I am currently running an AOSP rom, CarbonROM, on my VZW Galaxy S3 and really enjoy its speed, smoothness and customizability.
I am looking to upgrade to a VZW Moto X and just have a few questions.
Straight out of the box, will the Moto X be faster and smoother than the AOSP GS3?
I would like run a Blur-based ROM on the Moto X, but understand that I will be unable to root it if the phone comes with 4.2.2 right? How likely will the phone come pre-installed with 4.2.2 if I buy one from a Verizon store right now? THanks.
EDIT: If I am ultimately unable or unwilling to root the phone, could I get something similar to CM's PieControls or be able to slide up from my Home virtual key and launch custom apps from the ring (not sure if this is a stock Android feature)? I heard something about Xposed + Gravity Box? Could I run these modules without rooting?
Since the default OS is so close to vanilla Android, how much of a speed improvement could I expect if I run an AOSP rom?
I've only had this phone for a day, but from what I understand 4.2.2 has root. The current FW is 4.4.2 and does not have root. The Moto X is much snappier than my s3 and even my note 3 out of the box. I have LMT launcher installed on my device and it is working perfectly. As far as custom apps from the home key ring, I haven't seen anything so far and I don't think there is an option without root but I could be wrong. I do know that Xposed requires root.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
Better get the phone and get the BL unlock code while you still can and do it quick so you can be able to root 4.4.2
MOTO X
4.2.2 and 4.4 on the X can be rooted. 4.4.2, the current ROM, can not be.
If you want usable root on the X you need two parts 1. Root Exploit, and 2. An Exploit that allows for disabling Write Protection.
When Write Protection is enabled (the phone's default state with locked bootloader, or the state you are in after you take the 4.4.2 OTA), any changes made to /system, or the like, (including, but not limited to, App installs, file modifications, deletions, renames, etc) are not permanent and are lost at power off/on.
Even if you have root, but lost Write Protection, any apps you've installed that need to write to system can't permanently save their changes (you have to re-do every time your phone powers off/on), and any Root type app, or app that gets installed to /system after WP is enabled will be lost at power off/on.
MotoWpNoMo was used on 4.4. and below to Disable Write Protection. Part of the 4.4.2 update patches the exploit that MotoWpNoMo used, so it wont work on 4.4.2.
SlapMyMoto/RockMyMoto/etc, used on 4.4 and lower to root, involved downgrading the rom to use an exploit in 4.2.2 to gain root and then following a process to upgrade to 4.4. But with 4.4.2 you can't downgrade the rom safely, without risk of bricking your phone, anymore.
So if you want to ensure you can root, consider getting the Dev Edition Moto X if you are on Verizon. Here are a few reasons why...
You can get the bootloader unlock code for free via Moto's web site.(not available for the VZW Retail and Moto Maker editions) - they are unique to each phone.
Getting the bootloader unlock code (and using it) doesn't void the warranty (like it does on the Retail and Moto Maker editions)
Once the bootloader is unlocked you can root & disable write protection, no matter what ROM is on your phone.
You could install custom or 3rd party roms if you wish.
If you get a warranty exchange/replacement you can still get the bootloader unlock code from Moto's web site..
While the Chinese website/middleman is available again to PURCHASE bootloader unlock codes for the Retail and Moto Maker edition, there is no guarantee it will remain available, or that your code will be in the data base he has. (think about if you need a replacement phone for some reason)
Cost is not much different than if you need to purchase your X at full retail (to keep unlimited data plan, or because you are not eligible for "upgrade" pricing).
You don't want to take the chance that the new phone might still ship with either 4.2.2 or 4.4 and can be rooted with the SlapMyMoto process and you can use MotoWpNoMo to disable write protection, if the Chinese web site/middle man disappears again.
Why to not get a Dev Edition...
you don't care about ever rooting
you are eligible for "upgrade" pricing so you want to save money
you are willing to take the chance on buying the unlock code from the Chinese Site/Middle Man while its available again, and are not worried about having to get a bootloader unlock code for a replacement phone in the future.
You want to customize the look of your phone. i.e. The Black Face, Woven White back, and Silver accents (buttons and camera ring) of the Developer Edition just doesn't appeal to you and you don't want to use a case to cover it, and are against dBrand skins and the like.
you don't mind voiding the phone's warranty by using the code purchased via the Chinese Site/Middle Man while it is available again.
You don't mind taking a chance that the new phone might still ship with either 4.2.2 or 4.4 and can be rooted with the SlapMyMoto process and you can use MotoWpNoMo to disable write protection, rather than having to buy a bootloader unlock code from the Chinese website/middleman.
You are OK not running custom or 3rd party or custom roms (unless you PURCHASE the boot loader unlock code from the Chinese Site/Middleman)
---------- Post added at 07:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 AM ----------
jamesino said:
...I would like run a Blur-based ROM on the Moto X, but understand that I will be unable to root it if the phone comes with 4.2.2 right? How likely will the phone come pre-installed with 4.2.2 if I buy one from a Verizon store right now? THanks.
EDIT: If I am ultimately unable or unwilling to root the phone, could I get something similar to CM's PieControls or be able to slide up from my Home virtual key and launch custom apps from the ring (not sure if this is a stock Android feature)? I heard something about Xposed + Gravity Box? Could I run these modules without rooting?
Since the default OS is so close to vanilla Android, how much of a speed improvement could I expect if I run an AOSP rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
your OP also mentions wanting to run a Blur-based ROM... "based" implies not stock. As mentioned previously, If you get 4.2.2 or 4.4 on it, you can root and disable write protection. You can retain root while upgrading to 4.4.2, but you lose write protection disable with no way to get it back. But rooting and disabling write protection will not allow you to run 3rd party or custom roms. You can only run stock Moto roms unless you unlock the bootloader. When the bootloader is locked, the phone will refuse any Non-Moto signed components (like recovery, system, etc) which are needed for the 3rd party/custom roms.
I can't speak to how much faster the X might be compared to the S3 with AOSP because my T-Mobile S3 is still stock. My VZW Dev Ed X is as fast as my S4's are (VZW, T-Mo and ATT) if not faster. And it does feel faster than my stock Note 3's (T-Mo and ATT).
I haven't seen CM's PieControls so I don't know what they are, or what is needed for install.
Xposted + Gravity box require root. And if you don't have write protection disabled too, you'd have to reconfigure it each power off/on.
If you buy at a Verizon retail store, they will likely immediately install any available updates (i.e. upgrade the phone to 4.4.2) before letting you leave the store, even if the phone has 4.2.2 out of the box. Several people have posted about this already. And they said they were not given an option. I do not know if they will honor a request to not perform any software updates given before they start to setup the new phone for you.
If you get a Dev Edition or any Moto X sold outside US, you will be able to unlock its bootloader which makes root possible and super easy regardless of Android version.
Enviado de meu XT1058 usando Tapatalk
KidJoe said:
4.2.2 and 4.4 on the X can be rooted. 4.4.2, the current ROM, can not be.
If you want usable root on the X you need two parts 1. Root Exploit, and 2. An Exploit that allows for disabling Write Protection.
When Write Protection is enabled (the phone's default state with locked bootloader, or the state you are in after you take the 4.4.2 OTA), any changes made to /system, or the like, (including, but not limited to, App installs, file modifications, deletions, renames, etc) are not permanent and are lost at power off/on.
Even if you have root, but lost Write Protection, any apps you've installed that need to write to system can't permanently save their changes (you have to re-do every time your phone powers off/on), and any Root type app, or app that gets installed to /system after WP is enabled will be lost at power off/on.
MotoWpNoMo was used on 4.4. and below to Disable Write Protection. Part of the 4.4.2 update patches the exploit that MotoWpNoMo used, so it wont work on 4.4.2.
SlapMyMoto/RockMyMoto/etc, used on 4.4 and lower to root, involved downgrading the rom to use an exploit in 4.2.2 to gain root and then following a process to upgrade to 4.4. But with 4.4.2 you can't downgrade the rom safely, without risk of bricking your phone, anymore.
So if you want to ensure you can root, consider getting the Dev Edition Moto X if you are on Verizon. Here are a few reasons why...
You can get the bootloader unlock code for free via Moto's web site.(not available for the VZW Retail and Moto Maker editions) - they are unique to each phone.
Getting the bootloader unlock code (and using it) doesn't void the warranty (like it does on the Retail and Moto Maker editions)
Once the bootloader is unlocked you can root & disable write protection, no matter what ROM is on your phone.
You could install custom or 3rd party roms if you wish.
If you get a warranty exchange/replacement you can still get the bootloader unlock code from Moto's web site..
While the Chinese website/middleman is available again to PURCHASE bootloader unlock codes for the Retail and Moto Maker edition, there is no guarantee it will remain available, or that your code will be in the data base he has. (think about if you need a replacement phone for some reason)
Cost is not much different than if you need to purchase your X at full retail (to keep unlimited data plan, or because you are not eligible for "upgrade" pricing).
You don't want to take the chance that the new phone might still ship with either 4.2.2 or 4.4 and can be rooted with the SlapMyMoto process and you can use MotoWpNoMo to disable write protection, if the Chinese web site/middle man disappears again.
Why to not get a Dev Edition...
you don't care about ever rooting
you are eligible for "upgrade" pricing so you want to save money
you are willing to take the chance on buying the unlock code from the Chinese Site/Middle Man while its available again, and are not worried about having to get a bootloader unlock code for a replacement phone in the future.
You want to customize the look of your phone. i.e. The Black Face, Woven White back, and Silver accents (buttons and camera ring) of the Developer Edition just doesn't appeal to you and you don't want to use a case to cover it, and are against dBrand skins and the like.
you don't mind voiding the phone's warranty by using the code purchased via the Chinese Site/Middle Man while it is available again.
You don't mind taking a chance that the new phone might still ship with either 4.2.2 or 4.4 and can be rooted with the SlapMyMoto process and you can use MotoWpNoMo to disable write protection, rather than having to buy a bootloader unlock code from the Chinese website/middleman.
You are OK not running custom or 3rd party or custom roms (unless you PURCHASE the boot loader unlock code from the Chinese Site/Middleman)
---------- Post added at 07:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:25 AM ----------
your OP also mentions wanting to run a Blur-based ROM... "based" implies not stock. As mentioned previously, If you get 4.2.2 or 4.4 on it, you can root and disable write protection. You can retain root while upgrading to 4.4.2, but you lose write protection disable with no way to get it back. But rooting and disabling write protection will not allow you to run 3rd party or custom roms. You can only run stock Moto roms unless you unlock the bootloader. When the bootloader is locked, the phone will refuse any Non-Moto signed components (like recovery, system, etc) which are needed for the 3rd party/custom roms.
I can't speak to how much faster the X might be compared to the S3 with AOSP because my T-Mobile S3 is still stock. My VZW Dev Ed X is as fast as my S4's are (VZW, T-Mo and ATT) if not faster. And it does feel faster than my stock Note 3's (T-Mo and ATT).
I haven't seen CM's PieControls so I don't know what they are, or what is needed for install.
Xposted + Gravity box require root. And if you don't have write protection disabled too, you'd have to reconfigure it each power off/on.
If you buy at a Verizon retail store, they will likely immediately install any available updates (i.e. upgrade the phone to 4.4.2) before letting you leave the store, even if the phone has 4.2.2 out of the box. Several people have posted about this already. And they said they were not given an option. I do not know if they will honor a request to not perform any software updates given before they start to setup the new phone for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the very detailed information.
So to be sure, Blur-based ROMS such as Eclipse will require root and an unlocked BL? If I purchase a code from the China/Middle Man, does this solve all the problems? I will have an unlocked BL, root, and WP disabled and can install custom ROMs?
So if my phone ships with 4.4.2, then I can't even install Xposed + Gravity Box on it?
Are all Verizon phones locked now? I was originally going to get an S4 as a replacement for my S3, before I found out that the S4 was also incredibly difficult to root/flash custom ROMs onto.
Will the Moto X be my best bet if I am on contract with Verizon and want a "as close to stock Android as possible" experience?
jamesino said:
So to be sure, Blur-based ROMS such as Eclipse will require root and an unlocked BL? If I purchase a code from the China/Middle Man, does this solve all the problems? I will have an unlocked BL, root, and WP disabled and can install custom ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eclipse needs you to be rooted on 4.4.2, or on 4.4 rooted w/Safestrap.
Yes bootloader unlocking (either dev edition, or getting code from China/middleman) solves this.
The only difference in getting the code from the Chinese Website/Middleman vs having the Dev Edition and getting the code from Moto, is 1. where you get the code from, and 2. warranty status. The rest, including rooting, flashing, etc. is exactly the same.
jamesino said:
So if my phone ships with 4.4.2, then I can't even install Xposed + Gravity Box on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes Xposed needs root. Since GraivtyBox uses Xposed, it too needs root.
jamesino said:
Are all Verizon phones locked now? I was originally going to get an S4 as a replacement for my S3, before I found out that the S4 was also incredibly difficult to root/flash custom ROMs onto.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Such is the nature of Android maturing. Most of the root and unlock processes have been exploiting bugs and vulnerabilities in code. As the code gets fixed, less usable exploits. THe S4 had a vulnerable bootloader initially that could be hacked (Loki) which was later patched. The X had its own which lead to PwnMyMoto/RockMyMoto/SlapMyMoto and MotoWpNoMo, which have been patched.
jamesino said:
Will the Moto X be my best bet if I am on contract with Verizon and want a "as close to stock Android as possible" experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have really only followed Moto, Samsung and HTC lately. Sammy has TouchWiz, HTC has Sense. They make their phones different enough from "stock" android. Sammy (S3, S4, NOte 2, Note3 anyway) has a custom calendar app, custom SMS/MMS app, custom contacts app, gallery, camera, and more. Along with a lot of Samsung bloat, I mean "features" that I usually disable anyway.
The X has no "skin" on top. It is as close to stock android as you can get. Yes it has a custom Camera app, gallery app and calendar app. But the Google calendar app (available in PlayStore) is nearly identical, and I didn't keep the Google calendar from the Playstore on the phone after trying it. There are a few Moto specific things like active display, always on/listening voice commands, that stock Android doesn't have, but there isn't too much else to get in the way, or that isn't useful on the phone. In fact, on the X, I haven't disabled anything.
I'd play it safe and spend the extra 50 bucks on the Dev edition.
The Chinese unlock sale could end today, or tomorrow.... And you'll likely be on 4 4.2 and not be able to root. Maybe ever.
Plus as said.... You keep your warranty when you unlock the bootloader on the Dev edition only.
kj2112 said:
I'd play it safe and spend the extra 50 bucks on the Dev edition.
The Chinese unlock sale could end today, or tomorrow.... And you'll likely be on 4 4.2 and not be able to root. Maybe ever.
Plus as said.... You keep your warranty when you unlock the bootloader on the Dev edition only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh what? The Developer Edition is only an extra $50? The code from the China site is $45 already right?
Can I buy the Dev Edition at a Verizon Store or Authorized Reseller? Or must I order it online?
I can't seem to find the option for purchasing a Dev Ed on the Verizon website and the Motorola website only offer the option of purchasing it for 450 (presumably off-contract) and gives no option for purchasing on-contract.
KidJoe said:
Eclipse needs you to be rooted on 4.4.2, or on 4.4 rooted w/Safestrap.
Yes bootloader unlocking (either dev edition, or getting code from China/middleman) solves this.
The only difference in getting the code from the Chinese Website/Middleman vs having the Dev Edition and getting the code from Moto, is 1. where you get the code from, and 2. warranty status. The rest, including rooting, flashing, etc. is exactly the same.
Yes Xposed needs root. Since GraivtyBox uses Xposed, it too needs root.
Yes. Such is the nature of Android maturing. Most of the root and unlock processes have been exploiting bugs and vulnerabilities in code. As the code gets fixed, less usable exploits. THe S4 had a vulnerable bootloader initially that could be hacked (Loki) which was later patched. The X had its own which lead to PwnMyMoto/RockMyMoto/SlapMyMoto and MotoWpNoMo, which have been patched.
I have really only followed Moto, Samsung and HTC lately. Sammy has TouchWiz, HTC has Sense. They make their phones different enough from "stock" android. Sammy (S3, S4, NOte 2, Note3 anyway) has a custom calendar app, custom SMS/MMS app, custom contacts app, gallery, camera, and more. Along with a lot of Samsung bloat, I mean "features" that I usually disable anyway.
The X has no "skin" on top. It is as close to stock android as you can get. Yes it has a custom Camera app, gallery app and calendar app. But the Google calendar app (available in PlayStore) is nearly identical, and I didn't keep the Google calendar from the Playstore on the phone after trying it. There are a few Moto specific things like active display, always on/listening voice commands, that stock Android doesn't have, but there isn't too much else to get in the way, or that isn't useful on the phone. In fact, on the X, I haven't disabled anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you KidJoe, your very detailed responses have been incredibly helpful. If the Dev Edition is indeed only an extra $50, I would defintely try to snag one of those instead of a retail version.
jamesino said:
Oh what? The Developer Edition is only an extra $50? The code from the China site is $45 already right?
Can I buy the Dev Edition at a Verizon Store or Authorized Reseller? Or must I order it online?
I can't seem to find the option for purchasing a Dev Ed on the Verizon website and the Motorola website only offer the option of purchasing it for 450 (presumably off-contract) and gives no option for purchasing on-contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in Canada, have a Rogers xt1058 version, unlocked sim and bootloader.... so not sure how purchasing Dev edition goes. Not an option here.
jamesino said:
Oh what? The Developer Edition is only an extra $50? The code from the China site is $45 already right?
Can I buy the Dev Edition at a Verizon Store or Authorized Reseller? Or must I order it online?
I can't seem to find the option for purchasing a Dev Ed on the Verizon website and the Motorola website only offer the option of purchasing it for 450 (presumably off-contract) and gives no option for purchasing on-contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to get it direct from Moto.
They this link -> http://www.motorola.com/us/consumer...Verizon/moto-x-developer-edition-verizon.html
And it is only sold at "off contract" or full retail price. Otherwise you'd see more people with it.
I'm pretty sure moto still has a 0% finance option if you don't want to shell out all the cash at once. My recommendation is Dev edition. I'm on T-Mobile which allows unlocking and I still got the Dev edition to be on the safe side.
I went from a Verizon GS3 with CM to a Nexus 5 and MotoX Dev edition on T-Mobile. The MotoX is FASTER by a long shot, only to be surpassed by the nexus barely. You won't regret the switch.
i hope the devs support the droid turbo.
verizon locks down the droid tight.
With the nexus 6 also coming out it'll be a coin toss. Motorola has been cool about it since Google had it but now Lenovo takes over...
i think Sunshine V3.0 will work.. fingers crossed.
its so similar in hardware to nexus 6, time will tell.
Jaocagomez said:
its so similar in hardware to nexus 6, time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the comparison would be to a moto X 2nd Gen. It's got more similar firmware.
Sent from my unlocked consumer edition Motorola Droid Maxx xt1080m.
Jaocagomez said:
its so similar in hardware to nexus 6, time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It literally takes ONE TINY THING which has nothing to do with advertised specs to make the phone bullet proof, or at least impermeable by usual means.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=56172538&postcount=20
jmonroe0914 said:
If you're going to comment on a dev forum, at least understand the terminology before you use it... otherwise it makes you seem ignorant. "UNLOCKED" and "UNLOCKING THE BOOTLOADER" are two very different things that have ZERO to do with one another.
All LTE CDMA phones for the past 2 years that use a SIM are "unlocked", as this refers to the carrier lock that is placed on the device when it is sold in bulk to network providers (which is why you have three network settings in your phones setting menu - LTE, GSM, and Global). Don't use terminology you don't understand, as you're adding to the ignorance too many seem to have about what unlocking is and what unlocking a bootloader is. It makes it only that much harder for other individuals to get the correct information, and is the reason why a VZW rep tried to tell me I don't need a developer edition to unlock my phone, because all LTE devices are unlocked when I tried to explain I was looking for a developer edition so I could unlock the bootloader.
Very few Verizon phones have the capability to unlock the phone's bootloader, which allows for rooting without an exploit and the ability to flash custom ROMs (firmware), such as Cyanagenmod. Those of you believing root will appear on any new Motorola phones are not well versed in Motorola phones sold by Verizon. Dan Rosenberg, who is the person anyone with a Motorola device on Verizon has to to thank for the last half decade of being able to root your Motorola VZW phones, has repeatedly posted on numerous threads for over a year to not expect for your Motorola devices to be rooted and if you want root, either buy a Nexus or buy a Developer Edition (if VZW is going to release any more editions after the S5 is not known and information about Developer Editions for the Note 4 Droid Turbo have been repeatedly ignored by VZW's Public Affairs office). This is due to the fact VZW has wizened up and made finding an exploit on anything past 4.4.4 nigh impossible. Exploits that allow root access are not easy to find (taking several months for most VZW Moto root exploits) and as soon as one is found, within a matter of weeks, if not days, VZW will push an automatic update, forcing your phone to update to patch the exploit. This is why when you root your phone you're told to disable OTA updates at the apk level by freezing the update apk or removing it all together after making a backup of it.
Many Motorola users got a surprise in late Spring when a Moto employee "accidentally" included the exploited code that allowed you to blow the fuse and unlock the bootloader of devices running 4.4.2. That was a once in a billion opportunity that will probably never happen again. Every time an exploit has been found that allowed root access or the ability to unlock the bootloader (which was only recently cracked in the past year, possibly two... to put that in perspective, it took over half a decade for Dan Rosenberg to find the exploit that allowed the internal fuse to be blown, unlocking the bootloader). Exploits are not easy things to find, especially in Motorola devices running on VZW's network.
To all of those that like to post root bounties... BUY A DEVELOPER EDITION. You'll pay $300 for a device and then offer $300+ for a root bounty... which is the cost of developer edition device... considering VZW offers Edge, you no longer have to pay full retail in one go for a DE. From this point forward, VZW customers need to comprehend the fact that rooting will continue to be increasingly difficult to perform, most especially on Moto phones running on VZW's network. If you want root access, buy the S5 developer edition or wait until the first week of december to see if a developer edition for the Note 4 will be released (if a Note 4 DE is going to be released, it will occur within the 4 - 6 weeks following it's RTM on 10/23 [Thursday]).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The answer is no, you will probably never see a root exploit for the Droid Turbo. The person above linked to one of my prior posts on a different thread, and it comes down to two fundamental facts... there is probably not going to be a DE of the Turbo because of the Nexus 6, and rooting a non-bootloader unlocked device once it's running Android 5.0 [Lollipop] and beyond is damn near impossible. The latter has to do withe SELinux and how Google locked down the partitions and permissions. ChainFire wrote two posts on Google+ that explain in great detail why those without unlocked bootloader can kiss rooting goodbye. It's not impossible, however it is highly improbable a root exploit will be found, in the same way it's possible the Earth could be hit today by a 5 mile wide asteroid, but it's highly improbable.
The new security features Google built into Android 5.0 is a double edged sword... on one hand they've finally addressed issues that, as of today, make Android the least secure OS on the market; however, the security that all of us most definitely want makes it highly unlikely a root exploit could be run on a non-bootloader unlocked device. The only reason it would work on an unlocked bootloader device is because a previous kernel could be flashed that would allow the exploit to run at bootup (flashing kernels is prevented by locked bootloaders).
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I hope so
So I just picked up a Moto x after having owned a Galaxy nexus for about a year and a half. So there are a few things that currently bother me, and seems like there are no fixes to date.
Moto X (2013), Verizon with unlimited data, OS 4.4.4, non-dev edition, bootloader locked and no root access.
1. There are no solutions to unlock the bootloader as of today.
2. There are no solutions to root and ROM.
3. I cannot use the native hotspot tether feature on my unlimited plan. Has anyone tried the clockworkmod paid tether app ($5) or any other tether app? Can I USB tether from my phone to my Nexus 7 or another phone?
4. Can I somehow remove (unlikely) or at least hide the bloatware?
My browsing of the moto x forums has basically told me that I'm stuck with some upgraded hardware and some highly restricted software comapred to my last phone. I'm very much enjoying the phone and it's new intricacies that my galaxy nexus didn't offer, but any insight would be greatly appreciated.
I believe you are SoL on bootloader unlock/root so 1-3 are out I believe. 4 you can go into settings>apps>disable for the ones you don't want to see.
@rice923
For #1 you are correct. With the NON-Developer Edition Verizon Moto X (XT1060), the bootloader is locked. Moto doesn't give out the bootloader unlock codes for Verizon, ATT and Republic Wireless. Your only option at this point would be IF the China Middleman starts responding again, to buy a code from him.
With a locked bootloader there is no root, and no way to disable write protection when on 4.4.4. Past root exploits don't work. The latest is Sunshine, but it doesn't work on 4.4.4 devices. see -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/request-help-exploit-moto-x-bl-t2828471 or see -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2792487
For #2 and #3, they require an unlocked bootloader.
For #4. Some of the bloat can be "disabled" via Settings -> Apps -> All... open the app you want, and see if the Disable button is there. 3rd party apps to FREEZE wont work because you are not rooted and write protection is still enabled.
Thanks for confirming my findings. I'm a bit disappointed, since I still have unlimited data. The tethering is the main issue that absolutely makes me loathe Verizon.
On a sidenote, I've never handled the developer version of the VZN moto x. Does it still have the Motorola features, such as active display, etc?
rice923 said:
Thanks for confirming my findings. I'm a bit disappointed, since I still have unlimited data. The tethering is the main issue that absolutely makes me loathe Verizon.
On a sidenote, I've never handled the developer version of the VZN moto x. Does it still have the Motorola features, such as active display, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Dev edition and retail/moto maker variants are exactly the same software and roms.
The dev edition is only available as black front, woven white back that says "developer edition" on it, with silver accents (camera ring and buttons), 32 gig, and Moto provides the boot loader unlock code and it doesn't void the warranty.
The Moto maker is fully customizable, and Moto doesn't give the unlock code for verizon.
Thanks for the help guys! Unfortunately, I might have to jump ship to another phone that will allow me to tether. I feel like I have no control over the phone without root access, which I've always had for the past 3 years since having my first smartphone.
It's quite sad, since I actually love the rest of the phone...
Perhaps the new Nexus 6 or Droid Turbo, or watch swappa. Com for an unlocked version of the X
Like GandalfTehGray, why not just look for a Dev edition X and sell that one you just got?
root, roms, and themes.. oh my!
$$$... The dev version of almost another $100 more than my 16gb version. Of love to have the Dev edition though!
I'm currently looking into a gs3. There a root exploit floating around, so hopefully that works. Not looking forward to touch wiz
The S3 is a terrible downgrade... IMHO. My M8 went in for service and they lent me an S3....was just awful. Lol
Of course it wasn't rooted... But still awful. Feels and looks cheap. Slow. Just terrible. Should have got them to loan me a Sim for my S2...prefer it to the S3.
Yeah I already know the s3 is a step down from the moto x... I'm loving the moto so much! It just fails to do a few critical things the I've grown to need... Tether being the biggie.
I'm looking at a local rooted and bootloader unlocked s3. Hopefully that will prove my expectations wrong
Posting this from my new (to me) gs3. It indeed has an unlocked bootloader, and the previous owner already has cm11 loaded onto it. It's pretty snappy so far, and in enjoying it. So glad I don't need to put up with touchwiz!
Anyhow, I really miss active display already... And the motion activated camera launch[emoji22]