As if Asus didn't have enough software headaches with the Transformer Prime already, it's now added one entirely of its own making: an angry homebrew community that has just discovered that the Prime's bootloader is encrypted. A 128-bit encryption key stands between eager Prime modders and the ability to load custom ROMs of their own, which has been greeted with an understandable mix of disgust and frustration.
HTC was the most recent other company to dabble with encryption-locked bootloaders, which incited enough of a customer backlash for CEO Peter Chou to personally reverse course and promise that bootloaders on all recent HTC phones would be set free. Inspired by that course of events, there's now a thread on the xda-developers forum advocating a similar strategy be adopted with Asus, urging current and potential owners of the quad-core Eee Pad to take to the social media soapbox and decry Asus's decision.
There are 108 Comments. Add yours.
And boom goes the dynamite.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:32 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
Seriously, ASUS? Fighting Hasbro doesn’t even come close to the backlash you’re going to get from the Android community. Why do these tech companies always have to learn the hard way? /sigh
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:49 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Worse part is, they don’t even learn. I mean, you’d think by this point nobody would consider locking bootloaders a good thing but there you go. And I still don’t understand why they do it in the first place, I mean how exactly do they profit from it?? I already bought your device, I already paid you the $500 or $600 or whatever for it, you got the money, what does it matter if I put a custom ROM on it. /sigh indeed
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
They don’t profit from it. They are covering their ass. If you screw up rooting or loading a custom ROM on the device and brick it, although that does void the warranty, chances are you will go to them at some point for help. They will have to spend their resources, may be event to the point of a replacement if they don’t catch what you did. I own a Touchpad running Android, so I can understand and agree with the desire to customize your device, but I also see the fairly logical standpoint of Asus from their perspective and bias.
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 9:41 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Guess the Decepticons were the good guys after all
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 1:03 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Good on Asus.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:42 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
uh… why?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:43 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Because most of those idiots brick their device, then bring their device back to the store and tell the store it’s broken, ASUS tells them they voided their warranty, and then they whine like little kids. That’s the reality.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:49 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
The reality is that you have no stats to prove that “most” people brick their devices.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:26 AM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
I think you intentionally misinterpreted his statement. His intended comment happens to be true as there is no other possible reason for why they would do this (regardless of whether his intention is to troll or not).
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:59 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
First of all, ASUS could care less when people whine like little kids if they’re not under warranty, so… I don’t see how you could side with this idiot’s post.
Secondly, of course they have a reason. They have idiots like him working in management. I assure you the techies over at ASUS would rather go home and spend time with their wife and kids instead of working extra hours on putting together a 128-key for the bootloader. But their manager told them they need to make sure customers cannot do that stuff he read on the news like “jailbreaking” which can cause “bricks” and would therefore mean an inferior product. Of course, like LolyPopBrigade, he had no idea how common such an occurrence actually is.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:46 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
When you have to hire people to take support calls that does cut into your bottom line. Like I said, he may be trolling but there is truth to the statement.
That’s not a reasonable argument. You’re ignoring the obvious reason which almost always happens to be the correct one. Clearly Asus thought that locking the bootloader would save them more money than hiring more people for customer support. This is the same reasoning that HTC had until they realized the negative comments would cost them potential sales and evangelists of their hardware. The best thing you can do is to voice your opinion which you have done,
There are a lot of incompetent people out there who will likely screw up their device when they’re doing something they’re not capable of – even if it is simple to a geek.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“Hi, customer support? My tablet is not turning on.”
“Did you modify the software?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, you voided your warranty. Have a good day sir.”
“Oh.”
Or, have them ship it to ASUS, only to discover it’s not under warranty and ship it back without covering shipping costs. I’m claiming that management doesn’t understand these issues, except they, for some reason or another, assume the product will get a bad rap for “jailbroken” tablets malfunctioning. This is obviously not related with reality – but that’s management.
Bricking an android device is very hard. Even if you try. Unless you half-brick it and get too lazy to restore it, but that’s another story.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
37% of the TF101 returns were due to bricked devices and it does create a significant support cost, especially when 98% of those users refused to pay for reimaging the unit and claimed the device failed. In addition, it also creates significant support costs when new releases are rolled out and the user is unable to update their device. Can you imagine the support headaches when ASUS rolls out ICS and the rooted units (if allowed) are unable to update from Honeycomb. Do you honestly think those users are going are going to be accepting of not being able to update to ICS.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Source for that number?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes please. Source. Even so, your unfounded statistic it’s not making any point.
Even if 37% of returns were due to bricked devices, what is the absolute number? What if there were only 7 returned units? How much of a headache is it? Why are you just throwing numbers around?
The original Transformer was a brilliant success for ASUS, way better than they were expecting, and I’m sure much of it thanks to the dev community’s enthusiasm – possible thanks to an unlockable bootloader. I doubt they’re worried about returns considering they couldn’t even get enough off the production line to keep up with demand.
I’ve never heard of not being able to update an android version just because it’s been rooted. Even so, these people are aware of what they’re getting into. If you’ve ever looked at any guide on how to do even the simplest things, you’ll always get a big warning mentioning voided warranties and no guarantees. Besides, if a custom Honeycomb (no source) is available, I assure you a custom ICS (open source) will be available.
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 5:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Who associates a brick with an inferior product? If you brick it rooting (which is nearly impossible), and then complain about that product, your a moron. I’m pretty sure this doesn’t happen.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:31 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I agree, and I challenge anyone to find an example of someone trashing a product because they bricked it installing a ROM.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:09 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I see iPhone users trashing Android all the time because geeks brick their devices while messing with installing custom firmware. The geeks don’t trash anything because they understand what’s going on, but onlookers (who can only see an ASUS logo and a screen that won’t turn on) do.
Just the other day a friend (owning a 3GS) who’s considering either the 4S or the GNex saw another friend with the SGS struggling with some issue after loading custom firmware, and said “see, that’s what I’m afraid of if I get Android”. Of course, he wasn’t panicking at all and a few minutes later the issue was resolved, but the impression, and the damage, had been done. This is what ASUS managers are afraid of.
Prize for the challenge, please?
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 6:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re*
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 3:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Management does. I’m guessing the manager hears about “bricked devices”, hears it’s because people are “jailbreaking” their devices, and then asks the engineers to make sure they can’t, because if people hear that ASUS’s tablets turn into bricks, they’ve got a serious problem.
I’m not saying it’s rational (because it’s not), I’m saying management thinks whatever it thinks and the engineers get paid to do what management tells them to. The engineers are not the one’s making decisions and management doesn’t know much about the technical side of these things. That’s how the world goes round.
I have personally restored 4 different android devices I thought were toast, and I know that bricking an android device is near impossible. But management doesn’t.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ariel, the real question is – are you still going to buy the Transformer or not? :P
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 4:43 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
He is simply wrong. Taking a device back to the store means that the responsibility of dealing with it is down to the retailer, not the manufacturer. That wasn’t even the first mistake made with the trolling post.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 2:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You can look at LolyPopBrigade’s post history if you click his name.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:53 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:55 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
hes saying your history continues with intentionally posting about the opposite side of things in order (what it looks like at least) to start flame wars
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:15 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Damn, guess I should’ve read this first.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:32 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Android: Where “Open Source” devices are just as locked down as other operating systems’ “Closed Source” devices.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:44 AM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
The software is “open-sourced” to the manufacturer, what he choses to do with it is up to him, the licence makes no restriction on him
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:58 AM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
Android: where any idiot can make an irrelevant comment about the lack of openness and get tons of upvotes.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:40 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
What relevance does your quote have other than to protect Google? Ask yourself why Google chose to go after Skyhook and stopped carriers from installing Bing search on Android devices while they agreed to support the carriers’ statements regarding net neutrality in the US.
Originally, I saw your comments on Engadget, it is reasonable but, in the end, you’re not any different than you think you are from fanboys, On the Verge, I’ve seen most of your posts, and you are preaching fanboyism through potentially offensive comments though you are attempting to think about what is rational.
Why doesn’t Google get questions about their openness when people openly questions the law in the US?
You are playing a game when your reasoning is flawed.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 11:30 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
“Why doesn’t Google get questions about their openness when people openly questions the law in the US?”
They do. Every day. In fact, the US government is coming down on them to see how they operate and whether or not it’s anti-competitive.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m hoping that you meant to reply to Leica there Mike and not Boghog, because Boghog’s comment was absolutely on the money.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m agreeing with Boghog, and commenting on Leica. It was relevant to both their comments.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Google makes boat loads of money off their so-called OPEN ANDROID OS through a downstream OS based advertising kickback loop. That is why they made Android OPEN.
Hardware manufacturers have no such down-stream money printing kickback loop from all you FanDroid whiners.
Why does every hardware manufacturer owe all you FanDroids an open-hardware hobby system at their expense? ( direct customer eco-system – reliability – malware – reputation )
Build your own damn hobby hardware and then sell it to everyone else at near cost, why don’t you.
I thought so !!!
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 3:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Guess Linus should have made the Kernel GPL3 :)
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:56 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
The most annoying thing about this is that Android fans will say that “Android isn’t locked down, the Trnsformer Prime is!” No. No no no no no no.
Android in it’s “purest” form isn’t locked down, but that means nothing if it doesn’t reach the consumer. If what the consumer receives is locked down, closed source, encrypted, etc., then that’s the consumers’ opinion on it. Right now, the only way to get a quad-core Android tablet is to get this. Therefore, quad-core Android solutions ONLY involve a locked down boot loader.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:18 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
At least Android has quad-core solutions…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:50 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Because it badly needs them for their publicly beta tested OS.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:24 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
While I agree that it’s great that Android has a quad-core option, please don’t turn this into Android v. iOS. You can’t just say one solution’s faults disappear because it’s the only one around. I would much rather have a SGS2 with an unlocked boot loader than a quad-core phone that’s locked to whatever OS is flashed on it. At least I know my phone will be updated in two years…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:51 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
open source means if you don’t like what Asus is doing you can make your own quad core tablet how you like it.. Why do people think open source means manufacturer products for the whole world according to my personal preferences…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:15 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah, because products are created for the sole benefit of the corporation, and not at all for the people that buy and use them.
When you buy something, you’re supposed to use it as the corporation that created it dictates. If you don’t like that, you can go live in a shack in the woods (but don’t use tools to create it in ways they weren’t “intended.”)
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Scumbag ASUS
Makes the best tablet on the market.
Locks the bootloader.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:44 AM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
And I was totally looking forward to potentially installing win8 for ARM on one of these. Sigh…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:37 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No worries, you probably wouldn’t have been able to do that anyway (really, installing software on ARM isn’t nearly as easy as it is on x86.)
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No probably about it, Win8-Arm is going to be just embedded as windows phone, that is, it will be shipped on a device or will never be on that device. It requires a signed/locked bootloader, there is no way that will ever work without manufacturers building devices for Win8-Arm
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Fail. To compete with the iDevices Asus needs at the very least geeks to act as evangelists. And now they antagonize them for very unclear benefits.
When will Google release its tablet already?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 5:45 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I can understand that having the ability to do quite literally anything with your device is a huge boon to those who have the technical know-how, but realistically, those aren’t the people that are going to make the device successful in the market. Is it likely that there’s more than a single digit percentage of Android tablet and phone users for whom a locked bootloader is a relevant factor?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes WE make the difference. Who do your Laymen friends ask about nrw devices? 3 people I know got the OG EVO after I got it….because i convinced them it was the best phone on the market at that time….and because they trust my techy point of view…. We drive the bottom line and if we say “no dont get that, get this instead,” they listen
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:34 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
That may well be the case, but for people coming to you asking about which device to buy, how many of them will even know what a bootloader is? How many know about custom ROMs? This is a niche concern that affects a small, but vocal, proportion of the buying public; most people have no cause not to buy this tablet because of this issue.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:02 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
On the same token that Pinocchio just mentioned, because people will come to us not just about buying decisions, but about customizations and support for the tech gear that they already own, imagine the geek trying to explain to that person that while the geek’s gear can sideload this sweet new app, the non-geek’s can’t because of a “bootloader” and that person is simply S.O.L.
Non-geek will be like, “bootloader”? What the hell is that? Sounds like BS to me. This thing sucks."
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
How is pinocchio going to tell his friends to buy the tablet he didn’t get because the boot loaders were locked.. All my friends know I have custom roms on my phone that doesn’t mean they have to..
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Its not about the Bootloader… its about my opinion. I dont even have to mention the bootloader.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah and when they ask me I tell them to get an iPad cause that way I won’t have to be their tech support and I won’t look like a jackass when they ask me why can’t they get cut the rope and a ton of other games.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 3:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yes, was going to buy this, now holding off since Google announced a nexus tablet is coming and this is locked down.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:40 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Google didn’t announce anything. Eric Schmidt did which makes a world of difference.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Eric Schmidt’s words translated loosely at that…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
And 95% of buyers won’t give a damn.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:00 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Android tablets mostly sell to niche Android enthusiasts, so that’s probably incorrect.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:08 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
No, Android tablets sell mostly to people who want a tablet cheaper than an iPad or who have an Android phone. Only a minuscule number will root or load custom ROM software
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:26 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
But this one is the same price as the iPad 2. Also many people want 3G on their tablet, an option the Transformer Prime doesn’t have.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:51 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Same price including the dock. I’m sure they will have a version without.
3G / 4G versions will depend on carrier interest.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
no its the same price without the dock…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:32 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Asus Transformer Prime, WiFi Only, 16 GB, no dock: $499
Ipad 2, WiFi only, 16 GB: $499
As for the 3G version, i don’t get why anyone would want them. It usually means a second data plan, when otherwise all you need to do is create a WiFi Hotspot with your Android smartphone. Yes, it will kill your battery in four or five hours, but it sure beats having to pay another $30 a month for a data plan you don’t actually need.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:56 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Actually the $499 Prime comes with 32GB of storage. So it equates to to the 32GB iPad2 which costs how much?
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:40 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
$599. To be fair, I am seeing a lot of places misreporting that the two versions of the TFP are 16GB for $499 and 32gb for $599
http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_Prime_TF201/#specifications
Official spec doesn’t list a 16gb version.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:42 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The point is that the iPad2 and the Prime are at the same price point with a very similar featureset.
Android is not yet seen as a tablet OS like iOS is. Therefore, the market for a high-end tablet is most enthusiasts like us.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Tottaly agree. I’m sure it has been flying under the radar of all but us geeky modding types. This “scandal” might get Asus a little mainstream recognition for tgheir tablet if people are vocal enough. There is no such thing as bad press blah blah blah…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:48 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I just went over to the ASUS US website and wrote some feedback, calmly stating how an unlocked bootloader would help me, as well as their community, and garner support, etc, etc. Either way, can’t hurt to voice your opinion.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:56 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Because consumers have shown they care about small technical details when it comes to pricing.
/s
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:45 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I bought an iPad 1 and paid the extra $130 for something (3G) I have never used. Why would I give a carrier extra money when a rooted phone will get my connection free? Also, with my Evo 3D I have a Hot Spot so why buy an expensive 3G option where you draw your line when there are other, less expensive options? Not having a 3G availability is a moot point for me. Didn’t even consider it.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Minuscule lol.. Go check out xda
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:25 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
How many on XDA?
1000?
10,ooo?
100,ooo?
Out of how many registered Android devices? 300m was Andrubin’s latest claim, was it?
As I said, miniscule
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 1:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Well, at the top of the page it says ~4.2M registered users, with 36k currently online. I’d say their audience is of a decent enough size to warrant not being dismissed so easily.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Doesn’t it have stock Honeycomb, and about to have stock ICS? I always thought the point of custom ROMs was to dump the bloatware & manufacturer skins for stock Android.
At least that’s what it was for me.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What about when the next version of Android comes and Asus decides not to port it for your perfectly capable hardware? My phone is almost 2 years old and completely unsupported by HTC, but thanks to the magic of custom ROMs it’s running ICS like a dream.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:44 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The next version of Android is 4.0, and Asus alredy announced an official update that’s coming in a few weeks.
By the time Android 5.0 or whatever is released, i’m sure the community will have that bootloader encryption figured out, in case Asus doesn’t release an official update to that as well
there’s absoultely no reason to assume they won’t at this point.Anyway, The Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 looks like a sweet Hardware-software combo, even two years from now. It isn’t like perfectly functional devices suddenly self-destruct themselves the moment a new, unsupported version of the OS comes out.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Cyanogen is often better than stock vanilla.. There are alot new features you can add
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:28 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
sigh
tosiba thrive it is then
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You may want to check the Thrive’s review first…
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:05 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I never understood locked bootloaders. How does the company benefit from them. Wouldn’t it make more sense just to keep it unlocked, if only so more people are interested in the device
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:26 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
They lock it becsue when the laymen who dont know what they are doing brick their devies and bring it back to brst buy for a new one it costs them money.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:36 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
They lock it to enforce control over the device, so that at any arbitrary point in time they can drop support for the product and tell users “STFU and go buy the latest!”
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Looks like this will not be replacing my Xoom then. :(
Hopefully something will come of those Nexus Tablet rumours.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:33 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Eric publicly announced Google is making one in six months or less.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:42 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Eric didnt annonce anything… people flipped tgise works inside out
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:37 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
To everyone thinking of not buying the tablet anymore: There are usually workarounds found to achieve root, (the original Transformer had a bootlocker,), and given the stock-ish nature of ASUS’s builds, I wouldn’t really call this a deal-breaker. You’ll just need a little patience.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 6:58 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This won’t stop me from buying a Prime. I wasn’t going to root it anyways. That being said, I can see why the modders would be upset.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Don’t confuse the bootloader with “getting root”. Root just means you can tamper with the running system to your heart’s content (remove crap-ware, etc). The bootloader guards the safest methods for replacing the system ROM. That doesn’t mean that other methods won’t be found.
I think I’m going to wait for a 9" Tegra3 tablet with an unlocked bootloader, just the same. I don’t think I’ll miss the extra inch of display, and the massive drop in weight (from 650g to 450g) makes a device so much more portable.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:07 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Whilst I agree there’s a difference, as you said, there’re plenty of things you can do without switching out for a custom rom.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Given the competition between Android tablet manufacturers, although perhaps the Transformer is in a much more limited market space, differentiators like unlocked BOOTROMs could be a swing vote with consumers.
I bet ASUS back down on this.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:13 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
For every one person praising their unlocked bootloder tablet, there would be a hundred people with bricked tablets and voided warranties talking trash about them.
If ASUS has any brains at all, they won’t back down. They’re sellling a consumer product, not a Developer Kit.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:47 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I seriously doubt that ratio.
First, by and large, people who know how to install a custom ROM understand the risks associated with it. Yes, there will be people who brick their devices, but that’s life. It’s not like they’re going to go and and tell people “OMG, it just stopped working!” – they’ll tell people they were installing a ROM, and bricked it.
Second, custom ROMs are pretty safe. You really have to go out of your way to find some exotic bootloader replacement or a very early development ROM (that you usually have to compile from source) to actually brick your device. I’ve never heard of anyone ever bricking a device installing a final build of, say, CyanogenMod – and I’ve installed CM7 on probably 30 of my friends’ phones.
Finally, a high-end Android tablet is more akin to a develop kit than you seem to think. A $500 tablet is a luxury item – there are only two reasons to buy them: you’re an enthusiast, or for vanity. If you’re purchasing for vanity, then you’re going to be buying an iPad 2. If you’re an enthusiast, then it is no longer a mass-market consumer product.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:38 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
What is your source of information on this 100:1 ratio of bricked devices?
On your point in general, it’s not that hard to safely support installation of new firmware on a device, you just need a tool to manage it and provision in the device itself.
Have you ever bricked an iPod or iPhone? Complete bricking, as in the device can’t be recovered, it a real rarity. In addition to their firmware, iDevices have a small boot loader that enables re-installation of new firmware in the event the installed firmware is corrupt or incompatible.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 10:14 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
So, this is what I think ASUS is going to do – much like HTC, they’ll create a site or tool to allow you to unlock the bootloader providing you accept the inherent risk and waive ASUS of any liability should you brick your device because you tried to flash iOS 5 on it.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:46 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s not a terrible idea IMHO. The biggest problem I see with it is if there’s a legitimate hardware failure that’s clearly not caused by an custom ROM.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
In my opinion, it is fair to exchange warranty support for full access to the device. It is unreasonable to expect Asus to support a system they did not develop – and even if your modded device failure was hardware, it’s going to take resources to determine that, and sometimes that determination will go the other way.
If Asus releases a tool to unlock the device, I’ll be happy with that. My phone is a Motorola Atrix, and it works similarly – when you unlock it, it displays “unlocked” on the boot screen. I can’t take it in for warranty service now, but I’m also running CM7, and will be upgrading to CM9 within a month almost certainly.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 9:41 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you are the hackers you say you are then whats the fucking problem?
Great move asus protect your company!
I also agree with the idea of them when ever they update the device to add a new agreement option which will ask to them to agree to accept responsibility if they root or brick the device!
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:38 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
If you are the hackers you say you are then whats the fucking problem?
Great move asus protect your company!
I also agree with the idea of them when ever they update the device to add a new agreement option which will ask them to agree to accept responsibility if they root or brick the device!
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 8:39 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Hi, moron.
If you are the hackers you say you are then whats the fucking problem?
No “hacker” can bypass an AES-128 signature that’s been burned into the CPU.
Great move asus protect your company!
This doesn’t protect ASUS. It just reveals them as being the assholes they are.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 4:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
lol.
WHO makes these decisions? sometimes its completely obvious when a company is run by incompetent and clueless individuals.
if you want to sell a lot LESS android products, lock them down.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 11:03 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Join the fight on Google+! Help spread the word! https://plus.google.com/u/0/107538503004482952974/posts/ZwzVDY7M1rb
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 11:49 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Bad bad Asus bad Asus (rub his noise in it )
Locking bootloaders is a good thing. But encrypting them is criminal. More people will brick devices when we find a work around that uses a crazy ten page root instructions.
Ause Please learn from HTC lock it up, but give us the option to void our warranty.
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 11:54 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
a lot of people dont seem to understand that this doesn’t stop custom roms, itjust makes developing them slower and makes bricking the device MORE if you try, this makes no sense to me because usually the carriers are behind these stupid decisions but this is a wifi only device
posted from my Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 12:27 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
could anyone tell me with the bootloader being locked does this mean i wont be able to upgrade to icecream sandwich if I buy this? I read in another article that users wont be able to upgrade to icecream sandwich on this tablet because of this bootloader issue… but websites selling the transformer prime state ‘can be upgraded to 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on release.’
Posted on Jan 02, 2012 | 7:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You can still upgrade it to Android 4.0 when Asus releases it.
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 1:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yet another tablet that can’t connect to a Cisco VPN. PITA to add that support in even with root, but easy if you can install something like Cyanogenmod which does have tun support already.
Posted on Jan 03, 2012 | 2:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Unlimited Offers to tablets and laptops at shopscounty. Please find a ASUS TF201 at ShopsCounty.
Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 7:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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