HTC finally gets it. The Taiwanese company will no longer lock the bootloaders on its Android devices. Rooting and flashing will be available to all. This news comes straight from CEO Peter Chou who made the following statement,
“There has been overwhelmingly customer feedback that people want access to open bootloaders on HTC phones. I want you to know that we’ve listened. Today, I’m confirming we will no longer be locking the bootloaders on our devices. Thanks for your passion, support and patience,” Peter Chou, CEO of HTC
He said it on Facebook so it has to be true. [Via BGR]
poltak
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 12:31 PMDidn’t expect that… It’s a good thing though. Might actually stay with HTC phones now (not that I have the money to actually upgrade anytime soon…).
Deb
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 1:34 PMSo does this mean we can root them?! how will that happen? will they have an update?
Des
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 2:07 PMA locked bootloader doesn’t mean you can’t root your phone. Most (all?) HTC phones can be rooted already.
I doubt there will be an update. IF, and it’s a big if, HTC decide to unlock the bootloaders of existing locked phones, it won’t be through an update. I think it’s more likely that any new phones will be released unlocked anyway.
Deb
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:18 AMAh.. I’ve got the HTC Desire Z and there’s something in the update of the firmware that means I can’t get Soff without having to revert back to a previous version, get the soff and then upgrade and then root it so I thought that a locked bootloader might have something to do with that but who knows, it’s all very confusing haha
Dennison
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 2:53 PM^ Heh heh heh, you guys said “root”. :-)
Honestly thought, its a good move. I think they may be learning from Sony with its PS3 hacker issue.
I support the thought, “I paid for it, I should be able to do what I want with it”.
bargaindesk.com.au
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 3:07 PMhooray for people buying the new models. Thanks to all who expressed their frustration in Twitter and Facebook
Greg
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 4:23 PMThe headline is misleading. There won’t be any unlocked bootloaders on shipping handsets. But they will be unlockable.
james_whatsit
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 8:18 PMi think they just looked at sony and went f*** that!!
wow, cyberterrorism is much more effective than other terrorism!!