framarootI concluded my previous post on the travails with my Navon Mizu M500 generic Android smartphone with a gripe about still looking for a way to root my phone. Well, now I found it. Courtesy of the Framaroot application, I was able to root the phone with just one download, without using a PC, and with just one click … well, okay, two or three on the way there …

The Framaroot thread at the ever-reliable (meaning: not infected by trolls, malware, etc.) XDA Developers site, warns that "success with this application void warranty on your device," but it’s still worth the risk. I downloaded the .apk file for the latest version from XDA Developers, and then clicked on it, to face some dire warnings about the risks I was facing by running the app. I did it anyway, and was faced with a choice of three exploits that Framaroot can implement to root your phone: Boromir, Faramir, and Barahir (yes, very Lord of the Rings). Clicking on the first two resulted in a fail. But Barahir, specifically targeted at MediaTek-based devices like my Navon, worked fine. One reboot later, I was fully rooted, with SuperSU Free snugly installed on my device.

Now I can start taking advantage of the slew of apps on the Google Play Store that require a rooted device to run, or for full functionality. But the real next step is to find a custom ROM (CyanogenMod, for instance) to replace the ageing Android 4.2.1 on my phone. Any hints and tips invited …

2 COMMENTS

  1. Congrats, Paul! I need to try this on one of my $20 cell phones.

    E-bookers who are into cheapie Android phones—warranties be damned—will enjoy your post. Perhaps some can pass on related tips. Will Framaroot work for that?

    That said, people should not only be aware of warranty issues but also potential security risks.

    David

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