If you've picked up a T-Mobile G2, the successor to the first Android phone ever sold, you might want to hold off on hacking it. The phone is said to ship with a rootkit that will override any software modifications users make.
A report from New America claims that the G2 ships with an embedded microchip that prevents users from making any permanent changes to the Android software. Specifically, this chip will override any modifications by reinstalling the original firmware. As you can imagine, Android users are none too pleased about the presence of the rootkit, and the authors of the New America report say it goes against the open source nature of Android.
New America:
"This is the same Android that purposefully opened up its source code under the Apache License, allowing anyone to use, modify, and redistribute the operating system code even if they choose not to contribute back to the development community. Even among other Android computing devices and phones, the G2 is touted as an open platform. Unfortunately, the hardware in this device completely undermines this license by allowing mobile network providers to override end-user changes to the source code. Wireless network operators have deployed a hardware rootkit that restricts modifications to a device owned by the user. This would be akin to a computer sold with Microsoft Windows containing chip that prevented users from installing Linux or another operating system of their choice."
Of course, it won't take long for developers to come up with a workaround for the rootkit. In fact, Softpedia reports that the folks over on the XDA Developers forums have figured out a temporary solution for those looking to root their device. Though this root will be removed if you restart the phone, it shouldn't be too long before something more permanent is uncovered.
Source: New America (via Engadget), Softpedia
As the article says, it wont matter much soon anyways.
to keep it working properly on said network... the end
all the mods are not supported all the apps are unsupported
the change people make may cause the device issues
such as not being able to call 911 when GPS is on for example
not all networks are the same not all networks are going to allow
the devices to work as advertised also not all networks can support all features of the devices
which are sometimes not supported by the network.
the providers tech support ...supporting the issues people have with the devices after modifyung them can not alway help you fix the issues created with x modification. plus if you screw with the phone it stops working ....you void the warrenty so open source or not.
Same shameful tactics that go against all that Android is about.
Do note: This is done by Tmobile, NOT by HTC.
All carriers do it to the android they word it a bit differently and try to make it look like they are helping the users but they all do it or soon plan to do it to some extent.
Personally the one thing i don't like about android is there is no min spec requirements so development on it is hard when it comes to compatibility, esp compared to developing for the iphone or the new windows 7 phones that are coming out. I mean next year there will be what 70+ android phones on the market. It's going to be hard for consumers to understand what they want to buy.
i wonder what apple users did to get this much bad karma in the first place?
PS: people interested in tech LOVE SHOPPING!! SPAM MORE!!! you will get TONES of new customers. this is a GOOD USE of bandwidth, CPU cycles, and time that could be spent spamming somewhere else.
PPS: that was sarcasm.
Maybe you should phone their store and speak chinese. Then maybe they'd understand you better than posting her to their bots.
Moderator Edit: swearing at the spammers isn't helping anything.
bottom line, I wish manufacturers would stop fighting power users on this, its silly.
Yes, but it is Tmobile ultimately implementing and using it.