Some Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 units being sold with the bootloader already unlocked?

If you just picked up your shiny new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 today, you might want to reboot it.  It appears that some of the retail units are being shipped with a familiar bootsplash screen featuring the unlocked bootloader icon.  All models seem to be included, though early reports were all from the 32 GB Gray-backed edition.

Lots of people are looking at this, and so far there doesn't appear to be an easy way to get to any fastboot mode to check exactly what is going on.  If the bootloaders really are unlocked, it's a curse and a blessing -- it means easy hacking, but it also may affect Google movie rentals.  Our own Menno has a unit with the unlocked icon, so we'll be on top of the issue.  More when we know more.

Source: Android Central forums; @BillStebbins

Jerry Hildenbrand
Senior Editor — Google Ecosystem

Jerry is an amateur woodworker and struggling shade tree mechanic. There's nothing he can't take apart, but many things he can't reassemble. You'll find him writing and speaking his loud opinion on Android Central and occasionally on Twitter.