Android Phones
Motorola says if you want to flash custom ROM’s, buy from another company
July 14, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
Motorola
So you’re in love with the Motorola Droid X and want to buy Moto’s next mammoth device. Great, just don’t plan on rooting it to flash custom ROM’s or you’ll be in for a rude awakening. The Droid X uses the same bootloader as the Motorola Milestone, which still hasn’t been cracked. Getting to the bootloader is crucial to the process, so the lockout makes it unlikely that the Droid X can flash custom ROM’s.
Sorry, but them’s the breaks, according to a Motorola blog post. In response to people asking why Motorola purposely prevented them from being able to hack their devices, Lori Fraleigh of the MOTODEV Blog had this to say:
We understand there is a community of developers interested in going beyond Android application development and experimenting with Android system development and re-flashing phones. For these developers, we highly recommend obtaining either a Google ADP1 developer phone or a Nexus One, both of which are intended for these purposes.
At this time, Motorola Android-based handsets are intended for use by consumers and Android application developers, and we have currently chosen not to go into the business of providing fully unlocked developer phones.
It’s not just developers, Ms. Fraleigh. There’s a large number of consumers who want custom ROM’s, evidenced by the more than 100,000 people who downloaded popular ROM’s like Buggless Beast and CyanogenMod last week. Plenty of people believe phones should be open to modding, especially since Android is open-source, but Motorola makes it clear that their phones are intended for regular consumers, not adventurous people looking to tinker with the phone.
I’m the type of person who believes if I spend money on my phone, I should be able to do whatever I want with it. However, I also acknowledge that Motorola is free to do whatever it wants with its products. You as consumers are also free to not purchase anymore Motorola phones if flashing ROM’s is something you desire.
via [AndroidAndMe]
UPDATE:
As one person points out on Twitter, the Motorola blog post quoted was written in February. We’re writing about this now because the issue has reappeared in light of the Droid X having the same bootloader as the Milestone and to add information to why that is so people can decide if they will purchase the phone.
Screw them! That is exactly what I'm going to do. Buy a device from another company. I have gotten too used to being able to customize my device and have my bugs fixed in a timely manner. I am so disappointed in Motorola!!!!! I absolutely LOVE the form factor of the DroidX – but, I refuse to purchase it or any other device from Motorola and won't purchase one of their devices for any of the other three family members on my plan. I don't care about tethering or WiFi hotspot crap. I just want my bugs fixed and I want to customize my experience with custom ROMs. Just look at the N1 for goodness sakes! HTC won't provide the support to the FM radio capability and the mod community is doing it for the users! That is what I'm talking about! So, SCREW YOU Motorola (and that comes from a proud Texan who wanted to purchase your devices from a company that had local connections). HTC/Samsung – here I come.
moto android service center – 1-800 – 331 – 6456… i was on the phone with them for 30 minutes validating phones that are not encrypted. We must be pro-active to let them know there is a community that is livid. One that is willing to leave verizon/moto to have the freedom that we are accustomed to.
So, no Droid X for me. I don’t want to buy HTC either because of that C&D against a ROM site. And Samsung won’t release the Galaxy S Pro in Europe. I frickin’ wanted that phone, but it’d need to be GSM to even be considerable for importing. Meh. Any good alternatives? Any cool phones for someone who would’ve bought the Droid X, but won’t buy from a company with principles like that?
HTC dropped the C&D and in fact is working with Conflipper on a possible partnership.
Pity. Just as they were on the verge of making an epic comeback, they do something like this and alienate a major demographic. I’m deliriously happy with my 1st gen Droid and I ROM the hell out of it just about daily. I was looking forward to loving Motorola again, but I’m afraid they’ve lost this customer for good (unless, of course, they do a quick about-face). This makes me uncomfortably sad.
That sucks. The droid X looked like such a cool phone too
bye Motorolla, Hellooooooooooooo HTC Hellooooooooooooo Samsung
Such a shame, I bought my Milestone not because of Motorola but because of the Android OS. I enjoy being able to have the flexibility with my phone to do whatever I want with my purchase. Sadly my Motorola Milestone is locked down and I’m envious of my friends who have HTC’s, watching them being able to flash ROM’s which suit their needs, and I’m left with my locked down Motorola. One big reason to why people have been attracted to the Android OS phones is because of the freedom, thats the great thing of Linux, it’s infinite flexibility and usability for all users. Looks like my next phone will be an HTC with Android OS. If I wanted to be locked down and told what I can and can not install, I would by a IPhone.
Really Motorola? These Android handsets are more computer than phone. Who's ever heard of a PC with a pre-loaded OS that can't be changed? What good does it do for the source to be open if the product is locked?
Guess Moto isn't into Open Source Mobiles. Too bad. The more peeps that own their Mobile, the more talk there is on the mobile, and more free advertising there would be. Oh well thankfully HTC is around and pumping out new models continuously.
Motorola has as much as stated that they are not happy with going with Android, they're simply doing so in order to get some momentum behind their handsets. They (wisely) know that there's no room for another OS in the smartphone market, and they understand that their handsets will sell better with the Android/Google brands behind them. That being said, Motorola would have it's own proprietary OS on their phones if they could.
Wow, guess I'll go back to HTC next time around. Jacob, I'm not wasting time calling them, I'll vote with my wallet.
one individual cannot change things, but i love to bitch to a stock holding corporation that has to listen to my points… otherwise were just lemmings.
I have to disagree with you. Yes you have the right to do whatever you want to the phone and you still can right now, but why would anyone or you breaking it is the seller responsibility? Just like everybody did with IPhone or many other, you can always do anything to it. But the company selling it also get the right to protect the supported customer who really looking for a healthy supported platform instead of downloading new OS every day or week. I want to BUY something and it just work. If I want to hack on something, buy a Google phone or OpenMoko like products, that are totally open for hacking, but you don't want it? why? I really love to see innovation from the hacker and modification work, but don't expect any support from the original vendor to fix it. Protecting people from easily hacking is also a support issue, if we keep unbalancing the support model, nobody is paying for what we should and people that are paying will not get what they expected. All will end up like the US health care system. So BUY the RIGHT product and support its ecosystem or you will end up with NOTHING.
I say that in the very next sentence, so we actually agree: "However, I also acknowledge that Motorola is free to do whatever it wants with its products. " Motorola has every right to sell the product how they see fit, with whatever protection or limitations it deems necessary to deliver a secure and stable experience. However, there are a lot of people who buy phones because they like the hardware but want to tweak the software. Those people have to consider what they will or won't purchase.
Motorola is making a fundamental mistake; they are making phones targeted to geeks, and then alienating the trendsetters in that group. They've done well from partnering with Google, and now they're attempting to stab them in the back and make motoblur the important thing. Motorola would be smarter to note that there's nothing wrong with being a hardware OEM. My recent post Controversy at the World Cup and in the newsroom
First of all I don't think Motorola is targeting geek, Maemo NXXX maybe more hackable then android in general. But they do want people to write APPs on their platform for sure, which is another development move they need to make. This is fundamentally different from geek consumer, because 3rd party apps writer need to sell their apps to non-geek consumer to make a living instead of jail breaking and pirating them. Second in business there will never be friend, Google is OS vendor for Motorola not partner. And I don't see any OEM vendor want to see another Microsoft as in desktop in the Phone OS market, so let face it Motorola need to make something on its own period.
Steve Jobsism spreading around… Stop it! Now!
Oh shut up… I acknowledge jobs makes lots of mistakes especially with the iphone 4 but he is still very respectable and i do like the iOS but i prefer android. Plus atleast u can jailbreak the iphone?
I knew Motorola sucked, but not suck like Steve Jobs. If you develop an Android device, the whole point is to be OPEN SOURCE. Even HTC isn’t fully open, but atleast they try their best!
Not to mention that this means when Moto decides it's done with those phones there will be no more updates. Look at how long the G1 has lived on thanks to the community. Now that I think about it, it's obvious this is a move designed to force you to update every 2 years. Look at the Nexus One and original Droid. Both run just fine with the option to unlock. The point is that the option is there. It actually costs Moto MORE to have to lock it down. Just warn me and void my warranty like HTC did with the Nexus.
This is like saying you just bought your last pc but you can't run what ever OS you want on it. These "phones" are exactly what they're advertised to be tiny computers and should be treated as such not some bs hardware/software bs policy. I should be able to upgrade the phones memory, the storage, change the battery and run whatever os i want on it. period. if a dev makes the job easier for me to put a specific os on a machine so be it. like in the article its not just DEVS who want to customize and put other OS's on their devices its end consumers!
TheDroid looks like an amazing phone. I've been hacking my devices since before I had Android and continued to do so with my G1, myTouch, Droid and Nexus One (and even my myTouch Slide if I can get the damn thing rooted). However, due to time constraints, I'm unable to sit and flash ROMs daily. Although I'm rooted, I've been running stock Froyo for about five weeks with no MODs. Believe or not, it isn't the end of the world. There are a million MODs/apps that do not require root. Not having root is not like it used to be in the days of the G1. The devices are so feature rich and advanced that it's not a deal breaker for most (I still would never buy an Android device I couldn't hack, but that's my preference). And anyone who thinks that a locked bootloader will damage Motorola's sales/image is crazy. Hackers don't even make up a significant percentage for them to even consider no matter what anyone thinks. If every single person who MODs devices never bought another device, sales wouldn't even be dented. Just about every person I meet with an Android device doesn't even know what root is. You think Motorola cares one single bit? Remember, Android is open but the devices on which it is installed are not required to be. Open basically ends up meaning open for manufacturers (unless hackers plan on making a devicr as well). The average person has no clue who Cyanogen is let alone what a bootloader is. I met one person who didn't even know what an SD card was let alone that there was one in her phone. You think she cares about root. But like I said, I'm sticking with hackable devices like my Nexus. Motorola will be just fine without my purchase. My recent post A Rebuttal to Hack A Day- Top Ten Features Android Already Has
I know Apple wants to make phones for the lowest common denominator…the laziest, dumbest and least tech savvy part of the population. Android philosophy is to make phones easy to use, but leave room for user to grow,customize, tinker,etc.. I am a bit surprised that Motorola doesn't quite get that is part of its success.
I took half of a day off to pick up mine, but I guess I am going to have to forget about it. If this is the case, then I will buy a freaking iPhone…potato pootatoo
This is a huge mistake. Now they will see how smart people are when we have the Droid X boot loader unlocked. "There is nothing man made that can not be undone." GryphonD
Great post Andrew! I am disappointed with Motorola too! I think they got it all wrong as "android noob" like myself tinker with the phone all the time too. Besides, normal consumer would unlikely get a android phone, prefering to buy one from the "Fruit" stall.. Still, its a great post from Andrew, as this would highlight the issue with the DroidX to the would be consumer. I did not do my homework and bought a Milestone and now regretted it.. I hope pple would like to experiment abit would refrain from Motorola android phones from now! Go HTC! Go Samsung!
fine, then i'm going with HTC!
The apple trolls are in full effect. The Droid X has the same boot loader as the previous Motorola Droid phones, which I believe have been successfully hacked. So whats the problem? Some of you stating that you're going to buy an iPhone instead LOL. That makes a lot of sense.
I have to say, if you want to be looked to as a legitimate source of Android news, the better approach would be to take that February blog post and ask Motorola if they'd like to comment on that statement. In light of the Droid X news, I would think it'd be a good opportunity to clearly ask if they still feel the same way. Which really, if you think about it the statement is bollocks anyway – what phones did they give out at Google I/O to attendees? EVO, Nexus, and DROID, right? But anyhow, if they do still stand by that statement I'd like to know it. As much as I've loved my Droid I won't be buying another Motorola phone if that's their approach, so long as there's an alternative available.
Screw Motorola !!! Welcome HTC…..
Thanks for the info, I had a choice of a Samsung i9000 or Moto Droid Pro so I’m going with the Samsung But of a bummer as I prefered Motorola’s approach to development otherwise. I’m not a dev. Tons of people like to root, why not give customers what they want? I’ve never been on a contract and never will, and I’ve never bought a simlocked phone. I won’t fall for all this anti competitive stuff.
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