Root already working on Samsung Captivate, other US Galaxy S models

Normally, you've got to wait... you know, at least a few hours after a new Android phone's released for a root technique to pop up -- but thanks to the Captivate's lineage, hackers have already been able to get the ball rolling. Indeed, it turns out that the root method already employed on the European version of the Galaxy S works just fine on the Captivate and Vibrant, and presumably, it'll work just the same on Fascinate and Epic 4G with a minimum of modification. Reports are already trickling in that Market apps requiring root are working like champs, so we're feeling good about this one.

[Thanks, Andrew]

[oldskooldawgz Posted Jul 13th 2010 5:35PM]

i cant wait to get this phone called two at&t stores n got laughed at cuz they were clueless about whether or not they would have it so i might end up havin to overnight it. cant wait to get rid of iphone

[dzuest Posted Jul 14th 2010 12:54AM]

@oldskooldawgz "...cant wait to get rid of iphone". Exactly what i've been waiting for. Once they put the date out on this thing i decided to jump on it instead of the Dell Streak which has had no new info for quite a while. I've been queued up to get an upgrade since May from AT&T, July 18th, here i come!

[oldskooldawgz Posted Jul 14th 2010 1:29AM]

@dzuest i know ive been waiting checking engadget daily for a release date and a root already makes the deal even sweeter i just wish the aria was like the hd2 hardware wise then i woulda jumped on tht so fast. but no need to settle with this puppy comming out. and not to mention im on vacation till the 17th welcome home have an android ha

[systox Posted Jul 14th 2010 10:11AM]

@oldskooldawgz

Some ATT Reps are just effin dumb. Its sad that you had to go though crap like that. Next time it happens you should write a letter of complaint on the Reps lack of reliability & product knowledge & how you're considering switching to a more professional carrier. Who knows, you might get some compensation & it may finally wake them up.

[oldskooldawgz Posted Jul 14th 2010 9:47PM]

@systox ya i know i wish i had remembered his name. Other than this ive never really had a problem with em. Imma be up on my at&t store asap to get one. Cant wait.

[enaybee Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:10PM]

I walked into att store today and asked about captivate after complaining about me iphone 4 and death grip issue. Guy told me that right now they dont have any but they will get store demos by 16th july. He said that he did training on captivate and he liked the phone alot.
I will check it out and if its good i might exchange my iphone 4 for it. My only problem with that is the lack of FCC on captivate. Lets see.

[jroff Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:28PM]

@enaybee
FCC?

[enaybee Posted Jul 13th 2010 7:27PM]

@jroff
I wanted to write FFC where FFC = front facing camera. But in hurry i typed FCC. Lol
Sorry for confusion there.

[jroff Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:28PM]

Awesome, sounds like a nifty phone.. if only I hadn't already purchased this Aria :\

[TheSkeptic Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:33PM]

Kinda skimped on the PhotoShop work there Engadget

[andysexton Posted Jul 13th 2010 6:49PM]

Really wish Sprint would get with it and announce a date for Epic. Trying to decide between it and the Evo, and the date would help a lot. I don't want to get the Evo without knowing that I'm at least within 30 days of the Epic release just in case I don't like the Evo.

[Langdon Alger Posted Jul 14th 2010 11:02AM]

@andysexton Don't do it man ... I know several people with EVOs, all hate it ... it's not that it's a "bad" phone, it's that it doesn't live up to the hype. The indoor 4G reception is horrid (and it's a problem limited to this phone, other 4G devices work just fine in buildings), the device can get laggy which is unacceptable for a 1GHz latest-and-greatest processor, etc. I think the software is half-baked and things may improve with Android 2.2 and JIT (at least wait for the community to release a solid Froyo ROM for it). Spend some time with one in a store before committing to it. Too bad the Epic has a keyboard and is not exactly apples-to-apples comparable to the EVO ... then again some people want the physical keyboard. Good luck!

[coitis1 Posted Jul 13th 2010 10:37PM]

Nice! I've actually got a pretty good deal on AT&T service-wise right now, so I don't see myself leaving in the near future. That being said, I'm very happy w/ my N1 right but have been looking ahead towards subsidized full-featured Android phones on AT&T. It's good to know I have an another worthwhile option right now that I can root and get full access.

[Mezmryz03 Posted Jul 13th 2010 11:26PM]

I've had my Incredible for a month and a half now with no easy root. Oh well, good for all you future S owners.

[cptaszek Posted Jul 14th 2010 12:56AM]

Another reason for me to get this phone. Anyone know if AT&T will block non-Market apps on this 'droid?

[ajneuman Posted Jul 14th 2010 3:08AM]

@cptaszek The word is that AT&T has blocked non-market apps. I had somewhat written it off for that reason.

[systox Posted Jul 14th 2010 10:06AM]

@cptaszek

Meh, doesn't matter, you can just do it anyway. I wouldn't let that stop you. The real problem is in the GPS...

[ChechenTDG Posted Jul 14th 2010 2:55AM]

Where's the review for this phone? Huh Engadget?

[BobbyC Posted Jul 14th 2010 7:59PM]

@ChechenTDG

It's on Techland dot com.

[TravUK Posted Jul 14th 2010 6:24AM]

Lets hope it comes with an updated ROM to fix the broken GPS.

[gollu Posted Jul 14th 2010 6:57AM]

@TravUK
Absolutely! The GPS in the Galaxy S in absolutely unusable. Better buy a 3-year-old nokia- its GPS works fine.

[systox Posted Jul 14th 2010 9:55AM]

Ive also read tons of reports about broken GPS issues. Loads of peeps can confirm the problem at xdA & other phone sites. A Bad gps maybe the thing to keep me from buying this phone. =( Its a shame, they tried really hard with this phone.

[tu eres estupido Posted Jul 14th 2010 1:14PM]

@systox it would be software issue which could be easily fixed

[Langdon Alger Posted Jul 17th 2010 2:32PM]

Worked like a charm on the Vibrant ... from there I went straight to the open source WiFi Tether app ... on T-mobile the phone downloads at up to 4mpbs (2mbps typical) but upload is throttled to 500kbps. Meh, in a pinch, 2-4Mbps down will do.