About all I know of these terms is that Jailbreak refers to IOS and rooting to Android, but beyond that I really am at a loss. Would someone mind explaining to a technological neadathal what this is all about and the benefits of doing it and presumably the detriments of it as well.

I appreciate that there is probably a wealth of info about this on the web but any time I look it gets far too detailed and complex and my simple brain hurts. So please take pity on me and avoid the overly technical terms.

Many thanks

Oh yes, can we please avoid an Android v Apple fued on this one?

Rooting and jailbreaking refer to gaining access to the deeper systems inside your phones and tablets.

 

Android and IOS are very consumer orientated and locked down and some people like to be able to get into the guts of these things. Rooting lets you access those bits below the surface.

 

It was a bit more fundamental with Apple kit since to move to another mobile company you had to jail break the phones.

 

It does open up the phones to attack from hackers and malware (viruses and dodgy apps) if you're not careful.

 

I'd suggest unless you're of a very geeky disposition or you have a real need to jailbreak an iPhone it's probably something to avoid doing.

It also invalidates any warranties you have.

I rooted my old phone (android) and if anything it made no difference to how the phone ran. Benefits are you can personalise you phone more and get rid of the Bloatware (built in useless apps). Negatives are you can brick the phone and have an expensive paperweight and like Aspman said you void you warranties. 

Rooting an Android Phone/Tablet DOES NOT invalidate the warranty! as it's really quite easy to un-root (or even just loose Root by no fault of your own!) the device! However unlocking the Bootloader to then be able to Root the device in the first place DOES invalidate the warrenty as 9 times out of 10 you cant re-lock it! (you can with Nexus Devices, but it wipes the device every time you do it!).

 

However Jailbreaking an Apple product invalidates the warranty straight away as (was said above) it goes deeper into the system, and Apple lock down everything unlike Google (not a shot at either company!!)

 

Both my Nexus 4 and 7 are Rooted as I have a couple of apps that need Root access to gain full functionality - eg: Cerberus (Security GPS tracking and control of the device) needs Root access to be able to take photos and locate any scally's that nick my phone/tablet! and even let me wipe the device(s) remotely! Like the 'Android Device Manager' on steroids!!

Edited 6 January, 201412 yr by Simoneale1973

i thought you had to unlock the bootloader to root a device, certainly did with my Sony. Voided my phones warranty as you could never go back from the bootloader unlock.and had to get a code off Sony for the pleasure.

Yeah! Sorry about that.... Sort of what I said above! I think I confudged myself as I typed it!!

 

If you have a Nexus Device (like me) you can re-lock the Bootloader (it wipes the device) it's just a case of running some code under the adb command. Everyone else (Sony, HTC, Samsung etc..) you need a special code and it 'does' invalidate the warranty as it's not reversable!!

Edited 6 January, 201412 yr by Simoneale1973

You can just restore the iphone backto factory then any evidence of your jailbreak is gone.

Jailbreaking is simply a way of changing settings apple wouldnt like you to change, makes the phone more personal. Can also be used to access different app stores for free apps but then again theres piracy issues involved.