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When the Asus Transformer Prime launched, there was outcry from developers over the fact that its bootloader was locked. Asus eventually crumbled, and announced that they would remove the restrictions. Now, almost two months later, you can download the fix.
The news means that those who wish to do so can now install customs ROMs on their Transformer. Asus is, however, keen to point out just how bad an idea it thinks that is, saying:
“It is strongly advised that you avoid activating this App unless you fully understand and accept the risks that may arise.”
Yeah, yeah. Shut up, Asus. [Asus]
It’s worth noting that this will void your warranty according to the notice on Asus’s website.
This is always the case, even with Nexus devices. However if you break the screen or suffer some other damage that can’t be blamed on the unlocked state they will probably still fix it.
At last!
Now for the wait for decent ROMs to come out to make unlocking the bootloader worthwhile.
This saddens me, basically Asus were forced into this by basically internet gang bullying by a small but vocal minority using social media to sound like a larger collective than they actually were.
What next?
0.001% of Playstation owners forcing Sony to include a coffee making function in the PS4?
The media of course were also to blame for this, as (as i’m sure they knew), pretty much every other Android, iOS, Windows Phone and Blackberry device also has a locked bootloader, something all Asus’s bad press failed to conveniently failed to mention.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s good that Asus have done this, as has Sony and HTC and given the end-users the option of support long after the manufacturer has ended supporting the device, but it’s the way the children of the internet went about getting it….
Manufacturers of Android devices have no excuse for not knowing that there will be a group of users that will ask for this. I don’t believe that there was anything unusual or different in the campaign to get Asus to offer an unlock compared to those aimed at other OEM’s. As consumers people have the right to ask, manufacturers they have the right to say no and people can make their future purchasing decisions based on that.
And that’s fine, vote with your wallet is the proper way to do this.
However we live in a world of twitter hashtags and facebook campaigns, where a vocal minority can shame companies into doing things at a whim.
Go look at the Prime XDA forums around the time of the Prime launch, and you will see the same handful of users encouraging others en-masse to try and start a viral campaign to change Asus’s mind though publib shaming on social networks.
The selective reporting by the media simply poured more fuel on the fire (and generated them some nice advertising dollars in the process of course).
Seriously MikJe has it EVER been any different? At any form of protest there will always be people who are leading and encouraging others and the use of Social media channels is just the modern equivalent of handing out leaflets and holding meetings and besides OEM’s use Social media to push their products so why shouldn’t the campaigners use them to push their viewpoint.
Not sure what it is that you are complaining about. After all there are also twitter and Facebook campaigns asking Apple to clean up it’s act in China, don’t tell me you are against those too.
I wouldn’t worry about it Darrell; there are a number of people on GizUK just spoiling for a good moan or argument.
I disagree