Database Develop

S5 Bootloader locked?

I hear the S5 has a locked bootloader on AT&T. Is this rumor valid or a ton of baloney? I dont really want to go through all the safestrap crap again as I did with the S4

XxSHaDoWxSLaYeRxX said:
I hear the S5 has a locked bootloader on AT&T. Is this rumor valid or a ton of baloney? I dont really want to go through all the safestrap crap again as I did with the S4
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Click to collapse
I dont believe anyone has the AT&T variant in hand, but if history has taught us anything its that AT&T will have it locked down.

AT&T will 99.99% lock the bootloader on the S5. They stated they will lock the bootloaders: "To ensure a safe and consistent experience on your wireless device, we do not support unlocked bootloaders."
I just wish T-Mobile would improve in my area because they are doings things right. Like selling the 32GB S5.

MattMJB0188 said:
AT&T will 99.99% lock the bootloader on the S5. They stated they will lock the bootloaders: "To ensure a safe and consistent experience on your wireless device, we do not support unlocked bootloaders."
I just wish T-Mobile would improve in my area because they are doings things right. Like selling the 32GB S5.
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Click to collapse
This time around it looks like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will have S5 with locked bootloader
AT&T started with S4 and continued the tradition there after (G2, N3 etc.)
T-Mobile started with LG G Flex and looks like it will continue the tradition with S5. (Source: https://twitter.com/Anthony_J_Fox/status/446759896017420288)
Verizon started who knows when ?

Doubt we will have anything like lokidoki this time around also. Which is why I sold my s4 and got a nexus 5
Might pick up a HTC one m8 unlocked variant though if it supports LTE.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Jonnyredcorn said:
Doubt we will have anything like lokidoki this time around also. Which is why I sold my s4 and got a nexus 5
Might pick up a HTC one m8 unlocked variant though if it supports LTE.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
LokiDoki was bad ass lol. I had kept it on my s4 all the way to the end. Everyone kept saying there would be another exploit, but there never was. The AT&T S4 doesn't see much development nowadays. Safestrap is good, but not the same. Maybe there will be a developer who can actually UNLOCK the bootloader instead of finding a way around it. These devices have become so hard to root, flash, and restore to stock with these locked bootloaders. Glad T-Mobile is getting in for the fun. It's almost sickening how much they publicly hate AT&T and Verizon, then they go and lock the S5 bootloader just like them.

Walter.White said:
This time around it looks like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will have S5 with locked bootloader
AT&T started with S4 and continued the tradition there after (G2, N3 etc.)
T-Mobile started with LG G Flex and looks like it will continue the tradition with S5. (Source: https://twitter.com/Anthony_J_Fox/status/446759896017420288)
Verizon started who knows when ?
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Click to collapse
Im guessing T-mobile started because people were buying their devices for use on AT&T because of the unlocked bootloader. They dont make money on the devices they make it on the service and locked bootloaders will discourage this practice. My theory, not fact.

Walter.White said:
This time around it looks like AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile will have S5 with locked bootloader
AT&T started with S4 and continued the tradition there after (G2, N3 etc.)
T-Mobile started with LG G Flex and looks like it will continue the tradition with S5. (Source: https://twitter.com/Anthony_J_Fox/status/446759896017420288)
Verizon started who knows when ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sorry but I put 0 credibility behind the "SOURCE" for this statement that TMOBILE will have a locked bootloader - I have not even been able to confirm that the LG is locked - it may be that I am looking at the world thru rose colored glasses but I need to see something more than converstationwith an unknown person who may or may not know what they are talking about. The odds are that the S5 will be unlocked on TMOBILE - as an ATT customer using a TMOBILE NOTE 3 - I sure hope that is the case as I plan to buy the S5 when it comes out - if it is locked, I guess I will return it - but until I see more definitive proof - I don't believe it will be

mocsab said:
I am sorry but I put 0 credibility behind the "SOURCE" for this statement that TMOBILE will have a locked bootloader - I have not even been able to confirm that the LG is locked - it may be that I am looking at the world thru rose colored glasses but I need to see something more than converstationwith an unknown person who may or may not know what they are talking about. The odds are that the S5 will be unlocked on TMOBILE - as an ATT customer using a TMOBILE NOTE 3 - I sure hope that is the case as I plan to buy the S5 when it comes out - if it is locked, I guess I will return it - but until I see more definitive proof - I don't believe it will be
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Click to collapse
So the actual tmobile response clearly stating the lg bootloader is locked isnt enough to convince you that the lg bootloader is locked?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T217A using XDA Premium HD app

cloudraker said:
So the actual tmobile response clearly stating the lg bootloader is locked isnt enough to convince you that the lg bootloader is locked?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T217A using XDA Premium HD app
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Click to collapse
If you are talking about the excerpt of the chat session the insurance guy posted online - then no, that is not enough to convince me. Do you have something more official from TMOBILE that says it is locked? I would love to see it if you do - I don't know who that person was at TOMOBILE - if it was a customer care person from the web site - I give them no credibility at all - you wouldn't believe the number of things they have said that have turned out to be totally untrue -
or are you talking about some sort of official notice that I have not seen?

mocsab said:
If you are talking about the excerpt of the chat session the insurance guy posted online - then no, that is not enough to convince me. Do you have something more official from TMOBILE that says it is locked? I would love to see it if you do - I don't know who that person was at TOMOBILE - if it was a customer care person from the web site - I give them no credibility at all - you wouldn't believe the number of things they have said that have turned out to be totally untrue -
or are you talking about some sort of official notice that I have not seen?
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Click to collapse
Wasn't that T-Mobile's official twitter account? Anyway, I hope it is unlocked because everyone has the right to do what they want with their phone, as they own it. As an AT&T customer who used the T-Mobile Note 3, I can tell you that I will not be doing that again in the future. T-Mobile's Note 3 fully supported all of AT&T's bands, but I found LTE reception to be very bad. It was awful in places with low signal, and often would sit on HSPA+.
But my flashing days are over with. I pay for my devices at full price, and I won't risk bricking it with these very hard rooting/flashing procedures. Its just too risky nowadays. Maybe I got spoiled with the easy rooting/flashing methods we had before.
Back to the bootloader... I can see them locking it for the reason that many bought their device for use on AT&T. If the S5 bootloader is locked on T-Mobile then that's a shame. Looks like the "uncarrier" just made a selfish "carrier" move.

MattMJB0188 said:
Wasn't that T-Mobile's official twitter account? Anyway, I hope it is unlocked because everyone has the right to do what they want with their phone, as they own it. As an AT&T customer who used the T-Mobile Note 3, I can tell you that I will not be doing that again in the future. T-Mobile's Note 3 fully supported all of AT&T's bands, but I found LTE reception to be very bad. It was awful in places with low signal, and often would sit on HSPA+.
But my flashing days are over with. I pay for my devices at full price, and I won't risk bricking it with these very hard rooting/flashing procedures. Its just too risky nowadays. Maybe I got spoiled with the easy rooting/flashing methods we had before.
Back to the bootloader... I can see them locking it for the reason that many bought their device for use on AT&T. If the S5 bootloader is locked on T-Mobile then that's a shame. Looks like the "uncarrier" just made a selfish "carrier" move.
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Click to collapse
I honestly don't know if that was an Official Tmobile Tweet or not - I guess I do wear rose colored glasses - always half full and all of that. I purchased a preorder of the S 5 so I will find out soon enough - if it is locked I will probably return it.
One reason I can think of that t mobile has decided to lock bootloader (if they have) is to cut down on the amount of returns they get from people who brick their device and then return it for a new replacement, hiding the fact that they were rooted or whatever. We may have become o our own worst enemy. I don't knnow how many hundreds - maybe thouhsands of phones have been returned at one time or another from someone claiming the phone was broken when in reality it was bricked because they tried something they shoulnd't have - or flashed a bad file or whatever. If you consider their side of things - you can understand why they might want to plug that hole....
regardless - I am a flashaholic - it is a disease - I need help desperately - lol - but seriously - I do hope we find that these are just rumours and that Tmobile has taken the high road and kept our phones open and "flashable"

mocsab said:
I honestly don't know if that was an Official Tmobile Tweet or not - I guess I do wear rose colored glasses - always half full and all of that. I purchased a preorder of the S 5 so I will find out soon enough - if it is locked I will probably return it.
One reason I can think of that t mobile has decided to lock bootloader (if they have) is to cut down on the amount of returns they get from people who brick their device and then return it for a new replacement, hiding the fact that they were rooted or whatever. We may have become o our own worst enemy. I don't knnow how many hundreds - maybe thouhsands of phones have been returned at one time or another from someone claiming the phone was broken when in reality it was bricked because they tried something they shoulnd't have - or flashed a bad file or whatever. If you consider their side of things - you can understand why they might want to plug that hole....
regardless - I am a flashaholic - it is a disease - I need help desperately - lol - but seriously - I do hope we find that these are just rumours and that Tmobile has taken the high road and kept our phones open and "flashable"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was official and VERIFIED TMobile's twitter account. Click on their twitter handle and you will see what I happen.

Will they sell develper editions of the S5? Like the S4? I havent seen any for sale yet. I really dont want to shell out $600 for a phone just so i can customize it.. Might as well wait on the Nexus 6:crying: or maybe i will jump ship to the New one m8 google edition (even tho imo its ugly and still costs alot of $$)

XxSHaDoWxSLaYeRxX said:
Will they sell develper editions of the S5? Like the S4? I havent seen any for sale yet. I really dont want to shell out $600 for a phone just so i can customize it.. Might as well wait on the Nexus 6:crying: or maybe i will jump ship to the New one m8 google edition (even tho imo its ugly and still costs alot of $$)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The standard AT&T HTC m8 version has been confirmed to have an unlockable bootloader via the htc dev tool if you are concerned about having to buy off contract.

This is why I'm only buying Google edition phones now.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Enough said
Sent from my Nexus 5

Walter.White said:
It was official and VERIFIED TMobile's twitter account. Click on their twitter handle and you will see what I happen.
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Click to collapse
Can't stop laughing at your sig

XxSHaDoWxSLaYeRxX said:
Can't stop laughing at your sig
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And that dude wasn't even drunk.

mircury said:
The standard AT&T HTC m8 version has been confirmed to have an unlockable bootloader via the htc dev tool if you are concerned about having to buy off contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And an S-OFF tool has been released...the phone can now be fully and completely unlocked.
Combine that with a microSD slot and I'm hitting AT&T tomorrow like a fat kid through a cookie store.
Get em while you can!

For hahas I asked Samsung about unlocking the BL

For laughs I sent Samsung customer support a request about unlocking the S4 like the htcdev.com site. This was their I think canned response. Looks like they recommend the Verizon dev edition.
"After reviewing your email, we understand that you would like to know the information on unlocking the boot loader of your Samsung Galaxy S5 phone.
We understand your requirement.
We would like to inform you that Samsung manufactures the devices according to carrier requirements/specifications and the devices will be locked to particular carrier network. As of now the option to unlock the bootloader on Samsung devices is unavailable. Unlocking the bootloader might damage the functionality of the phone. Moreover, it voids the warranty(one year from the date of purchase) of the phone.
However, Developer edition phones are available from Samsung wherein you can modify/develop any applications and the bootloader will be unlocked. As of now Samsung Galaxy S5 developer edition model(Verizon) is yet to release. Access the web-link below wherein you can view the specifications of the phone.
Link: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/ET-G900VMKAVZW-specs
Please feel free to write back to us if you have any queries. We will be glad to assist you.
If you are looking for more details on the functionality of a product or would like to find answers to some of the questions, visit us http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/# for an interactive review of some of our Samsung products.
Link: http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/#
If you have more questions regarding your Samsung Mobile Phone, you can also reach out to our chat support team by accessing the following link. Live Chat is available 24 hours a day. 7 days a week.
Link: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/contact
Thank you for your continued interest in Samsung products. "

Interesting, thanks for sharing
Sent from my GT-I9505 converted SGH-i337 w/XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Honestly then they really should let us at leat have the option of unlocking boot loader a year after ownership. But still, their reasoning still leaves the debate open to, it's our device, we should have the choice to take the risk. Oh well at that point they'll just push the issue back onto AT&T.

Wonder why they didn't say anything about the T-Mobile one. That bootloader is unlocked.

That is basically being covered by carrier requirements. That AT&T requested it to be locked. The assumption being that T-Mobile didn't require it to be.
Sent from my SGH-T869 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

TheArtiszan said:
That is basically being covered by carrier requirements. That AT&T requested it to be locked. The assumption being that T-Mobile didn't require it to be.
Sent from my SGH-T869 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I would buy that if HTC didn't have HTCdev.com. There is no way Samsung ended up with a more restrictive contract than HTC.
I was bored so I decided to bug the Samsung tech support folks. Transcript follows
info: Please wait for a Samsung Agent to respond.
info: You are now chatting with '****'. There will be a brief survey at the end of our chat to share feedback on my performance today.
info: Your Issue ID for this chat is ******
Alice: Hi, thank you for contacting Samsung Technical Support. How may I help you today?
Chad: I'm looking for a way to get a signing key for my S4 (SM-G900A). Like HTC provides at htcdev.com.
Chad: sorry its a S5
Alice: I understand that you want to have signing key for S5. Am I correct?
Chad: Yeah basically I want to unlock the bootloader.
Alice: Thank you for information.
Chad: Or I'd be willing to return this S5 and buy direct from Samsung but i couldn't find one on the website with the same US ATT bands just the verizon ones.
Alice: I would like to inform you that there is no such option in S5 device which you are using.
Chad: Samsung must have the key for my S/n
Chad: it was burned in when they manufactured the handset
Alice: You need to buy Developer Edition model to unlock the bootloader.
Chad: i would like to do that but i dont see an att developer model
Chad: and last i checked the verizon one wasn't orderable
Chad: I'm a long time Samsung customer I must have at least 12 samsung devices in my household.
Chad: This lack of help is going to drive me to HTC for mobile.
Alice: I do understand your situation.
Alice: I apologize for the inconvenience caused.
Chad: and I may have to look at other TV electronics manufacturers
Chad: Samsung does have the key and are refusing to provide it?
Chad: Its win/win for you. You get out of warranty obligations.
Alice: I would have surely helped you if there is an option. Please understand that Samsung manufactures the devices based on the carrier specifications.
Chad: I understand that but you have the key. HTC does the same thing and they provide the key at htcdev.com
Alice: The warranty will be voided if you try to unlock the bootloader.
Chad: I understand that and I'm ok with it. Samsung wins no warranty obligations.
Alice: I do understand your concern. I am sorry to say that there is no option to unlock the bootloader .
Chad: You mean samsung won't give me the info i need.
Chad: OK I will return the phone. I have huge amount of Samsung gear in my house. It will no longer be my default manufacturer for electronics. I have been a customer for over a decade.
Chad: I'd like a corporate contact to send a letter or email to as well please.
Alice: I apologize for the inconvenience caused.
Chad: I'd also recommend you put a warning sticker on the boxes with phones with the locked bootldr. Its kind of sleazy to not warn people about that.
Alice: I would have surely helped you if there is any option for me to help you. Samsung will not recommend to unlock the bootaloader.
Chad: I understand that and I would buy it was a contract restriction with ATT if HTC didn't provide exactly what I'm asking for with the M8.
Alice: I apologize for the inconvenience caused.
Chad: Not your fault I know you don't set the policy. Do you have someone in public relations or somthing like that I could send an email to?
Chad: I just want to vent my frustration to a VP level person. I've been buying a lot of Samsung product for years.
Alice: I will provide you a link where you can send an Email to Samsung.
Chad: thank you
Alice: http://www.samsung.com/us/support/email/product/SGH-I317TSAATT
Alice: You're welcome. Is there anything else I can assist you with?
Chad: No that was it I'm happy with all of my other Samsung products at this point.
Chad: thank you
Alice: I really appreciate your time and patience.
Alice: We thank you for your inquiry today and hope your experience with Samsung tech support has been a pleasant one. In an effort to continuously improve our service, we request you to take a minute and complete a quick survey.Please click blue 'X' button on the upper right corner and you will be provided with the survey to complete.
info: Chat session has been terminated by the Samsung Agent.

That's most likely incorrect, doesn't make sense that AT&T would allow the One M8 to be unlocked and provide source code for the kernel, while Samsung is locked down completely.

Response from Samsung
I send an query to 'Voice of Customer' and got below response. Looks little positive!!! I am planning to send a follow up.
Dear xxxx,
Thank you for contacting Samsung Telecommunications America.
After reviewing your e-mail, we understand that you want us to release a tool to unlock a bootloader.
Firstly, we thank you for showing continuous interest towards Samsung products.
Moving forward with your concern, we really thank you for sharing your ideas with Samsung. Samsung keeps developing products using the currently available technologies in the market and will be releasing them on a timely basis. Hopefully you might be getting all the features that you are expecting in the devices which will be released in the future. Please keep checking the Samsung website to get information about the products releasing from Samsung.
If you are looking for more details on the functionality of a product or would like to find answers to some of the questions, visit us http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/# for an interactive review of some of our Samsung products.
Link : http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/#
Please feel free to get back to us if you have any further concerns. We would be glad to assist you.

yoonus said:
I send an query to 'Voice of Customer' and got below response. Looks little positive!!! I am planning to send a follow up.
Dear xxxx,
Thank you for contacting Samsung Telecommunications America.
After reviewing your e-mail, we understand that you want us to release a tool to unlock a bootloader.
Firstly, we thank you for showing continuous interest towards Samsung products.
Moving forward with your concern, we really thank you for sharing your ideas with Samsung. Samsung keeps developing products using the currently available technologies in the market and will be releasing them on a timely basis. Hopefully you might be getting all the features that you are expecting in the devices which will be released in the future. Please keep checking the Samsung website to get information about the products releasing from Samsung.
.
If you are looking for more details on the functionality of a product or would like to find answers to some of the questions, visit us http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/# for an interactive review of some of our Samsung products.
Link : http://originus.samsung.com/us/smartphone-simulators-and-tutorials/#
Please feel free to get back to us if you have any further concerns. We would be glad to assist you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is crazy that we cant do what we want with what we own. I would have bought the m8 but no removable battery and not waterproof. That was huge for me. This bootloader situation is terrible

The S3 and S4 originally came with locked bootloaders. Somebody will figure it out The S4 bypass was developed a month after it was released last year.

n2nin said:
The S3 and S4 originally came with locked bootloaders. Somebody will figure it out The S4 bypass was developed a month after it was released last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The note 3 never had an exploit for the bootloader. No safestrap doesn't count.

n2nin said:
The S3 and S4 originally came with locked bootloaders. Somebody will figure it out The S4 bypass was developed a month after it was released last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bypass you're thinking of is Loki, and that exploit was patched and closed a long time ago by Samsung. The Note 3 as said does not have a true bootloader unlock or bypass, it does have root but that was gained by modifying system, which also has since been closed on Kit Kat....sorry to say its going to take some time, for ATT/VZW to get any dev of any sort if any at all, a new exploit is needed. If you really wanted needed dev for the phone and wanted a S5, buying the Tmo version outright would have been the best alternative.

n2nin said:
The S3 and S4 originally came with locked bootloaders. Somebody will figure it out The S4 bypass was developed a month after it was released last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just fyi The S3 did not come with a locked bootloader. I still have an S3 and never had to Loki it or anything. Normal plain root then recovery. Anything and everything can still be flashed (Roms/KERNELS/modems/themes.
The S4 came with locked bootloader but a bypass (Loki) was found soon after release for MDB and MDL firmwares. This allowed for flashing ANYTHING like AOKP/CM/Touchwiz based rom/KERNELS/ Modems.
After that the S4 was stuck locked up hard until safestrap worked.With Safestrap you can ONLY flash Touchwiz based Roms/Modems/and possibly themes/ but NO KERNELS OR AOKP/CM/GPE Based Roms. With each revision they locked it down further. The newest firmware is not really able to use safestrap without a workaround of flashing an older firmware without the bootloader, then safestrap it, then go back to the newest firmware. Safestrap is NOT near as versatile at flashing things as the Loki bypass as it was the ONLY real exploit found to bypass the bootloader. So in reality the "LOCKED" bootloader has NOT been able to be cracked yet.
All of this we all knew would make the ATT S5 bootloader locked down even harder and a exploit will probably never be found to completely change the locked bootloader and flash Roms/kernels/modems easily. IF a safestrap version or something similar does happen then only Touchwiz based Roms and modems (possibly themes) can be flashed. But NO AOKP/CM/GPE based Roms.
T-Mobile S5 will be able to do ALL NAD ANY flashing as normal since its bootloaders are NOT locked.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337

RockRatt said:
Just fyi The S3 did not come with a locked bootloader. I still have an S3 and never had to Loki it or anything. Normal plain root then recovery. Anything and everything can still be flashed (Roms/KERNELS/modems/themes.
The S4 came with locked bootloader but a bypass (Loki) was found soon after release for MDB and MDL firmwares. This allowed for flashing ANYTHING like AOKP/CM/Touchwiz based rom/KERNELS/ Modems.
After that the S4 was stuck locked up hard until safestrap worked.With Safestrap you can ONLY flash Touchwiz based Roms/Modems/and possibly themes/ but NO KERNELS OR AOKP/CM/GPE Based Roms. With each revision they locked it down further. The newest firmware is not really able to use safestrap without a workaround of flashing an older firmware without the bootloader, then safestrap it, then go back to the newest firmware. Safestrap is NOT near as versatile at flashing things as the Loki bypass as it was the ONLY real exploit found to bypass the bootloader. So in reality the "LOCKED" bootloader has NOT been able to be cracked yet.
All of this we all knew would make the ATT S5 bootloader locked down even harder and a exploit will probably never be found to completely change the locked bootloader and flash Roms/kernels/modems easily. IF a safestrap version or something similar does happen then only Touchwiz based Roms and modems (possibly themes) can be flashed. But NO AOKP/CM/GPE based Roms.
T-Mobile S5 will be able to do ALL NAD ANY flashing as normal since its bootloaders are NOT locked.
Sent From My Spiderman,Ironman,Red,Dark Blue,Green, GreyedOut BadAss Themed I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hence the reason I bought a TMO outright and unlocked it for ATT, I dont think most users grasp how locked down the device on ATT and & VZW really are.

djkinetic said:
Hence the reason I bought a TMO outright and unlocked it for ATT, I dont think most users grasp how locked down the device on ATT and & VZW really are.
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Click to collapse
If they don't grasp it now, they never will. This thing is locked down as tight as a drum. Much like you, I agree it's going to be a while, if ever.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

I would pay monies to the person who finds the exploit to root. I don't think we will get root without tripping Knox

i dont so much care about knox i just want root we can worry about untripping it later

djkinetic said:
Hence the reason I bought a TMO outright and unlocked it for ATT, I dont think most users grasp how locked down the device on ATT and & VZW really are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please let us know how's your SM-G900T performs on ATT networks? It picks up all LTE/3G bands properly to compare with original G900A? How's reception? I'm thinking about doing same thing that you did since TMO's one could be easily rooted...

stask1 said:
Could you please let us know how's your SM-G900T performs on ATT networks? It picks up all LTE/3G bands properly to compare with original G900A? How's reception? I'm thinking about doing same thing that you did since TMO's one could be easily rooted...
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Click to collapse
same Reception as my ATT HTC One M8, i check reception via DB in status menu as signal bars are inaccurate many times...At my house I average about 105 DB on LTE with my M8, on the TMO S5 with ATT sim average 105 as well. So far I've picked up all LTE and HSPA+ bands on ATT properly just make sure your sim is activated on an ATT LTE device first and that you have the proper APN set.

Coming from away and moving here not that long ago I have always had international model phones so never spent any time on the LTE/varint side of XDA until now. I never had an LTE variant so didnt realize how locked down they were. I still have my S3 and Note2 international unlocked phones that work here without 4g and thats fine for me really but went for the att S5 since it was cheap. To be quite honest now understanding how things work with variants Im gutted. It will be the first and last variant I buy and Im going back to international models again. They come factory unlocked and bootloader unlocked and also dont have features taken out of them. Its a shame really. I find it pretty nasty that the carriers here have such an unfair gripe over the user and theres nothing that can be done about it.

It's now legal to unlock phones!

http://mobile.theverge.com/2014/7/16/5909337/senate-passes-phone-unlocking-bill
Don't know what this means for us but I figured it's a good read.
Sent from my Towel rooted S5

It's been legal to unlock phones for a long time. I don't know about this article, but people have been doing it for the S5 since it's release, buying from T-Mobile and unlocking to use with AT&T
It doesn't really have an effect since it was never really enforced.

The bill only passed the Senate, it still needs to pass the House and be signed by President Obama. A lot can change before he signs it.

sturmen said:
The bill only passed the Senate, it still needs to pass the House and be signed by President Obama. A lot can change before he signs it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heh heh, change. :what:
The Gods Approve This Post, From The Ghost Of Sparta's S5 active.

Idk about anyone else but every time I've upgraded my ATT phones they have unlocked them all first call. I've never had an issue with them not wanting to unlock them. Not sure if its because I have a 4 line family plan and been with them for about 5 years. They base it on how many times per year you request an unlock code I believe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Premium HD app

[UPDATED] Verizon Wireless * WILL * be a part of Samsung Pay

[UPDATED] Looks like VZW will be supporting Samsung Pay after all (source).
From sammobile.com:
Verizon confirms Samsung Pay support
Samsung Pay was launched in the United States last month, the payments service requires carrier support to work and naturally it raised a few eyebrows when it was confirmed that Verizon will not be supporting the service at launch. This means that Verizon users are unable to use Samsung Pay on their carrier-branded devices, even though it’s the largest mobile carrier in the country, it was hinted recently that Verizon might confirm supporting the new service soon and now the company has sent out a tweet through its official account confirming just that.
Verizon has confirmed that it’s going to support Samsung Pay on compatible smartphones which include the Galaxy S6, the Galaxy S6 edge, the Galaxy S6 edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5. The carrier says that it’ll flip the switch on the service through a future software update but doesn’t say precisely when the software update will be released. At least Verizon users now know that their carrier will allow them to use Samsung’s new payment service at some point.
Verizon News (@VerizonNews) October 6, 2015: "Samsung Pay will be supported on compatible Verizon smartphones (Galaxy S 6, S 6 edge, Note5, S6 edge +) through a future software update."

Verizon is ruining everything, bootloaders are hard to unlock and they are on top of closing out root for each OTA. I am contemplating on switching to nexus or moto pure phones since they will be unlockable.
ONly reason why I am keeping Verizon is because I have unlimited data and their service is very good where I live. T Mobile is non existent.

I've been worried about this but Droid Life got a statement from Verizon and they're just still evaluating it. They've got a month to sign off on it and they don't have a competing app anymore so they really have no reason not to support is (other than the fact that they're a bunch of a**holes).

brholt6 said:
I've been worried about this but Droid Life got a statement from Verizon and they're just still evaluating it. They've got a month to sign off on it and they don't have a competing app anymore so they really have no reason not to support is (other than the fact that they're a bunch of a**holes).
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I totally agree that that is the only reason.
Verizon gains nothing from removing this feature (or any other feature for that matter).
Completely pointless. It makes no bloody sense!
---------- Post added at 04:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:42 PM ----------
lucky_strike33 said:
Verizon is ruining everything, bootloaders are hard to unlock and they are on top of closing out root for each OTA. I am contemplating on switching to nexus or moto pure phones since they will be unlockable.
ONly reason why I am keeping Verizon is because I have unlimited data and their service is very good where I live. T Mobile is non existent.
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You say that Verizon makes unlocking the bootloader hard.
This really does not sound like a big deal.
According to Google, an unlocked bootloader IS a security issue for the device.
Similarly, while root is fun to have, it is obtained by exploiting a security flaw,
and since only ~5% of users care about root, carriers and manufacturers kill root.
That said, MOST of Verizons corporate decisions are NOT consumer friendly.

I just hope that we can get Samsung pay somehow, perhaps with root and a root cloak like thing.
Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

Verizon better allow it, samsung pay was one of the reasons I shelled out big bucks for the edge xP

zachchen1996 said:
Verizon better allow it, samsung pay was one of the reasons I shelled out big bucks for the edge xP
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Same for me. I would not have bought the edge had I known Verizon would eliminate some of its selling points. Makes me want to switch carriers.

Snowby123 said:
Same for me. I would not have bought the edge had I known Verizon would eliminate some of its selling points. Makes me want to switch carriers.
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Same, the moment T-Mobile has good coverage in my area I'm switching! xD

To make matters worse, it looks like Sprint is releasing Samsung Pay early

i could care less about samsung pay lol. theres many other ways to pay and im mostly good ole fashion cash person lol
Extreme Syndicate L

elliwigy said:
i could care less about samsung pay lol. theres many other ways to pay and im mostly good ole fashion cash person lol
Extreme Syndicate L
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But Samsung Pay was one of the big selling points of the handset.
Even though it is a feature you don't seem to care about,
for many of us, myself included, it is disheartening to hear this.
Verizon really has no reason to remove it. This angers many.

Snowby123 said:
But Samsung Pay was one of the big selling points of the handset.
Even though it is a feature you don't seem to care about,
for many of us, myself included, it is disheartening to hear this.
Verizon really has no reason to remove it. This angers many.
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call big red and tell them to replace your device with a new one lol
but i get what you mean, just gave my opinion.. i kno others want it and bought the phone for it..
i just dont understand how they can even block it.. after all its samsung and id imagine tied to a bank account?
maybe some smart person could port the app to work for us
Extreme Syndicate L

elliwigy said:
call big red and tell them to replace your device with a new one lol
but i get what you mean, just gave my opinion.. i kno others want it and bought the phone for it..
i just dont understand how they can even block it.. after all its samsung and id imagine tied to a bank account?
maybe some smart person could port the app to work for us
Extreme Syndicate L
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You are a smart person. . . .

I think Samsung pay will be another bust. Google already tried google wallet and it didn't go very well. But android pay is something to look forward to.

davidlee101392 said:
I think Samsung pay will be another bust. Google already tried google wallet and it didn't go very well. But android pay is something to look forward to.
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Android Pay is nowhere near as good as Samsung Pay because a place still has to have NFC. Samsung Pay can be used almost anywhere. That's a huge advantage
Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

I'm frustrated that I could use Google wallet just fine but now my bank has to re sign up with Google. Ugh. That will probably be forever!
Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

i hope verizon makes a good choice and giving up us samsung pay cause im pretty sure if they don't alot of people are going to be switching carriers

simplyeorange said:
i hope verizon makes a good choice and giving up us samsung pay cause im pretty sure if they don't alot of people are going to be switching carriers
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I certainly will be!

i was able to download the Samsung Pay Apk+Framework But my Card Wont Register =/

simplyeorange said:
i was able to download the Samsung Pay Apk+Framework But my Card Wont Register =/
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Do you have root?
I know that Samsung Pay does not work with rooted devices; same as Android Pay.

Petition to Samsung to let us unlock the bootloader of our Note 9 SNAPDRAGON NORTH AM

I will start by saying i know that this has been done and that Samsung will never listen to us or that simply doesn't care but
I have started a campaign on Twitter i will write a request directed at Samsung Mobile and Samsung Mobile USA everyday until they block me or something else happens.
If you don't agree with me its really ok and i see your reasoning, but the purpose of this threat is to attach it on the Twitter request.
So i would like to invite you to join my request just by writing down on the thread with capital letters "UNLOCK OUR DEVICE"
For those who don't agree with me I would like that you don't write it here lets keep this thread clean and focused.
Let's hope that by doing the same thing we get different results.
Here is the link of the tweet i will be writing everyday:
https://twitter.com/Shkrepsja/status/1141086683770818562?s=19
Feel free to retweet it or disagree with me there
Thank you!:highfive:

They don't care. Only ones who they will listen to are the service providers and Verizon will tell them to lock it down even more

bignazpwns said:
They don't care. Only ones who they will listen to are the service providers and Verizon will tell them to lock it down even more
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I know but don't care i will continue doing that at least until they block me ?

If only someone with real influence could join you on Twitter.

alanifotis said:
I know but don't care i will continue doing that at least until they block me ?
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Its been done. It won't change anything until the provider tells them to. It's locked because of them. And they won't unlock it because you can just run features they charge for for free. It makes no sense for them to unlock it. People are going to keep buying the devices reguardless.

roaduardo said:
If only someone with real influence could join you on Twitter.
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Its they have given up i guess but i won't
I don't why only Samsung does that man some say that is because of the carriers but i don't think saw because if you think about it OnePlus have a unlock bootloader. What does that mean OnePlus has bigger balls then Samsung?

bignazpwns said:
Its been done. It won't change anything until the provider tells them to. It's locked because of them. And they won't unlock it because you can just run features they charge for for free. It makes no sense for them to unlock it. People are going to keep buying the devices reguardless.
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OnePlus has an unlocked bootloader do you think they have bigger balls then Samsung?

alanifotis said:
OnePlus has an unlocked bootloader do you think they have bigger balls then Samsung?
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Probably. Even the T-Mobile version has one once you pay it off. That's most likely gonna be my next phone.

The_Keeper86 said:
Probably. Even the T-Mobile version has one once you pay it off. That's most likely gonna be my next phone.
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Thats exactly my point we pay almost 1000 $ for the phone we shouldn't have less options then OnePlus

alanifotis said:
Thats exactly my point we pay almost 1000 $ for the phone we shouldn't have less options then OnePlus
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I totally agree man. It's a damn shame really. My first Note was the Note 5 straight from T-Mobile it had an unlocked bootloader. That was January 2016. I guess some laws changed since then? I don't know.

The_Keeper86 said:
I totally agree man. It's a damn shame really. My first Note was the Note 5 straight from T-Mobile it had an unlocked bootloader. That was January 2016. I guess some laws changed since then? I don't know.
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Even tmobile versions have locked bootloaders now. Idk about the law but if OnePlus Pixel LG have unlocked bootloaders we should have them too

The_Keeper86 said:
I totally agree man. It's a damn shame really. My first Note was the Note 5 straight from T-Mobile it had an unlocked bootloader. That was January 2016. I guess some laws changed since then? I don't know.
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No "law" has changed. Just company policy. If there was a "law" that changed, people wouldn't be able to unlock other phones, like OnePlus phones that are sold through T-Mobile. I unlocked my OnePlus 7 Pro easily. This locked bootloader BS is from Samsung and/or Qualcomm and/or T-Mobile policy.

alanifotis said:
Even tmobile versions have locked bootloaders now. Idk about the law but if OnePlus Pixel LG have unlocked bootloaders we should have them too
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Include John Legere(?) Or however his name is spelt. The CEO of TMobile. I remember on the Note 5 someone tweeted him about a bootloader unlock and he tweeted Samsung. Lol. Wait, that might have been the Note 8. I don't remember, but tweet him either way.

but....you can already unlock the bootloader. just not on north american carrier models.
( strangely in south america and China the same SOC (snapdragon) can be unlocked. and of course the exynos model too...i wonder why... how can it be that the reset of the WHOLE PLANET HAS UNLOCKABLE BOOTLAODERS...lol ..i really wonder why.....
but seriously its prety obvious to me)
that's 'merican freedom for ya.( lol funny how a communist country has better rights in certain aspects of life)
so do the logical thing, read up on the subject and petition the carriers instead ( they are the true culprits obviously). ( while ure at it petition all that is bad about em like price of contracts and such)
as it stands OPs 'efforts' are a big waste of time.

Jammol said:
Include John Legere(?) Or however his name is spelt. The CEO of TMobile. I remember on the Note 5 someone tweeted him about a bootloader unlock and he tweeted Samsung. Lol. Wait, that might have been the Note 8. I don't remember, but tweet him either way.
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I will on tomorrow's tweet

bober10113 said:
but....you can already unlock the bootloader. just not on north american carrier models.
( strangely in south america and China the same SOC (snapdragon) can be unlocked. and of course the exynos model too...i wonder why... how can it be that the reset of the WHOLE PLANET HAS UNLOCKABLE BOOTLAODERS...lol ..i really wonder why.....
but seriously its prety obvious to me)
that's 'merican freedom for ya.( lol funny how a communist country has better rights in certain aspects of life)
so do the logical thing, read up on the subject and petition the carriers instead ( they are the true culprits obviously). ( while ure at it petition all that is bad about em like price of contracts and such)
as it stands OPs 'efforts' are a big waste of time.
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Idk man but i don't think that the carrier's are to blame Samsung makes the devices and should have the ball to say this my device if you want you sell it as it is. You see iPhone's, pixels onepluses etc with no bloatware and unlocked bootloader and the biggest smartphone manufacturer has bloats and no unlocked bootloader
SAMSUNG SERIOUSLY STEP UP AND BE A MAN GROW A PAIR OF BALLS

alanifotis said:
Idk man but i don't think that the carrier's are to blame Samsung makes the devices and should have the ball to say this my device if you want you sell it as it is. You see iPhone's, pixels onepluses etc with no bloatware and unlocked bootloader and the biggest smartphone manufacturer has bloats and no unlocked bootloader
SAMSUNG SERIOUSLY STEP UP AND BE A MAN GROW A PAIR OF BALLS
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well the n960u1 firmware has no bloat...
and the iphone is locked tighter than... lol i wont go there.
its the carriers trust me. they require samsung to put the bloat as part of the deal. its in the contract they have with samsung and they require them to locked it down and bloat it up. samsung won't make 2 phones available for a region. they produce the hardware and slap on the csc and other crap. thats why the U1 is bloatless( sammy bought device directly) but locked because its a requirement by the providers because that device will end up on an north America provider. it represents millions of dollars if not more to get these devices onto the market and into shady carrier plans. why would samsung refuse this business/contract? i mean if someone gives me 20 000$ to piss in some one's porch, as morally wrong rhat may be, id probaly do it because we're all in the money making business unfortunately.
again this practice of not allowing a bootloader to be unlocked is very different for the rest of the world. i reiterate, apart from north america, every single device samsung produces for the planet can get their bootloader unlocked.
isint that proof enough ?
id take it up with the carriers and ure state law office instead.
again, samsung is only producing fones in accordance with the carrier's ruling. its like buying a car second hand and the original owner payed extra for some stupid spoiler or something and you as the 3nd party goes back to the dealership and blames the dealer for it... they just abide to the order.
moreover, i wouldint be surprised the united states fcc and carriers have some sort of agreement that is not public or you have to be a lawyer to read the fine print and hundreds of pages that stipulates why the device's bootloader is not allowed to be unlocked. its politics and money related for sure.
are you surpised? that's 'merica for ya.
anyways ill say it again. people should just stop buing NA devices.
also here is proof that its the providers:
alot of them wont allow you to use advanced csc features like wifi calling and volte on 'greymarket' devices. they even made up a term for it because they didnt get a piece of the pie when u buy a device that is not carrier bought ie: international version.
when u buy a car second hand or that is from an other country, does the state roads bureau say no you cant drive it? or no you cant modify it? of course not. you pay taxes and have a permit that enables you to drive it.
so by paying good money monthly to have a line and data plan, they should be doing these shady practices that the rest of the world dont do.
businesses own America.(and canada)

What's the point considering how difficult they make it even with s10 series exynos. Think I might get off the Sammy train next, as I require root for all my devices and note 10 exynos will be just as difficult as s10 series is at this point, with virtually no development.
Sent from my phone

Idan73 said:
What's the point considering how difficult they make it even with s10 series exynos. Think I might get off the Sammy train next, as I require root for all my devices and note 10 exynos will be just as difficult as s10 series is at this point, with virtually no development.
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i get where ure coming from.
but unlocking the BL is but half of the task. but i mean we're just the users using what ever means other people find and develop to gain root access. how hard or how skillful these people that are developping and contributing to get recovery and root this time around i dont know. The ease at which the s7, s8...etc were overcome by, may be a pure fluke. maybe there is just less intrest for doing so on these devices than before. with all the new companies, there are no longer the top 3 manufactures that made it more likely that people would choose samsung to develop on.
but if I'm not mistaken the problem or should i say difficulty with the s10 is the recovery and the handoff/subsequent boot process to homescreen. purely speaking about root, i think top john woo came up with the method prety quickly. but as someone that likes flashing roms and zips, recovery is a very big part of the root/recovery double edged sword. but as anything else, since the methods have changed abit, there are always things to overcome at first. what is not bad about this scenario is that the s10 helped bring those hurdles months ago to light and i think that this will help speed up things for the note 10(compared to the s10). but all in all it does slow things down regarding development, that i agree. but ireally think thats because the interest of devs and the fact that the market is being flooded by:
more different models and sub models and more phone companies than before, thus diluting the dev base in more fractionated parties... and ive heard also people saying that they dont even feel the need to root and all that comes with it anymore. for me though, lol that's not the case.
anyways, i guess we'll see when we get there...( august ? lol)

As i said it's not that i disagree but we must do our part
At least i will and lets hope we achieve something