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Please enlighten a noob - why root TB

G

griller

Newbie
HI all, I finally got the TB, and I'm surprised by a few annoynces:

bloatwares from Verizon that WILL NOT LET ME UNINSTALL? (whats up wiht that) Let's golf, Rock Band, Blockbuster? you gotta be kidding me. Come on verizon we understand the bloatware business but at least give us the option to uninstall...if a user is determined to uninstall an app, what makes you think that user is going to open the app in the future just b/c you're not allowing him to uninstall it?

Also, when I connect the TB to my PC, I am sometimes able to have my computer recognize it as a proper USB mass storage, but at other times, my computer only recognizes it for that god-awful Verizon fake-CD Drive, and I will have to keep disconnecting my device and try reconnecting hoping that this time it will pull the SD card. (and sometimes this works)

So these are a couple of annoyances I have with my stock TB. Sorry it was bit of a rant :D. But will rooting the phone help me fix these problems?

Also mainly i wanted to find out what advantages the advanced users are finding from rooting the device. does it really help you save battery life?, etc. what else?

Also what potential downsides could be there for me if I were to root?

Thanks,
noob
 
upsides:
-allows you to remove all bloatware (increase speed and free up memory)
-allows you to over/underclock your processor (i have mine UC'd to 245mHz when the screen is locked, HUGE battery saver)
-allows you to create a full system back up (apps, accounts, OS, everything)
-allows the installation of custom ROMs (add features from other devices and get android updates on YOUR schedule, not HTC/Verizon's)
-allows the use of root only apps such as AdFree (removes all ads from apps and the browser), ShootMe (take screen caps), Titanium Backup (backs up apps WITH their settings and save info), WirelessTether (use your phone as a hotspot without paying VZ), etc.

downsides:
-technically involved (for now)
-voids your warranty (you can always unroot before you send it in for repair)
-you will no longer get carrier updates pushed to your phone OTA
-you will become addicted to flashing new ROMs (:p)
 
new ROMs are usually just stock android, right? Cause stock android sucks, IMO...maybe some ROMs let you keep Sense UI?

to the OP - rooting will allow you to do all the things you want. But there are trade-offs.
 
AustinTech said:
new ROMs are usually just stock android, right? Cause stock android sucks, IMO...maybe some ROMs let you keep Sense UI?

to the OP - rooting will allow you to do all the things you want. But there are trade-offs.
Click to expand...

Some custom ROMs have sense built in, some don't; its all up to the developer. I actually prefer stock android to any of the manufacturer overlays, but to each their own.
 
^ Ditto. I prefer stock based roms. Adrynalyn has a de-bloated stock rom that's working pretty good for me at the moment. Along with the roms there are also other tweaks that can be flashed which keeps the rom stock but introduces other system enhancements.
 
I would strongly suggest that anyone new to android wait to root their device. If you don't understand the basic pro's/con's then root isn't for you. While a lot of people do it, it is a serious, involved process. It will void your warranty and the process of root is not as easy (yet) as it is with other devices. I would say to read as many threads as you can and understand exactly what rooting does, what the terms mean and if the risk is something you want to take. While there haven't been any reports of bricks (breaking your phone) there is still a small possibility. I'm not trying to scare anyone, I just want people to be informed of what could possibly happen. When a simpler method comes out and you feel you still want to root then by all means root away. You phone is awesome as is and while rooting is essential for some, it's not a necessity for others
 
SolidOrange said:
upsides:
-allows you to remove all bloatware (increase speed and free up memory)
-allows you to over/underclock your processor (i have mine UC'd to 245mHz when the screen is locked, HUGE battery saver)
-allows you to create a full system back up (apps, accounts, OS, everything)
-allows the installation of custom ROMs (add features from other devices and get android updates on YOUR schedule, not HTC/Verizon's)
-allows the use of root only apps such as AdFree (removes all ads from apps and the browser), ShootMe (take screen caps), Titanium Backup (backs up apps WITH their settings and save info), WirelessTether (use your phone as a hotspot without paying VZ), etc.

downsides:
-technically involved (for now)
-voids your warranty (you can always unroot before you send it in for repair)
-you will no longer get carrier updates pushed to your phone OTA
-you will become addicted to flashing new ROMs (:p)
Click to expand...


Under ur downsides u listed "you will no longer get carrier updates pushed to your phone OTA". Does that mean when the update for for 2.3 comes out rooted phones will not be able to get it?
 
thorthunderblt said:
Under ur downsides u listed "you will no longer get carrier updates pushed to your phone OTA". Does that mean when the update for for 2.3 comes out rooted phones will not be able to get it?
Click to expand...

Yes.

But by the time Verizon pushes 2.3 to our phones, those who are rooted would be on 2.3 already if they wanted. Rooting frees you from waiting for verizon for updates and you get them sooner through the community.
 
willdogs said:
Yes.

But by the time Verizon pushes 2.3 to our phones, those who are rooted would be on 2.3 already if they wanted. Rooting frees you from waiting for verizon for updates and you get them sooner through the community.
Click to expand...

What he said.

My rooted OG Droid had been running on 2.3 for months... a version of android that has not, and will not, ever be pushed to that phone by VZ.
 
Oh wow i just might have to get more familiar with my TB then. I really hate to bring this up but. How much of a battery difference was noticed after rooting?
 
thorthunderblt said:
Oh wow i just might have to get more familiar with my TB then. I really hate to bring this up but. How much of a battery difference was noticed after rooting?
Click to expand...

I did not notice a significant difference in battery life until i installed SetCPU and underclocked my processor down to 245mHz when the screen is off. This has helped immensely. However, as more custom ROMs come out, I am sure many of them will further address the battery life issue.
 
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