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Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

androidauthority.com

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Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#121

Post by ktosobcy »

iggldiggl wrote: post #113
ktosobcy wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eh... that's why I'm pondering going back to OnePlus (after short affair with Samsung for the past 2 years) because it's somewhat annoying not being able to tweak stuff... Alas, it's also annoying that some dumb banks (I'm looking at you ING Poland) consider rooted device as "insecure" but thay have no problem if I open a bank page using admin/root account on the computer)

> I'm looking at you ING Poland Hmm, funnily enough at least a few years ago German Ing-Diba didn't care about rooted phones. I switched banks at some point though, so I have no idea whether that's still true.

It's only a brand, there is almost nothing in common between local branches.

As for ING - about 4-5 years ago it was possible to spoof the check but about 3 years ago they went full bonkers and if you didn't get the app from playstore (so for example aurora) it refused to launch...

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#122

Post by rahimnathwani »

FerretFred wrote: post #117
mnw21cam wrote: post #82

> This has set a basic precedent I would note that technically the small claims court in the UK does not set precedents. That would be the function of a higher court.

Hard to believe that it actually reached the Small Claims Court, let alone succeeded! Well done that person!

> Hard to believe that it actually reached the Small Claims Court

It's easy to file a small claim in the UK. More info on the process for England & Wales here: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money

> let alone succeeded!

The article is light on details, but it sounds like the parties settled before any hearing or ruling.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#123

Post by eganist »

erinnh wrote: post #116
eganist wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would that stick? You can just sign into the bank via your web browser in the case of a nonfunctional app. The apps just give you added security assurances beyond using the web. "The app can't function in a low security environment, but complainant is free to use the web client in such event." case dismissed (obviously an oversimplification, but the point stands)

This is definitely not the case everywhere. Where I live the app is 100% needed because it’s the „second factor“ in the login process.

Curious, can you name this institution that only allows the app to be used as the second factor without fallbacks?

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#124

Post by rahimnathwani »

solarkraft wrote: post #85
mnw21cam wrote: post #82

> This has set a basic precedent I would note that technically the small claims court in the UK does not set precedents. That would be the function of a higher court.

How so? I thought a precedent was just any case that has been ruled in a certain way, irrespective of the court it has happened in.

There was no ruling. The parties settled.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#125

Post by commoner »

onli wrote: post #65
zamalek wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pixels can also be re-locked with a custom ROM present (I think Graphene is the only one that does this, though). For that reason alone I'll be transitioning back to Pixel (once this phone is beyond help).

CalxyOS is the other one, with less problematic developer history.

CalyxOS has been working well for me and I recommend it. I appreciate how the included microG allows me to disable Firebase Cloud Messaging for any app that I don't need push notifications for. Having push notifications without Google Ads or Google Analytics is great.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#126

Post by luuurker »

Hendrikto wrote: post #45
Rinzler89 wrote: post #2

>Given that ASUS has one of the worst software support commitments in the Android world [...] It started removing posts about bootloader unlocking in its ZenTalk forums. Which is why I never understood why Asus Zenfone kept being recommended on HN all the time when people asked for good android phones to buy. I thought this community appreciated long SW support. I think the people recommending it were not dogfooding…

> Why not go for something that has 5-7 years of SW updates like a Pixel or a S-series? Or an iPhone. People love to hate on Apple, but they actually support their devices.

On top of the iOS restrictions vs Android, an iPhone comes with a set of constraints that the type of user that cares about bootloader unlocking doesn't want to deal with. From apps that are not on the store to custom ROMs that have features that the stock OS doesn't have... iPhones are terrible for this.

iPhones are good, but in this case it's a bit like recommending a Chromebook to someone that is used to build their own computers and runs linux.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#127

Post by blendergeek »

xjwm wrote: post #107

I just sent feedback to ASUS expressing my concern at the loss of bootloader unlocking. I have 2 perfectly good cell phones that are e-waste now, simply because the vendor stopped issuing patches, and the bootloader can't be unlocked to use LineageOS. I bought a Zenfone recently because I thought I'd be avoiding that issue. If they don't fix this, I won't be buying another one. ASUS CEO contact page: https://www.asus…

I just sent feedback as well. I bought an Asus phone in the past and was planning on buying more in the future. I used to recommend them everywhere. I will not be purchasing any more Asus phones until this is fixed.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#128

Post by baby_souffle »

nebulous1 wrote: post #89
ravenstine wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is rubbish. I'm running GrapheneOS and have left my bootloader unlocked, and there's no app that has refused to work. The only caveat is some of them need Google Play services. No, I am not rooted, but my last phone was rooted and there might have been one or two apps out of dozens that wouldn't work with root even with Magisk trying to hide the root status. Using a custom ROM is easily one of the beat choices I…

Do you use a banking app? Last I read depending on the type of check used some apps can still be problematic.

> Do you use a banking app? Last I read depending on the type of check used some apps can still be problematic.

It's important to distinguish between banking app and payment app. If you just want to check your account balance or find an ATM, the banking app will probably not mind that you're on a device that can't pass integrity checks.

If you want to use your phone's NFC to pay for coffee, though, you're going to have a bad time.

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#129

Post by oarsinsync »

eganist wrote: post #104
iforgotpassword wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I guess next thing we need is someone sueing the fucking banks that do that. Mine luckily doesn't because I explicitly use an old phone with LineageOS, the banking app, and nothing else on it for online banking. It's arguably way more secure than using your main phone with a bazillion other Apps installed and online at all times.

How would that stick? You can just sign into the bank via your web browser in the case of a nonfunctional app. The apps just give you added security assurances beyond using the web. "The app can't function in a low security environment, but complainant is free to use the web client in such event." case dismissed (obviously an oversimplification, but the point stands)

There are app-only banks too. Some of them provide a web interface, but it depends on the app to sign you into the web interface (similar to the way whatsapp requires you to use the app to sign into whatsapp web).

What happens when you primary bank has been one of these app-only banks for the last 5 years, and you decide to make a technology change to your phone, and can now no longer get into your banking app?

Re: Asus refunds Zenfone buyer for failing to provide bootloader unlock tools

#130

Post by White_Wolf »

jiminymcmoogley wrote: post #119
nebulous1 wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you use a banking app? Last I read depending on the type of check used some apps can still be problematic.

For UK banks on my Graphened Pixel 6a I can use the apps for HSBC, First Direct, Barclays, NatWest, RBS, Co-Operative Bank and Metro Bank with no issues, and have only had trouble with the Lloyds Bank app as of an update from maybe 2-3 months ago which throws an error saying they've detected I'm using a jailbroken/rooted device

I get a message that the device is not secure but I can still make transfers and such from the banking app on a rooted OP9Pro. Never tried to use NFC payments though.
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