On the latest post on the Android Developer’s Blog, one of the security engineers for Android talks about how Android was meant to be open and users shouldn’t have to go through so much trouble just to root their phones. In case you didn’t know what rooting is, it is basically a method of exploiting a security hole on an Android phone in order to gain “superuser permission” so that you’ll have permission to modify or access any file on your phone. This will allow you to install and modify files that a normal user wouldn’t have access to, i.e. custom ROMs and hacks that are normally forbidden. It’s not something most regular phone users would do, but to the enthusiasts and hackers who like to personalize everything they own (especially their phones), it means everything. The post talks about how manufacturers and carriers need to recognize this fact and not make it hard for people to unlock the true potential of their devices, while still maintaining the integrity of the mobile network, rights of content providers, and application developers. Let’s hope manufacturers take notice of this post and do something about it. What do you think? Are you an enthusiast who roots your Android phone to make the most of it?
