yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] bobby janow:
Well let's even say that the root community returned 1000 phones, which I believe to be probably at least 5x the actual amount, but let's go with that. The S4 has shipped over 20 million of them with projections of 100 million before the S5 comes out. Dividing 1000 by 20 mil is around .000005. If you had a million dollars and you gave 5,000 to charity would that affect you in any way? That's what 1000 phones means to their bottom line. One hundred phones, $500. And on and on...That is not the reason for locking down the phone. It's basically, eff you.. crack it if you can. Our guys are better than your guys. Not saying it's not going to happen but "help I'm bricked" is not, imo, the reason.

Edit: I believe that corporate sales is the driving factor here. They can tell a fortune 500 company buy our phones, they are secure, they are locked and you can make a policy to wipe it remotely and they can't be cracked like the iPhone jailbreak. Now that could be a hefty contract.

Bump mine to $20 while you're at it.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
Actually, it has a lot to do with security. Especially in the business world. Corporations don't want unsecured devices on their networks, and they don't want employees tampering with company devices. With an unlocked bootloader, it makes it even easier to get arounds MDMs. Just go look at all the patched stock email clients that don't enforce exchange policies. This is a world class headache for anyone trying to enforce corporate IT policies, and is one reason Android lags behind IOS and Blackberry in this market.

If it was just about replacing bricked phones, you wouldn't see so many s4 models unlocked.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 318sugarhill:
If this were the case, they did a crappy job, because FoxFi still works after the update (I've read...I'm not touching that update) with just a tap, and that's WITHOUT root. So this did nothing to stop that.

I have a feeling with the "upcoming technologies" thing that Verizon will always find a way to make you pay for something that the phone is capable of already, or that other carriers offer for free. This has been there MO since day one. Anyone remember bluetooth locking on the original Razr? They have ALWAYS locked features on Phones in an effort to get you to fork over $ to them instead. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with them for the time being. Not giving up my unlimited. Hindsight being 20/20 I would have switched to ATT before they cut off Unlimited plans. Then at least I could get GP edition phones. While I still believe VZW has the best network.....AT&T is just as good where I am 95% of the time. Straight talk may be in my future.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gatesjunior:
I have a completely stock ME7 pull working rooted / recovery working...

O.k. guys, so I have figured out how to run the full ME7 stock odex pull with root / recovery available with everything working. Wifi, GPS, Bluetooth, Camera, etc... Nothing does not work and it is completely stock odex pull and already rooted into an installable rom.

Apps2sd, transparent statusbar, new Bluetooth additions, etc...

From here you could deodex it or do whatever you want.

I know this might not count for the competition as far as being able to use a stock odin image, etc.. But I do have a fully working ME7 build for our phones and it is all working and rooted with recovery. So, to me, this is just as good as taking the update without all the limitations, because we get all the benefits without the restrictions :)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] brizey:
Then why can't you buy a dev edition on contract with a warranty? Corporate clients could buy the locked version and the rest of us schmucks could buy the dev edition.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] saade7:
Shame on you Verizon

please someone find a cure :fingers-crossed:. I'm never updating again. what a mistake right out of the box.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JFazYankees:
That's great for those that didn't take the update! This won't qualify for the bounty, but I definitely think you should start a new thread in the Android Development section and upload your ROM.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
When will this be available to try ?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 318sugarhill:
I agree the bounty is for a stock phone with the update to be able to get root + recovery, but if what you have works, and you allow other Dev's to use it for their builds in the Dev section...I'd throw my pledge to you.....and keep it active in the bounty as well ( as this won't work for my wife's phone when she gets it next month as I'm sure it will come with ME7 out of the box)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JamesPumaEnjoi:
im 99% sure itll come with ME7 especially since itll be more than a month after the update is out....i actually bought my S4 and it didnt have the update...it automatically downloaded the update and i installed it like a momo....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
Really American consumers need to get over the whole subsidized (on contract) thing. You don't outright own the phone until the contract is over, and Verizon doesn't want you modifying (and potentially damaging) hardware that belongs to them. Too many people break on contract phones (phones that they still owe money/contract time on), and demand a new one, if they don't get one they leave to another carrier who will hand them yet another deeply discounted device.

You do get a warranty on the dev edition, but potentially lose it when the device is modified (rightfully so, companies shouldn't pay when user tampers down low, just like how many MB companies will charge you to repair flashes of unauthorized BIOSs).

Simple solution here, that many people don't seem to grasp. Do research before buying, buy an unlocked model (of which equivalents exist for each S4 model) if that is what you want. If you buy one that is locked, or rumored to be locked, then remember it's your fault.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] SamuriHL:
This. 100%.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] brizey:
I agree on the subsidized thing, but Verizon prices it out of contention. It effective costs $400 more to buy the unlocked version because they don't reduce your plan costs a la T-Mobile.

And...in 2013 it should be impossible to break hardware with software. I know...one physical flash device, etc., but really, a $600 device should not be able to eat itself alive.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
Making it impossible to break means more locking it down. If they put a physical cap on over-clocking the GPU, or CPU, lock every partition but data and system, sign EVERYTHING, imagine the gripefest. You really can't have it both ways.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] dobo84:
shoot this thread seems like a mute point.... no good news.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
Some good news.It has been stated here that achieving root is not a problem.We just need someone to tell us how to do it.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Protibus:
+1
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] hallstevenson:
I try and make the same point on forums involving almost any topic. People greatly over-estimate the number of people who root their phones, modify their cars, etc, or at least the percentage of total owners who do it. Basing the real-world on what you see/read in internet discussion forms is foolish.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
We can probably be assured that the next update will probably kill the wifi tether that does not go through their app gate. More the reason to get the root method before a surprise update releases, cloaked with "New and exciting features and performance improvements".

What is the grace period for releasing just the root process? I appreciate the desire is a complete package, as not to give Verizon any head start on a fix.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] markwebb:
Would love to get it, otherwise my drop dead date to sending back my phone is Thursday, 4/25. :(
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] bfmetcalf:
I can understand that, I'll change mine to straight up $20 no matter what they do, as long as I can install a wonderful custom ROM.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
Build me a recovery with loki build for new aboot, and I will flash it and test
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Rebel908:
I'd tried messing around with bliss's instructions, but came upon the issue that to extract the boot.img for the Loki exploit there would be a need for me to achieve SU permissions. Maybe I'm thinking too simplistically but it might be worth a shot. But I am not good enough to begin to think of away to gaining temporary root on the S4 just to try this out.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] niv3d:
African Canadian SockMonkey!!! Where you at?!?! Lol

Count me in 10 for Loki/root, 10 for full unlock :)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
aboot and boot can be pulled from the odin tar file, but it would need to be done per aboot
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] yankzfan007:
Please update my donation to $20 simply for root... thanks!:cool:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Rebel908:
Okay I see. So I'm not terribly program literate, guess I'll go see how to do this
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] open1your1eyes0:
THREAD UPDATE

​

Please note that the OP post has been revamped slightly separating into two separate bounties for better clarification. I advise everyone to reread the OP entirely

especially the disclaimers at the bottom

. These changes have been made to avoid confusion and provide more details on the rules. If anyone would like me to change or remove their contributions as a result please feel free to make another post in this thread and I will as you request.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Tada10:
Add me for 20 if it can flash over my stock rom deodex TW. I need rooted and all the new feautures. Apps2SD and the new HDR cam please.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
Add me in for $10 for Root and Recovery.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] garwynn:
I'm not convinced Loki is not going to work - just maybe not in its current fashion.

Here's why:

Take new ME7 aboot with a clean CWM and try to Loki-fy it.

Error: Failed to find function to patch.

Look at Bliss' source, if I'm reading right it couldn't find the pattern to indicate the sig.

So until that sig is found, pattern set and Loki re-compiled I can't see how that's been verified.

Also still can't explain why Odin won't flash a rooted system.img tarball.

Odin flashing checks something unrelated to Loki.

(Remember, un-Lokified images would flash - just wouldn't work.)

For those that have tried - what happened when you tried?

Just wondering if something else was updated that we're still missing.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mikeyinid:
I took the update like an idiot. When I try to restore to mdk it fails at aboot. If I try to flash just boot it fails.

I know this isnt a whole lot to go on, if you need more specific info id be glad to give it when I get home.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jcase:
Yes, often it is no longer fun for me to share my time, because of the attitude that gets dropped on us. Go look at the drama from LAST time this phone (qualcomm s4) got owned up, err wait you can't i had to delete those 100+ posts going after bliss for holding on to releasing his hacks pending release the second device.

I'm not being cynical here, I'm being honest. The way things were worded, and the way everyone wanted various criteria met made it problematic to meet all the requests. I wanted clarification, the OP responded with clarifying the conditions.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Rebel908:
Just throwing it out there- I thought Loki wasn't actually doing anything to the bootloader, rather the logic and progression of commands made it so the shell code prevented check_sig from occurring?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] garwynn:
Well, experience on N2 tells me that aboot can easily be blocked via some sort of sig check - sometimes unintentionally (Sprint MA5 leak and MA7 OTA had changes that meant you couldn't get around it unless you could dd an older version in.)

But if you try and flash boot Odin itself fails? If that's true that's new and possibly bad news.

If you try and re-flash ME7 on top of ME7, what happens? Does it go?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] droidrev71:
I'm in for $20 for root/recovery. $50 for unlocked bootloader.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Tada10:
Can't you guys just pull the goodies and flash it over our rooted roms? Like apps2sd and hdr video camera? I be happy to pay just for those.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] open1your1eyes0:
I flashed ME7 on top of itself many times and worked each time. Only time it fails is trying to downgrade the kernel/aboot to MDK or flashing a prerooted system.img.ext4.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mikeyinid:
Yup straight through. And I tried to odin both available older boot and it failed, same error on each which I dont recall off the top of my head. Ill try again when I get home and post the error. Its one I have not seen.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
I am sure someone from Verizon is watching this thread.Since it has been stated that root has been achieved, what makes you think that they are not all ready working on a fix.The sooner a method to root is released the better.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] vacaloca:
That's great news, looking forward to trying it out!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rdcamero:
Me to.Can't wait to try it out :fingers-crossed:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] xs11e:
Does it lock out the attempts at OTA update?

I agree it's a great achievement but it doesn't help those who have already updated nor those buying new phones nor does if help those who have to get a replacement phone. I hope there are some still working on this...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jova33:
Well, like I told someone else, if you buy your phone now it probably won't come pre-installed with the update. They're not going to open every box and update them. Only when the current stock runs out will it come prepackaged.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] brizey:
Or open it up all the way like a PC with a backup bios and rely on hardware thermal controls...but that is not happening in a phone form factor device with effectively no discreet hardware.

What we really need is BYOD plans and a real supply of dev phones.

Nice chatting with you...and belated thanks for the work on the thunderbolt :)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jova33:
In the GNex forums, people who used their GNex for work couldn't have a rooted/unlocked phone. I don't see how having a bootloader that can be unlocked is a problem, when some companies used the GNex.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] KidJoe:
(bold added by me)...

Going along with what I highlighted in the quote from your post, I am an employee of a global company. Our company only lets users BYOD for those devices which are "certified," "approved" or deemed "supported." i.e. If your device model isn't on the "supported" list, you can't BYOD it. And yes to be on the "supported/approved/certified" list, it must meet our company's criteria which Verizon does not have a hand in, BUT... it will factor into an end user's decision on which "personal" device they purchase if they plan to use it for BYOD at work.

So Verizon, and every other carrier, does have a reason to be concerned with BYOD and corporate customer wishes and needs.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] :
People are failing to realize that they can buy a developer galaxy s4 if they wish to tinker all they want....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Toddricks:
Where? Straight from samsung or from vzw?

I would opt for 2 dev edition gs4's if I could get them.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lycwolf:
Yeah... Why can't I order a Dev unlocked phone from Verizon, subsidized?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Kaiya_FL:
Straight from Samsung but they are and have been backordered for awhile now.

samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SCH-I545ZKDVZW
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jova33:
Does it come with 32GB option? .......
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] markwebb:
No, only 16gb at last order date. They sold out instantly on the first day of sale and have been on BO for a few weeks. Who knows if they will get more, but the website at one point said "4 weeks" which would be about right if being shipped across the seas. 4 week availability would be next week.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gatesjunior:
It stops the annoying me7 update obviously because it is me7 and it is very easy to stop future ota updates, because it comes rooted, just rename the apk files, sdm.apk and fwupgrade.apk in the /system/app folder and restart the phone, done...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mlin:
Here's the link to the page. You can order them now ($649.99) but its on back order and it states "please allow us 4 weeks to receive the item you've chosen."

http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SCH-I545ZKDVZW
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
Too small of storage for me and the warranty support is for hardware failures only and they have to evaluate the device.

Root to block future updates will keep me happy with the 32GB. The device is already instant level fast for me, so any faster is already diminished returns for me. As noted, if the device got any faster, it would break laws of time and begin sucking up light ;) Point being, I am more than happy with a device faster than my already super fast S3. Ditto on battery life.

Added: The next improvement want to see is hardware based, as in a fabrication nM reduction. Oh, and perhaps Samsung makes a "little" more effort with their radio designs.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] markwebb:
Interesting...I had the S3 and found it slow...I thought the S4 was a major improvement in speed. Oh well...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] brizey:
That's the problem. Because Verizon does not have a BYOD rate, you have to pay $450 more for the dev edition.

If we did not get an employee discount, I would be gone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Ryno77:
Why not post it in development? I'm sure lots of people would be interested.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] andybones:
I agreee. except for those that have to pay an extra $400 for a dev phone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gatesjunior:
Finalizing a couple small things for the install :)
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Redflea:
Yes, please...post in here (http://xdaforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=2318)! :)

There are a lot of us who didn't/won't take the OTA update and would love to run rooted ME7 that doesn't break anything or block custom recovery. My wife has ME7 (stock/unrooted) and her phone is noticeably smoother than mine.

Just saw your post above after I posted...great to hear.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] xs11e:
Hmmmm..... I think I'll continue running CyanogenMod.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] markwebb:
Please validate that number; spreadsheet?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lycwolf:
$200 for a new S4 with contract, vs $650 for one from Samsung. I'd rather be "locked in" to a contract than pay $700~ up front and not get a reduction on my bill.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] kdubcr250:
Even if I buy the dev. edition outright I'm still paying for a phone I dont have because of the built in subsidies that make no sense to me. I looked on xda and made sure the s4 was rootable and bootloader could be unlocked ( loki ) before I bought it. I also new better than to take the ota as well.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Rebel908:
Dev editions are only available at the full MSRP at 650 + sales tax (if any)

Regular editions can be had for 199.99 on contract and I got a 50 dollar gift card when I bought mine from best buy.

Its easy enough to search for. Anyone buying off contract from Verizon might as well buy a dev edition if they can wait.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] hallstevenson:
What would a spreadsheet do ? As already noted (Andy is actually $50 too low), just about everyone has to pay $199 for an S4 as an upgrade and the Developer Edition has a fixed price of $650. Most people can do that math in their head ! :D
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] markwebb:
Again, spreadsheet? :) And. don't forget about unlimited data. Many of us still have and that is a savings.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] xXPrOwLeRXx:
I got 5 on it

I got $5 on it
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] afmracer6:
donation bounty

put me down for $30 each. thanks guys! :cyclops:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Redflea:
I know what you mean. :) This is the first phone I've had since my OG Droid that I haven't quickly put CM on as soon as it was available. But I really do like the TW Calendar, multi-window, TW camera, the IR blaster, and the feature (can't remember the name) where the screen matches screen rotation to your face (great when reading in bed). Plus I've never had a phone where CM battery life matched a stock/rooted/modded ROM.

I think maybe it's also that I've just gotten a little bored w/CM & AOSP. :) <gasp!>
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] pego99:
How will we find out when the rooting solution is available for the update?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] twiz0r:
It will be posted on every Android blog, also There will be a new root process or the current one updated...trust me it won't be hidden once it is released
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] pheitmeyer:
I'm in for $10 for New Root Method Exploit :cool:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ddemlong:
Donation Amount

OK I'll lay mine down.

Root/Recovery: 10

Boot-loader: 20
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] brizey:
Same boat. Usually do some sort of cm derivative, but this thing is fast enough that the overhead of tw is not really noticeable. I really like the email app...I even use it for gmail. I use the hover for preview function on it all the time.

Honestly, there just isn't that much difference once I load up apex. I guess the settings look different, lol. Between nottach, inverted apps, and themed apex launcher, it doesn't even hardly look any different, let alone perform differently. And of course, the camera app rocks. I am sure I will crack flash the non tw builds on occasion, but they just don't offer much advantage.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] chunger:
I would like to add $20 to each bounty category please.

Thanks :good:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lastfreedom:
I'm in for $50 either way. Just want some options. Thank you.