Skip to main content

Sony Ericsson to allow Xperia bootloader unlocks, with strings attached

Sony Ericsson will be allowing users of all four of its upcoming Xperia phones — Arc, Neo, Play and Pro — to access the bootloader (the software which loads an operating system into memory) for the purpose of unlocks. The news comes straight from the source, in a posting on the company’s Sony Ericsson Developer Blog. Before you start hailing this new renaissance in open-source mobile development however, there are a few things you ought to know.

First, and perhaps least importantly in the minds of prospective unlockers, Sony Ericsson only recommends that “advanced developers” take advantage of the feature, which you’ll need the Android SDK’s (that’s “software development kit”) Fastboot feature to access. What’s more, SIM lock protected phones are out of bounds. So you’re not going to able to just unlock your new phone if it is, for example, freshly purchased from the Verizon store.

Recommended Videos

There are other factors as well, “depending on your market and the original configuration of your phone,” but details are not provided. Sony Ericsson suggests that would-be boot loader unlockers test the functionality using Fastboot; if the phone can connect, the unlock can be performed. Also note that this feature is only supported on the upcoming Xperia phones; the newly released X10 is out of bounds due to “technical and legal reasons.”

The usual “you may void your warranty” warning is issued. A repair tech won’t tell you that unlocking is not allowed, but any phone running modded software is not going to be compliant with the usual battery of Sony-authorized test and repair procedures. If warranty repairs do need to be affected, Sony Ericsson reserves the right to levy a handling fee. This is actually quite a rational way of handling things. The post also (rather hilariously) warns of potential physical dangers that can result from running custom firmware on one’s mobile device, due to the risk of overheating.

The warnings seem largely geared toward discouraging amateur developers from potentially bricking their phones. While Sony Ericsson repeatedly pegs this functionality as something that only advanced developers should take advantage of, the whole idea of open-source development is to produce freely available content for public use.

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
The Xperia 1 II brings Sony’s mirrorless camera tech to a smartphone
sony xperia 1 ii camera launch date xperia1ii lifestyle design man large

Sony’s Alpha-series mirrorless cameras are known for the best-in-class autofocus and fast continuous shooting, and those same features are now trickling down into Sony’s latest phone. The Xperia 1 II will ship July 24, with pre-sales beginning June 1, Sony announced today. The Android 10 device also borrows tech from Sony’s gaming and entertainment products.

No, the phone won't get a large APS-C or full-frame sensor like an Alpha camera, but Sony is integrating several key performance features of its camera line into the Xperia 1 II, like a 20-frames-per-second burst mode. That's as fast as the sports-oriented -- and $4,500 -- Sony A9 II mirrorless camera.

Read more
Widescreen Xperia 1 II super phone is full of Sony’s camera and visual expertise
sony xperia 1 ii photos launch price availability news 10 mk2 top

 

If MWC 2020 had not been canceled and had gone ahead as usual, Sony would have started the first day of the show with its own smartphone launch. While the event itself may not be happening, we’ve still got the details of Sony’s new phones — the Xperia 1 II and the Xperia 10 II.

Read more
Android 16’s latest beta promises deeper mobile photography controls
The Android 16 logo on a smartphone, resting on a shelf.

Google has started rolling out the second beta update of Android 16 for supported Pixel devices. There are not many user-facing features arriving with this build, but Google is making a few framework changes that will enhance the camera experience for users in the near future.

The most notable change is a new hybrid auto exposure system arriving with the Camera2 API upgrade. So far, users have only had access to rudimentary controls in the auto-mode for capturing stills and videos. For deeper controls, there was no other option than digging into the cluttered Pro mode.

Read more