Root Benefits of rooting N1?

[Dendore]

So I see a couple similar posts to this in other forums but no clear answers. I am going to wait to root for a bit but ultimately it is something I think I want to do. I understand how to do it and the risks involved, but what I am not really clear on are the benefits.

I know it lets me run certain applications that require root access. But which ones are really that great?

I don't need to overclock it. Its fast enough and battery life is bad enough. I don't need tethering although access point capabilities might be cool to show off.

So what kind of programs/capabilities would I really be seeing?

 

[MartinS]

Custom ROMs giving more features such as multitouch in gallery and web perhaps...
Apps to SD.
Complete customisation of the whole system...

 

[cyberbob25]

And while you might not *need* tethering, it certainly comes in handy in a pinch. Been many times that I've needed it.

 

[FLT]

Cyanogen just released the standard browser with multitouch too.

(not that I like pinch to zoom or anything but some do)

 

[Dendore]

I actually find that the doubletap zoom has been implemented very well and if I was pinch to zoom there is Dolphin. As for apps2sd ..... useless with so much rom .... Speaking of which thats one of the few things I would want to change but I havnt seen a fix for that yet. Might as well just wait for the OTA update on that one which I won't get if I root.

 

[FLT]

Might as well just wait for the OTA update on that one which I won't get if I root.

Yes you will...

Rooting has nothing to do with receiving updates

 

[mi_canuck]

And while you might not *need* tethering, it certainly comes in handy in a pinch. Been many times that I've needed it.

I can tether with my Nexus One just fine and it's not rooted... Just get PDANet app for both phone and computer... done.

 

[cyberbob25]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, just wanted to reply about tethering.

PDANet is not always a viable alternative. It's neither free, nor supported on alternative operating systems. According to their website, it's only available for 32bit vista or older Windows machines.

 

[Buck Shot]

So what are the benefits? I see tethering and apps to SD? Anything else? I am considering this and would like to know what I get.

 

[grainysand]

Himem or .32 kernel, both of which will let your phone use much more RAM than stock. In addition, custom ROMs tend to make better use of internal storage; Cyanogen's will free up about 40 MB of flash memory, and Modaco's Desire ROM frees up something similar in the next alpha build, but currently I've used a few command lines to move the cache, which got me back about 50-70 MB of internal storage, so even without apps2sd root access can clean up quite a bit of stuff.

Optimization. I no longer experience touchscreen calibration problems on the Desire ROM.

 

[DellyBelly]

So what are the benefits? I see tethering and apps to SD? Anything else? I am considering this and would like to know what I get.

I'm with you here; haven't really seen an overwhelming reason for it for me. All of the things the stated ROM's do don't really do much for me; I don't really have a speed issue (at least for me) and don't really feel the need to have to install to my SD.

Guess ill wait a bit longer. I'm coming from jailbreaking and unlocking my iphone which has clear benefits for doing it (I now swap between my Nexus1 for everyday and my iphone when traveling); however the Nexus already does the iphone jailbreak stuff out of the box.

 

[Buck Shot]

Well I just realized I am at 86% of memory used...I may have to do this. Ill try some other things before his and if they work. May just wait and hope for an update with apps2sd

 

[ikon]

Install custom roms
Better memory use
Full system theming
Nexus Torch - led flashlight, really bright!
Color trackball pulse notifications - gmail is green, handcent lets you set any color, I use blue
360 degree screen rotation
Did I mention themes and icon packs?
More setting for greater customization
Go here to see what's included in Cyanogen

 

[rori]

I..
360 degree screen rotation..

got to ask...does one get this feature, once you are rooted? - or do you have to install a custom rom?

 

[grainysand]

It's only available if the ROM you're running enables it.

 

[rori]

oh thanx, so got to check first..

 

[grainysand]

Cyanogen's latest does it, I believe.

 

[rori]

yes thanx, found it! - uff, got to get trough it all, this seems to be a lot of work the first time ..but it

 

[Brenissimo]

sorry if its a dumb question, but i need to ask anyway.

if anything goes wrong during the rooting process, can i restore my NexusOne back to factory default?

 

[murdros]

sorry if its a dumb question, but i need to ask anyway.

if anything goes wrong during the rooting process, can i restore my NexusOne back to factory default?

You just need to make sure you do a backup first but if all goes wrong I know they have a stock rom floating around somewhere.

 

[rori]

sorry if its a dumb question, but i need to ask anyway.

if anything goes wrong during the rooting process, can i restore my NexusOne back to factory default?

Don

 

[scottyinco]

If I root my phone and later restore a factory ROM, will HTC or Google be able to tell it was rooted? It there a way to un-root it?

 

[jblazea50]

If I root my phone and later restore a factory ROM, will HTC or Google be able to tell it was rooted?

Yes they will be able to tell it is rooted. When you unlock the bootloader, you'll see a lock on the bottom of the screen when you boot your phone.

 

[cyberbob25]

And, at least as of yet, there is no way to remove that.

 

[Phateless]

So I see a couple similar posts to this in other forums but no clear answers. I am going to wait to root for a bit but ultimately it is something I think I want to do. I understand how to do it and the risks involved, but what I am not really clear on are the benefits.

I know it lets me run certain applications that require root access. But which ones are really that great?

I don't need to overclock it. Its fast enough and battery life is bad enough. I don't need tethering although access point capabilities might be cool to show off.

So what kind of programs/capabilities would I really be seeing?

Is tethering really not available with 2.1?? I went into the market and downloaded pdanet and was able to tether right away. I'm not rooted, as far as I know.

I did buy the phone used, but it was a high-school girl who had it before me, so I kinda doubt she rooted it, lol.