11-07-2011, 01:53 AM | #1 |
Fanatic
Posts: 580
Karma: 1309104
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BC,Canada/NV, USA
Device: iPad 9th Gen, iPhone 11, Paperwhite 10th Gen.
|
What do you mean by 'rooting'?
Just that--I've seen a few people on various threads talk about 'rooting'. What does that mean and why would you do it?
Thanks. |
11-07-2011, 02:36 AM | #2 |
Groupie
Posts: 190
Karma: 157090
Join Date: Nov 2011
Device: Kobo, Kobo Vox
|
On almost all Android devices (and almost all mobile devices of any sort, for that matter) you don't have full control over your system.
On a Windows computer, for example, you've got administrator accounts. One or more user who has full rights to do anything. On a Linux or Mac OS X computer, this administrative account is called the "root" account. Whatever it's called, most people have come face to face with a prompt saying "You don't have permission to do this." or a prompt to enter credentials for an administrative account before continuing. Android is actually based on Linux. You have a front-end - all that stuff you see when using your tablet or phone - sitting atop a version of Linux. However, since your access to the device all comes through the android front-end, you don't have that same full access you have on a desktop computer. You're basically sitting completely within a program that doesn't have administrative powers. Rooting your device is a process that allows you to have full access. The process is different on different devices (I've got a tutorial here on doing it on the Vox) but it involves installing a program called Superuser. Superuser acts as a gatekeeper of sorts. Any other app that wants to perform an administrative function (ie, that needs root access) can ask Superuser for that permission. Superuser then prompts you to accept or deny that request. This opens up a lot of options in terms of what an application can do. For example, backup utilities can only back up all of your data if they have root access. Another example is taking screenshots. Android has no built-in screenshot tool and if you want to use a screenshot app, you need root. There are all sorts of other applications for rooted devices and the uses are varied as with regular apps. |
Advert | |
|
11-07-2011, 05:23 AM | #3 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 25
Karma: 10298
Join Date: Sep 2010
Device: REB-1100/ EBW-1150
|
Quote:
|
|
11-07-2011, 05:35 AM | #4 | |
Wizard
Posts: 4,334
Karma: 4000000
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Paris
Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1
|
Quote:
It's more to scare people away, and be able to say "screw you" when they are sue rooting and other stuff actually caused the problem. |
|
11-07-2011, 06:43 AM | #5 | |
Enthusiast
Posts: 25
Karma: 10298
Join Date: Sep 2010
Device: REB-1100/ EBW-1150
|
Quote:
I'm not against rooting, just saying be very careful about listing the possible downsides when you're talking to someone who doesn't even know the definition of rooting. |
|
Advert | |
|
11-07-2011, 06:50 AM | #6 |
Fanatic
Posts: 534
Karma: 696908
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ottawa Canada
Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch
|
Where does it say that rooting voids the warranty?
|
11-07-2011, 07:38 AM | #7 |
Enthusiast
Posts: 25
Karma: 10298
Join Date: Sep 2010
Device: REB-1100/ EBW-1150
|
I would guess it would say it in the warranty... I don't have one so I can't go look to be sure but almost every device like this has clauses in the warranty voiding it in cases where the software has been tampered with.
If it doesn't, then cool, but I'd be very surprised and I'd still say be sure to warn people of potential risks when rooting. |
11-07-2011, 07:54 AM | #8 | |
Connoisseur
Posts: 88
Karma: 4132
Join Date: Oct 2011
Device: Kobo Vox
|
Quote:
|
|
11-07-2011, 08:00 AM | #9 |
Trying for calm & polite
Posts: 4,012
Karma: 9455193
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mostly in Canada
Device: kobo original, WiFI, Touch, Glo, and Aura
|
Maybe it could be considered an accident and covered under the extra warranties .
|
11-07-2011, 08:14 AM | #10 | |
Wizard
Posts: 4,334
Karma: 4000000
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Paris
Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1
|
Quote:
Experience with phone is that they don't bother looking at the software. |
|
11-07-2011, 11:08 AM | #11 |
Fanatic
Posts: 534
Karma: 696908
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ottawa Canada
Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch
|
Does rooting damage the hardware? Does it have more potential to do so than any other "Unknown source", non-Kobo-Market application?
|
11-07-2011, 11:25 AM | #12 |
Zealot
Posts: 110
Karma: 347050
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: Kobo Glo, Kobo Touch, Kobo Vox
|
It doesn't change the hardware. Just the firmware or software on the device. Using gingerroot it is very easy to root and unroot the device.
|
11-07-2011, 02:06 PM | #13 |
Groupie
Posts: 190
Karma: 157090
Join Date: Nov 2011
Device: Kobo, Kobo Vox
|
Because of the particular method being used here, I didn't think it warranted any special warnings. This method of rooting is just as safe as doing a regular firmware update.
You're right though, if anything goes wrong with any sort of 3rd-party software it's not covered under warranty. |
11-07-2011, 09:04 PM | #14 |
Fanatic
Posts: 580
Karma: 1309104
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BC,Canada/NV, USA
Device: iPad 9th Gen, iPhone 11, Paperwhite 10th Gen.
|
Thanks for the info!
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Classic Need help rooting- won't take | nooknoob | Nook Developer's Corner | 1 | 08-09-2011 09:41 AM |
Rooting a 1.1 ... | Cpl Punishment | Nook Developer's Corner | 45 | 02-20-2011 01:56 AM |
What is rooting? | Belle2Be | Nook Developer's Corner | 23 | 02-11-2011 07:05 PM |
Rooting Help! | penworth | Nook Developer's Corner | 8 | 01-20-2011 07:09 PM |
Rooting? | PomMom12 | Nook Developer's Corner | 4 | 12-24-2010 01:52 PM |