Any thoughts on VZW using the 2.2 push to lock down the Droid1?

[MotoCache1]

Am I the only one who worries that VZW will use this opportunity to "lock down" the Droid 1 and (attempt to) prevent rooting and custom ROMs? On the one hand, as long is there a way to update the phone there probably will be a way to use that mechanism to install a "roll your own" type update. On the other hand, it wouldn't be rocket science to require update.zip files to be digitally signed or something like that before the updater will process them (assuming the ability to modify/replace the updater via OTA).

I'm just hoping that in a day or so we don't see the first recipients of the push saying "OMG, I got the push and can't root". If that happens there will be a mad dash of folks putting their phones into "Airplane" mode and installing custom ROMs to dodge the update.

Is this a completely irrational notion and simply not possible OTA?

On a separate note, it seems that we know (or can reasonably assume) that the WiFi hotspot and tethering capability won't be in the push from VZW -- or will have some sort of mechanism built in to detect/track it's use and require a paid feature on your account to work. Or if they were really crafty, have the files there, but disabled, but they are modified files that notify VZW of their use even if you do hack it and enable them.

I guess we'll all know soon enough.

 

[dezymond]

i doubt they can prevent rooting.

the droid x was thought to be almost too risky to root and was rooted the week after it came out.

although there probably is a way to completely lock down a device i think it's too much of a hassle for Moto or any other phone makers to work on.

 

[garrett]

even if they try and lock it down all you need to do is use RSD lite and go back to a previous rooted version.

 

[xliderider]

I dunno, my wife's Eris was locked down for a good while after I loaded the leaked 2.2 rom on it due to the presence of a locked bootloader.

I don't know if Verizon can push something like that out OTA, but I would think that they would've if they could by now.

 

[Martin030908]

Motorola has openly stated that the Droid was released with different intentions. They purposely left it 'hackable'.

I would highly doubt they'll lock it down. Just don't expect to ever see another phone as 'open' as the Droid from Motorola.

 

[MotoCache1]

Motorola has openly stated that the Droid was released with different intentions. They purposely left it 'hackable'.

I would highly doubt they'll lock it down. Just don't expect to ever see another phone as 'open' as the Droid from Motorola.

While that may well be true, that doesn't mean Verizon likes it. I don't know how much control VZW has over how Motorola customizes the OS or if their agreement with Motorola would permit them to change the package that Moto delivers to them, but VZW certainly has different incentives than Moto. Obviously VZW has some control/input or the 2.2 we receive will/would have tethering and WiFi hotspot.

To this point I've been pretty content to stick with the stock ROM with PDAnet, but assuming the 2.2 push does not include functioning tethering and WiFi hotspot (a safe assumption) then I will at a minimum do what is needed to enable those (root plus whatever other code/kernel pieces are need).

 

[Dave12308]

I still think WiFi hotspot is coming. Just not in the way people think. Remember, we don't HAVE 2.2 yet (officially) - i'll bet once it drops, a fancy WiFi Hotspot by Verizon app will pop up, with a VZW-ified GUI and everything; i'd put money on it. It will probably be a free download from the Verizon tab in the market, with a warning attached that it will incur a usage charge monthly.

Maybe if enough people whine that it's free on the Pre, they'll make it free for us as well. We can only hope. I still don't understand why it's free on one device and not the other.

 

[gadgetrants]

Am I the only one who worries that VZW will use this opportunity to "lock down" the Droid 1 and (attempt to) prevent rooting and custom ROMs? On the one hand, as long is there a way to update the phone there probably will be a way to use that mechanism to install a "roll your own" type update. On the other hand, it wouldn't be rocket science to require update.zip files to be digitally signed or something like that before the updater will process them (assuming the ability to modify/replace the updater via OTA).

I'm just hoping that in a day or so we don't see the first recipients of the push saying "OMG, I got the push and can't root". If that happens there will be a mad dash of folks putting their phones into "Airplane" mode and installing custom ROMs to dodge the update.

Is this a completely irrational notion and simply not possible OTA?

This is a pretty reasonable question, and in my "early" days of Droid ownership, I kept saying similar things, like, "WAIT! I DON'T have to pay for ringtones? I DON'T have to pay for GPS or NAVIGATION? What's up with THAT???" As a longtime VZ customer, it just didn't feel right that I was getting something "for nothing."

But here is another perspective. When I walk into my local, corporate-owned store, there are 2 demo Droids. One works, the other is a dummy phone. They are covered in fingerprints, grimy, and totally unappealing. Meanwhile, nearby sits the gorgeous, shiny Droid X...with cherubs circling it and the sound of angels singing. It's clear, at least at this store, who the favorite child is.

Remember...phones are coming into the store at a mad pace. Between now and Q4, our heads will be dizzy with the possibilities. I frankly think VERIZON DOESN'T CARE. The Droid is out...promotion is over. It's remotely possible that the OTA that is designed for the D2 might have something rather unfriendly in it that our D1s pick up, but I doubt it.

I think you're home free. Enjoy it. dancedroid

-Matt

 

[bpad10]

Am I the only one who worries that VZW will use this opportunity to "lock down" the Droid 1 and (attempt to) prevent rooting and custom ROMs? On the one hand, as long is there a way to update the phone there probably will be a way to use that mechanism to install a "roll your own" type update. On the other hand, it wouldn't be rocket science to require update.zip files to be digitally signed or something like that before the updater will process them (assuming the ability to modify/replace the updater via OTA).

I'm just hoping that in a day or so we don't see the first recipients of the push saying "OMG, I got the push and can't root". If that happens there will be a mad dash of folks putting their phones into "Airplane" mode and installing custom ROMs to dodge the update.

Is this a completely irrational notion and simply not possible OTA?

This is a pretty reasonable question, and in my "early" days of Droid ownership, I kept saying similar things, like, "WAIT! I DON'T have to pay for ringtones? I DON'T have to pay for GPS or NAVIGATION? What's up with THAT???" As a longtime VZ customer, it just didn't feel right that I was getting something "for nothing."

But here is another perspective. When I walk into my local, corporate-owned store, there are 2 demo Droids. One works, the other is a dummy phone. They are covered in fingerprints, grimy, and totally unappealing. Meanwhile, nearby sits the gorgeous, shiny Droid X...with cherubs circling it and the sound of angels singing. It's clear, at least at this store, who the favorite child is.

Remember...phones are coming into the store at a mad pace. Between now and Q4, our heads will be dizzy with the possibilities. I frankly think VERIZON DOESN'T CARE. The Droid is out...promotion is over. It's remotely possible that the OTA that is designed for the D2 might have something rather unfriendly in it that our D1s pick up, but I doubt it.

I think you're home free. Enjoy it. dancedroid

-Matt

I completely agree and want to add the Droid 1 was the 1st true android phone to hit the market. Verizon, Motorola and google wanted to make a splash with this phone and may have left it "open" to lure more customers. Now that they have a solid fan base, we may see them start reeling back some of these perks with future generations of phones.

 

[OSX2000]

I completely agree and want to add the Droid 1 was the 1st true android phone to hit the market.

It definitely made the biggest splash in the water, but it wasn't the first. The HTC Dream/G1 was really the opener for the market.

 

[cb2000a]

Verizon and Moto have not intentions of locking the D1 down...ever.

 

[sroach23]

just wait, an hour after froyo is officially released one of the devs will have a rooted version available.

 

[kodiak799]

just wait, an hour after froyo is officially released one of the devs will have a rooted version available.

Hope so....I think I might do the old "format SD", unroot and go thru the upgrades to get a clean start with Froyo, and then root and install the custom roms.

Just a preference. Curious to see if a few minor issues with the roms disappear in stock Froyo - I'd flash the latest leak but too lazy right now to bother.

 

[Potty Time]

why would you format your sd card

 

[kodiak799]

why would you format your sd card

Clean up all the garbage....Starting new from scratch like it just came from the factory.

Your phone is basically a computer....And it's a good idea to format and reinstall your PC at least a few times a year.