Rooting Your Android

Though rooting an Android device might seem daunting to some, especially those who are relatively new to the platform, it is actually simpler than it first looks. Moreover, rooting a handset lends a user better control over the device and reveals many hidden features that can be personalized to be used as desired. 

1. Updates: There is probably not a single Android user out there who hasn’t spent weeks and months waiting to the latest software build for his or her phone. The updates are painfully slow in reaching customers, as can be proven by how long the Jelly Bean build is taking to reach end users almost a year after its release.

Android Ice Cream Sandwich is a little better off, but despite the launch of two more advanced systems, Gingerbread is still the most widely used operating system in the Android world. This is a far cry from the speed at which Apple updates its products with the latest iOS builds.

Rooting one’s device gets rid of this waiting game somewhat since it puts the user in control of the software that runs on the handset. This is true, of course, more for newer, more advanced devices. Older gadgets may not be able to support newer software builds completely. To give you a clearer picture, any device made in 2011 and after should be able to run an Android build of 4.x and over with ease.

2. Bloatware: Bloatware, or unwanted systems applications, are a pain the neck for many an Android user. Rooting one’s device gives complete access to its file system along with all its administration rights. This in turn allows one to remove bloatware from one’s handset at one’s convenience. 

By accessing their device’s file system, users can delete all those age-old system files they no longer require. Not only will this clean up all the clutter on the handset, it will free a lot of memory to be put to better use. This is a special boon for all those devices that come with limited on board storage.

3. Processing Power: By rooting one’s device, one can increase the power of one’s handsets by overclocking its processor.  In some cases, even a 1 GHz processor can be transformed into a 1.6 GHz chipset. Clocking up the processor increases its speed and power manifold. The same handset, once rooted, can perform faster and better than ever before.

Those who desire a much more powerful device can give their handsets a custom ROM along with a clocking makeover. With all the tweaks that a custom ROM brings to the table, an old device becomes almost new.

4. Root-only applications: With a rooted device, one has access to a number of root-only applications which have the power to make a handset more functional and user friendly than before. Some examples of such applications include DroidWall, Hexamop Recovery Pro, Rot Call Blocker, Samba Filesharing, Titanium Backup, Dual Mount SD Widget, Keyboard Manager and LEDs Hack. 

5. Custom ROMs: Custom ROMs are designed by developers who are not connected with Google or its hardware partners. These ROMs, a popular example of which is CyanogenMod, function a lot like the TouchWiz or Sense UI, adding to the overall Android experience. They are, in fact,‘customized’ to maximize a device’s usability, functionality and performance.  Gaining access to such custom ROMs is another advantage of rooting one’s device.  

6. Battery Life: On a rooted handset, Custom ROMs go a long way in improving battery life. They do this by removing unnecessary bloatware and performance hindering applications. In fact, power management apps like Superpower work better when they run on a finely tuned rooted device.   

7. Modification: Ordinarily, in order to get one’s hands on the latest innovation from manufacturers like Beats Audio or S-Voice, one needs to purchase a new and improved device. Rooting one’s existing handset saves one the trouble of having to make a new purchase while at the same time allowing one to enjoy all the benefits of innovative additions. 

Since rooting a device gives one complete control over the software that runs on it, one can pick and choose the features one desires, without depending on the inventions of a particular manufacturer. 

Rooting a handset not only makes it more powerful, functional and speedy, it also improves its lifespan. A handset that is likely to die out with the next software update needn’t necessarily do so, if it is rooted properly and intelligently.