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HTC Unlocks Bootloader For All of Its Devices
An anonymous reader writes "HTCDEV announced today: 'HTC is committed to listening to users and delivering customer satisfaction. We plan on releasing the updates that will allow you to unlock your bootloader in the coming months.' However, they do note this: 'It is our responsibility to caution you that not all claims resulting or caused by or from the unlocking of the bootloader may be covered under warranty,' and this: 'We strongly suggest that you do not unlock the bootloader unless you are confident that you understand the risks involved.' This looks like a new year gift to some."
Congrats to HTC for actually knowing what their customers want and giving it to them.
Hopefully some other companies follow suit as well!
-americamatrix
Like most hardware manufacturers, they are trying to get out of updating and maintaining software since it's a loss for them. Unlocking lets the whiners who notice or care about updates go play and leave HTC alone to abandon the handsets after ~12 months post release. It's the real challenge Android has versus WebOs, Windows Phone, and iOS. (Yes, I know get a Nexus, but Google abandoned their first phone already too)
Hopefully Motorola will also be "committed to listening to users and delivering customer satisfaction" and do the same.
Let's hope that other manufacturers also do this. (Right now, I'm looking at you, Asus, though I'm sure my gaze will wander...)
No Love for my HTC Mozart WP7? et tu HTC?
That includes Windows Phone devices too? Or this is one more example of /. "journalism"?
Now, if only Motorola can do the same, I'd be a lot happier with the Atrix I'm posting this from. (I love the gigantic battery in this thing, but I don't want to be stuck with Gingerbread on a premium phone that's only a few months old).
All devices? It only applies to "All HTC Android devices launched after September 2011". Also, tho process means they will have a record of a certain device requesting such unlock, possibly affecting warranty.
I'll be in the market for a phone in the next few months...I'll remember this.
When HTC actually does this (announcements are one thing, results are another) they've pretty much staked down their position as my top vendor.
Someone asked if this would also be true for Windows phones. That's an interesting point. Years and years ago, when I had a Windows Mobile 5 Treo, my primary daily fantasy was to be able to flash it with the other operating system Palm was selling at the time because I just couldn't stand the pain anymore. However, flashing a different OS was never practical, and I dumped the phone for a Blackberry soon after.
And so, people who are issued or otherwise acquire a Windows 7 phone... I wonder if this means they can flash it with Ice Cream Sandwich. That might come in useful.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
It worries me that their unlock process calls home for an auth token.
That page has been up for a while now, this is not a new announcement. Astroturfing much? Also, they still will not do it on some phones, citing carrier restrictions. Note how none of their supported devices are on Verizon.
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The Nexus One. They sort of want people to forget that they made the poor thing.
Both hardware and software is moving fast, for a few hundred bucks you can get the latest. Quit crying a year is old in phone time. Your contract is 2 years you get a year up to date and a year not. if you guys would quit buying them full price and wait on your contract. They might be forced to make them only one year again.
| However, due to some of our carrier customers concerns, certain models with specific restrictions may not be able to be unlocked.
To me, this single statement ruins the whole thing. I think it is great that HTC wants to allow their customers the choice of unlocking their phone, but my bet is on almost all of the carriers (in the US at least) exercising their veto power on this.