Root why root?

[ladunkedge]

Hello everyone! I am hoping this forum is just as friendly as I have seen in previous threads while looking up stuff I decided to get a tablet and I got the lovely Nexus 7. I have rooted it but for some reason I rooted it before I knew why I should, if you guys could enlighten me on reasons to root it and how to do things ( I have never really done this before or used anything past a laptop so I am a complete beginner) it would be much helpful!

thank you

 

[viper689]

My favorite reason = USB OTG. I have a 16gb N7 and a 32gb flash drive that I store all my movies and shows on.

 

[Rxpert83]

Welcome to the forums!!!

USB OTG
Root only apps - block all ads, backup apps and data, android firewall, ect, ect, ect. All the cool apps require root
Flashing new ROMS for more features
Flashing new kernels for more performance/more battery life/more features
The ability to create full image nandroid backups from your recovery
Ability to use the PS3 controller
The list goes on and on...

I would check out the following threads for more information:
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html

I will NEVER own another non-rooted device.

 

[ladunkedge]

thank you guys for the replies!!

 

[ladunkedge]

Welcome to the forums!!!

USB OTG
Root only apps - block all ads, backup apps and data, android firewall, ect, ect, ect. All the cool apps require root
Flashing new ROMS for more features
Flashing new kernels for more performance/more battery life/more features
The ability to create full image nandroid backups from your recovery
Ability to use the PS3 controller
The list goes on and on...

I would check out the following threads for more information:
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html
http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html

I will NEVER own another non-rooted device.

would you care to expand on that kind sir! or anyone else willing to chip in.

 

[Rxpert83]

would you care to expand on that kind sir! or anyone else willing to chip in.

No problem!

USB OTG allows you (with the use of an OTG cable) to hook up a flash drive as extra storage. I like to keep my music on the flash drive, and then hook it up when I want to listen to something. This keeps that space from being taken up on the tablet.

StickMount and root are needed for the device to write to the flash drive

Ad-free when installed an run will block nearly every ad from running inside of apps.

Titanium Backup Allows you to take a backup of your apps and their data. Why is this useful? If you device to get into ROM flashing many times you will have to wipe the devices data. This prevents you from losing any game progress or other important application data. (Even if you dont get into flashing ROMS, I also find it useful for having a save point in some games so if I die I can go back )

DroidWall Lets you restrict what apps are able to access the internet, and when they are allowed to do it. Much like a computer firewall. (Not as useful on a tablet)

Wireless Tether for Root Users allows you to tether for free (not useful on a tablet unless you have the 3G model)

SixAxis Controller app Lets you use your PS3 controller for games on your tablet!

Flashing a ROM is like changing the operating system of a computer. You can gain many new features by flashing a ROM. The great thing about android is that it is open source, so developers who like to dabble in their free time can add to it and make it even better! Custom ROMS usually give you all kinds of customization options that is very easy for the average user to implement.

Kernels connect the ROM to the hardware. It controls things like the current to the CPU, the frequency that the CPU is running at, ect. Flashing a custom kernel can give you increased battery life, and better performance over the stock kernel, as well as added functionality.

Part of rooting was installing a custom recovery. This recovery lets you make full backups of the phone. This means if anything goes wrong, or if you go tinkering with the wrong things, you can restore the backup and its like nothing every happened. Your tablet is in the exact configuration as it was the moment the backup was made. This is one of the most powerful options a root user has

You have more troubleshooting options as a root user as well

 

[dan330]

i just got a nexus 7... installed a launcher (ADW)..

was thinking it dont really need root... (i root all my android phones).
have it setup pretty much how i need it.. and for my daughter too.
but....

after reading Rxpert83's post... damn it you!!!! now i have to root this thing.

USB OTG... usb flashdrive connectivity!!! that is huge for a locked down storage.

Ad-free.. why not?

PS3 controller connection... must have it!

 

[kidcarter93]

So it can grow when water is added to it

Seriously though, I rooted my N7 simply so I could stay on stock and still have tabletUI.

One app I'll always recommend to root users is ROM Toolbox Lite/ROM Toolbox Pro.
I've been using it for about 8-9 months and still haven't been able to use all its features yet. It's a combination of Titanium Backup, Font Installer, Build Prop Editor, Terminal Emulator and tons of others.

 

[askdjhf]

Many apps that developers need to build & sell apps require root access. For the consumer, many apps require root access. For example, full backups of a tablet require root access in the event something goes wrong. An example of such an application is Titanium Backup Pro. Playing games can be difficult on a tablet, but using a wireless controller rectifies this situation. Unfortunately, apps like Sixaxis Controller require root to pair controllers with tablets. Another example is IT professionals use tablets to work. Remote computing apps like VNC require root access to function.

You need root to:
* Increase battery life (JuiceDefender)
* Improve battery life (AutoKiller Memory Optimizer)
* Restore/make backups (Titanium Backup)
* Manage startup (Startup Auditor)
* Manage autorun programs (Autorun Manager)
* Increase SD speed (SD Speed Increase)
* Use full features of Ad-Blockers (Droid Ad-Free)
* Use Firewall (Droidwall)
* Compile apps
* Pair PS3 controller (SixAxis Controller)
* Connect as bluetooth keyboard for PS3 (BluePutDroid)
* Write to external flash (StickMount) [howto guide]
* And many more things you need root access for!

 

[askdjhf]

Many apps that developers need to build & sell apps require root access. For the consumer, many apps require root access. For example, full backups of a tablet require root access in the event something goes wrong. An example of such an application is Titanium Backup Pro. Playing games can be difficult on a tablet, but using a wireless controller rectifies this situation. Unfortunately, apps like Sixaxis Controller require root to pair controllers with tablets. Another example is IT professionals use tablets to work. Remote computing apps like VNC require root access to function.

You need root to:
* Increase battery life (JuiceDefender)
* Improve battery life (AutoKiller Memory Optimizer)
* Restore/make backups (Titanium Backup)
* Manage startup (Startup Auditor)
* Manage autorun programs (Autorun Manager)
* Increase SD speed (SD Speed Increase)
* Use full features of Ad-Blockers (AdFree Android)
* Use Firewall (Droidwall)
* Pair PS3 controller (SixAxis Controller)
* Connect as bluetooth keyboard for PS3 (BluePutDroid)
* Write to external flash (StickMount) [howto guide]
* Quick booting (Quick Boot)
* Compile apps (for developers) [official google guide]
* And many more things you need root access for!

Note: granted, all these also have paid versions with more features, and you can decide if you want the paid versions.

 

[animania260]

Thanks for the tips! I was actually wondering this myself, I've rooted all my phones but this thing runs so good stock.

One thing though, I thought OTG worked on stock and didin't need root, as I've observed around the forum here you do need root to use OTG however do you have to use a custom kernel? Or can I just root and use the StickMount after that and I should be good?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: I just read on the regular Nexus 7 forum (above this all things root) that you only need OTG for mass storage (USB drive etc) so I guess I answered my own question lol, sorry.

 

[Groid]

An OTG-usb cable works without root if you use the Nexus Media Importer, but it is a paid app and only supports copying or streaming from the external storage. You can't write to the storage.

Most important with rooting for me is to be able to use Root Explorer to see parts of the memory that are not available without root and to be able to manipulate those files.

 

[animania260]

Ahh I see. Thanks!

But also could we not just use the mount commands to mount the USB devices once rooted?
I'm assuming the SitckMount app just make's it easier.

 

[Groid]

If rooted and using the Stickmount app, you have read/write/streaming access to external storage using the OTG-usb cable. You don't need mount commands, Stickmount just mounts it when you plug it into external storage.

 

[Rxpert83]

I would personally recommend staying away from #1 & 2 on that list. This also doesn't have an SD card.

Other than that it looks like a solid list.

I have merged this thread into a similar thread where I had my list

 

[erisuser1]

Ahh I see. Thanks!

But also could we not just use the mount commands to mount the USB devices once rooted?
I'm assuming the SitckMount app just make's it easier.

permission denied - when not root.

So, the answer to your question is YES!

It does work from a *root* shell command line, though (stock kernel), and StickMount needs root... so I suppose that is exactly the issue.

StickMount registers itself as a broadcast receiver for certain USB insertion events, and it pops to life as soon as you attach a MassStorage device.

There are certainly ways to allow user mode mounting - the easiest being mount entries in a fstab file - but making such mods also requires root.

So far I have tried attaching to a rooted Stock 4.2.1 N7 (via a OTG cable) an android phone (success), a USB memory stick (success), a camera in MassStorage mode (fail), and a standard 101-key USB keyboard (success).

I was able to manually mount the memory stick from a terminal emulator command line (StickMount not installed) - but only as root.

StickMount puts the mount at /sdcard/usbStorage/sda1

cheers

 

[animania260]

Awesome :- ) Thank you!