Z3c also has the "bootloader unlock permanently borks your camera" problem

[s44]

I'd read that this was an issue on the original Z1... Amazing that Sony is still pulling this stuff. (Well, not so amazing when you consider how deeply DRM is in their blood.)

https://plus.google.com/103268679734951753634/posts/X6JYNrGAMYP

 

[paperwastage]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/loss-drm-keys-t2890936

other side effects of unlocking bootloader (and losing the DRM keys/TA partition)

if you root (before unlocking bootloader), backup the TA partition (and DRm keys), then unlock bootloader and restore, you might be able to avoid the mess. <- z3 doesn't have this procedure available yet (z1/z2 does)

 

[ImDonly1]

Means Sony is a no buy.

 

[Anubis]

TBH im not super concerned about bootloader unlocking anymore. as long as it can be rooted without causing issues im happy

 

[s44]

There's no root exploit yet.

 

[Roland00Address]

Well this is sad.

I was looking forward to a rumored (important word here) different phone sony may released next year. The Sony z3x phablet phone looked so shiny for it was phablet sized by actually less wide than a galaxy s3. (Rumors are a 6.14" screen with a very tall 20/9 screen ratio)

 

[PowerYoga]

no root = no buy. Tired of manufacturers treating customers like criminals if they want to uninstall bloatware or install different roms.

 

[NutBucket]

While it sucks can you blame them? It really is a big open liability for both the manufacturer and the carrier. Let's say you root the phone and screw up the software. Then, you are unable to fix it so you have it fixed under warranty. That's an expense that conceivably could be avoided. Or if you root your phone to tether. That's data/network utilization that might not happen otherwise.

So it sucks but if you were the manufacturer/carrier you would probably want things locked down too.

 

[poofyhairguy]

While it sucks can you blame them? It really is a big open liability for both the manufacturer and the carrier. Let's say you root the phone and screw up the software. Then, you are unable to fix it so you have it fixed under warranty. That's an expense that conceivably could be avoided. Or if you root your phone to tether. That's data/network utilization that might not happen otherwise.

How is a smartphone different than a PC? Should Dell never give out Windows admin passwords because some people install malware? That is basically what you are advocating.

So it sucks but if you were the manufacturer/carrier you would probably want things locked down too.

Sure. And if I was Apple I would want royalties on every smartphone just cause. Doesn't make it right.

 

[NutBucket]

Right or wrong is defined by what consumers are willing to accept.

I'm not advocating anything. I'm simply pointing out the business decisions that went into locking down phones.

Dell would love to be able to lock down their computers. But, consumers won't accept it so it will never happen. I would say at least 75% of computer issues are caused by the user. Imagine the money savings to Dell/HP/etc. if that could be reduced.

 

[cronos]

While it sucks can you blame them? It really is a big open liability for both the manufacturer and the carrier. Let's say you root the phone and screw up the software. Then, you are unable to fix it so you have it fixed under warranty. That's an expense that conceivably could be avoided. Or if you root your phone to tether. That's data/network utilization that might not happen otherwise.

So it sucks but if you were the manufacturer/carrier you would probably want things locked down too.

But they probably could do it like HTC, provide a website to unlock bootloader and instruction how to do it if you want to, but make sure you know that if you do it, your warranty is void.

(and still take some warranty claims even if it's unlocked anyway)

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Does unlocking the bootloader just cause the phone to lock down on all proprietary drivers or something? I'm kinda surprised that they can't lock those down separately.

 

[paperwastage]

Does unlocking the bootloader just cause the phone to lock down on all proprietary drivers or something? I'm kinda surprised that they can't lock those down separately.

The DRM keys and "special sauce" binaries are on a partition for Sony phones, called the TA partition

When you unlock the boot loader, that process wipes the ta partition, meaning you lose those stuff forever. You cannot use another phones ta partition

 

[shabby]

There's no root exploit yet.

towelroot doesn't work? It worked on my a friends nexus 4 that still had a locked bootloader.
This was my next goto phone if the next nexus was whale sized, really screws up my plans for a compact phone with top specs and microsd.

 

[paperwastage]

towelroot doesn't work? It worked on my a friends nexus 4 that still had a locked bootloader.
This was my next goto phone if the next nexus was whale sized, really screws up my plans for a compact phone with top specs and microsd.

Think people have tried it, doesn't work. Maybe other exploits would?

(Once an exploit comes up, google would usually have patched it and new android builds would get that patch if the manufactured synced sources at the right tcutoff time)

 

[shabby]

The DRM keys and "special sauce" binaries are on a partition for Sony phones, called the TA partition

When you unlock the boot loader, that process wipes the ta partition, meaning you lose those stuff forever. You cannot use another phones ta partition

Would backing up the ta partition, unlocking the bootloader and restoring it work?

 

[paperwastage]

Would backing up the ta partition, unlocking the bootloader and restoring it work?

http://androidcentral.us/2014/03/how-to-backup-the-ta-partition-on-sony-xperia-phones/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598

(you must backup TA partition before unlocking bootloader, and backup requires root exploit which isn't available on the z3/z3c [yet])

you need a stock kernel (and therefore a stock ROM) when you restore TA partition, device won't boot otherwise (therefore custom ROMs can never make use of TA partition)

but you can still restore TA partition with a stock ROM (for restoring-to-stock / RMA purposes)

 

[pm]

I've got to say that this strongly reduces my earlier enthusiasm for a Sony Z3 Compact as my next phone.

 

[zerogear]

Is this intentional? Seems it's a mistake on their part, since they fixed it in the Z1, seems like Z2 didn't have that problem.

 

[shabby]

http://androidcentral.us/2014/03/how-to-backup-the-ta-partition-on-sony-xperia-phones/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598

(you must backup TA partition before unlocking bootloader, and backup requires root exploit which isn't available on the z3/z3c [yet])

you need a stock kernel (and therefore a stock ROM) when you restore TA partition, device won't boot otherwise (therefore custom ROMs can never make use of TA partition)

but you can still restore TA partition with a stock ROM (for restoring-to-stock / RMA purposes)

As long as i could get root and twrp it would be enough for me, i haven't touched any roms ever since installing xposed on my n5. Doesn't seem like sony molests its software as much as samsung/htc.

 

[Bateluer]

How is a smartphone different than a PC? Should Dell never give out Windows admin passwords because some people install malware? That is basically what you are advocating.

You ever buy a system from Dell et al in which the admin account credentials were withheld from you? Dell doesn't set the root password on an Inspiron; you do.

 

[shortylickens]

I dont care. Ever since 4.0 I havent felt the need to root and install custom stuff.

Maybe on my Asus tablet, but not on my phone which will mostly be used for email and basic info.

 

[pm]

I dont care. Ever since 4.0 I havent felt the need to root and install custom stuff.

Maybe on my Asus tablet, but not on my phone which will mostly be used for email and basic info.

Have you used anything by Sony? The hardware is pretty excellent but the software is very Sony - the music player is the Walkman, and there's a Sony movie app. It's all about the Sony eco-system - which I can understand, and maybe would do it if I were them - but you can't delete anything and all of that crapware-equivalent-apps sort of gets in the way of using other apps.

 

[Bateluer]

Have you used anything by Sony? The hardware is pretty excellent but the software is very Sony - the music player is the Walkman, and there's a Sony movie app. It's all about the Sony eco-system - which I can understand, and maybe would do it if I were them - but you can't delete anything and all of that crapware-equivalent-apps sort of gets in the way of using other apps.

You can still disable those apps and install your preference from the Play Store, right? Then its a minor thing.

Sony's UI seems to get generally positive feedback relative to others, though I've never used it personally. Most likely, if I buy a Z3, I'll be installing Nova Launcher anyway.

 

[ponyo]

Have you used anything by Sony? The hardware is pretty excellent but the software is very Sony - the music player is the Walkman, and there's a Sony movie app. It's all about the Sony eco-system - which I can understand, and maybe would do it if I were them - but you can't delete anything and all of that crapware-equivalent-apps sort of gets in the way of using other apps.

You can say the same for the Apple iPhone. People say iPhone have no bloat but there are lot of pre-installed Apple crapware apps you can't delete. Best you can do is make a junk folder and try to hide it in there. I haven't used Sony Android device but it's my understanding Sony uses very light skin and is similar to stock Android. Sony is trying to leverage their assets and create Sony eco-system with their music, movie, and Playstation brands, and I don't blame them. With Android, you can specify and change the default apps so Sony crapware shouldn't get in your way other than take up some storage space. My real complaint with Sony Z3 is the 16gb base storage. 16gb is way too little even with the available microSD slot. Sony is making special 32gb version for T-Mobile but honestly, every version should be 32gb. 16gb storage as your only option is retarded and Google like behavior.