So what was the point of VZW locking the SGS3's bootloader?

[s44]

This is correct. The Nexus and Samsung device boot loaders are locked, but not encrypted. Unlocking them is a simple adb command. The problem with Moto's and the VZW SGS3 was that they were encrypted and couldn't be unlocked by the end user.

No, it's wrong.

Nexus devices come locked, unlockable with fastboot.

Pre-SG3 Samsung (non-Nexus) devices come totally unlocked. You can flash a new recovery, kernel, ROM, or whatever you like right away. In fact, the cleanest root method has often been just Odining a kernel that installs the root package on boot. Only thing you have to look out for is stuff like the stock ROM reflashing stock recovery.

 

[Bateluer]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mmmeff.ez.unlock

Now 1-click unlockable and relockable. Nice.

 

[AstroManLuca]

What, The only reason most people stay with verizon is BECAUSE they have most of the top tier pones.

Uh.... no? They don't. Until the SGS3 came out (later than any other carrier got them, I might add), Verizon had the most outdated phone lineup of the big four. AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile all got the Krait-powered HTC One this spring while Verizon got nothing.

There may have been times in the past when Verizon had the best phones available, like right at the launch of the original Droid and right after the Galaxy Nexus launch, but that's about it. They're usually no better than any other carrier when it comes to phone selection, and often worse.

 

[lothar]

I believe the idea is that they need to ensure devices they sell don't violate FCC regulations and locking down the bootloader, kernel and radio firmware is how they try to do that. Even though it's now unlocked, they've done their due diligence to protect their network so if you happen to run a custom kernel that does funky things with the radio and fries your phone or causes issue with a tower they're safe from prosecution from the FCC.

I'm sure Verizon has evil corporate motivations like Apple in that they want to lock you down to what they sell and only what they sell with no variation. However, I'm sure there are other legal reasons for it as well. And most regulations are up for interpretation especially when it comes to technical measures. So the other carriers are probably attempting to mitigate the same risks with other methods.

Shens.
What FCC regulations did Verizon's previous handsets violate that the Galaxy S III did not?
Go ahead and prove it.

So the Thunderbolt, Galaxy Nexus, Droid Charge, Fascinate, and Original Moto Droid all violated FCC regulations but yet Verizon was never sanctioned for such action?

 

[Nothinman]

Shens.
What FCC regulations did Verizon's previous handsets violate that the Galaxy S III did not?
Go ahead and prove it.

So the Thunderbolt, Galaxy Nexus, Droid Charge, Fascinate, and Original Moto Droid all violated FCC regulations but yet Verizon was never sanctioned for such action?

I can't speak to all those devices, but I know for a fact that the Thunderbolt and Galaxy Nexus have locked bootloaders. The GNexus wasn't encrypted and was very easily unlocked because it was a developer phone, but it was still locked out of the box.

 

[KentState]

Shens.
What FCC regulations did Verizon's previous handsets violate that the Galaxy S III did not?
Go ahead and prove it.

So the Thunderbolt, Galaxy Nexus, Droid Charge, Fascinate, and Original Moto Droid all violated FCC regulations but yet Verizon was never sanctioned for such action?

Not that I agree with the logic, but he never said that the previous phones violated FCC regulations. He stated that locking it down is a way to the chance prevent any violations from occurring. Secondly, you list a lot of phones that were locked down in one form or another when released.

 

[grkM3]

No, it's sold locked and you have to take steps to unlock it and it shows an open padlock on the firmware bootup screen after you do that.

The nexus is unlocked with no security installed and dont need signed files to allow access to the bootloader.

we cant root the s3 by just sending a comand as its locked and was rooted by blasting a whole system image that had root built in.

100% oposite on the nexus,you just asked the cell to root itself and asked the sell to let you use a different bootloader.

NO hacking or security was set on the nexus. when I messed with my gs3 I got a verison triangle telling me I have unaproved software before it even shows the samsung logo.That was verizons code on the cell checking to see if the system is correct and that does not exist on the nexus

 

[lothar]

Not that I agree with the logic, but he never said that the previous phones violated FCC regulations. He stated that locking it down is a way to the chance prevent any violations from occurring. Secondly, you list a lot of phones that were locked down in one form or another when released.

Define what you mean by locked down...

Motorola style with encrypted and signed boot loaders that require crazy hacks to unlock?
-All Motorola phones besides the original Moto Droid.
-All recent HTC devices except the Droid Incredible(either I or II, I'm not sure)
-Incredible S
-And now the Verizon Galaxy S III

or no encrypted/signed boot loaders meaning no crazy/stupid hacks required to unlock?
-Galaxy Nexus
-All other Samsung Verizon phones

 

[Nothinman]

The nexus is unlocked with no security installed and dont need signed files to allow access to the bootloader.

we cant root the s3 by just sending a comand as its locked and was rooted by blasting a whole system image that had root built in.

100% oposite on the nexus,you just asked the cell to root itself and asked the sell to let you use a different bootloader.

NO hacking or security was set on the nexus. when I messed with my gs3 I got a verison triangle telling me I have unaproved software before it even shows the samsung logo.That was verizons code on the cell checking to see if the system is correct and that does not exist on the nexus

No, I have a Galaxy Nexus and while there's no hacking involved you still have to manually unlock it. Just because it's not encrypted that doesn't mean it wasn't locked.

 

[grkM3]

No, I have a Galaxy Nexus and while there's no hacking involved you still have to manually unlock it. Just because it's not encrypted that doesn't mean it wasn't locked.

You have to manually root and unlock every phone and I too have a nexus and a LOCKED gs3 on Verizon.

If Verizon put out the nexus without encrypted boot loader and full access to the ROM/boot sector there is no reason they couldn't do the same on the gs3.

All Verizon has to do is do an update and it could brick every single gs3 with a unsigned boot loader with an ota update.

See the gs3 came out for all the other networks the same way Verizon put out the nexus.locked but nothing holdind devs back into running anything you want.

Verizon added a security checksum to the gs3 that was NOT put there by Samsung and for some odd reason left the nexus free to do what ever you want also.

That is something you don't have to worry about on the nexus

We only got root access because of a hacked system image file that you blasted over the stock gs3 you should know how easy it is to root the nexus it takes 3 seconds and doesn't require to make you blast a full system image

 

[RaistlinZ]

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mmmeff.ez.unlock

Now 1-click unlockable and relockable. Nice.

Thank god for the hacker community.

 

[Nothinman]

You have to manually root and unlock every phone and I too have a nexus and a LOCKED gs3 on Verizon.

If Verizon put out the nexus without encrypted boot loader and full access to the ROM/boot sector there is no reason they couldn't do the same on the gs3.

All Verizon has to do is do an update and it could brick every single gs3 with a unsigned boot loader with an ota update.

See the gs3 came out for all the other networks the same way Verizon put out the nexus.locked but nothing holdind devs back into running anything you want.

Verizon added a security checksum to the gs3 that was NOT put there by Samsung and for some odd reason left the nexus free to do what ever you want also.

That is something you don't have to worry about on the nexus

We only got root access because of a hacked system image file that you blasted over the stock gs3 you should know how easy it is to root the nexus it takes 3 seconds and doesn't require to make you blast a full system image

I understand all of that. I don't work for Verizon so I can't explain what internal politics decide which phones get which security measures. I just said that there are various regulations involved at least with the radios which could be used to explain some of them. I'm sure a large chunk of it also is Verizon wanting to be control freaks and that's probably the same reason why it took so long for Apple to get the iPhone on their network.

My main point is that those security measures give something for Verizon to point to if something does happen and the FCC comes after them. They did their due diligence and can point to the evil hackers instead of having all of the liability placed upon them.

 

[grkM3]

It has nothing to do with the FCC all the other gs3 don't have encrypted hardware and the nexus didn't.its just Verizon being stupid.

On one hand they release a flagship Google developer phone with no locks and then decide to lock down the gs3.

Android is a developer platform and the users that were waiting for the next flagship cell bought it to run there one custom software.

You can download drivers,patches and updates to the CPUs,modems and GPUs right off of most companies websites and the devas take those and make custom ROMs with them.

It would take Verizon months before those patches would get passed in testing and most of the time they wouldn't even bother updating things.

Like your nexus...jelly bean can be downloaded right off Google servers for your cell lol

And I think it'd funny when I rooted my gs3 in the system settings it said device status=modified and they even added a flash counter to the nand ROM area

 

[waggy]

i thought about modding my G3. but then so far i don't see a need.

thing that pisses me off about verizon is they don't update the phones. when a major update comes out odds are i might mod it.

otherwise i gotta say i really like the G3

 

[NikolaeVarius]

i thought about modding my G3. but then so far i don't see a need.

thing that pisses me off about verizon is they don't update the phones. when a major update comes out odds are i might mod it.

otherwise i gotta say i really like the G3

Like Jellybean?

 

[waggy]

Like Jellybean?

yeah. lol there is that.

hmm read that they are rolling out jellybean in the next few weeks. wooo!

 

[Nothinman]

On one hand they release a flagship Google developer phone with no locks and then decide to lock down the gs3.

The bootloader on the Nexus was locked, it just wasn't encrypted. Just because you can't seem to grasp the difference that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

[grkM3]

The bootloader on the Nexus was locked, it just wasn't encrypted. Just because you can't seem to grasp the difference that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Can u name me one cell sold under Verizon,att,sprint,T-Mobile with a contract that came with a unlocked boot loader out the box?

You need to unlock the boot loader

Unlocked cells sold were sim unlocked that let u use any carrier.not even a nexus comes with the unlocked screen out the box bro.

U need to unlock it

On the subject Motorola just yesterday launched a website to unlock the boot loaders on a bunch of there cells.

 

[Zaap]

yeah. lol there is that.

hmm read that they are rolling out jellybean in the next few weeks. wooo!

Just curious, do you mean for the SGS3 in general, or specifically for Verizon as well? I've been trying to find info on any planned VZW update, but haven't seen anything. I'd be amazed if Verizon updated the SGS3 even within two months or more of the projected Aug. 29th release date.

I'm still sitting on the fence before messing with my Verizon SGS3 as well. Haven't even rooted it yet. So far, it's doing everything I want that my old rooted DX did, just faster/better.

 

[s44]

The only scheduled SGS3 JB so far is for the international i9300. I'd expect the GSM US ones to be next, and Verizon last (officially).

 

[Nothinman]

Can u name me one cell sold under Verizon,att,sprint,T-Mobile with a contract that came with a unlocked boot loader out the box?

You need to unlock the boot loader

Unlocked cells sold were sim unlocked that let u use any carrier.not even a nexus comes with the unlocked screen out the box bro.

U need to unlock it

On the subject Motorola just yesterday launched a website to unlock the boot loaders on a bunch of there cells.

That's my point, they've all had locked bootloaders while only some have had them encrypted. And unlocked bootloaders are very different from unlocked SIMs.

Motorola's dev site, like HTC's, is for unlocking encrypted bootloaders.

 

[grkM3]

That's my point, they've all had locked bootloaders while only some have had them encrypted. And unlocked bootloaders are very different from unlocked SIMs.

Motorola's dev site, like HTC's, is for unlocking encrypted bootloaders.

Um no you were going on and on about you having to unlock it but its cool.Verizon encrypted the gs3 because they are scared of the fcc

An unlocked boot loader means no security installed on the device.

So when people say a cell has a locked boot loader it means you can't unlock it and the cells that come unlocked/unencrypted are called unlocked

 

[s44]

Can u name me one cell sold under Verizon,att,sprint,T-Mobile with a contract that came with a unlocked boot loader out the box?

Fascinate, Captivate, Epic, Vibrant, SGS2 (ATT), Skyrocket, Epic Touch, Hercules

 

[grkM3]

Fascinate, Captivate, Epic, Vibrant, SGS2 (ATT), Skyrocket, Epic Touch, Hercules

all of those required YOU to unlock the bootloader

 

[s44]

Wrong. You have no idea what you're talking about.