As with most Android devices, it was only a matter of a few hours after launch until the Xoom was rooted, allowing would-be tinkerers access to the nuts-and-bolts of the device’s Android operating system.
Many potential rooters have held off though, as the Xoom is due for a hardware upgrade to LTE, which Motorola Inc. and Verizon Wireless will be performing gratis – and rumours had been flying that rooted devices would not be eligible. This is pretty much par for the course – you hack your device, you void your warranty and you’re on your own – so it only seemed sensible to hold of rooting until you had the new hardware.
Go into an Apple Inc. shop with a jailbroken iPhone and they won’t touch it with a bargepole. Thankfully Google Inc. have a slightly more lenient policy when it comes to those who like to fiddle with their devices, and now it would seem Motorola and Verizon Wireless are drinking a similar Kool Aid, and will still give Xoom owners the upgrade, even if their tablet is rooted – with a couple of stipulations.
In order to get the upgrade, rooted users must restore their device to factory settings, meaning the software will be as close to stock as can be. The companies even say they will be accepting fully-rooted devices for the upgrade, but if the new hardware doesn’t stick, it’s on your head.
The message, posted on the Motorola Support Forums, reads:
“All Motorola Xoom tablets on the Verizon Wireless network are eligible to receive an upgrade to support 4G LTE. This includes those that have been unlocked; however, those units must be submitted for upgrade with the original factory software reinstalled and the device relocked in order to receive the upgrade.
For devices that are returned unlocked, Motorola will attempt to complete the upgrade, but may be unable to update the software. In these cases, the device will be returned to the consumer with just the 4G LTE modem installed.”
Good news for all those Xoom owners out there!
