Root your BlackBerry Playbook? Now you can with Dingleberry

Dingleberry, the exploit package that roots the BlackBerry PlayBook (and has one of the coolest names ever) has gone public, and everyone who bought a PlayBook can now root the QNX operating system on the device.  Huge props to the fellows who figured out the exploit, especially because rooting QNX builds isn't a well documented or popular subject.  You gentlemen have a standing offer of an ice cold beer or six anytime I have chance to meet up with you.

But exactly what this means for PlayBook owners remains to be seen.  Much of the "Joy of Root" we see on Android devices is because the OS source code is open, allowing people to modify it to their heart's content.  BlackBerry isn't like that.  RIM keeps a tight reign on everything -- well, most everything -- for financial and (misguided) security reasons.  We've seen the PlayBook run Hulu because it was rooted, and the developers are pretty sure that they can get Netflix running. so that's good news.  Also the ability to load the Android Market again and bypass the re-compiled Android app limits that RIM has imposed will make more than a few happy.  Last, but not least, there's the possibility that root access will open a path to running other operating systems on the device -- like CyanogenMod 9.

The real drawback is that RIM has more control over their OS than Google does.  They will patch this exploit at the kernel level, then force users to update to the patched version in order to use App World and or Desktop Manager.  Another root method may never be found.  We're keeping a close eye on this, and since I don't give a hoot about App World or Desktop Manager, I never have to update.  Next step is to get the Android subsystem rooted, which may open more possibilities.  We'll let you know how this, as well as any prospects to have Android running on the great (and recently cheap) hardware RIM is offering.  Keep an eye on CrackBerry for the news about how this affects the BlackBerry OS side of things.

Source: Dingleberry; via CrackBerry

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/hhbi9nuAVYI/story01.htm

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