Rooting Your Android: Pros, Cons, Caveat Emptor
Rooting and modding one's Android has been a hot topic for Android users. One main reason is that most of circa 2010 Androids have Internal Storage sizes ranging from 110MB to 170MB only. What is worse is that over time and a plethora of installs/uninstalls, the Android as a mobile phone OS does get cramped and sluggish. One solution would be to take it to the manufacturer and have them clean and reset the device, or, to root the device by oneself. The former option is definitely safer, and the latter will have to have BUYER BEWARE marquees and lights blinking all around it.
As promised, we'll discuss the pros and cons of rooting your Android.
Why Rooting Is Recommended:
Lifehacker is all agog and rabid about rooting one's Android. They recommend it so that, as a user, you will have full control of your device. It is also recommended so that you can toss out the bloatware you don't need. For example, some users may not use the Email app at all, as their Gmail may suffice. Or, they may prefer to install Yahoo's proprietary email app. So, they may want to toss out the Email app that comes with their Androids to free up more space.
Another reason for rooting one's Android would be data management, as mentioned. Being your own phone's superuser will give you access to the fragmentary files that are left when you uninstall apps and allow you to delete them. Thus, it's easier to maintain your Android when you are a Root user.
There are other benefits of rooting one's Android, and these links should help you decide:
- Rooting Your Android Device : The Benefits
- 5 Benefits of Rooting Android Phones
- Rooting Explained + Top 5 Benefits Of Rooting Your Android Phone
- How and Why to Root your Android: 15 Worthwhile Apps
Cons Of Rooting Your Android:
You will void your warranty. In the event that you didn't execute one step in the guide you used properly and you actually brick your phone and then decide to take it to the phone's manufacturer, they may not honor your warranty for it. Even in some cases where the user used the company-provided stock ROM, bricking one's phone through a self-executed upgrade process may render your warranty useless. So if you haven't had experience modding your own computer and finding your way out of a software or hardware gridlock, then you might as well avoid attempting rooting or even upgrading your own phone.
When Should You Root Your Android:
When you've demonstrated the capacity to find your way out of a code-related quandary. If you know how to work your way around a computer-related problem, regardless of whether it's software or hardware, then you know you could safely attempt rooting your Android.
When You Should Just Leave It To The Experts:
- When you have had trouble finding Facebook's privacy options and tweaking those.
- When you only own a Facebook, Twitter, and an email account.
- When you have considerable fear with modding your Android.
Indeed, the benefits may outweigh the disadvantages of rooting your Android, but only when you know what you're doing. When you know that you wouldn't know how to get around a snag when you root your Android, then maybe you could consider having your Android rooted by these guys:
- Rooting Service for Android Smartphones (Metro Manila)
- Rooting/AndroidCustomROM/VPN Service (Marikina/Cubao)
- Unlock/Openline any Android phone! +FREE ROOT (Cebu City)
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Photo Credits: Droid Cell Phone
You can still avail of the warranty by unrooting your phone before sending it in to the shop.
ReplyDeleteMost root tools (SuperOneclick, Gingerbreak, etc.) also have functions to remove root access.
Hey, thanks for the tip, Unknown. Though, now that you mentioned it, we just hope that the manufacturers won't mind. :p
ReplyDeleteThough I don't doubt that this info is readily available in the modding forums; a persistent rooter and modder only needs to dig a little deeper. :)
Thanks again. :)