Samsung has Updated the Note 8 Bootloader

Samsung is the world'southward biggest manufacturer of Android smartphones, having plenty of flagship devices such as Galaxy S8/S8+ and the Galaxy Note eight. While the company has had its fair share of controversies, the devices are notwithstanding more or less preferred past users thanks to the great hardware and design. However, it seems every bit if Samsung is taking a move that might accept adverse effects on the company.

We've seen previously that smartphone companies tin only support a device for a certain period of time. It is the developer community that actually supports a device by building custom firmware and ROMs for the device. Sadly though, Samsung is rolling out a new bootloader update that will prevent the installation of aftermarket firmware.

Equally reported by XDA-Developers, Samsung is rolling out a new update for the Galaxy Note 8 that comes with the January security update. While bringing some patches for the Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities, the new update also comes with a new bootloader. The new bootloader ways the user will not be able to downgrade their device later on this update. Furthermore, it patches the use of tertiary-party Odin clients also.

For the unaware, Odin is Samsung's custom tool that is used for flashing the company's designed firmware. Unlike other Android devices out there, Samsung has removed certain features such as fastboot from the bootloader and has replaced it with Odin. Samsung uses the Odin tool to check for model number, region location, and other firmware related parameters to authenticate the flashing of a new firmware. While modded Odin apps have been able to featherbed these authentication measures, the newly updated bootloader will block the employ of all third-political party Odin software.

What this all ways is that users will no longer be able to install custom firmware since information technology is not officially signed by Samsung. Furthermore, y'all will also not be able to install firmware from some other region since it will trigger a mismatch in Odin. Lastly, if you effort to wink the carrier unlocked firmware on a carrier phone, information technology will difficult brick your telephone. Currently, in that location is no way to restore from a hard brick in Odin from the new bootloader.

While the new Android Oreo beta containing the January patch has been released for other devices, such equally the Milky way S8, it however does not contain the new bootloader. Equally such, modded Odin software still works for them. However, once the devices become the new BLv3 revision, the changes volition be permanent, and at that place would be no way of downgrading or updating to custom firmware.

Beebom's Accept

Equally someone who is really busy with the Android development scene and loves to try out new custom ROMs and features, this news comes as a big blow. Despite its bug, I've e'er admired Samsung'due south pattern language, and the extensive use of industry-leading hardware. While the above news should not bear upon full general users who prefer to stick to stock firmware and upgrade their devices in less than a couple of years, it certainly is alarming news for the Android programmer customs. Information technology seems every bit if Samsung is marching on to get the nigh secure Android OEM out at that place, and the new bootloader update certainly seems to be a step in the same direction.

Source: https://beebom.com/bootloader-update-samsung-prevents-flashing-region-firmware/

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