yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
Others have said this here before, but I think it bears repeating - many of us (most?) really have no problem with Sony wiping the proprietary information from the device upon unlocking the boot loader. The issue is them not providing any way to go back and restore the original, proprietary Sony camera functionality.

They should have included a tool for securely backing up the TA partition prior to unlocking, and a way to restore that backup onto the same device after verifying a locked boot loader and unrooted, unmodified Sony ROM was present.

Failing that, at least they should provide a way for those early unlockers (those who used Sony's unlock process without having any way to know they were irreversibly downgrading the camera's factory-installed capabilities) to send in a relocked device and have it truly restored to factory condition. There are no doubt hundreds or thousands of people worldwide who unlocked before Sony provided notification that doing so irreversibly reduced the camera's abilities.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] clouds5:
With that I completely agree. And yes a way back would be nice. Atm there's no way I'm gonna unlock it. But if they provide a method to backup TA partition or a workaround is found I'd consider it. Anyway I'm gonna leave this topic alone until lollipop, with raw image support maybe no one gives a damn about stock camera apps anymore :)
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
J him

Yes I truly hope that Lollipop and its raw camera data API will herald a new age of superior camera apps, and, perhaps, result in many average or lackluster snappers suddenly having a path to greatly improved performance on Lollipop-capable devices.

I'm not a big phone camera photographer myself, but I have to say I personally think this device's low light performance, even *with* Sony's algorithms, is no better than mediocre anyway. Maybe Lollipop will provide solutions that make this whole issue moot. Let's hope so.

P.S.

I also hope that any devs looking to customize ROMs for rooted Xperia devices don't forget to provide a way to bind those new Lollipopified camera apps to use the devices' dedicated shutter button.

Seems to be no way to set that up on the stock devices.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Bäcker:
That is extremely unlikely. Where should those hundreds of thousands come from? Ask "normal" people if they know what unlock is. We, the rooting folk, are just a really small fraction of total users.

I doubt anybody is just visiting the Sony site and unlocking their phone. Prior they'll visit one of the many android forums and they'll know.

I alsou doubt there are even a thousand who unlocked WITHOUT knowing the risk.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
Please reread my post that you quoted yourself. I used the phrase hundreds *or* thousands, not hundreds *of* thousands - a difference of about two orders of magnitude!

I fully realize this predicament is not particularly widespread - all the more reason a big company like Sony could fix this problem for the relatively small number of people affected.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
You can't believe how much I love you for saying this (even I can't believe it xD).

Anyway, has anyone tried writing a letter to Sony?

Maybe, with a petition with enough signatures or something, we can get an agreement for them to release a tool like that.

EDIT: Letter sent. Forwarded TJ's idea and offered to start a petition if necessary.

Let's hope this works *crosses fingers*
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Bäcker:
woops, my bad! Sorry. I really read hundreds of thousands :D
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] cpurick:
My thought is that even though the devices are not covered under warranty, Sony should still be able to repair them for a price. Cost of a factory flash on working hardware shouldn't really be that high. Maybe somebody should ask Sony how to purchase repair of missing DRM on relocked bootloader. This should be doable.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
Nobody really says it voids your warranty -- it may, but that's a "maybe" not a "must".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android_OS)#Legality (The part about Europe does apply to bootloader unlocking as well.)

If you're in the EU, don't worry:

Basically as long as you didn't cause the defect with modifications and unless the OEM can prove it's your fault, you're safe. (fastboot erasing radio/bootloader or flashing a bad bootloader/radio image are pretty much the only ways you can fcuk up that I'm aware of)

The loss of DRM keys is no real defect and you cannot be told bootloader unlocking caused a hardware defect such as a cracked back with normal use, the radio not working or the camera not functioning, for example.

For all you other lads not in the EU, I couldn't find anything related to bootloader unlocking legality or warranty expiration upon doing so.

And now that we got that out of the way, I doubt anyone but the factory where these phones get their partitions loaded can restore your TA partition without a backup (as it would need to be an image that's generated from scratch based on the various numbers on your phone).
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Toughdroid:
Anyone have a comment on the loss of camera quality after rooting? I'm planning to root my device today!
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Nakkila:
This is quite sad, as I went blindly into getting Z3C as my work phone thinking that "of course it is or will be rooted soon". I would do the unlocking, but not sure I want to void the warranty of a phone I don't own by destroying the TA volume.

D'oh. 5€ for the root bounty from me, if it exists!
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
I'll be waiting to hear back from the Sony Dev World team for their thoughts on the official TA backup tool. Will keep you guys updated when (and if) I get a reply.

If they deny the proposal, I'll be opening a bounty thread unless I'm beaten to it.

As for the warranty, check my previous post in the thread if you're in the EU. If not, you probably know best what the laws are where you live.

[MENTION=4687178]Toughdroid[/MENTION]: A quick fix of your wording: Simply "rooting" doesn't produce this problem. It's the cause of the format of the TA partition when you unlock the bootloader.

This is the best I could find to answer your question (click!)

I remember Android Police having comparison photos like before/after though, which I couldn't find in the thread linked. Search around a bit, you'll probably be able to find it within 15 minutes.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Nakkila:
That's cool, I'll be waiting. :)

I do live in the EU, but at least in Finland there has been some controversy as to warranties being voided due to custom roms. It used to be cool, ain't so much no more. Although I'm unsure of the exact meaning of the court orders against some customers, does it now apply to all or none. I did get my custom'd Nexus 5 through warranty repair without any hitches, though, so YMMV I guess.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Toughdroid:
Hi 755, thanks for the info. It doesn't seem like the camera degradation is so bad. I will go ahead and lock it and root it, and hope for improvements as more developers get this device. Who knows what people will come up with that might make the camera even better than what Sony has.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Iruwen:
Remember that this doesn't only affect the camera but also the value of the device if you ever want to sell it again.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
****-ish move, but the value stays the same if sold to a person oblivious of this whole situation.

That said, anyone out there reading this in 2015 and considering getting a used one, don't.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Tweaken:
Currently, the only reason i want to root this phone for is to delete the dock.ogg file! I hate that i cant turn off the dock sound!!
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Fruktsallad:
You can use Tasker or a similar app to temporarily mute all sounds for a few seconds when any charger is connected.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] schnidex:
..but for as long there's still a chance they can find out and not be oblivious later down the line, which is always possible, you are still 100% screwing them over by selling it on. It isn't right to fool yourself into thinking it's okay to fool someone else you've never met for the sake of getting some of your own money back.

This is an unfortunate situation for those of us wanting to root and have the best photos possible, but passing on the problem isn't the solution.

I too have a locked Z3C that I'd like to root, but I don't want to lose my DRM keys and would happily contribute to a bounty to solve this.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
It's unfair, yes, but probably not something this person would notice right away. The seller would get away and the buyer would be screwed.

I'm not endorsing this (or plan on doing it), just saying out loud the thing that's gonna happen in a year, perhaps sooner.

As for the bounty, I'm still waiting for a reply from the Sony Dev World team. My request has been forwarded to the "internal Open Source team" for them to see "what can be done to support this," but I have yet to receive any reply on whether it is even possible.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Iruwen:
Slovenia is part of the EU, so no he wouldn't. And I doubt there's any country where this would be true.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] y0bailey:
I don't understand why companies want to lock things down like this? I for certain won't buy a device that cannot be rooted...so Sony just lost $530. I am plenty sure there are people who are like me...and next thing you know you are down thousands of dollars for no reason at all.

Go ahead and check this device off my "to buy" list. I am holding out to see if my aging N4 gets some more life with lollipop, but sadly this was my go-to replacement. Unless a root method without ruining the camera pops up in the next few weeks, I'm moving on the the 1+1 or Moto X.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
You can not imagine the number of times the law is broken here (*cough* politicians *cough*). I've seen friends and family get screwed when buying used items, like getting a phone only to find the screen completely shattered.

I haven't had the dis-pleasure of experiencing it for myself yet, and I'd rather I never have to.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] kopsis:
The Z3C isn't "locked down" any more than the N4. If you want to unlock it there's a simple procedure to make that happen. Once you unlock the bootloader, you're free to do whatever you want (including root). Yes, you will lose protected software features like Miracast and some of the advanced image and audio processing algorithms, but those features aren't even present on the Nexus or Moto X, so how exactly are you worse off with a rooted Z3C than you are with an N4?
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] y0bailey:
I mean the simple fact that by unlocking the bootloader results in features being lossed irreversibly = crippling the phone. I am not going to drop $530 on a phone to immediately cripple it. And one of the reasons I want to upgrade my N4 is that the camera is trash. I don't plan to immediately decrease the quality of the camera of my next phone day 1.

So I do understand what you are saying, but at the same time I don't agree and won't be dropping money to immediately gimp my phone.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Iruwen:
Then you have to make choice. Stay with Sony's superior software algorithms or unlock. They're protecting what's theirs.

PS: but I also think that functionality should be restored by an online service once you relock the bootloader of course, just like the unlock process works.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] schnidex:
Right. It seemed like you were saying it was okay to do this, on the possibility that the buyer wouldn't find out, which isn't true.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
It's an eff'd up world, man.

People can get away with far too much (like me with this OT post right now, but that's beside the point xD).

Also, at the guy looking to upgrade from an N4: even with an unlocked bootloader, the camera on the Z3C is, imo at least, much better than that of an N4.

Though, if anyone does know this; does the phone use supersampling when not using the full 20.7MP resolution? It would be nice if it did, but I haven't seen any proof of it.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] schnidex:
It's full of good and bad - but regardless, that's not an excuse to do anything that makes life difficult for other people, although hopefully that's not what you're saying.

:good:
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Walter_White:
What I don't understand is what exactly Sony is losing in terms on intellectual property on a rooted phone? What does it matter? You have paid for the phone and the app development gone into it, so what does it matter to them if you root? It's not like you are stealing their camera app to use it on a non-Sony phone (which probably would not work anyway), but you are using their software on their device...

Is there a list anywhere of all the features that cease working or are castrated once the DRM keys are gone and how severly it impacts phone performance?
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
To answer the second question first:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2890936

In reply to the first question:

Sony apparently believes the camera's low light post-exposure processing algorithms are valuable enough trade secrets to protect behind a DRM encryption scheme in a separate partition. Others have already made the point that this seems overkill, since reverse-engineering the undoubtedly patented ideas would get any significant infringer into a world of legal trouble, anyway.

My view is that they consider the methods to be so valuable that risking even actionably illegal copies of the methods being made is unacceptable. Frankly, my experience with the camera leads me to believe that they may have a greatly over-inflated view of the effectiveness of their algorithms, but they have every right to do whatever they believe necessary to keep the methods a secret, in my opinion.

I just think it would be good customer relations on their part to provide a way to fully reverse the unlock process and restore the devices to genuine factory condition.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] someone755:
To word what I meant better: It's full of eff'd up people doing eff'd up things. There's a lot of good people as well but I'm a pessimist. xD

My policy is to only make it difficult for others when I want it difficult myself (eg never), but I do see a lot of people who just inflict sadness onto others for no good reason.

Tl;dr: Don't be a douche = everyone is happy.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] kopsis:
The algorithms are apparently good enough to have lots of people up in arms about losing them :) Restrictions in recent years on the patentability of software algorithms in the EU and US may be partly to blame here. Not to mention that the cost of legal battles to fight theft of IP that is legally protected can be outrageous. Another possibility to consider is that not all of the IP belongs to Sony. It's commonplace these days for a company like Sony to license cutting edge IP from smaller research-oriented companies. Often those licensing terms mandate protection, whether the quality of the software protected warrants it or not.

The problem is that it's technically difficult (if not impossible) to provide an end-user tool that does this in a way that prevents the DRM keys from being extracted from the restore image. The restore image would have to be encrypted such that only flashing with a locked bootloader could decrypt it. And I'm not entirely certain you can make the bootloader code inaccessible from a rooted device. So if Sony didn't, or couldn't put that capability into the hardware, then it's unlikely you're ever going to see a restore utility. Not because Sony doesn't want to give you one, but because there's no technical solution that can do it in a way that doesn't expose the very thing they're trying so hard to protect.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
TBH, I half expected that such a tool might be technically impossible or economically infeasible for Sony to provide. Still doesn't make it OK that some eager beavers unlocked before Sony put accurate information on their website concerning loss of the low light functionality.

That's why I had posted up thread that Sony should, failing a tool for all to use, allow people who unlocked early to return a relocked device to the manufacturer to have it fully returned to factory condition. Not that many people thus far affected for this to be a big deal to them, but a great customer service move by Sony. If they were concerned about the costs of such a program, they could require proof of purchase prior to some specific date to qualify for it.

Look, I realize the chances of fixing this, in any official way, for the folks who consider themselves unfairly treated, are next to nil. But it sure would be a nice gesture for Sony to make for a relative handful of their more cutting edge customers.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] kopsis:
I agree 100%. Since Sony provides the unlock key, they know exactly which IMEIs got unlocked prior to the disclosure being added to the website, so it's not like this could be easily abused. The decision makers at Sony might even agree if there was some way to make them aware of the situation. But we're talking about such an incredibly small percentage of Z3 owners that it would be extremely difficult to get this issue on a decision maker's radar.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] TJCacher:
Yes - If only there were some way for big companies to easily monitor what their early adopters and technically proficient customers were doing with their products, and what kind of issues they were experiencing. Perhaps some kind of online forum or something. Hmmm...

;) JK - I agree with you, numbers are just too small to really get useful attention. A pity.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] geronimoid:
Any chance of porting the Z1 or Z2 camera? AFAIK the post-processing for those devices didn't require locked bootloader and hardware is fairly similar...
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Fruktsallad:
It's already been ported, although I think won't see much difference. The post-processing is there even using third party apps such as Google Camera.

If you wanna try it out, it's available here:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2785444
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Tweaken:
I tried using Tasker, but it does not mute the sound fast enough. I still hear the first 3/4 of the docking sound, and it's loud.
[Xperia Z3 Compact General] Fruktsallad:
That's really weird cause it works just fine here. [emoji15]

However, let's keep to the topic. I believe this very question has been discussed in the Q&A section.
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sarumane:
Hello All

I have been a whole 24 hours on the internet, these forums and others, trying to find a way to relock the bootloader on my Moto G (1st Gen). Software version in attached screenshot. I unrooted it easily but I cannot get the bootloader to lock. I have tried a variation of every piece of advice on the forums. Much of the advice puts you back to an earlier version of android. Mine went back once and then updated and hasn't went back to an earlier version since. I have got rid of the bootloader unlocked image, I just can't lock the bootloader.

Most of what I have been trying has been along the lines of:

SET fastboot=fastboot.exe

%fastboot% devices

%fastboot% oem lock begin

%fastboot% flash partition gpt.bin

%fastboot% flash motoboot motoboot.img

%fastboot% flash logo Moto-logo.bin

%fastboot% flash boot boot.img

%fastboot% flash recovery recovery.img

%fastboot% flash system system.img_sparsechunk0

%fastboot% flash system system.img_sparsechunk1

%fastboot% flash system system.img_sparsechunk2

%fastboot% flash modem NON-HLOS.bin

%fastboot% erase modemst1

%fastboot% erase modemst2

%fastboot% flash fsg fsg.mbn

%fastboot% erase cache

%fastboot% erase userdata

%fastboot% oem lock

Using the 'RETAIL-GB_4.4.2_KLB20.9-1.10-1.9_cid7_CFC_1FF_v5_SVC firmware'. The above is an adapted script from elsewhere on the forum. I have tried others as well with no success. The above is from http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2575586

As with others, the bootloader remains unlocked. I already had stock Android, so no benefit there, but still no lock.

I have looked through pages and pages and pages on this forum and others and cannot find a successful answer, so please don't just suggest I search the forums as I really have spent a day doing so and trying everything. The issue is, it doesn't work and no-one responds with a solution in the posts, invariably changing the topic to warranty, which isn't the question. I am a relative noob but can follow instructions and I am confident that I have followed the posts accurately, especially the one I have referenced.

One thing that no-one has advised - would it work if I put my original oem unlock code after 'oem lock begin' command. It isn't mentioned in any post I have read?

I would be really grateful for any help!

Saru
[Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sarumane:
Tried it with the oem codes...

I tried using the large unlock code to see if it would lock it. It didn't work...
[General Topics] Mohd Haikal:
Hello All Developers and All XDA Members and specially welcome for Galaxy V (SM-G313HZ) User :) .

Today i want make a tutorial on how to ROOT your Galaxy V 100% Work ! , Compatible with all firmwares of Galaxy V . Many question i saw on XDA thread on how to root this devices , but now i bring to you a solution.

This method is need to use a Custom Kernel that i mod it and created it myself.So lets begin ! :)

REQUIREMENTS

1: USB DRIVER OR KIES . (GOOGLE AND DOWNLOAD IT)

2.ODIN . DOWNLOAD : samsung-updates.com/Odin307.zip

3.My Custom Kernel :

Mod Edit: Links removed

4. VROOT : cdnpic.mgyun.com/files/products/vRoot/1005/2013/17236736/VRoot_1.7.3.4863_english_cid1005_7337ba1e_89.exe

Download all that requirement files and ready to begin with the root process.

ROOT METHOD

1. INSTALL SAMSUNG USB DRIVER TO YOUR PC AND RUN ODIN .

2. CHECK PDA BOX AND INSERT MY CUSTOM KERNEL ON IT (.tar file) . (DO NOT CHECK ANYTHING EXCEPT PDA)

3.NOW WHEN YOU HAVE DONE , POWER OFF GALAXY V INTO DOWNLOAD MODE BY PRESSING POWER+VOLUME DOWN+HOME

4. PLUG IN YOUR DEVICES WITH USB CABLE AND MAKE SURE ODIN DETECTED YOUR PHONE. AND JUST PRESS START . YOU SHOULD BE DONE WITH A FEW SECONDS AND YOUR DEVICES AUTOMATICALLY REBOOT .

5. AFTER THE PHONE SUCCESFULLY REBOOT. THATS MEAN YOU SUCCESSFULLY INSTALL CUSTOM KERNEL. NOW PLUG AGAIN USB CABLE AND OPEN UP VROOT.

6.WAIT UNTIL VROOT DETECTED YOUR PHONE.

7.ONCE YOUR DEVICES HAS BEEN DETECTED CLICK ROOT (THIS PROCESS MAY TAKE SOME TIME)

8.WHEN THE PROCESS IS RUNNING, YOUR DEVICES MUST BE AUTO RESTART AND YOU MUST HAVE SUPERUSER INSTALL ON YOUR DEVICES , THAT MEANS YOU SUCCESSFULLY ROOTED !! :D

9.INSTALL SUPERUSER APP FROM CHAINFIRE ON PLAY STORE TO UPDATE THE SU BINARY.

AND NOW THERE YOU HAVE IT , YOU SUCCESFULLY ROOT YOUR GALAXY V ! , ENJOY

**WARNING**

DO NOT COPY THIS THREAD! , PLEASE RESPECT ME OF TIRED MAKE IT FOR GALAXY V USER .

IF YOU WANT TO SHARED IT , JUST COPY THIS THREAD LINK AND GIVE THE FULL CREDIT FOR ME .

DO WITH YOUR OWN RISK!

HAPPY ROOTING AND PLEASE PRESS THANKS IF I HELPED ! :D

*NOTE*

AFTER A SUCCESFULLY ROOT MY GALAXY V , IM ON A NEW PROJECT TO CREATE CWM RECOVERY FOR GALAXY V (SM-G313HZ) :)

COMING SOON ! :)
[General Topics] cleverior.ipul:
[MENTION=5799376]Mohd Haikal[/MENTION] : r u sure that the kernel modified by your self ? i think the original modder is from here. And then you COPY it. LOL
[General Topics] justmpm:
Closed for investigation.
[8525, TyTN, MDA Vario II, JasJam General] xelashiu:
http://www.hkppc.com/xelashiutheme/WineRed_xelashiu.htm

download here

My another design of dialpad theme_3G --Greenleaves

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=1104836

Crystal series: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=1114315