Hacking, rooting, and jailbreaking. If you’ve owned a smartphone from the early years of smartphones, then you’ll know what these words mean. If you want to give your smartphone some extra functions, you’ll need to do these things, or bring your device to someone who can. But nowadays, do you still find the need to hack your smartphones?
The first time I encountered this was when I had the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. There was a very active community then for Symbian and I was able to flash a custom ROM to make the operating system leaner and faster. For a time, it was good. But eventually, it cannot keep up with the strengths and potential of Android.
I was introduced to jailbreaking when I had the iPod Touch 3rd-gen. At that time, jailbreaking was already popular as iPhone owners were finding ways to unlock their devices and make them work on other carriers. But one of the biggest benefits of jailbreaking an iOS device is the installation of Cydia, a third-party app installer, allowing you to install apps not authorized by Apple’s App Store. For iOS device owners who want to customize their devices and add extra features, jailbreaking is the only way.
The Android platform, given its more open system, gave plenty of opportunities to hack. Developers were able to create custom ROMs that users can flash on their device to give it more function or make it behave like any other Android. I was exposed to this when I had the Kindle Fire (1st-gen) and was able to flash a custom ROM based on Android KitKat. It removed the customizations and restrictions of Amazon and I was able to make it behave like a regular Android tablet with a stock interface.
I was able to do this with the HTC One X, Samsung Galaxy S8, and Xiaomi Mi 3. Paranoid Android and LineageOS were the top contenders in the custom Android ROM scene. If you frequent XDA Developers, then you’ll know that there are more to choose from out there.
Going back to iOS, Apple doesn’t like people tinkering with its software. Since most jailbreaks rely on the exploitation of vulnerabilities on iOS, Apple is quick to patch those by rolling out software updates, rendering the jailbreak useless. If you want to keep your jailbreak, you’d have to skip updates, which is also dangerous for the end-user.
Apple is wise enough, though, to look at the features that users want on their iOS device and have adopted jailbreak features which are then implemented in the succeeding iOS versions. This includes the Control Center, Bubble Notifications, and Home Screen Widgets, to name a few. It’s a slow process, though, but would eventually help iOS mature to what it is now.
Nowadays, it’s becoming more difficult to jailbreak an iOS device. Meanwhile, Android is just chugging along, allowing any good developer to customize Android at a deeper level as long as root access is available for the device. But personally, I no longer find the need for it. I have both an iOS and Android device, and for the latter, I kind of accepted the fact that iOS will always be closed. If I want customization, I have to use Android.
Do I still hack my device? Not anymore. And often I just limit myself to installing launchers, icon packs, and wallpapers. Maybe I have outgrown the excitement of having to jailbreak and flash the device, the fear of possibly bricking it, and the joy of succeeding in doing it. But there are still cases when I need to do it. A good example is installing Google services or apps on newer Huawei devices.
Maybe there’s still a need to hack a device as we have the preference to have control over devices we own and make it behave or look the way we want it to. And for that to happen, the only option is to root or jailbreak.
How about you guys? Do you still root or jailbreak your smartphone and customize it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Many important apps will now refuse to work on a rooted device, especially where the safety of money is involved. Some even refuse to run when Developer Options” is turned on. So these days it’s unwise to root or modify a daily driver device. Also there’s really no need. Android has become so chock full of features that the need is diminished. Pretty much anything I previously rooted for, I can now do unrooted.
I still root and flash custom ROM today.
It’s not all about customization and features. It is about having better stability, optimization and better battery life compared to stock.
i also enjoyed rooting and still have my S10 rooted.
….but, rooting android is also getting harder for instance with Magisk-root on android 11 to get root from startup, one must connect via usb to pc and start via recovery menu, wich is a hassle. Not to mention that the developer of Magisk (TopJohnWu) is now working at Google security department…
I still root and custom rom, mfg roms do things that are annoying like ads, stock android is still annoying but at least I get extra features like holding the power button to toggle the flashlight at the cost of proprietary camera features or the heart rate sensor on most samsung custom roms
I only purchase new phones to root and flash custom ROMs.? For me device customization will be at best on custom ROMs.
I still do, im using 2 fones now ZenFone 8 Flip and ZenFone 8 (both rooted).
Why? For security and privacy reasons, I have total control over the stock
apps and disabling it if its not frequently needed down to the google play
services, google maps and all other apps. Also, it really extends battery usage,
with total control of a rooted Android fone you can even block other services
running in the background from sending information to their online servers
and only allow those you normally use.
I still use root on my phones for that extra customizations like an equalizer. Also, once software updates end for your phone model, it’s a good idea to just use a custom ROM just so you can stay up to date with security updates and probably an even newer Android version that the manufacturer won’t release for your phone anymore, basically it just adds a few more years of usability.
Similar to the author, I’ve outgrown it. Also, when you get older (and busier), you just don’t care about customizing and tinkering your gadgets anymore. Moreover, these days, rooting is mostly done for removing bloatware which doesn’t really bother me anymore. My only concern is that my phone runs smoothly and can keep up with heavy usage as demanded by my bustly lifestyle.
I mean BUSY lifestyle. ?
I still root my android phone, specifically, my Oneplus 8T because Oneplus is slow on updates and their rom is full of bloatware and their stock kernel is actually not that good in terms of performance and battery life. I flashed a custom rom (Havoc OS) and flashed a custom kernel to get the most out of this wonderful Phone
Non-topic related, do you guys have a discord? I want a community of tech nerds in ph. Been looking for one that’s not in Facebook. :) kinda like MKBHD’s discord. Might be cool to come from you. :)
-fake email sorry.
back in the days, older phones need rooting, like i use the titanium backup pro for a 1 click android setup including apps and settings, and the cpu overclocking or underclocking to preserve the battery. but in my case, i just install another OS if i think the phone lacks a function. or too much bloatware in xiaomi phones. phones i use now is powerful and the time i consume in tweaking and research doesnt benefit me at all nagsawa nako. i just simplify my phone usage now and get the job done. and they include developer options so i dont need to root anymore
I don’t root my phone anymore. I used to do it when I was young and entertain myself by exploring possibilities and tinkering with the device. Now that I’m older and busier, I’d rather keep my phone in its most reliable self.
I usually keep using a phone for 3 to 5 years, so I root it after the manufacturer stops supporting the OS.
Same here, i used to enjoy rooting my LG optimus black way way back and i did my first jailbreaking when i got my ipad 1st gen. . Nowadays, im just contented with my almost 3 years old honor phone..