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Yesterday, we reported that Dan Rosenberg achieved the one task for the Samsung Galaxy S4 that many new Android device owners are always looking for — he has unlocked the device’s bootloader. The deed was done on an AT&T Galaxy S4, but the exploit is expected to be in all versions of the American Galaxy S4. So why can’t Rosenberg release the method just yet? His reasoning is quite noble, really — he wants to wait until Verizon’s version of the device is out.
Carriers and OEMs have a tendency to race to patch exploits either ahead of launch or on launch date, so Rosenberg wanted to make sure Verizon didn’t catch wind of the exploit ahead of its launch. The carrier would certainly have enough time to do something about it seeing as it’s not slated to launch until the very end of this month.
I know it’s hard to think that you’ll have to wait another 28 days to unlock your phone, but in the end it will be for the greater good of the Android community. No one should be denied the ability to unlock their devices, and with this high profile release it’s necessary to tread carefully to make sure an entire group of folks aren’t eventually left out of the fun.
There’s no guarantee Verizon would patch the exploit ahead of launch date if they found it, but there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t either. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so mark your calendars and let the waiting game begin.
[via XDA]
Dan Rosenberg for president! What a noble man (no sarcasm)!
Absolutely agree. I think it’s great that he will be sticking the unlock method up both evil empires asses at the same time. Woohoo!
Once again, Verizon has to not only screw over its customers, but everyone else at the same time :P
Not directly, but true…
My friend went into to a Verizon store last Friday they said shipments were to start going out on the 30th of April and should be able to get the phone this week haven’t talked to him since Monday so don’t know if he got it or not im guessing not
All I know is that on Verizon’s site, it says they will ship by May 30th.
If that’s the case then I would have mine already. All we know is the they will ship no later than May 30th. They probably had their months mixed up.
Don’t forget Rogers in Canada, which is notorious for locking bootloaders also. They’ll be getting the GS4, too, and it will be a clone of the AT&T version (since the network uses the same frequencies).
They aren’t as bad as AT&T though. For example, Rogers didn’t lock the bootloader for last years HTC One X (allowing users to unlock it officially on the HTC Bootloader unlock site), whereas AT&T did, and forced users to find exploits, or import the Rogers version…
Not sure about the Rogers Galaxy S3 though…
Great what took them so long?
If you’re goal is to keep it secret from Verizon why even mention it all until after. If you found the exploit I’m sure they could as well.
They can’t patch something if they don’t know how it’s being exploited.
I think his point was that if Rosenberg found it, Verizon could hire some people to find it as well, and then get those guys to fix it.
Because now he gets to shout “FIRST!”
This makes sense.. if they were to release it.. Verizon could sniff it out and fix the exploit..
Verizon? Push an update in a timely manner? Hah! That’s a funny thought.
I wonder if Verizon’s seeing an erosion of their ‘loyal’ base of subscribers being the last to bring the S4 to the party?
doubtful. they are usually the last of the big 3 with major devices
I wonder why devs on exploits like this don’t ‘sell’ their secrets? If companies like AT&T and Verizon go through the trouble of locking phones down it must be worth some amount to them and I kinda wonder what that number would be? Are devs approached with these offers? Would it be considered extortion if a dev went to a company with like Verizon or Samsung with a dollar amount in return for information concerning an exploit?
tinyurl.com/cnaff79
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As someone who has preordered it through Verizon and has to wait until they release it, I say thank you my good man. Thank you very much. That is an awesome thing to do, and I for one very much appreciate it.