[Updated] Droid X Gingerbread Update Comes With New Bootloader that Stops Root Access

[dgstorm]

[Updated:] It has been shown through recent reports that this info turned out to be a mistake on a developer's part, and that the info is not accurate. Unfortunately, sometimes in journalism, that happens. We bring you the news that we think you would like to know as quickly as we can. Sometimes the rumor-mill on the interwebs can be impossible to predict or confirm. Also, sometimes there is a time-delay while we write up our articles in which new info arises that we don't know about. We do our best to be as accurate as possible, but occasionally we miss some things. We apologize for the inconvenience.

A few weeks ago we reported a leaked Gingerbread update for the Droid X. Today, Verizon & Motorola are stealthily rolling out a newer version of that same update. However, don't rush to grab it if you are rooted. Apparently, they have added in "an extra surprise" to this version. It comes with a new bootloader that effectively eliminates your root access.
Here is a warning and quote from the source of this article,

It has been suggested that this update is only rolling out to users with the latest official build from Verizon (build 2.3.340), but if you’re currently rooted then ClockworkMod Recovery should block the update from happening. This is a "silent" update, meaning that there is no notification that the update is available to download, but instead it will download automatically and then you will be prompted to restart your phone so the update can take place.

This seems rather... 'shifty'. What do you guys think? This is happening right now, and we will keep you apprised if anything changes.

Source: AndroidPolice

 

[Enik]

Another reason I wanna switch from Verizon or from Moto. I'm sure people will find a way to remedy this some day, but for now I'm jumping over to sprint.

Sent from my Droid using DroidForums

 

[patmw123]

Can't you just sbf back to 2.3.340 and reroot if you take the ota? P3Droid tweeted that sbfing back to froyo worked fine. I guess I just don't see the big deal if sbf still works. I can't imagine it will stay unrootable for long.

 

[johnomaz]

Can't you just sbf back to 2.3.340 and reroot if you take the ota? P3Droid tweeted that sbfing back to froyo worked fine. I guess I just don't see the big deal if sbf still works. I can't imagine it will stay unrootable for long.

You're right. P3 showed a screenshot of being on the OTA GB and having the little "Superuser rights" popup over it. The root just hasn't been released yet.

 

[Dusty]

There are so many other things that they could apply their manpower to, like improving the overall user experience, or getting an official update out to their other devices like the Xoom. But instead this is what they choose to team up with Verizon to do. It's not so much that rooting is that important to me, but it puts their view of people like us into perspective. They really don't want your business and don't care what you want from your device. They don't want your feedback, and they don't want to see any kind of development from you. They simply want you to rent your device, pay on time, and shut the h@ll up.

I'm only one man and I'm sure they won't miss me, but I'm OUT when the next wave of phones hit. I'm going to test out Sprint when the EVO 3D drops. If Sprint is a significant drop in reliability I may get whatever HTC is offering from VZW. But there is a 0% chance that I'm buying a Motorola and VZWs chances of keeping me are 50/50 at best.

It's been real. And if anyone asks me I with vehemently advise them to stay away.

 

[JeffDenver]

This seems rather... 'shifty'.

No, I think "obnoxious" is the word you are looking for.

I think I may be saying goodbye to Verizon after this contract period. I've already written off Motorola. Will probably be going to Sprint next...better phones and better policies and better prices.

I will miss Verizon's network. And their service was pretty good. But thats about it.

 

[icebluemale30]

I looked at the bootloader with the hold camera+down vol +power it still says 30.04 bootloader isnt that the same as before ? or am i missing something ?

 

[spaz33g]

I had heard that the bootloader didn't change which makes sense seeing as you can sbf back to Froyo still.

tappin and a talkin

 

[WoZzY]

I am guessing Big Red would not kind us rooters as much if some of us were not racking up serious data with wireless tethers some people take to much advantage of this motto I dont know what there excuse is but if they dont straiten up & fly right they will lose all there customers to HTC as HTC as decided to play ball with rooters & all around the general idea behind android by releasing the kernel source code & look @ HTC Go 11 Billion dollar 1st Quarter !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[brkshr]

Yep! I'm OUT too! VZW and Moto are getting too sneaky/greedy. It's a shame, because I believe they provide the best service/hardware, but I'm not game for this sneaky crap. Nexus S here I come.

 

[reuuin88]

Yeah I manually updated last night, then sbfd back. The bootloader was still labeled 30.04

 

[BigMcGuire]

This is why I left Motorola for HTC. I will never look back. Already encouraged several people to buy phones that were not Motorola. Sad to see this happening.

 

[supermandroid]

Wow this is "shady" at best... I wouldn't have considered Sprint until I found out about tiered data plans, and if THIS is true then I just got pushed over the edge. When my contract is up I'm out.

Sent from my DROIDX using DroidForums

 

[Detonation]

Not sure why everyone is having a fit about this. Pretty much every update fixes previous root exploits, and the dev community just finds more. This update has apparently already been rooted, just not released to the public yet:

OTA 4.5.588 Has Root!

 

[zerodamage]

Another reason I wanna switch from Verizon or from Moto. I'm sure people will find a way to remedy this some day, but for now I'm jumping over to sprint.

Sent from my Droid using DroidForums

I would think twice about jumping to Sprint unless you want all of that spying crap on your phone that Sprint has on their Android phones. I am starting to find that Android isn't much better than the iPhone when it comes to draconian controls.