Rooting the LG Optimus SOL

Image by LGEPR via FlickrImage by LGEPR via FlickrImage by LGEPR via FlickrImage via Wikipedia16-Jan-2012


Even with my recent success in rooting the Samsung Galaxy R, I thought, of course, with much hesitation, of rooting my daughter’s LG Optimus Sol phone. This time around, the anxiety is more, since the unit is no longer mine. Should something happen, my daughter, not to mention my wife, will give me a good scolding. Well, my wife usually give me a good dose when see sees me doing something that she thinks doesn’t benefit anybody in the house. Don’t we men usually go into this kind of preoccupation?

I’m done with the rooting of the Samsung Galary R phone. Now, I’m off to attempt the rooting of the LG Optimus Sol, E730.

I plugged in the device to my laptop using USB connection. I thought it was the same as the other phone: plug, click, wait, watch, success. But, it was a wait, watch, failure!

What has happened?

So it’s true what they say. A freshman enters high school and is blur all throughout the year, and eventually he learns a lot – but not all. Yet, on the second year, he thinks he knows everything already. So the term ‘sophomoric’.

I thought I knew it all about rooting. But I failed.

I tried many times. In fact, SuperOneClick didn’t work. So I tried searching for other one-click rooting tools. I downloaded and tried UnlockRoot, and it also failed. I also tried DooMLoRD's Easy Rooting Toolkit, but it also failed.

With the use of 3 different one-click rooting tools, and all failing, I was thinking that something else could be the problem. We all think this way when something doesn’t happen the way we want it, don’t we. But when it succeeds, we don’t, right?

Anyway, it took me about 3 days to finally determine that I lack one fundamental requirement for rooting: the USB drivers. And hey, it could not be my entire fault. Plug-and-play dictates that the drivers, not only USB, would be installed when a ‘new’ device is plugged in to a computer – which it didn’t.

Fortunately, I don’t give up that easily. I searched, and searched, and searched, until I found that there is downloadable software from LG: LGMobile Update, and from there, LG PC Suite IV. I was downloading the USB drivers from the LGMobile Update interface, but I found that after installing the LG PC Suite IV software, it did the same, and in auto mode at that. So finally, I got the USB drivers from the LG Optimus Sol device. And all the other drivers specifically designed from the Sol unit.

So what now?

Right after, I made a new attempt to root the device, and guess what. This time, it was a success. Of course, I was inclined to the simpler and more presentable interface of SuperOneClick root-er, so that is what I used, and just like with the Samsung Galary R, I clicked, and waited, and watched, and success!

Next: Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V. but I haven’t found any effective rooting program yet for this one. I don’t lose hope. I know it will come. In time.

Till then!

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• 5 Tips for the LG Optimus C (mycricket.com)
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Root-ing my Samsung Galary R

Image via WikipediaImage by Yutaka Tsutano via FlickrImage via WikipediaImage by benmarvin via FlickrImage via WikipediaImage via CrunchBase16-Jan-2012

I did it last week.

I mean, I've not been doing anything with the iPhone 4 when my wife got hers, since I'm not really enamored with the iPhone, even when it was only 3, then 3S. And when my wife got hers, it was already 4, and I was simply ignoring that small device which has captivated millions (is my estimate correct?) all over the world. And it still does, but I will never be in the statistics.

You see, when I got my Samsung Galary R over a month ago, I felt it was a very good deal, unit price promo-ed at only $11 at the least plan that will have data access, not to mention that the SGR was already a dual-core device, albeit a toned-down version of the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Anyway, I was immediately introduced to the already huge world of android freebies, primarily through the Android Market, and then to the all-free spree being done in all of the major android sites - always. And this is something that I enjoyed on what the web has to offer - freebies!

Anyway, I also immediately found that many of the stronger apps out there (and yet still  free) are requiring the device to be 'rooted' - a limitless, all-access, superuser account category - that would be able to control the device from the very core.

Then I found that to root a device, it will void the warranty, and that the process of rooting, if done wrongly, may render the device unusable, 'bricked' so they say, ending up simply as a beautifully-formed glass and metal (and plastic) artwork.

Furthermore, it is a cat-and-mouse chase: while you may succeed rooting your device, phone manufacturers will eventually release a firmware update, which will unroot your device and clear any superuser accounts, and reinstate the device to its unrooted state. So hackers (developers to be precise) who are not content with that will again try to develop rooting methods and programs that will again be able to 'root' the device even with the latest firmware. Then manufacturers will release a firware update... it just never ends!

So I had my hesitation... take note, I had...

But the best of me yielded to the 'risk-taking', and on the 12th of January, I did my first rooting business - and I succeeded.

What made it all too easy is that I found several articles that offered help by laying down the process step-by-step, so I was fully familiar with that I should be doing, but finally, I found that I only have to click a button, and wait, and watch, and it's done. Is it too good to be true?

Well, it was. I used SuperOneClick. With all the hesitation in my mind, my finger steely clicked the mouse button, and I waited, and I watched, and it was a success! SU was created, and I had superuser access to the rooted device! That finally gave me the privilege to install those free apps that will help me take control of my small device from the very core.

So that's it. My small, yet very fruitful, new adventure: rooting my android device. And I showed my phone to my wife, and she wanted an exchange...

See, not everyone who gets the iPhone are really iPhone fanatics. My wife is one who would prefer the 'better' deal. She thinks the iPhone is outdated. I think all the more that it is outdated. It is like the IBM story, closed, proprietary, unaccommodating. Then PC came. Android has come, but devices will still be rooted. The limits and boundaries may be set and defined, but there are many who just can't be boxed and enclosed.

Android is freedom, and the exercise of freedom makes android users freer.

Till then!

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Using Kies with my Samsung Galary R (GT-I9103)

Image by low.lighting via Flickr
12-Dec-2011


I wrote about my experience using iTunes the past week, and today, I am writing my encounter with Samsung Kies. Well, I didn’t have a plan to buy a new phone for myself last week, but it was just for my daughter, who is now entering secondary school next year. The deal was simply to get her a new phone, whose price 
is not exceeding her PSLE score, when she renews her phone subscription plan contract.


Well, I should have done this a long, long time ago, but it was only this year that I am moving over, due to some bad publicity that Starhub had, where the reception signal isn’t quite good.


That may have changed along over the years.


So from Singtel, the whole family will be migrating over to Starhub. That started with my wife, which was also when she got her iPhone, first quarter of the year, and then last week, one of my daughters, and at the spur of the moment, including me.


After attending worship service at the church, we had lunch, and decided to pass by and do window shopping for phones to probably buy, but actually, to check out the brand and model she’s been eyeing, since the November company road show they held at our factory, I mean, Starhub team. She saw the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc S, but the price of the unit, under the plan we were targeting, whew! It’s quite for our budget, (but it is within her agreed amount, remember, PSLE score; we actually can buy 4 units…)


Our contracts were ended at the same time, somewhere in August, so anytime, we can sign up for a new one, and it was just a matter of time.


So we went to see and touch, check and compare, etc., etc., etc. Then what was available made her change her mind. It was due to the price, lower than what is offered for the Xperia arc S, but on another brand and model. That day, 4th of December, LG Optimus Sol and Optimus 2x, were just being released into the market, and they come with very good packages.


She decided first to get the Optimus 2x Plus package, which is Plus due to the charging dock, on top of the usual charger, and the additional 2GB SD memory. The phone already is fitted with 8GB internal memory, so that would already be sufficient.


And most of the phones we are checking are already on dual-core systems.


I am checking out the HTC Sensation XE, but I cannot buy yet due to the high unit price on the plan I am targeting. 


That was until we got a queue number, waited, and when called, sat down, and started discussing with the attending personnel. While her particulars are gathered, I stood up and walked around, to do the final view of the phones, for her (in case there might be better units on second thought), and that’s when I saw the Samsung Galary R, being offered for $11, at the same plan she’s getting. I was wondering, what is this phone coming to? It is supposed to be a better unit, I think, but why $11 only?


That’s when I saw the date at the price tag: 3-4 Dec only. So I rushed to check with the guy who has been pushing the LG units, and he said, that’s for 2 days only, yesterday, and today, then it will be back to its original price: $348, at your subscription plan.


So I tried to bargain with my daughter and told her about the other phone, but she can’t be persuaded, and her mind can’t be changed anymore: it was already 2 times she’s changed her choice. She won’t anymore. So my wife told me, why not I get it for myself. 


So I did!


Then my wife was telling me to wait for the other phone, which really is my choice, but I said, this is already a very good deal, and besides, the difference in the features aren’t really killer features, but the price is. So I decided to buy the phone and get my contract signed up at the same time, too.


By the way, I keep on confusing by saying ‘renew my plan’, but since we are porting over from Singtel to Starhub, it is not a renewal… it is a new contract. So the renewal, that will probably be in the next 2 years or so.


So there’s the story about my buying the phone, the Samsung Galary R (GT-I9103) en punto.




Using the Kies


I was thinking, this is software that would be quite frustrating and irritating, much like the iTunes, but I was wrong. Kies was so simple, and it was easy to use. I am immediately able to set the preferences, and of course, copy music and video files, within the hour, which included the downloading of the installer, and from the initial run, I don’t think there is anymore of tweaking setting, which are under the hood. Perhaps it was designed that way – and why not – things like this shouldn’t be so complicated so everybody can use it without any assistance from the customer service personnel.


You would immediately see the similarity of iTunes and keys, the device and the library. But with Kies, you are able to copy the files into your device by pasting it into the folders under the device. If you have done that, and then copy the same file in the library folders, Kies detects that as a duplicate file, demarked with filename(2), much like what Windows do, in case you accidentally copy over what has been edited with the original file.


But anyway, one thing I found is that I spent much time trying to convert video files into different WMV formats, and I can’t get the video frame that fits the screen size of GT-I9103 to a ‘T’. After trying so many frame sizes, copying these into the device by ‘paste’ or Ctrl-V’ into the device folder, and then viewing the videos, the size, no matter what I select, are either narrow, or short; it’s either the length or height that is a mismatch. Sometimes both.


But one time, when I plugged in the unit into the laptop, I decided to click on the option in the Autorun window that opens the device in Windows Explorer. I mean, I do that now and then, but this time, I used Windows Explorer to view the folders, then copy one of the video files that I have been converting for a thousand times (okay, that’s an exaggeration…), and when I played it on the device, it was a surprise: the video frame was an exact fit!


So that’s it. Why bother converting externally, when upon copying over, it will be converted into the right frame size and format by the laptop/phone software, automatically? Actually, the setting are there in the Kies, to automatically convert, but this is another way to copy music and video files, and get them in the correct playable format, and some more, being in the right video frame size? 


Some things we learn the easy way, and some things, the hard way.


But we learn.


Till then. Shalom!

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Apple shuts down Palm Pre's iPod functionality

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

More on the technology side, and maybe to cut short the competition, nothing of its own functionality should be found in other phone models; that could be the reason why the act was done.

Are you into iPhone?

Or are you eyeing Palm's Pre?

I am neither. I'm looking at Samsung. This is my honest talk. It would be either the Samsung i8910 HD, or the Samsung Omnia II.

For the removal of the iPod functionality from Palm Pre phone, read it here.

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Samsung's back with new laptops

Image via Wikipedia

Okay folks, I've been surprised with this news. A couple of months back, I was following how Samsung have entered the arena of consumer electronics battle, and it gained some footage, if I may say: black, sleek, shiny flat-screen TVs, top-of-the-line mobile phone models, coming close to the iPhone standard (I do prefer Samsung over the iPhone), etc., etc., then I noticed, nothing on the laptop area.

I searched the web, and found some history, sad as it is, telling that Samsung didn't make it good in its line of laptops, and had to quit.

2 years after, they now make a comeback. Will they make it this time?

A coincidence on Google Chrome's OS launching? Or all in the 'perfect timing' mantra?

Read the news story from ChannnelNewsAsia here.

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Google to launch its own PC operating system

Image via CrunchBase

Even with a high sales rate for iPhone, over a million just at its launching, and more, and a new OS for Samsung’s mobile phones, including an inhouse browser, Google pitches in, and announces that its target device is the notebook.

I think that iPhone is primarily suited for Mac, and that is somehow clamping down its sales for Windows Mobile users. As for Samsung, while the mobile phone OS is not WM6.x, it is still able to link up and communicate with WM6 devices. It is still compatible, in that sense.

Anyway, for Google’s OS plan, see that story here.

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