Pre apps successfully installed on non-rooted phone, world waits for details

There have been no shortage of custom apps hitting the Pre already, including a number of old favorites, but all have required a little bit of roto-rooting ahead of time to lay the groundwork for such non-authorized code. That might change in the very near future thanks to the work of a trio of dedicated deviant coders going by the handles xorg, simplyflipflops, and Shaya Potter. Over the span of just a few days they managed to figure out how to package and sign custom apps in such a way that anything can be installed on a completely stock phone -- the only catch is they're waiting to see what Palm has to say about it before they release a full how-to. Since the company has its own plans of making most developers wait at least a few months before setting them free we can't imagine the response is going to be: "This is totally awesome, please tell the world our secrets." But, we'd be happy to be wrong.

[Thanks, Bo]

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 22nd 2009 10:54PM]

xorg here, i have released the instructions. palm is apparently indirectly in support.

http://predev.wikidot.com/installing-apps-without-rooting

[SHoe Posted Jun 23rd 2009 1:50AM]

In defense of Palm:

what do you guys think they are going to say / do? We can argue about whether they should do something like open source their SDK - but supporting people going out side of the SDK can't work because of support issues. If people are installing non-SDK wares on their device that go outside of the OS's intended programming interface and their is a problem with the dev ice, then technical support people are basically fucked. Or they say to 'too bad for you' to the customer. How can they troubleshoot a Pre is the firmware is fucked with? Not saying that has happened yet - but that is the motive for these statements by Palm.

This isn't about Palm pulling an Apple - they've already said you don t need to go through their store to install apps and don't need their approval for apps. The signing of the apps will hopefully be just like RIM's: developer purchases a signing key for less than a couple of hundred $ and can do whatever they want - but if they create a virus/malicious code then it can be tracked. Its more deterrent than anything and it does not give RIM any say in what apps you create. I know about a dozen companies and independent developers who write software for RIM and they just sign their apps as a matter of course and there is no bullshit about content, copyright, etc. - RIM doesn't give a shit (note: RIM has different horseshit issues with the development process - but that is another rant). In over 6 years of Blackberry development I have never heard of RIM pulling people signing keys based on content, or competition, or copyright issues - the developer can do what they want. Its all about assurances to the carrier that malicious code wont be installed. When it comes to approving the app itself, its functions, its content, etc - Apple are the only draconian assholes on this point (yeah - i slagged 'em. they make great shit but they suck. deal with it).

And I'm not saying people shouldn't hack this baby. I'm saying that's great for people with brains but for others - I'd advise waiting until the SDK is out before everybody leaps into a chance to brick their phone. And Palm is just saying what it has to say to keep from getting screwed by carriers and stupid users. Their being relatively mellow about this as far as I can see.

[Jomba Posted Jun 24th 2009 2:38PM]

Is the pre the Iphone Killer?

http://www.youcanquotethis.com/archives/902

[meta Posted Jun 24th 2009 8:52PM]

Australians snigger at the headline.