In Defense of Root [Android]

I jumped the gun. Today Android 2.2 “Froyo” was pushed by Verizon to the HTC Droid Incredible. Well, I’ve been running it since Monday. I “rooted” (gained superuser access) my phone and installed a custom ROM that allowed me to run Froyo. At first, I was reluctant to root my phone but after thinking it through and doing some due diligence I decided to go ahead. I was particularly persuaded by the fact that the Droid Incredible can be unrooted if you used Unrevoked3 for the root. While I’m not exactly advocating that one root an Android phone, I think it is perfectly defensible. Here’s why:

1. Carriers have loaded up Android phones with tons of bloatware. These apps cannot be uninstalled without rooting a phone and they sometimes hog precious resources, thereby draining battery life. For example, the Droid X comes with Blockbuster’s app, CityID and a bunch of other (usually unwanted) garbage. The carriers can even push more crap after you buy the phone. On a PC, you simple format the drive and install a new OS or you remove application by application. On an Android phone, root is necessary to clean up the phone.

2. Android phones, sans the Nexus One, come with custom skins. Sense, Blur, TouchWiz, whatever. They’re deeply intergrated into the OS. Running Home Switcher with ADW.Launcher or LauncherPro might solve some of the problem but chances are good that your phone is infected with the manufacturer’s design. By rooting, you can install a custom ROM and many come in “vanilla” flavors. Sure, you can still run widgets and apps but you can do so the way Android was intended (originally) to be experienced.

3. OS improvements like Froyo are slow to be released by manufacturers and carriers. The approval process can take months which is eons in the mobile phone arena. By running a custom ROM, you can bypass the bureaucracy and run the latest, greatest iteration of Android. This is what prompted me to root. Mashable ran a pieces weeks ago that Android 2.2 was imminent on my phone. They predicted the 18th as the day it would drop. Well, it didn’t. So, I took matters into my own hands.

4. Wireless tether. This is somewhat more controversial but many custom ROMs allow you to create a wireless hotspot without paying your carriers surcharge. Is this “stealing”? Well, one could argue it is but, on the other hand, you’re paying for your data stream. If they wanted to impose caps or tier data plans, there is nothing stopping them. So, if they’re selling you a bucket of data, I’m not sure that a good argument can be made that it should only be consumed by the phone.

5. As a general principle, and this relates to the jailbreak iPhone debate, you own your hardware. When you buy a physical object, it is yours. Nobody can sell you a fork and tell you what you can and cannot eat with it. Maybe the sample principle applies to phones. Can a carrier arbitrarily restrict your calling? No. Or insist you run Pandora instead of Slacker? No. Why shouldn’t this idea of autonomous ownership apply to the OS as well?

6. Backing up apps. You (presumably) legitimately licensed your apps. Shouldn’t you be able to archive copies in case or emergency?

7. There are compelling, specific reasons why rooting is defensible. The battery life on the HTC Droid Incredible leaves something to be desired. If someone wants to undervolt and improve battery life with Overclock Widget or another app, root is required. Why should a carrier tell you exactly how fast your processor runs? This seems like garbage to me.

In opposition to root, some good arguments can be made, too.

1. A custom ROM runs the risk of compromising your security or making your phone unstable. While these paternalistic arguments are valid for some, if someone wants to assume those risks, they should be free to adventure. Custom ROMs are usually not well tested before they are released. It takes considerable research to determine which ROM to run. I chose SkyRaider 2.5.2 vanilla over CyanogenMod6, because I read bluetooth would work better with it. In this regard, xda-developers.com is an indispensable resource. Other measures can be taken to insure the safety of your data. Go with a reputable ROM maker. Maybe ask developers who they trust.

2. You can damage the hardware (though I’ve never heard of this happening by modding a phone). Well, there’s a solution to this. The carriers invalidate your warranty if you root your phone. Seems fair on some levels. However, some roots (like the one I did) can be unrooted. So, there exists a possibility you could root, damage your hardware, unroot and file a warranty claim. However, there’s a good chance that any hardware failure would have occurred absent the root. In any event, it’s debatable.

3. The carriers make money off of bloatware. Big stinkin’ deal. I’d rather pay an extra few cents per month to preserve battery life and maintain the autonomy of hardware I purchase.

All this said, I’m not advocating rooting your phone; I simply find it defensible. Before you root, you should consider that you run the risk of bricking your phone, being unable to receive official updates from your carrier or running into unanticipated problems. It wasn’t immediately clear that I couldn’t stream music by bluetooth with the Cyanogen6 custom ROM. I learned the hard way and needed to research the issue and adapt by installing another ROM. Make sure you have some technical skills and a stomach for problems before you root your phone.

I’m sure I’m glossing over some important points but, in any event, I’m enjoying my rooted SkyRaider 2.5.2 Android 2.2 Froyo Incredible much more than I was enjoying my Sense/bloatware Android 2.1 Eclaire Incredible. For me, the trade off was well worth it.

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