Today, I switched my phone carrier from Sprint to T-Mobile and traded in my iPhone 4 for a Nexus 5. I'm rather new to Android phones, so I would like to know if there is any sort of thing similar to jailbreaking an iDevice for them and if so, I would like some recommendations as to what to do.  

Well I don't have an Android but from what I've heard,

Androids are a little less strict on phone modifications compared to Apple. (By modifications I mean by things like jail-breaking tweaks and stuff like that)

So have in mind you've got a little more freedom with an Android than with an iPhone.

That doesn't necessarily mean that Androids are better than iPhones so don't bother starting another flame war on that.  

Yes. It's called rooting, and it's easy to do.  

HI PSYCHER. HOW ARE YOU PSYCHER? PSYCHER I MISSED YOU. HELLO AGAIN PSYCHER. *Emperor Zurg voice* WE MEER AGAIN, PSYCHER... FOR THE LAST TIME! >:0 ALSO ONE QUICK THING, HI PSYCHER.  

Posted by hosler

Yes. It's called rooting, and it's easy to do.

Thanks, I'll look that up.

Posted by Blueh

HI PSYCHER. HOW ARE YOU PSYCHER? PSYCHER I MISSED YOU. HELLO AGAIN PSYCHER. *Emperor Zurg voice* WE MEER AGAIN, PSYCHER... FOR THE LAST TIME! >:0 ALSO ONE QUICK THING, HI PSYCHER.

HELLO BLUEH I AM GOOD HOW ART THOU  

It depends on what you're looking to do. Do you really need to root your device? Android is way more flexible than iOS and you can do a pretty wide array of things even with a stock device.  

Posted by Dusty

It depends on what you're looking to do. Do you really need to root your device? Android is way more flexible than iOS and you can do a pretty wide array of things even with a stock device.

It was more out of curiosity and wanting to know what I can do with rooting the device. After some research, it seems like it does add some nice functionality, but it's not really enough for me to be interested in doing so.  

The only reason to root is if you're going to put custom roms on your phone.

If you just want thing like os themes, keyboards, emulators etc you dont really need to root.
Rooting is easy though and some apps may require it, not really any mainstream apps though.  

I also did the T-Mobile uncarrier thing. I got an S4 at first but I hated it. Traded it for a 5S. Apple may be more protective but it is a lot better than an Android phone. My S4 was clunky and full of "bloatware" which is additional bull**** placed on your phone.

Apple4lyfe it's so much more efficient and reliable. PLUS we are safe from malware.

Nexus 5 looks nice though. Google keeps things very simple which I love.  

Posted by Psycher!

Thanks, I'll look that up.


HELLO BLUEH I AM GOOD HOW ART THOU

*Thor voice* I HAVE ART WELL IN THINE ABSCENCE, IT IS WONDERFUL TO MEET AGAIN, BROTHER! I WELCOME YOU HOME TO MIDGARDIA!  

Posted by iHot

I also did the T-Mobile uncarrier thing. I got an S4 at first but I hated it. Traded it for a 5S. Apple may be more protective but it is a lot better than an Android phone. My S4 was clunky and full of "bloatware" which is additional bull**** placed on your phone.

Apple4lyfe it's so much more efficient and reliable. PLUS we are safe from malware.

Nexus 5 looks nice though. Google keeps things very simple which I love.

So essentially the only reason you don't like your S4 is because of the pre-installed apps? Guess what Apple has? Pre-installed apps. Also, get this, you can hide those apps.

Also, safe from malware? You're never truly safe from malware. Although Jailbreaking does give you root permissions to your phone, what if malware finds the same exploit, and uses root privileges to mess it up?

Also, on Android, the only way you're going to get malware is if you decided to go into Settings and allow apps to be installed not on the play store. Then you decide to do something stupid like downloading an app online.  

This isn't going to end well...  

Just so you know, Android doesn't have "bloatware." Service providers put that stuff on. It's a lot like buying a PC from Bestbuy or such, which will have a bunch of **** already installed on it, and then saying "Windows sucks because it comes with bloatware on it." The only difference is Android is open-source so you run into different flavors, and also it means it's very easy for carriers to make it so you can't remove those apps.  

Let the ignorant people keep their iPhones who cares, in the end everyone is happy right?
lol.  

Posted by iHot

I also did the T-Mobile uncarrier thing. I got an S4 at first but I hated it. Traded it for a 5S. Apple may be more protective but it is a lot better than an Android phone. My S4 was clunky and full of "bloatware" which is additional bull**** placed on your phone.

Apple4lyfe it's so much more efficient and reliable. PLUS we are safe from malware.

Nexus 5 looks nice though. Google keeps things very simple which I love.

What are you downloading on your Android device that makes it so unprotected? Yes, downloading Porn from sites like 4shared probably isn't safe!