XDA Developers' Android Hacker's Toolkit: The Complete Guide to Rooting, ROMs and Theming [Paperback]

Jason Tyler (Author), Will Verduzco (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012 | ISBN-10: 1119951380 | ISBN-13: 978-1119951384 | Edition: 2

Make your Android device truly your own

Are you eager to make your Android device your own but you're not sure where to start? Then this is the book for you. XDA is the world's most popular resource for Android hacking enthusiasts, and a huge community has grown around customizing Android devices with XDA. XDA's Android Hacker's Toolkit gives you the tools you need to customize your devices by hacking or rooting the android operating system.

Providing a solid understanding of the internal workings of the Android operating system, this book walks you through the terminology and functions of the android operating system from the major nodes of the file system to basic OS operations. As you learn the fundamentals of Android hacking that can be used regardless of any new releases, you'll discover exciting ways to take complete control over your device.

• Teaches theory, preparation and practice, and understanding of the OS
• Explains the distinction between ROMing and theming
• Provides step-by-step instructions for Droid, Xoom, Galaxy Tab, LG Optimus, and more
• Identifies the right tools for various jobs
• Contains new models enabling you to root and customize your phone
• Offers incomparable information that has been tried and tested by the amazing XDA community of hackers, gadgeteers, and technicians

XDA's Android Hacker's Toolkit is a simple, one-stop resource on hacking techniques for beginners.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Join the millions of rooters worldwide who are making the Android devices truly their own.

Do you love your Android device, but feel like you’re not getting everything out of it you could? Written by Android expert, Jason Tyler, this book shows you how to take total control of your Android smartphone or tablet, regardless of brand name or release.

With the tools provided in this book, you’ll be able to customize your device to suit your needs and style, while maximizing its power and capability. In plain English, Tyler introduces you to the inner workings of the Android OS, walking you through the terminology and functions, from major file system nodes to basic OS operations. For the more adventurous rooter, Tyler provides links to key information on the XDA site that shows you how to achieve an even higher degree of expertise and capability. In no time you’ll learn to:

• Identify the right tools for any job on most Android devices
• Back up your OS, data and apps
• Modify your device’s ROMs or flash ROMs from other devices
• “Theme” the look and feel of your device to reflect your unique style
• Teach your old Android device amazing new trick

The ultimate beginner’s guide to Android rooting, XDA Developers’ Android Hacker’s Toolkit gives you the knowledge and tools you need to make your beloved Android phone or table truly your own.

About the Author

Jason Tyler has been an IT instructor and is currently Director of Technology for Typefrag.com. An avid Android hacker, Jason has been rooting and ROMing every Android phone he can get his hands on since the OG Droid.

Will Verduzco is a Johns Hopkins University graduate in neuroscience and is now currently studying to become a physician. He is also Portal Administrator for XDA-Developers, and has been addicted to mobile technology since the HTC Wizard. Starting with the Nexus One, however, his gadget love affair has shifted to Google's little green robot.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1119951380
• ISBN-13: 978-1119951384
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.6 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A simple, one-stop resource on hacking techniques for beginners August 20, 2012

By D. Wortham VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Some preliminaries. My phone is the LG Esteem and it is rooted, ROM'd, themed, and I've swapped the kernal out a few times. My previous phone was an LG Optimus. I also rooted that phone but didn't ROM or theme it. That phone had very little internal storage and a lot of bloatware. I think I doubled my internal storage when I got rid of the junk that was deemed uninstallable by the OEM.

I've done all that just using on-line forums, gumption and finger crossing. I'm a geek and I love computers and computer stuff and I dabble in programming. If that sounds like you then you don't need this book. Don't waste your money.

With all that in mind, I wouldn't have bought this book. It came up for free to review with the Vine program and I was very interested in seeing what it contained. So, on with the review...

It is a boutique book.

If you:

1) are overwhelmed by the online forums for rooting
2) heard of rooting but know nothing else
3) some combination of 1 & 2
4) aren't going to miss the money you spend for this book

...then this book was written for you. In most respects, it is the beginning of your journey not the end-point. It is a map. A guide. An overview.

Note #4 carefully. If you are not squarely inside of this bracket then don't buy this book. Period. The book description is accurate when it says 'simple' resource. The authors avoid getting into the complexities of Android as much as possible. The Android operating system is ... Linux. A highly specialized version of Linux made to run a very complex piece of technology - your mobile phone.

If you are super geeky and a computer person then you aren't really overwhelmed with on-line forums. You are impatient and you'll be dissatisfied with this book for sure. Save your money and use the Internet.

It does a good job of introducing you to rooting, rom'ing and theming. Lots of examples and walk throughs using the standard tools for hacking Android phones. It includes specific walk throughs for specific devices which is very nice if you own one of them and still good even if you don't just for seeing how it is done.

It does a good job of reminding you at various points that rooting is not without risks and you may end up having to buy a new phone. They probably should include a coupon for a free forehead tattoo so you can be reminded of that every time you see your reflection. I don't hang out at the XDA forums but I do frequent the AndroidForums (google it). Every day, I think, someone posts a frantic plea for help because they believe they've bricked their phone or they are stuck in a boot loop.

If you are careful, it is very hard to actually brick most phones. In fact, there are two ways hackers describe bricking: a hard-brick which means your phone is toast go buy a new one; a soft-brick which is recoverable and your phone is not really dead.

So, if you fit into the group I've described above buy the book and join us in the wonderful world of owning a phone that you actually own, where you can choose to overclock the processor, remove bloatware, remove very annoying and intrusive pop-up-ware, and generally blow up the DeathStar in your X-Wing Fighter.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Thin on pages and data June 8, 2012

By Alan Olsen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book bills itself as a "complete guide to rooting roms and theming". It is far from complete. I was hoping for something that went deeper into the internals of Android. This book is not it. Much of the information is pointers over to the XDA developers forums. If you have installed Cyanogenmod or any of the other replacement roms for Android you already know 90% of this book. The retail price of $35 is not worth it for a small format book that barely hits 170 pages.

There is definitely a need for a book that covers the internals of Android, as well as how to modify it to fit your needs. Unfortunately this is not that book.

You are better off reading Android Forensics: Investigation, Analysis and Mobile Security for Google Android. It covers more of how everything fits together under the hood.

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointing book May 31, 2012

By Mometan

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this with the hope that it will introduce some depth on android hacking/rooting. The subtitle "The Complete Guide to Rooting, ROMs and Theming" was partly responsible for that expectation. Instead what you get is a very unbalanced mix of procedures and descriptions that you can find just about anywhere online with a little search. Sometimes the descriptions are so mediocre that makes me wonder what theses guys were thinking. I didn't expect in a hackers' guide text to find things like the definition of a script, or spending pages on how to use adb to push a file to a device, etc.

If you are really looking for a super introductory text with not much substantial material beyond it then you might find this book a little useful. Even though I'd still argue that even in this case spending few min online would get you better results and you get to keep your money.

Returning the book...