For those who don't know what root means, read here: Why Root - Android Wiki
It's YOUR phone, YOUR property, and should be able to do ANYTHING you want to it.
Here's the scoop:
Developers have tried many known methods to gain root access for the HTC Droid Eris with little success. However, after exhausting many routes of gaining root with no success, the community has begun to take a more unorthodox method of gaining root. Exploits in the kernel need to be found, and as one would imagine this is difficult to do without source code. HTC has posted source code for other Android devices, but has failed to do this for the Droid Eris. Many folks over at XDA have sent emails to HTC but they have not budged, despite being in clear violation of several license agreements posted in the phone under Settings->About Phone->Legal Information
So, if you'd like to see the Droid Eris rooted soon, email HTC here HTC Mobile Phones - Customer Service - E-mail Support and ask them for kernel source code to be posted like the rest of the devices. It takes only a few minutes, and the more people who do this, the better chance we have of getting root in the foreseeable future.
Here's what I sent that you may use as a template. I give credit to apreichner, Goobalicious, and other XDA members for finding legal exploits and for writing awesome letters to HTC, from which mine was based on.
It's YOUR phone, YOUR property, and should be able to do ANYTHING you want to it.
Here's the scoop:
Developers have tried many known methods to gain root access for the HTC Droid Eris with little success. However, after exhausting many routes of gaining root with no success, the community has begun to take a more unorthodox method of gaining root. Exploits in the kernel need to be found, and as one would imagine this is difficult to do without source code. HTC has posted source code for other Android devices, but has failed to do this for the Droid Eris. Many folks over at XDA have sent emails to HTC but they have not budged, despite being in clear violation of several license agreements posted in the phone under Settings->About Phone->Legal Information
So, if you'd like to see the Droid Eris rooted soon, email HTC here HTC Mobile Phones - Customer Service - E-mail Support and ask them for kernel source code to be posted like the rest of the devices. It takes only a few minutes, and the more people who do this, the better chance we have of getting root in the foreseeable future.
Here's what I sent that you may use as a template. I give credit to apreichner, Goobalicious, and other XDA members for finding legal exploits and for writing awesome letters to HTC, from which mine was based on.
Every email helps! Now let's get the Droid Eris ROOTED!To Whom It May Concern:
I am sending this letter to request the Android Kernel source code for the HTC Droid Eris (codename DESIRE). As stated on the Android license agreement (Licenses (Android Open Source Project)) : this source code falls under the GNU Public License agreement (GNU General Public License v2.0 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation (FSF)), as well as the Apache 2.0 agreement (Licenses - The Apache Software Foundation). This means that HTC has a legal obligation to provide the Kernel source code for all Devices using the Android Operating System.
I understand HTC does not have to disclose the source for their proprietary software (Sense UI) and Drivers. I also understand that there are currently some Kernel source code available at the HTC Developer Center (HTC - Developer Center). However, there is still no source code for the Droid Eris, despite HTC posting Kernel source code for other Android devices it manufactures.
The HTC Android license on the device itself even says, "Until the date that is three years after you have acquired the Software, you may obtain a copy of the source code corresponding to the binaries for GPL-licensed file by sending a request to HTC customer service at HTC - Mobile Phones, Smartphones, Cell Phones, PDAs, and HTC will send you a link to such source code." This letter is to request the mentioned code.
I do not expect the person reading this letter to have the direct power to release this source code. I do, however, expect the reader of this to direct my complaints to someone who does. By refusing to release the Kernel source code, HTC is in violation of the Android License, the GNU license, and its own License agreement, leading to many unsatisfied developers and end-users not recommending your products.
Thank you.