What does rooted mean?

That's right, rooting an Android handset is the equivalent of jailbreaking an idevice.

 

This is rooting in a nutshell:

Giving yourself root, or superuser (admin) access, giving you access to system files and the ability to change things that normally are marked read only

This allows you to change all kinds of things that normally you wouldn't be able to, along with install custom versions of Android.

 

You dont mention what device you have, but if you search your devices section of this forum for rooting, you'll see lots of discussion and perhaps come away with the pros/cons of rooting.

 

In the case of iPads, you run the risk of opening a vortex leading to the portal to hell where legions of Apple's iLawyers will take your soul and forever brand you as an app stealer.

Seriously, there is always a problem with rooting. Rather potential for a problem when you root. Or perhaps potential for many problems. For example, bricking. I once read about all sorts of problems on some web site somewhere some guy had with some phone.

Before you root, I suggest you do a little due diligence and learn what you need to do, what you can expect, and read about the problems others have had rooting their devices.

This forum has a dedicated section for most phones and you will likely find a thread or two dedicated to rooting your specific device.

 

I've got about 4 months of smartphone experience. I finally rooted my phone because I wanted to free up a little memory by getting rid of some factory apps. But besides that, these phones already run extremely well and rooting is more a curiosity thing than any thing else. CPU, cyanogen, ARMv7, kernels and shells, custom ROMs, over/underclocking, flashing, superuser, busybox, gingerbreak, honeycomb; administrative privileges. You kind of need to know what all those mean to benefit from rooting. Are you ready for all that?

 

Rooted means get ready to do ALOT of reading and rereading and if your smart rerereading. Unless you enjoy hours or maybe days of frustration trying to explain to someone on here what you did and hoping they can help. So get very attached to google and find your phone specific forum and remember to thank all who help you along the way

 

Try to always keep your root protected after you upgrade your Android.

 

One risk of rooting is, if not done properly you can brick your phone (Brick = ruin, like a brick). So with that being said, that is why everyone is telling you to read up on it a lot so you make sure you know what you're doing.

 

Oh, I don't think you have to actually root a phone to get that to happen. Just thinking about rooting a phone will do it.

 

rooting is similiar to jailbreaking.. but it is more than jailbreaking ..

jailbreaking only gives some rights back to you.
rooting.. gives you full access to your phone... you open / unlock the device completely.

1. you are now able to change anything and everything!
2. you have the potential to make bad changes! so be careful.

 

i will give you a sample example To understand well; if you're familiar with windows, being rooted is like being an administrator and not being rooted is like being a normal user or a guest.

it gives you access to system files and the ability to change things that normally are marked read only

Java Programming

 

I didnt see the OP mention his phone? I'd think the risk of bricking his phone due to rooting would be minimal if his particular phone model already has one-click root programs available.

 

It's worth doing but please do read up on it first. You can void warranty.

It's best to search by your brand / model / whatever it is you want doing to it. You may find there are softwares for PC that work only with your brand of phone & can rescue it by allowing you to flash a full firmware to it yourself. You need to find that yourself though .

After that, one of the main benefits of having root is that you can install an app that let's you back up your firmware on your card (nandroid backup), then restore it. Or restore another nadroid backup (obviously one that is compatible with your phone).