Root If it ain't broke, don't fix it. So am I missing anything?

Hit Me · May 20, 2012

My Epic 4G is unrooted and I have had it almost a year. Still love it. Here's the thing - I like my phone the way it works now (Gingerbread, FC09) so is there something I am really missing by not rooting?

I've rooted a couple Android phones before, so it's not intimidating or bothersome, I just haven't found a need and I know how I can get with spending too much time trying every new ROM that comes out. Thank god for Titanium Backup! This way though I am not tempted to spend a lot of time on trying or playing with new ROMs, lol.

BTW, I use FoxFi to wireless tether (no root required) and can get "G" (54 Mbps) speeds using that free app. 4G can't be on same time as my phone's wi-fi though, and I don't know if that is a Sprint limitation or a limitation of the Epic 4G. Wish I knew how to turn my 4G on without wi-fi automatically turning off, so that might be the only reason to root if Wireless Tether or Barnacle will let me tether wirelessly with my 4G still on. Anyone know about that last bit?

Thanks in advance for helpful replies. I hope Sprint never changes their unlimited data policy - or catch on that I'm tethering since my Epic 4G is my primary wi-fi AP at home and saves me having to spend more money for an internet ISP. Even my Blu-ray player picks up my home network using just my Epic 4G and FoxFi, with WPA2 security even!

EDIT: Before anyone gives me a smartypants reply, I searched prior to posting and didn't find anything like what I'm asking. Closest related threads were the "Should I root? What's the best ROM if I do?" variety, from novices and I don't count those since I know what rooting is, benefits, how to root/unroot, etc. I just haven't seen any benefit yet, unless my question about my wi-fi and 4G staying on and working together would be changed by rooting. That would definitely be a benefit, but I haven't found anything here, on XDA or by Google to tell me if rooting will change that.

ams30gts · May 20, 2012

I used to have my EVO rooted before FoxFi was out. I now use FoxFi on my SGS2 without root.

I'm considering rooting my phone now to try and fix the GPS issue. If the GPS would work like it is supposed to, this would be my absolute favorite phone thus far.

Hit Me · May 20, 2012

ams30gts said:
I used to have my EVO rooted before FoxFi was out. I now use FoxFi on my SGS2 without root.

I'm considering rooting my phone now to try and fix the GPS issue. If the GPS would work like it is supposed to, this would be my absolute favorite phone thus far.

I have to agree with you that my Epic is my favorite phone and it's by far the best phone ever (for me). I haven't had serious issues with my GPS except once in awhile it loses the satellite signal in a fringe service area. Nothing surprising there. But when that happens it loses the ability to show me moving is all - the turn-by-turn directions it loaded first with the map are still accessible and I just tap the screen to access those turn-by-turns.

What happens with your GPS when it acts up? Worse than just losing the satellite signal in a fringe service area? Rooting would allow you to possibly flash a different radio so that might help your GPS. Or a different ROM could make all the difference in the world. You can try it and see if rooting helps, then always go back if you wanted to. Rooting gives you choices, instead of having to go to a Sprint store you can usually get abundant help right here or on XDA, or even email the dev for the ROM.

FoxFi is an awesome little app. Can't believe it's free, it's stable, it gives me fast wi-fi speeds, and most people I know still don't even know about it! Not sure if FoxFi works with a rooted Epic 4G though, so that would just be a wait and see deal. Still, you can choose between Wifi Tether and Barnacle, two of the best wi-fi apps for rooted phones, IMO. There are others available too but I haven't tried them so can't speak for how well they might work.

Zeinzu · May 21, 2012

One answer is all you need. Cm9 Android 4.0.4 for the Epic 4G.

Hit Me · May 21, 2012

Zeinzu said:
One answer is all you need. Cm9 Android 4.0.4 for the Epic 4G.

Is that the ROM that guarantees choosing winning lottery numbers for me? If not, care to hit a few high points of why I need that ROM or what it will do for me? Will it allow me to use my 4G while using a wi-fi tether program? Like I said in my OP, my 4G turns off when my wi-fi comes on, so I end up using only 3G when I tether with FoxFi.

Zeinzu · May 21, 2012

Well you'd be rooted and I know for a fact wifi tether for root allows 4g tethering. I don't have 4g so I haven't tried the cm9 built in tether with 4g.

As far as the rest idk how much you know about Cyanogen or Android but Cyanogen is one of the most popular, best built, best performing, and most customizable custom roms for any device (if supported) and Android 4.0.4 is the newest iteration of Android. Can't imagine anyone would need much more reason than that.

Zeinzu · May 21, 2012

Also I'm not sure what you mean by "can't use my wifi and 4g at the same time". I'm assuming you mean "I can't use my wifi *tether* and 4g at the same time" because wifi and 4g at the same time isn't possible and makes no sense.

Hit Me · May 21, 2012

Zeinzu said:
Well you'd be rooted and I know for a fact wifi tether for root allows 4g tethering. I don't have 4g so I haven't tried the cm9 built in tether with 4g.

As far as the rest idk how much you know about Cyanogen or Android but Cyanogen is one of the most popular, best built, best performing, and most customizable custom roms for any device (if supported) and Android 4.0.4 is the newest iteration of Android. Can't imagine anyone would need much more reason than that.

I've used Cyanogen ROMS before and agree, they are good. If I can use Wifi Tether with my 4G while tethering then that is a good enough reason to root. Because that is what I am missing.

Zeinzu said:
Also I'm not sure what you mean by "can't use my wifi and 4g at the same time". I'm assuming you mean "I can't use my wifi *tether* and 4g at the same time" because wifi and 4g at the same time isn't possible and makes no sense.

Yes that's what I meant, while wifi tethering my 4G can't be used and turns off. But it can be used (my 4G) if I tether with an app that uses USB. Problem there is that those methods are slower anyway than the speeds I get by wifi tethering.

Zeinzu · May 21, 2012

Well you don't "need" cm9 to tether with 4g. If you simply have root access, even on a stock rom, you can use wifi tether (it's either on the market or can be found using google) and has an option in settings to activate tether via 4g. It must be selected when you want to tether off of 4g and unselected when you do not.

IMO on the unrelated topic cm9 is totally worth using, or at least trying. 4.0.4 runs much better on our device than you ever would have expected. Our dev team have been doing wonders with it and are down to a very short and insignificant list of bugs. Very minor things like auto flash for camera and led for video recording, tiny bluetooth related stuff like having to wake the screen in order to end a call via the bluetooth or connect a bluetooth, and some tweaks they are testing that I haven't noticed any bugs from yet.

People say battery life is a big issue but I make it through every day on a full charge without issue.

Not gonna claim it's for everyone yet, but like I said worth trying. I'm happy and can't seem to leave it.

Root If it ain't broke, don't fix it. So am I missing anything?

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