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Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

xda-developers.com

111–120 of 204 posts

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#112
post #24

On the surface this seems blatantly illegal: after the sale is made the no-longer-owner removes functionality. Can someone please explain how this is legally not some sort of theft, or bait-and-switch, or ... something? I read comments about firmware licensing, or Japan's camera noise thing. Those sound like Samsung problems, while disabling a camera sounds like an actionable user problem.

It's legal because 1) There's a binding arbitration clause 2) Samsung have more money for lawyers for you.

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#113
post #108
post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Librem 5 is absolutely a smartphone: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

Your linked page calls it a "phone" not a "smartphone", so you're proving GP's point.

What. By that definition, the Google Pixel 5a is not a “smartphone” either, since its product page does not use that term, either: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_5a_5g?hl=en-US

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#114
A lot of phones have issues with the built in cameras when flashing third party firmware. The roms that seem to work better with these phones integrate the original binary blobs from the manufacturer. I guess the question is can you do that in this case?

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#115
post #23

The new Samsung phones are less attractive for many reasons. A few months ago I upgraded my S8+ to a S20+. I considered the S21+ or Note, but none of those have a microSD slot. I suspect that my next phone will be one of these: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

After Apple's incredible reversal on privacy/spyware inclusion in iOS 15 I've chosen to cancel all future purchases with them and buy this. Hoping my american-made one comes soon. I will likely continue to carry my 12 pro max 512GB for a while as my primary camera/use old school apps, but my linux phone will be how people reach me/where I store my media and files. I purchase ~5 iPhones/year for my family (soon to be…

If you plan to use the Librem 5 (or Pinephone like me), I would highly recommend setting up a Matrix server. They're very easy to administer, hardware requirements have been dropping for months, and it means you don't have to switch chat apps.

Would it be nice to switch to whatever your preferred messenger is? Absolutely. But some people won't make the jump, and this allows you to switch more completely to the Linux phone.

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#116
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most laws tend to frown upon traps. And the blame goes to the one who sets the trap, not the one who trips it, even if the victim was engaging in otherwise illegal actions.

That depends on the trap and how you set it. If you dig a hole for a house and someone falls in you are not liable.

That sounds wrong and likely varies wildly across jurisdictions.

If you dig a hole on your property you better secure it, or else kids might fall in.

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#117
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A $900 device with low tier hardware specs (720p screen, 32GB eMMC storage, etc.) is not a particularly appealing offer. I understand that the value comes from the security aspect, but I personally don't find that worth a $700 markup.

It is $850 markup. For $107 you can get UMIDIGI A11. decent phone with Android 11, global LTE bands, 4 GB Ram and 128GB Storage. https://www.umidigi.com/page-umidigi_a11_overview.html

Ben, is that you?

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#118
post #113
post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your linked page calls it a "phone" not a "smartphone", so you're proving GP's point.

What. By that definition, the Google Pixel 5a is not a “smartphone” either, since its product page does not use that term, either: https://store.google.com/us/product/pixel_5a_5g?hl=en-US

Your leg is being pulled.

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#119
post #38
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they'll try to find a way to enable the cameras on unlocked phones in the future. In the meantime, I will only buy what ACTUALLY gives me control RIGHT NOW, namely, what is supported by LineageOS: https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/

Personally I refuse to buy any device that requires me to go crying to the manufacturer for an unlock key. Google and OnePlus devices can be unlocked locally with no need to contact anyone and beg, so no one can refuse your unlock on a device you already paid for.

Google devices cannot be unlocked locally. My USA spec Pixel 5, purchased unlocked from Best Buy, had to be connected to the internet - and I don't remember, but I may have also had to put a SIM card in - before it could be unlocked. Apparently a background service automatically checks with Google's servers whether the device is eligible for unlock (is it paid off or still under financing, and which carrier is it from?) and then automatically fetches the unlock code if Google decides to allow it. But the default state until that happens is locked with no possibility of unlocking.

So it's very unlikely that you'll be refused the unlock on a device you just purchased, and if you are then you can just return the device, but I don't like the internet requirement since that means Google's unlock code service and all the other Google applications on the phone sent out a bunch of information about my device to Google.

When I tried initially unlocking the option was grayed out and unusable. I had to find information about the internet connection requirement online.

I don't know whether OnePlus does something like that - my OnePlus 7 Pro was connected to the internet before I attempted to unlock it, but I'm receiving a OP 9 Pro today and would like to unlock it as soon as I get it without connecting to the internet or putting in a SIM card. Will see how that goes.

Re: Samsung kills the cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 if you unlock the bootloader

#120
post #116
post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That depends on the trap and how you set it. If you dig a hole for a house and someone falls in you are not liable.

That sounds wrong and likely varies wildly across jurisdictions. If you dig a hole on your property you better secure it, or else kids might fall in.

Yes, that’s actually why tort reform is such a big topic in American jurisprudence. Because property owners are liable if a bunch of kids suffer injuries on their property by falling into a hole, almost regardless of intent. Yes even if it’s properly secured with fencing, in many jurisdictions the trespassers sue for damages and succeed often.

Even failing to shovel the snow and having someone trip and injure themselves is enough grounds for some sort of tort liability.

To a lesser extent it’s true in Canada and the UK too I believe.

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