It all started when the iPhone came out. You cannot install any other App unless it was acquired from either the iPhone App Store or the iTunes App Store. Because of that kind of tie down, people found ways of getting freed from that kind of trouble and “jailbreaking” came out. People would often call it “pwned” (pronounced, OWNED) and it allowed users to install apps taken from everywhere else like Cydia, Blackra1n, and the list goes on and on.
When Android came out. People wanted the same treatment. The Blapk Market (not a typo, folks) allowed people to download and install apps aside from the App Market. But more people would rather support the developers and buy the apps. What if you wanted to wipe your phone clean? and could not install the apps again? That led to people “ROOTING” their phones so that they can install custom ROMS that allow you to install Apps from elsewhere (say, your SD card).
Ok, so that’s why there is that.
Now, with Eclair (Android 2.1) and Froyo (Android 2.2), there is now an option to install apps from sources other than the App Market. Simply go to Settings > Applications > Unknown Sources and make sure that that box is checked. Boom! You’re done. Having that said, now, do you think you still need to root your phone?
Rooting, to me, is acceptable if you have the older OSes. Like 1.5 or 1.6. But if you have 2.1 installed. You’re virtually set.
The sole advantage of rooting is the ability to format and install custom roms at any moment’s whim. Like what I did..