i have significantly improved my battery life with the help of custom ROM's and underclocking my processor when the screen is off.

if you are happy with your phone stock, i would still root. you will get the latest/greatest updates before the OTA hits, plus the benefit of changing anything you want if something bothers you.
 
Another reason to root is to be able to apply OTAS without waiting for Verizon to get around to you. I did this for the leaked 4.0.4 OTA and stayed totally stock except for having root access. It was nice in the days of the OG Droid when you could apply an OTA without rooting.
 
Idk if you're truly happy with stock, I'm hit or miss on whether I'd recommend root. If you change your mind later, you can always root. This is a Nexus. It will always have an unlockable bootloader which means root will always be possible. Liken it to being s-off on your Inc. Once you have it, you're in for life.
 
I unlocked the bootloader and rooted as soon as I got the phone. I like stock Android, so I didn't do it to flash ROMs, but there's a lot of cool apps that you can only use if you're rooted.

Titanium Backup
Light Flow
SetCPU (for setting underclock conditions to help with battery life)
Nova Launcher (doesn't require root, but you can do more with it if rooted)

I unlocked the bootloader because it resets your phone so I didn't want to do so later on, and at the time it was necessary to do before rooting.

But there's a new topic in the Root section, and apparently you can now root without unlocking the bootloader (which I think is what I did for my OG Droid).
http://androidforums.com/verizon-ga...oot-un-root-without-unlocking-bootloader.html
 
umataro42 said:
I unlocked the bootloader and rooted as soon as I got the phone. I like stock Android, so I didn't do it to flash ROMs, but there's a lot of cool apps that you can only use if you're rooted.

Titanium Backup
Light Flow
SetCPU (for setting underclock conditions to help with battery life)
Nova Launcher (doesn't require root, but you can do more with it if rooted)

I unlocked the bootloader because it resets your phone so I didn't want to do so later on, and at the time it was necessary to do before rooting.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I would've said. Same exact reasons, same exact apps!
 
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