yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Moto X General] joeynshelby:
I understand that root is needed. So there is going to be a temp root available for HTC devices (with locked Bootloader) running 4.4.4 but not a temp root available Motorola devices (with locked Bootloader) running 4.4.4 ? Unless I'm missing something that doesn't make much sense to me. I don't expect the developers of sunshine to come out and says " hey guys we can't support unlocking Motorola bootloaders past 4.4.3 or Motorola threatened to sue us." Most of these guys work in mobile security I get that. This is their careers we are talking about. Let's just be real with ourselves here.
[Moto X General] :
They're completely different devices. Many devices have easy root methods, and many do not.

Just cause they can root one device, doesn't mean they can root every device.

And Motorola seems hell bent on locking their devices down. Hard to Root, no downgrading, etc.

The M8 is nearly a Nexus.... There's not much that can't be done on them.

So until anyone figures out how to make a root exploit for a locked moto on 4.4.4....sunshine won't work. ?
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
Another thing to consider is the possibility of exploiting some vulnerability in Sense or specific apps on the HTC devices which don't exist on the Moto devices, rather than exploiting a flaw in Android itself.

And since the likely have different kernel versions, perhaps HTC didn't plug a vulnerability that Moto did?
[Moto X General] joeynshelby:
I totally agree with Motorola and Verizon make it very difficult .

---------- Post added at 12:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:38 PM ----------

Its just the vague "technical reasons" I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around.

Its suspicious of a threat from Motorola. They have a well documented history. I completely understand there reasoning behind not elaborating any further. They may not be in a position at this point to discuss it further with causing some type of harm to themselves. But us? We can and that is what makes this forum a great place. I completely support their work sunshine is a fantastic tool. They are brilliant. I also agree with them charging per device for an unlock or for an independent

root method. Their time is money and they deserve to be making a hell of a lot more for what they provide to us. I
[Moto X General] :
The day you see a root exploit for 4.4.4, like a towelpieroot thing, in the forum.... Is the day Sunshine will likely work.

Or maybe the sunshine devs will find the root.... In that case might not see it on XDA. At first.
[Moto X General] joeynshelby:
Totally agree. That day is coming. If the devs find it first they will just include it in sunshine vs releasing it independently. Rightly so. They should . I would too. That way no one can benefit from their work without paying. I got 25.00 with their name all over it when that day comes. I wish I could do what they do. You can't put a price tag on that. When I first came across sunshine I couldn't believe how cheap it was. I mean 45.00 for a guy in china to give a code? And they are charging 25.00? They are practically given it away.

---------- Post added at 01:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:01 PM ----------

My personal opinion is a root exploit shouldn't be released with detailed instructions on exactly how its done. That gives companies like Motorola a sure fire, quick way to patch it. If it is a one click solution automated type thing e.g. sunshine its on the down low at least a little. As android progress the security is getting better and better the code is getting more and more secure and vulnerabilities need to be protected as much as reasonably possible.

I mean its a two sided coin. If an independent dev not in mobile security comes up with a root exploit they want to share but wants to protect it from say Motorola if they lay it out step by step vs a "one click solution" that's a sure fire way to kill it. The other side of the coin someone may say "well I'm not comfortable with out knowing in exactly what the app is doing before I use it or pay for it". My answer to that would be if it is a well respected contributor like jcase I would venture to say its safe. Sunshine being the prime example. Lots of users (satisfied users) and we don't know EXACTLY how the app accomplishes its purpose. From point A to point B that is although we have some good ideas. :good:
[Moto X General] Fadelight:
2 things about that statement...

1) JCase is already sitting on 2 exploits. His mid-november time estimate was based on when his need for these are finished.

2) JCase has stated that sunshine working with 4.4.4 is not necessarily a root issue, and that there are other factors involved.

It's coming, and like every other exploit so far, Id put my money on him releasing it first... but it's going to take some time.
[Moto X General] joeynshelby:
Exactly. My original point. You won't convince me that he has got it figured out for HTC on 4.4.4 and not moto. He knows where his bread is buttered so to speak and when it has no more value to him we will benefit from his work. In all actually he could keep it to himself , put a bug in moto ear and we would never know the difference. I personally am greatful he has released as much as he has. He is a part of this community by choice not because he has too. We share a love of android and we like to dabble in things we shouldn't or what they (Google, Motorola, Verizon) say we shouldn't. I mean just look at the disclaimer that pops up on your phone from moto when you actually unlock your bootloader . cause me personal injury. I mean really...is my phone going to explode and kill me or horribly disfigure me because I unlocked it?
[Moto X General] :
I am sure there's more to unlocking the X on 4.4.4 than just root... But again, even if there is a separate issue... Still need root to use it.

And I'll stop my comments on it here..... But no... Rooting another device doesn't mean at all you can just easily root another. If so, the exploits, like Cf, towelroot, pie, nv... Etc etc... Would work on all devices. But they don't. Different architecture to exploit on various makers. And that's why HTC will work (soon) and the X won't.

?
[Moto X General] seabass950:
Why oh why did i upgrade to 4.4.4 last month???????
[Moto X General] josuearisty:
Now this is finally the thread for speaking about unlocking the boot AGAIN.
[Moto X General] Flexia32:
If he does get 4.4.4 that may mean unlock for droid turbo also which is going to be a big seller. I know I'm looking at switching to that device
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
Only if the Turbo were to share the same bootloader, which is unlikely. I may be wrong, of course!
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
The Turbo is junk.. I ordered it the 30th and got it two days ago, the 64 gig balistic model.. the awsome battery doesn't last as long as my moto x 1st gen. It's going back today.
[Moto X General] on4now4:
Well i upgraded to 4.4.4 and have now decided i would like to root. So as i patiently wait and hope for someone to figure this out. I must ask with lolypop on the horizon. Is it a bad idea to let my phone update when it is released? Will updating just put me further away from root?
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
If you have a bootloader that can not be unlocked, it is always recommended you wait on upgrading.

Because Lollipop will be new, any past vulnerabilities which could have been usable, might be patched, so finding a new vulnerability to exploit in order to gain root might take more time.

Another fear is the phone's bootloader being updated with Lillipop. If that happens, it might not be vulnerable to the exploit Sunshine uses to unlock the bootloader.

As we've seen with past root and write protection disable processes, each new update breaks the root/WPDisable processes, and we need to wait for new exploits and processes which may or may not come. (4.4.4 can't be rooted, 4.4.2 and above can't have WPDisabled unless you can unlock the bootloader, etc).
[Moto X General] eksasol:
The Nexus devices could not even root on Lollipop unless a custom kernel is used. They also have a new security feature that you need to allow bootloader unlock within Developers Mode. I'm not sure if that mean you won't be able to if your bootloader is locked and you also soft brick your device. For Motorola devices you can flash factory images even if your bootloader is locked (though not downgrade), this isn't possible with Nexus devices.

I wouldn't upgrade to Lollipop until the bootloader is unlocked.

sent via tapatalk
[Moto X General] josuearisty:
Im on 4.4.4 and Im not going to take lollipop until I get my boot unlocked, even if it comes tomorow.................

Cant wait for lollipop!
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
Yeah, I've read about the changes in Lollipop, and challenges it poses to rooting. Its been a while, so my memory is a little fuzzy, so I didn't want to bring it up.
[Moto X General] jco23:
Just applied sunshine on 4.4.2, then upgraded to 4.4.4 via OTA.

I did NOT install twrp yet, as I'm waiting to see what happens with lollipop.

But otherwise, I'm enjoying 4.4.4 with root. Thx to all that contributed on this thread.
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
It would be harmless to root your phone, grab a stock recovery image file from the fxz, put in a safe place on your SD card partition, then get a recovery flash app from the market. Put twrp 2.8 .0 .0 with the recovery image file. It's a simple matter to flash from one to the other at any time. TWRP actually updated my phone at the last OTA...But that was a fluke, my mistake, I got real lucky!
[Moto X General] giantcrazy:
Would just like to say thank you, except as...

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

This is the way the scene should operate, a more than fair price for an excellent service. It checked my phone, determined compatibility, whisked me off to PayPal and 3 minutes later my bootloader was unlocked. Can't beat that.
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
I'm still running 4.4 on my phone.. rooted with slapmymoto, my brother has a moto x on 4.4.2 that I unlocked the bootloader with sunshine but didn't update it to 4.4.4 because I didn't have time to figure out how to install a custom rom, he needs root to use unlimited data hotspot.. so it's unlocked via sunshine and rooted with towelpie.

Are you saying you unlocked with sunshine and than updated to 444 and have root without installing custom rom?
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
As I understand it, when you flash TWRP, it will ask if you want root at some point, once you go into it. Having TWRP is wholly reversible, and there are apps to enable recovery img flashing directly on the phone!
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
I don't have the time to spend on installing a custom rom, my Q to jco23 is, how did he get root without installing a custom rom? if I can have root without installing a rom than I will tell my brother to take the ota
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
Flash TWRP, version 2.8.0.0. Isn't the latest, but it is stable and very functional.
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
You are having a difficult time understanding, please re read my posts a few times.
[Moto X General] jco23:
my understanding is that once rooted, always rooted unless the new official software patches that (as with 4.4.4). unlocking the bootloader prevents the patch from, well, patching root.

for me, I already had root on 4.4.0 via slapmymoto, wpmotonomo, etc. I then took the 4.4.2 OTA (which did NOT unroot).

sunshine then unlocked my bootloader (it cannot unless root is already established).

in order to install a custom ROM, one would need ROOT first. for me, I did not use a custom ROM, as all I need is Xposed. my only reason for going to a custom ROM is to free up memory space. but given that we cannot accept OTAs unless everything is there, I'm fine simply disabling those bloatware and uploading my pics/videos to picasa web album to save space.

so in your brother's case, since the BL is unlocked, his phone will be rooted forever (again, that is my understanding). so he should be good to apply the OTA so long as he is still using the stock recovery and not TWRP.

so to answer your question, yes. I have a rooted/BL unlocked MOTO X with stock 4.4.4.
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
Once the bootloader is unlocked, take the OTA's to the version you want to be running on your phone (4.4.4 is ok, but some complain about battery life). Then you do just like those with Developer Edition X and other Unlocked bootloader users have done to root for a while now.. Flash custom recovery (like TWRP), boot to it, and it will prompt you to root, or you can install the latest SuperSU zip from there. that is what roots it.

In other words, once you unlock using Sunshine, you may root by following -> http://xdaforums.com/moto-x/moto-x-qa/instructions-unlocking-rooting-dev-ed-t2649738 Just please be sure to use the latest TWRP fastboot IMG file and Installable ZIP of SuperSU.

And it does not matter what Stock ROM or Android version is on your phone, once your bootloader is unlocked, you can always root or re-root it. (You just can't take OTA with custom recovery on there!!).

After rooting, you can flash stock recovery back on, if you feel more comfortable, and want to be "Stock but rooted"

With your phone, since you mention having 4.4 and rooted via SlapMyMoto, I would suggest you flash the 4.4 SBF to undo the SlapMyMoto effects, use sunshine to unlock (if you haven't already), upgrade to a newer android version if you want, then follow those instructions to flash TWRP and Root.

To put it another way. IF Sunshine works on your phone to unlock the bootloader, your bootloader is unlocked just like you used the code and commands Moto gives out for the Developer Edition X, or the China Middleman was selling for ATT, VZW, Republic Wireless users (who Moto didn't give code out for). In essence it turns your phone into the Bootloader Unlocked "Developer Edition" but voids the warranty.

You no longer need someone to find vulnerabilities to exploit to gain root and disable write protection. You just flash a custom recovery like TWRP to root. There are some caveats to taking future OTA's (such as what I have written here -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/MotoX-OTA.html )
[Moto X General] doitinthedirt:
Now I see... your moto x is different than the 4 I've had. I got two in april of 2014, both running 4.4, I slapped them both, one I still have mine and it's working fine. My brother got the other.. well he used it for a month and broke the screen so moto sent a free replacement in june but it came with 4.4.2 and would not root with slap... but towelpie would provide temp root. Before I sent the broken one back to moto I took the 4.4.2 update and it wiped out slapmymoto root... that's how are phones are different.. yours kept slap after updating and my brothers along with several others here did not keep root after taking the 4.4.2 OTA

My brothers second moto x was good for 2 days before he said it took the update to 4.4.4 on its own and lost my root I had on 4.4.2 with towelpie. So called moto again and they sent a replacement warrenty phone again and it came with 4.4.2 so he is back in business... but I sunshined it and froze the OTA updater so it can't update to 4.4.4

Now, I am curious if I run sunshine and unlock mine which is still on 4.4 and rooted with slap, if it will do as you say and keep root and write protection disabled.. if I take the OTAs 4.4.2 and than 4.4.4
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
Then, of course, there's that pesky warning that comes up instead of the multi coloured M on boot. I lost the file to flash on to the phone which corrected that. They put the M back in place of the warning, but the M was always orange, it did not change colors on every boot. Some research will get you the correct commands to

In ADB while in fastboot mode.
[Moto X General] jco23:
to give further detail, I did have the "temp root" on 4.4.2 (whereby after each hard reboot, all the settings reverted). but a simple re-install/update of Xposed along with a soft-reboot re-established the root - had to do that little 2 minute song & dance every time the SU binary needed to be updated or if there was an update to gravity box. the difference in this temp root is the lack of maintaining that write-protection gone.

so in other words, if you have "temp root" on 4.4.2, then you should be able to apply sunshine then accept 4.4.4 OTA.
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
I hope the misunderstanding is cleared up, now. I was suggesting that you flash a recovery image, not a ROM, not an operating system, but the recovery, a.k.a. TWRP. Perhaps you were stuck thinking that root was achieved while running a ROM. Things are different now that you have an unlocked bootloader, and in a fabulously wonderful way!
[Moto X General] mschumacher69:
Dude, TWRP is not a custom ROM, it's a custom recovery. Flashing a custom recovery is the only way to root on an unlocked bootloader.

Once you flash TWRP and root, you can always re-flash stock recovery, as long as the factory image SBF for the latest version of your model is available.
[Moto X General] blacksn:
After boot unlock XT1056 I cant flash recovery, cant flash phone with RSD Lite and fastboot, cant do factory settings. It says that it was flashed but evrything remains the same.
[Moto X General] Einheit-101:
My Droid Maxx with 4.4.4 stock just arrived from USA. Great phone. Now i just wait for the Bootloader unlock / root exploit :D

I am willing to pay my 25 Dollar for it, i hope this "jcase" or someone else is currently working on it :)

Greetings!
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
As far as I'm concerned, the correct reference is 'THE' jcase! There are few as talented as he, and his cohorts. Unfortunately, sunshine does not unlock all pure stock 4.4.4. There was no cost involved to try. Only when it discovers that it will work, do you pay. Good luck!
[Moto X General] vaanus:
got my x BL unlocked, finally I could root my phone:highfive:
[Moto X General] atrix2man:
hopefully they will get full compatability to work on 4.4.4
[Moto X General] Minato04:
Guys, i'm starting to think about this possibility to pay 25$ and get the BL unlocked.

I just want to ask: once my BL is unlocked through sunshine, will it stay unlocked forever?

I am on a rooted MOTO X 4.4 right now, buti would like to update it and flash other roms to it. But i need my BL to be unlocked.

In my previous Android, an unlocked BL grants you an almost 100% possibilities to get root in every update. Is it the same with the MOTO X? (first Motorola ever, but it is AT&T branded D:)
[Moto X General] mawells787:
Correct. Once your BL is unlocked it remains unlocked. If you flash a custom recovery you can flash SU to get root access on any version of KitKat. Lollipop root is still in beta I think, but root should be available soon for it as well.
[Moto X General] Minato04:
Oh wow, perfect. I better keep my Moto X on 4.4, then collect 25$ to unlock it xD

Thanks for the reply :D
[Moto X General] jpcdeux:
Doesn't work on AT&T Moto X with 4.4.4 :crying:
[Moto X General] Einsteindks:
444 is hit-or-miss, if not solidly rooted...mostly miss.
[Moto X General] berdi4:
Same here. I made the mistake of updating my XT1058 AT&T to 4.4.4.

Will wait for the Sunshine 3 version and see if it works.
[Moto X General] Einheit-101:
Forget Sunshine 3.0 - it will

!!! N O T !!!

work for any Motorola 4.4.4 Rom and maybe there will never be a way to root or s-off your device.
[Moto X General] JulesJam:
Verizon Moto X Dev Ed New for $220 on Ebay

Just wanted to give people a head's up - you can get a brand new Verizon Moto X Dev Ed on ebay for $220. Click through ebates, fatwallet or mrrebates and you get another 2% back. Not much cash back, but it is better than nothing.

I don't think these come with a manufacturer's warranty but idk for sure. It's a great price for a great phone!! I actually like the white woven back/black front combo a lot.

Just search for Verizon Moto X on ebay and you will find the listing. N/A. Last night there were only about 500 sold but tonight over 1600 sold! I don't know how many the guy has to sell.

Also check your email for an email from paypal for a $50 statement credit if you sign up for paypal credit. Not everyone gets the offer, but it came around the end of November. If you sign up and then buy the phone on credit, you will get a $50 statement credit! Check your spam folder if have a paypal account and don't see the offer but like I said, not everyone gets the offer.
[Moto X General] KidJoe:
And there is a big thread in moto's forums of problems unlocking them. So buyer beware
[Moto X General] JulesJam:
thanks, on the thread I started another poster said they can be unlocked but you have to email and that people are being told that Motorola will honor the warranty.

http://xdaforums.com/moto-x/general/verizon-moto-x-dev-ed-220-ebay-t2965792#post57334038
[Moto X General] Johnny Wong:
I got one of those DE's off eBay and not only did I unlock the bootloader within 30mins of grabbing it out of the mailbox, once I registered the phone the webpage shows that it is under warranty till December 2015. The one I received was not one of those 2014 builds that left Motorola with wrong programming, it is a 2013 build with 4.2.2 installed. Another words, that eBay $220 deal is legit.
[Moto X General] aviwdoowks:
:p indeed!
[Moto X General] BigMace23:
Don't wanna be the bearer of bad news, but I think some of the discussion going on over in the Reddit threads should be seen here:

"He did not release enough information to actually execute the exploit.

He left out the most important parts, as it was probably a deal he made with the OEMs. The most important parts being the memory locations that would actually be valid through the exploit, without overwriting important data and hard bricking your phone. In addition to not releasing what "code" would need to run in the trusted zone to achieve an unlocked bootloader, again, without possibly bricking your phone...and are the memory locations and code to be run, the same for each device, or could there be variations.

What he released was basically all the ingredients of a recipe, without the amount of each to use, how to combine them (all at once, or at different times), or how to cook/bake it.

Now of course, someone could do a lot of experimenting to try and figure those things out, but the risk of bricking your phone is a lot different than making some terrible tasting cookies.

Seems like the firewater people have known about this very exploit for some time, which is why their tools couldn't unlock the HTC One M8, if it had received the OTA update where they patched the exploit.

They eventually found another one, but I don't think that this is a new exploit that hasn't been in circulation. It's probably the exact same one firewater has been using for quite some time."

So it looks like there's still hope, but there is also a lot of risk involved just to get it to work, and it will be a race to get it out before any updates patch the exploit (If it hasn't already been patched in 4.4.4).
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Me and Sam were just talking about this. We're looking into this exploit and will be working towards a solution.
[Moto X General] ThaSik1:
Yeah I've been reading reddit threads on it as well and they say he sold the info to some OEMs. They say that's likely why the details on how the exploit works hasn't been revealed in detail enough to replicate. Hopefully that's not true and Dan or some other amazing Dev figures out how to help the community get rid of this bootloader hassle from Vzw/Att.
[Moto X General] Verttex:
Yeah. All of these are rumors. Dan hasn't said anything about the exploit since the conference.
[Moto X General] :
Starting to sound like another "look what I can do..... But I'm not sharing" scenario. As we've seen in the past occasionally around here.