Sony, it's not fair! Sony is selling unlocked Z3 starting from today!

[alirezanasibi]

While we are locked and afraid of unlocking our bootloaders for decreasing camera quality ( meaning no root ), Sony has started selling unlocked Z3 from today!!

How about us with locked bootloaders? It's not fair!

[SergioPL1]

But... unlocked Z3 only means that you can unlock bootloader and lose Z3 camera features... so what is the problem? (Except that operator editions doesn't allow to unlock bootloader at all)

[Hampus]

On several markets, there are phones that are sold and not locked to an operator. But they may have a customized software which in some case can deny the boot loader from being unlocked. No phones that are sold have an unlocked boot loader from the start, this is something that you need to do on your own.

[alirezanasibi]

Do you mean this unlock doesn't mean they can root their devices without touching/damaging camera quality?
I thought unlocked bootloader default by Sony means that sensitive partition is untouched.

[SergioPL1]

Root can be done without unlocking bootloader.

Unlocking bootloader will clear DRM partition and remove some features like camera features, X-Reality etc.

As Hampus said some devices have unlockable bootloader (it is locked but can be unlocked at the price of loosing DRM keys) and other devices are locked and can not be unlocked (they are for example special variants or operator customised).

[alirezanasibi]

So today unlocked Z3 offered in US have lower quality in camera than ours. Sorry my dumb knowledge.

[SergioPL1 · Accepted solution]

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@alirezanasibi wrote:
So today unlocked Z3 offered in US have lower quality in camera than ours. Sorry my dumb knowledge.

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Nope. Unlocked Z3 offers the same quality as locked ones that are on your market.

Unlocked Z3 means that owner has a choice. Use it as it is with all the features all Z3 has or he can unlock bootloader to do advanced stuff but loose DRM keys then.

So basically if you buy locked Z3 you can't unlock bootloader. The one who buys unlocked Z3 has the same phone as you but he can unlock bootloader if he would like to do it.

[Soniquev8]

I don't even care about DRM.  I'm not trying to steal stuff.  I just want to play with Android 5.  I know about all the risks, encountering bugs and whatnot.  I just love beta testing stuff.  

I bought the Z3, didn't I???  So obviously I love the newest and best tech.  And it's not like I'm going rogue.  I mean, this is an official procedure on Sony's website!!  How to install 5.0, how to unlock the bootloader, etc. This is stupid!  Why are T-Mobile (in the US) so (un)special?  Why do we need the hand holding?  Why are we kept from experimenting if we so choose???

We're paying the same price in the end for an unlocked version.  GIVE US WHAT WE PAID FOR!

At least I was able to install beta software on my iPhone and Apple locks that software down tight as a drum.  Android is supposed to be open source... but Sony will only release pre-approved versions on pre-approved hardware at pre-approved times.  Doesn't seem so 'open' any more does it.  

[Uliwooly]

@Soniquev8 The issue is not Sony, is T-mobile USA, networks request the bootloader to be locked, forever, and there's nothing Sony can do about it, you have the right to complain, and you should, but you have to do it directly to T-mobile, not Sony. 

[Soniquev8]

Of course you're right.  But the only BS I can get from T-Mobile or the people on the T-Mobile forums is that the fault lies with Sony; which I knew was complete crap. You can see how this would be frustrating to no extent, not being able to get a straight answer from anyone.  I was just hoping that someone at Sony knew a 'magic code' that would let me use it like a normal Z3 but that's probably in violation of whatever agreement T-Mobile made with them.  

*sigh*

First it was SIM cards, we (the consumers) called them on that.  But now they figured out a way to control us using firmware.  

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@uliwooly wrote:

@Soniquev8 The issue is not Sony, is T-mobile USA, networks request the bootloader to be locked, forever, and there's nothing Sony can do about it, you have the right to complain, and you should, but you have to do it directly to T-mobile, not Sony. 

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