In late January this year, Motorola made an announcement on their Facebook page stating that they would be working on a bootloader solution that would support developers while protecting end users. This announcement coincided with some bad press received from their Motorola Atrix 4G video posted on YouTube, when asked in comments if the bootloader would be unlocked a Motorola representative advised the commenter that if they were after an unlocked bootloader, to look elsewhere. A media storm ensued and the subsequent Facebook announcement was made.
Read on after the break to see how one determined Aussie took the fight to Motorola.
This is where the story gets interesting, Irwin Proud from Melbourne, Australia decided to pick up the Motorola Atrix 4G from the United States as it was the first readily available consumer dual core Android phone of 2011. Irwin purchased the phone in the hopes that Motorola would indeed follow through with their Facebook announcement, thus allowing the high end customisation, such as CyanogenMod. After receiving the phone in late February and later finding out that the bootloader was not unlocked Irwin contacted Motorola to find out if they actually had any intention of unlocking the bootloader of the device. After 3 emails and 1 snail mail letter sent, to which no response was received from Motorola, Irwin decided to start an online petition using a site called Groubal.I remember back in January when CES was going on about the Motorola rep saying those things. Made me turn away from the Atrix 4G. Lets see if things will change in the future with their bootloader. And, its not actually bad to have a locked bootloader, the thing that mobile enthusiasts do not want is an encrypted bootloader. The THC Thunderbolt, the G2 to main a few phones which had a locked bootloader that are now unlocked because there was no encryption in the bootloader. Heck, even the original HTC G1 (first android phone) had a locked bootloader.
Read @ Ausdroid
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