Comments on: Verizon is Not Releasing a Software Update to Unlock the Galaxy S3 Bootloader

By: brando56894

brando56894 — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 03:30:00 +0000

But there’s one hole in your theory: why lock down all other phones that don’t have a “Developer Edition”? If I bought my Rezound at full price it doesn’t magically make it S-Off.

If that’s truly what they want, then why don’t they just come out and say it instead of giving us the run around with double-speak? If they just came out and said “Hey if you buy your phone at full price we’ll unlock the bootloader for you and won’t install any bloatware!” I’m sure they would get more people that actually care about modding to buy a phone at full price instead of threatening to leave and spreading bad stuff about them to other people. Word of month is one of the best marketing tools. I can’t tell you how many of my friends asked me all the time “What Android phone should I get?”

By: Gingerhead

Gingerhead — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:15:00 +0000

Verizon Wireless has a facebook page and wall. Regular comments there can advise potential customers of the Verizon actions.
The Verizon version of the phone has been disabled.
The Verison model is less capable than the phone purchased from other carriers.
The Verison model is a downgraded version of Samsung is selling on other carriers.
Version has made features unavailable on the phone compared to other carriers.
Customers should be advised by Verizon that the phone they offer is defective compared to other carrier offerings.
If there is enough calling them out on this it may have some effect.

By: TechGuy21

TechGuy21 — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:37:00 +0000

again only Us nerds care about bootloaders.
same for the ifans most of them dont give a flying ass about jailbreak,
if you tell them to jailbreak their phone most answers will be “i dont wanna break my phone”

so yeah average android users dont really give a crap. they will buy the phone no matter what.

By: JoshGroff

JoshGroff — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:59:00 +0000

I don’t have insurance because it’s overpriced for lower-mid range phones. No point in insuring a Thunderbolt or Bionic for $x/month when you can buy one off eBay for less than the additional $99 insurance claim. Now a brand new mid-top tier device, I would definitely insure.

By: thajack

thajack — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:22:00 +0000

If it’s warranty, and you take in to store, they probably wouldn’t be too thrilled with your custom ROM. But, like I said, I don’t think insurance cares.

If you’re worried that insurance might care, just stick the phone in the microwave for two seconds before you send it in.

Now you’re filing a claim because it doesn’t work at all.

By: JoshGroff

JoshGroff — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:07:00 +0000

Yep, probably not, not quite sure why I said insurance.

By: michael arazan

michael arazan — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 09:21:00 +0000

Anyone’s guess on how long verizon will take to update the nexus to 4.1? I want to flash to 4.1 but i’ve been reading a lot of apps won’t work with 4.1 and i have had only 4 apps in my downloaded ones that have been updated for JB. Plus I don’t want to lose flash video, because of hulu and tv stations and other websites I can frequent.

By: Jason Lynch

Jason Lynch — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Not necessarily. It may have been signed with a different key, which would make it as useless as the ones on the other carriers.

My fingers are crossed hoping that it *will* be that easy though. It pisses me off that VZW locked this phone down like this.

By: MicroNix

MicroNix — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:18:00 +0000

He’s still pissed after having been asked to come in Saturday for a little “catch up”

By: MicroNix

MicroNix — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Well at least at that time it would extend the life for those going off contract with it New life after 2 would be cool!

By: MicroNix

MicroNix — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:14:00 +0000

That’s exactly it. Though I don’t know ANYONE that uses the VZW crapware that comes on any phone. I mean really. Can’t they just preload it for the one customer that uses it and let the rest of us have a breathe of fresh air?

By: nightscout13

nightscout13 — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:48:00 +0000

The “developer” edition will have the exact same hardware, the bootloader can be used from it.

By: Justin Gabel

Justin Gabel — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:27:00 +0000

Dude, that’s exactly what Verizon WANTS you to do. Verizon and several other US carriers have already stated they would like to move past the big subsidy model they now employ. They don’t think Unlimited Data will destroy their network, they want you to buy your own phone so they don’t have to subsidize it. They don’t care about the customer experience on an unlocked bootloader device, but they know you do and will buy the developer edition and they won’t have to subsidize it. The best part? They know since the phone you just bought with no contract for $600 can only be used on their network, thus you have effectively locked yourself into a new contract with Verizon’s network and they didn’t have to pay a dime on your new phone.

By: thajack

thajack — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Neither does having a Nexus, apparently… at least not a Nexus that requires Verizon to write their own software for.

By: thajack

thajack — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 23:12:00 +0000

One of the rules with the FCC and the spectrum, I believe, is that they have to allow any compatible phone.