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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

#151

Post by udev4096 »

encom wrote: post #16
jMyles wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Long is gone the time where unlocking bootloaders and installing custom ROMs was the best path to follow. ...wha? I just installed GrapheneOS on my Pixel 8 Pro and it is, by a decent margin, the best custom ROM experience on a phone I've had to date.

>GrapheneOS This was not a project I expected to use Discord for support. Sad.

If I remember correctly, their matrix channel was flooding with spam and abuse which was primarily coming from Calyx, which by the way is an terrible OS. Even a stock OS would perform marginally better in terms of security than CalyxOS

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

#152

Post by rahimnathwani »

b112 wrote: post #143
rahimnathwani wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

In Ontario, Canada, part of the small claims process is a pre-trial conference, with a retired judge moderating. Further, nothing disclosed may be used as part of the trial. Its goal is to help with an amicable settlement. More info: In small claims, lawyers are not forbidden, but they may only speak for their client, and their client must be there, or present remorely, listening and ready to accept offers or deals.…

Did you intend to reply to a different comment?

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

#153

Post by doublerabbit »

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

Try using Monzo or Sterling.

Both will nail you to the ground.

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

#154

Post by ThePowerOfFuet »

ravenstine wrote: post #80
sn0wtrooper wrote: post #9

Long is gone the time where unlocking bootloaders and installing custom ROMs was the best path to follow. Even if you are able to unlock it (with difficulties such as this one, or others that involve opening the device and soldering a shortcut), you will have a device where apps check for unlocked bootloaders and rooted OS, and forbid you from use the application.

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…

You should not leave your bootloader unlocked if you care about the security of your device and data.

Unfortunately, locking (and unlocking) it wipes user data, so it should be relocked right after installation of GrapheneOS.

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

#155

Post by NayamAmarshe »

sn0wtrooper wrote: post #9

Long is gone the time where unlocking bootloaders and installing custom ROMs was the best path to follow. Even if you are able to unlock it (with difficulties such as this one, or others that involve opening the device and soldering a shortcut), you will have a device where apps check for unlocked bootloaders and rooted OS, and forbid you from use the application.

With KernelSU, this is no longer the case. It's Magisk that causes most problems.

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

#156

Post by NayamAmarshe »

ReptileMan wrote: post #29

Okay - so which devices are left that are easily rootable? I will be in the market for new one soon. It's good if EU after mandating usb-c also mandates unlockable bootloaders for whomever wants it.

Xiaomi phones are also pretty good for Custom ROMs.

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

#157

Post by ThePowerOfFuet »

Fire-Dragon-DoL wrote: post #83
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…

What are the downsides with GrapheneOS? I had a few problems with root (Netflix and banking apps) but would love my privacy. My main reason for root is the firewall to block outgoing connections from apps that are not supposed to do it

GrapheneOS is not rooted, so you won't have those issues.

GrapheneOS also gives you a Network permission per-app; if you uncheck it, the app has no connectivity, period.

Highly recommended.

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

#158

Post by ravenstine »

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.

Yes. Wells Fargo, Discover, Alliant CU, Venmo, Paypal, and M1 Finance all work.

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

#159

Post by NayamAmarshe »

throwaway5959 wrote: post #145

[flagged]

I'm on a 5 years old phone with Android 14. The OEM stopped the update on Android 11 but the Custom ROM community is going strong. Not only do I now have the latest software that works smoother, but also better camera with GCam, no ads systemwide, better privacy controls through Warden and other similar apps.

I just avoided e-waste.

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

#160

Post by M95D »

lxgr wrote: post #61
kaszanka wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

AFAIK it only beats magnetic stripe cards, not EMV chip cards

EMV chip cards still contain your card number and expiry date. Skimmers would need a way to also learn the CVC2 from the back of the card to use it at most (but not all!) online merchants, but that's feasible using a small camera or a waiter/cashier accomplice doing the skimming. With Google Pay and Apple Pay, and similar mobile wallets, that number is never shared during payments (and in fact not even stored on the…

Any responsible user will learn the CVC, like any other password, and then erase it from the card.
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