Android is designed, even made so people can "hack" it. Why else would Google release the source code for free online, huh? I'll tell you why, it's because android us supposed to be the most open phone os available. People can root of they wish or not all the same. I don't know why you are being a jerk about it though.
People should be able to do whatever is allowed by the manufacturer in accordance with their agreements, TOS, and the like. If they want warranty service, that is. And although it is true that people should be able to do anything they want with their phones, quite often there are problems when they try.
Yes, the source code is available but it is not aimed at typical users or a general public that is not developing software. It is available for people to hack, but should they? Writing and modifying an OS is not simple or easy for will be for most users.
Most people have neither the time, the skills, or the inclination to roll their own code, so perhaps the idea that the source code is available is a non-starter? Or do you think everyone will want to change and compile and deploy the code?
From the web: "The Android operating system consists of 12 million lines of code including 3 million lines of XML, 2.8 million lines of C, 2.1 million lines of Java, and 1.75 million lines of C++.
From this forum (paraphrase) "I rooted my phone and could not find a ROM so I used one I thought was similar (same manufacturer) and now my phone does not work." So there are problems when you do not understand the potential issues.
I found several posts about flashing the VM ROM to the Sprint ROM and apparently, it works and those people that can't wait for a week or so are eager and they have no clue why they want 2.2. You need to do lots of stuff and you need three or four files, a software install, deleting a few existing files, a little bit of this and that. And I bet many that try, FU their device. Nobody should attempt a 2.2 update unless they use a ROM designed by VM. They are asking for problems and then they will moan and groan when troubles knock.
Yes, we like to mod this and that but lets face it, very few people reading this would be able to do anything spectacular with the source code. And when they decide, "How hard can it be?" they assume that you can change this and that and no problem.
And no, I am not saying they should not try. Just saying it is beyond both of us, quite likely. Well, beyond me, at any rate.
Lets face it, some people really have no business fooling around under the hood because they do not know what can happen. Quite often, they learn the hard way; things go wrong and they regret their decision to do whatever they did.
Some web sites are misleading and a few people on forums post rotten info that leads to problems whenever the clueless meets high technology.
So for the record, yes... fiddle away, I have decided it is OK because as much as I hate rooting for amateurs, I, not knowing one gosh darn bit about it, Jailbroke my iPad hoping all the while, I am not making a serious judgment call.
But just understand that some problems can occur and there can be issues. Strong warnings are legitimate just a long as they are polite.
Bob Maxey
