9 Reasons To Root Your Android Device
If you have been wondering whether or not to root your Android device then you have come to the right place. Before we start, it is important that you understand exactly what rooting your device is.
What Is Rooting?
Rooting your device means gaining root access to it. When you take your android device out of the box, there are plenty of settings that you can tweak but you can only alter what the manufacturer allows. By rooting your device you can modify the device's software at the deepest level. It does take a bit of hacking, it voids your warranty, and there is a small chance that you could completely break your phone. With that being said, it is still really it worth it when you consider all the great things that you gain access to. These include:
1. Lots More Apps
The Google Play store contains plenty of good apps but why should you settle for just good when you can have great. Once you root your android device you get access to some really great apps. With some of these apps you will be able to do things that the manufacturers and even Google don't want you too. Some of the apps such as Network Spoofer will allow you to use your device to set up a fake wireless network and when someone signs in, you can play havoc with their device. Many of these hidden gems that are for root only devices, can be found in the Google Play store. Google seem to be a lot more relaxed about rooting than Apple is about jailbreaking.
2. Speed Up Your Phone & Boost Battery Life
If you phone is slow or starting to get laggy or your battery is not retaining its charge, rooting could be the answer. Rooting allows you to install customized kernels that are optimized differently. Some of these are made for low power consumption and some are designed for speed. You can also use an app like Set CPU which allows you to overclock or underclock your phone's processor and set your own rules for usage.
3. The Latest Updates
A lot of android users are behind when it comes to updates. There are a lot of things that determine when you phone gets an upgrade and if you don't have the patience to wait then rooting is for you. Android's developer community is a hardcore bunch and they are often able to get the new OS onto a phone months before the carrier releases the update and they often include some bonus features too. Once you have your device rooted, you just have to find the OS version you want and then install it.
4. Better Backup
There are lots of apps out there that claim to back up your phone, but generally they just backup contacts, pictures, music etc. Once you root your Android phone you can go way deeper. Titanium Backup can back up all your apps along with the information stored in them. This is definitely worth it if you are going to play around with your phone.
5. Changing Skins
Many android users hate the software skins that manufacturers use to brand their devices. Rooting allows users to download and install any number of custom-built ROMs. Some of these are highly customizable and tweaked to add features.
6. Get Rid Of Bloating
Android phones can contain a lot of OEM skins and superflous apps that you will never use and that you can't remove. These things take up space and once you have rooted your phone you can use Titanium Backup to delete them forever.
7. Extreme Customization
The android is a great customizable device which is why people love it but if you root your phone you can have even more fun. If you want you can download custom ROMs that looking nothing like Android at all. You can have a sliding keyboard in portrait mode and a tapping, predictive keyword when you're in landscape. You can also add widgets to your notification bar and change the way certain features look and behave. The sky really is the limit when you root your android phone.
8. Abundance of Features
You can do so much more than just customizing your phones existing features, rooting allows you to add all kind of new things. If you want to hook up your PlayStation controller to your phone for better gaming you can. You can set rules for callers, unblock any apps your carrier has locked, the possibilities are endless.
9. Free Wi-Fi Hotspot
Your phone can function as a Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing you to get your laptop online wherever your phone has a data connection. The catch to this is that most wireless carriers charge you $10 a month of more for this privilege, on top of your data plan. With a rooted android device, you can simply download Wireless Tether, create your own mobile, encrypted Wi-Fi network and your carrier will never know.