Why Do We Root? (Then vs. Now)

[dynomot]

I think @ironass roots because he's allergic to stock anything, except maybe pure unadulterated malt whisky (no, that is not an offer rusty bum)

I'm sure an equally ribald repost will come when he sees his name "atted" and me mentioning fine whiskies .

 

[doogald]

I rooted my first two phones (Droid Eris and Droid 3) because they didn't operate properly unrooted - they really needed root to be usable phones. I liked the ability to fully back up and restore with Titanium Backup.

I'm currently using a Droid Maxx and I've left it unrooted. The phone is fine without root - it runs great. I've become a pro at FDR so that it takes me less than 2 hours to FDR the phone and get it back to the way it was, with all apps reinstalled and critical data restored. And, I like the fact that my phone is now much more secure - a rooted phone with USB debugging left open, or with a custom recovery, at this point is open to anybody who finds it/steals it. (I know, those are not required, but many people do those things when they root, if only to actually get a permanent root on the phone.) It's not just my data on my phone - I have critical contact data about friends as well. I really don't want that lost.

So, I'm glad that today's phones run great without needing to be rooted.

 

[TrevorX5J9]

I noticed three folks voted "I root for more reasons than previously", but I don't think we've heard from them yet. I'm genuinely curious to know what the additional reasons for root may be.

So how about it, @ironass @Texas501 and @TrevorX5J9 ? Won't you please come share with the class?

Well I used to just root for overclocking. Now I root for ROMs, xPosed and other customization things. I have an LG Optimus F6, an extremely limited phone in terms of customization.

 

[codesplice]

Thanks for reporting back!

 

[Texas501]

I root to erase apps/bloatware. I root to get free wifi tether for my laptop and tablet. I root to customize and theme my phone. I root to put apps to sleep/freeze (that I can't uninstall) that drain my battery. I root to apply apps that block apps from gathering my personal information that don't really need it to run. I root to try custom ROMS to improve battery life and speed. I root, therefore I am.

 

[codesplice]

I root to erase apps/bloatware. I root to get free wifi tether for my laptop and tablet. I root to customize and theme my phone. I root to put apps to sleep/freeze (that I can't uninstall) that drain my battery. I root to apply apps that block apps from gathering my personal information that don't really need it to run. I root to try custom ROMS to improve battery life and speed. I root, therefore I am.

All good reasons.

How have your rooting needs increased over time though? As in, did you used to only root for X and Y, but not root for the rest of the alphabet too?

 

[Texas501]

Well, by increase, I guess my reasons increased over time because the developers have come up with new things to do with a rooted phone. Early in the game, the only reason I rooted was to get free wifi tether, but as technology advanced and developers discovered new things to do to phones that are rooted (as well as my own increase in knowledge of what I can do) my reasons for rooting a device have increased. Does that explain it better?

 

[codesplice]

Nailed it, thanks! So basically you have just taken advantage of the newer root options and capabilities as they became available. Makes sense, thanks!

 

[Palmetto Fellow]

I used to root so I could turn off the damn camera's shutter sound. Being with Sprint (then Virgin Mobile) their overall policy was that camera shutter sounds are required. Other carriers let you turn it off, but Big Brother Sprint...nope.

I also like to install some apps that require root access...Titanium Backup and some system manager app I can't recall the name of. Another reason is overclocking, but with my Note 4, most of my reasons are gone.

Getting rid of bloat is now probably my most desired benefit to rooting.

EDIT:

Rooting my HTC Evo 3D was interesting...the old paperclip trick...good times...good times.

 

[dynomot]

Just to add, I freeze bloat and some processes too first using TB. Use my phone for a day or so, TB the bloat that was frozen (stored off device just in case I need it) then delete it. Made a couple of errors in the past and had to restore a Nandroid to get out of repeatedly crashing TW on boot once , but so far so good.

 

[Stuntman]

@Stuntman You just nailed a reason that I had totally forgotten about (I knew there were bound to be several!). I, like you, tried a variety of different solutions for switching between keyboard based on device orientation or even what app was in the foreground (I really like Hackers Keyboard for use in the terminal). I don't think I ever found a good non-root solution, but I did settle on using Secure Settings with Tasker to give me greater flexibility.

Lately I've just been using the Google keyboard for everything (with the PC layout enabled and available for use in the terminal), but I'm not as wild about the Lollipop version. I may end up giving Swiftkey another run.

Yep, definitely digging SwiftKey. Thanks for reminding me to use it [emoji4]

The non-rooted Keyboard Manager+ is not that good a solution. It doesn't work that well all the time. Sometimes it prompts you every time you change orientation.

SwiftKey is a great keyboard. It's just that Swype is a notch better for gesture typing. I normally thumb type in landscape. In those situations where I use my phone one handed, I gesture type in portrait with one hand. Swype tends to be more accurate when typing this way. Swype also has a gesture for capitalising letters.

 

[MichelleCooper]

First thing I wanna do is be able to take control of my dictionary. I can't customized like adding or removing like I could with S2X. Nothing bugs me more when texting and I have auto correct on and I still get misspelled words giving to me. I drives me crazy. I want to get in and fix once.and for all. I hope I am able to do this.

 

[codesplice]

@MichelleCooper are you using the keyboard that came with the device, or one downloaded from Google Play? I don't have much experience with manufacturer-built keyboards (like what might be included on your Samsung device?), but I didn't think any of them would require root to customize the dictionary.

You could also try using an alternative keyboard (like Google Keyboard, Swiftkey, Swype, or Fleksy); they'll generally have more options and features than the default bundled keyboard, and I think most (if not all) will allow you to customize the dictionary.

That's not to say you don't need to root for other reasons.

 

[Crashdamage]

First thing I wanna do is be able to take control of my dictionary. I can't customized like adding or removing like I could with S2X.

This absolutely should work on any Android without rooting. What happens when you try? Error messages...nothing or ?

 

[Palmetto Fellow]

First thing I wanna do is be able to take control of my dictionary. I can't customized like adding or removing like I could with S2X. Nothing bugs me more when texting and I have auto correct on and I still get misspelled words giving to me. I drives me crazy. I want to get in and fix once.and for all. I hope I am able to do this.

Maybe it updates your dictionary differently than you're used to. I've been using Swype almost exclusively since I discovered it. If I type in an unrecognized word, and hit space, it gives me the option right there to add it to the dictionary.

After getting my Note 4, I tried using the Samsung keyboard to see if I liked it. Although a similar way to add words, it's a little different. It's not obvious that clicking on the checkmark would add it to the dictionary.

Are you accustomed to adding words one at a time while actually using the phone, or do you open up the dictionary and add a bunch all at once knowing that they are often used and need to be added?

 

[MichelleCooper]

I am using original keyboard that came with device. I can't get into it like I could on my old S2X. I want to be able to open it right up, add and delete words. But it's not giving me an option. I can try a different keyboard and see what happens. Now I gotta add another app to my phone when I'm trying to delete apps and make more room. I need to buy a bigger XD card and start moving apps to it, lol. Must be all my porn.

 

[MLSS]

I am using original keyboard that came with device. I can't get into it like I could on my old S2X. I want to be able to open it right up, add and delete words. But it's not giving me an option. I can try a different keyboard and see what happens. Now I gotta add another app to my phone when I'm trying to delete apps and make more room. I need to buy a bigger XD card and start moving apps to it, lol. Must be all my porn.

Damn porn!! Takes up so much space lol [emoji12]

 

[dynomot]

Damn porn!! Takes up so much space lol [emoji12]

Lol, and there's me thinking that's what flash drives and USB on the go cables were invented for......I mean large video files in general of course.

Seriously, I have films on a USB flash drive, great for entertaining the kids on long drives, no need for portable DVD players and all that and it doesn't take space on my micro SD.

 

[Unforgiven]

I know we are joking, so lets make sure the pr0n humor stays on the right side of da' rulz.

 

[Curtis1973]

I rooted my nieces nabi 2 lol if that counts and then proceeded not to read any of the warnings regarding twrp install,rom install,etc because you know....i know it all!! Or so I thought!!! Then I whamtastically soft bricked it flashing jelly bean without throughly reading that it needed previous updates beforehand....tedious task fixing it all needless to say...lol...luckily for me i was able to fix it without NEVER hearing the end of how I destroyed my 10 year old nieces lil nabi 2 tablet lol...so beware "rooting pros" you're never to good not to really bork something big time.

 

[codesplice]

so beware "rooting pros" you're never to good not to really bork something big time.

And there's one of the reasons that I am #nexus4life

 

[jhawkkw]

And there's one of the reasons that I am #nexus4life

Even on a Nexus, it's possible to screw up so bad the only option is JTAG

 

[nsa_sailor]

Ad blocking.

 

[MichelleCooper]

You can stop ads when rooted?

 

[Unforgiven]

You can stop ads when rooted?

Most ads, yes.