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Should I get new updates???

ackoolness

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2010
103
10
I am still on ME7 and I have heard any news on the new updates that my fiancee's S4 has gotten, she got hers way after me and doesnt care about bootloaders or about being rooted.

Okay, so my question is where are we at with the new updates? If I take it I know I can get rooted but whats the news on the bootloaders? If I take the new update and root, can I still theme my phone by uploading zips or would I be out of luck.

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
I am still on ME7

That's a very early, May 2013, Android 4.2.2, firmware.

Okay, so my question is where are we at with the new updates?

See, here.

If I take it I know I can get rooted but whats the news on the bootloaders? If I take the new update and root, can I still theme my phone by uploading zips or would I be out of luck.

Rooting and flashing ROMs is still possible on the latest firmwares but just be aware of Knox Security & locked bootloader on new firmwares.
 
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TFlashing roms is severely limited in the latest firmware for att and vzw. We can only use safe strap and only flash touch wiz 4.3 based roms. No aosp, cm etc. Can't change kernels. And once you upgrade to these latest, you can never go back.

There are other ways to flash the latest android version (without taking the update) that won't result in locked boatloader. In fact, att folks who never ota'd past mdl can now flash kitkat leak and be ahead of us folks that took the 4.3 mk2. In short, don't take an ota update from att or vzw (maybe others?) if you currently have unlocked boot loader and want flexibility in custom roms.
 
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Thanks for the info guys, ill check out those links.

When I say "theme" I mean like changing the color of my battery icon and stuff like that. Never really got into roms or anything. I also have my own restart menu, so I would like to be able to add that too.

I did that through clockwork. would i be able to use that with any of the newer updates?
 
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Thanks for everyones input, as you can read ive been out of the loop for a bit. Looks like im gonna find a recent up and flash via odin (?) and then find a root solution and use safestrap. Kind of want to upgrade and use the other functions that were otherwise unavailable for me at the current moment.

Currently I cant use the PIP, gestures, and some other stuff. once again, thanks.
 
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Related kinda question;
In the UK our phones aren't carrier locked and the updates are through Samsung directly, I am not rooted, (scared to brick it until I can be arsed learning more about it) but would like to keep the option open for the future.

I have kept the phone updated whenever prompted, will this have 'locked the bootloader' or prevent me from rooting when I want?
 
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Related kinda question;
In the UK our phones aren't carrier locked and the updates are through Samsung directly, I am not rooted, (scared to brick it until I can be arsed learning more about it) but would like to keep the option open for the future.

I have kept the phone updated whenever prompted, will this have 'locked the bootloader' or prevent me from rooting when I want?

I tend to think you'd be ok to update based on past history because
1-it is the carrier that specifies to lock the bootloader, not Samsung
2-locked boot loader generally only limits changing roms, not rooting.

If you are updating to 4.3, I think you're safe.

If kk, you might want to wait and see. Some root exploits are closed(by Google) for each new android version, but historically new exploits are always found. Will kk be any different? Probably not, but I don't think anyone knows for 100% sure yet.
 
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Related kinda question;
In the UK our phones aren't carrier locked and the updates are through Samsung directly, I am not rooted, (scared to brick it until I can be arsed learning more about it) but would like to keep the option open for the future.

I have kept the phone updated whenever prompted, will this have 'locked the bootloader' or prevent me from rooting when I want?


Nope, however you will trip the Knox flag, and you can never go back to an earlier version (4.3 to 4.2 for example) People who rooted MH1 and earlier firmwares have the luxury of flashing the latest updates via Odin that have been modified so that the later bootloaders that are locked (hence no going back) have been replaced by the older one, and will, perhaps more importantly never trip Knox.

The later bootloaders for international users can be rooted without bootstraps, you'll just trip Knox by installing a custom recovery and never be able to go back to an earlier version.

You will be able to use custom ROMs, just make sure it is a custom ROM the same or later version of the ROM your using, and remember any Nandroid that is older than the version (4.2 and the new ROM us 4.3 for example) will result in a failure and boot loops. Nandroids of the same version should be OK though.
 
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Whilst it is true that a couple of the U.S. minority variants of the Galaxy S4 had locked bootloaders imposed on their carrier branded firmware from the outset, the rest of us S4 owners were not introduced to the locked bootloader until Samsung added it to the release of Android 4.3, along with Knox security. See #1.0 of Knox Security & locked bootloader on new firmwares. As dynpmot states, once you have installed Android 4.3 you cannot revert back to Android 4.2.2. See #1.1 of the previous link.

On the International versions, rooting, modding and changing ROMs is very easy to do, a simple matter of flashing a rooted kernel and a custom recovery. See, Rooting Galaxy S4 - Dummies Guide

As for KitKat, there are already rooted versions of the leaked Samsung firmware for the International version and Google Edition official release, which I have been on for the last 2 months.
 
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I would avoid updating, there are enough roms available you can use AOSP , Google Edition, TW 4.3 roms which work with the old bootloader which flashed from recovery.

You can also get the latest 4.4 TW rom working with the old bootloader but they require some fixes to get everything working.

I'll return my S4 to a stock rom when I sell it, but it will be a old stock rom, I won't be updating it.
 
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I stand corrected...the locked boot loader s apparently apply to a wider scope.

Yes, a locked bootloader does apply to a wider scope, but the international variant of an SGS4 (GT-i9505) with new bootloader, post MH1 firmware is different to some American models in that it is Samsung's only (as apposed to tweaked by a carrier) and does not require a "boot strap" to root.

To clarify a a GT-i9505, international Samsung Galaxy S4 is easily rootable, can use anything ROM wise and Kernel wise. Those fortunate to root before the new bootloader that activated Knox can go back to older firmwares, and won't trip Knox by rooting. Those that have the new bootloader (as mentioned it comes with post MH1 firmware) will trip the Knox flag by either rooting using CF Autoroot and then a custom recovery (and render Knox, the application, useless. Not to mention possibly voiding the device warranty) and are unable to go back to earlier firmwares, ever. Most custom ROMs have two versions that are identical apart from the bootloader. Those that are "pre Knox" rooted use one where the old bootloader has replaced the new one in the ROM(often called "Knox free" by the ROM developer) and those that have the new bootloader, are rooted and have tripped the "Knox flag" use the new bootloader version.
 
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