The Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OTA update for Galaxy Nexus (GSM/HSPA+) started rolling out back in late March but only for a handful of users. The OTA update has been pushed to most Galaxy Nexus with product name as ‘yakju’, but still a lot of Google updated Galaxy Nexus haven’t got it as these updates are region specific. It should be noted that devices with yakju product code are updated directly by Google while the non-yakju ones are applicable to receive updates from Samsung which are apparently delayed by a couple of weeks. So, if you cant wait for the Galaxy Nexus OTA Android 4.0.4 update anymore, then you can opt to manually install the update.

See: [Check if your Galaxy Nexus is updated by Google or Samsung?]

Google has officially released the "yakju" factory images for Galaxy Nexus "maguro"  (GSM/HSPA+) which are meant to be flashed manually only on yakju version. However, there is a 100% working trick to Install the official Android 4.0.4 yakju update on yakjuxw version of Galaxy Nexus. This would also change your Galaxy Nexus from yakjuxw to yakju which is indeed good as your device would then be eligible to receive official OTA updates directly from Google and Not Samsung.

Disclaimer: Try this guide at your own risk! We wont be responsible in case your device gets bricked. This may also void your warranty.

NOTE:

1. This process requires to unlock bootloader which will wipe/factory reset your phone.
2. Your phone should have Official Stock firmware running and Not a custom ROM.
3. Your Galaxy Nexus device name should be maguro (See how to check that)
4. This procedure is meant only for GSM/HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus.

~ We’re going to perform this entire task using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit, a reliable and easy tool to root, unlock, backup apps + data, and flash .img files on Galaxy Nexus.

Tutorial – Installing Android 4.0.4 Update on Galaxy Nexus (YAKJUXW model)

Step 1 – This is the most crucial step among the entire task. You need to install and configure the ADB and Fastboot drivers on your Windows system. Follow our guide on [Installing ADB & Fastboot Drivers for Galaxy Nexus using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit]

Step 2 – Take a backup of your installed apps (with data) and SD card contents. Check our article, [How to Backup Galaxy Nexus Apps & Data without Rooting]

Step 3 – After you’ve configured the drivers properly and performed a backup, it’s time to unlock the bootloader. Follow our [Guide to Unlock Samsung Galaxy Nexus Bootloader]

Step 4 – Download the below files:

• Download 4.0.4 (IMM76D IMM76I) Official “Yakju” factory Image (Direct Link)

– Extract this .tgz file to your desktop using archive program like WinRAR. Then rename this file and add a .zip extension to it. Extract the file to a folder on your desktop. Then open the folder and extract the file (image-yakju-imm76d.zip) to the same folder.

• Download Fastboot and ADB files (XDA) – Extract the files to the same folder (fastboot-and-adb) on your desktop.

Step 5 – Installing Android 4.0.4 and Flashing the ‘YAKJU’ Firmware

1. Enable USB Debugging on your phone and connect it to computer via USB. (Make sure it is charged.)

2. Open Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit (Run as Administrator), select your device model (CDMA or GSM) and click on ‘List devices’ to verify that the connection is stable. Then select the ‘fastboot-bootloader’ option and click on ‘Reboot Bootloader’.

3. Your phone should now boot into Bootloader mode. Get ready for flashing!

To flash the Image files that you extracted in Step 4, select the ‘Flash (Permanent)’ option from the Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit. Next,

- Click on the System option and select ‘system.img’ file from the folder yakju-imm76d.

- Click on Userdata option and select ‘userdata.img’.

- Click on Boot option and select ‘boot.img’.

- Similarly, click on recovery and select ‘recovery.img’.

4. Erase the cache partition. This has to be done via CMD.

To erase cache, right-click the folder ‘fastboot-and-adb’ while holding down the Shift key. Click on ‘Open command window here’.

A command prompt window will open up. Simply type fastboot.exe and hit enter. Then type fastboot erase cache to wipe the cache.

Reboot – Then type the command fastboot reboot and hit enter. That’s it!

Your device should now boot up normally and present up with the new Android 4.0.4 update and ‘yakju’ firmware that will offer prompt updates directly from Google. You can confirm the product version using the ‘GN updater checker’ app. Restore the backup that you created in step 2 to get back all your installed apps along with their data.

What’s new in 4.0.4 – The latest Android 4.0.4 update for Galaxy Nexus offers stability improvements, better camera performance, smoother screen rotation, improved phone number recognition and more. We also noticed a significant improvement in battery life after upgrading to 4.0.4.

Enjoy the more awesome Ice Cream Sandwich on your GNex now!

P.S. We’ve tried the above tutorial on our Galaxy Nexus and it worked perfectly. Do let us know if you face any issues while going through the described process.

[Thanks XDA Forum]

Related Posts:

• Guide to Unlock Samsung Galaxy Nexus Bootloader
• Installing ADB & Fastboot Drivers for Galaxy Nexus using Galaxy Nexus Root Toolkit
• How to Install Android 4.0 ICS Official Update on Nexus S
• Check if your Galaxy Nexus is updated by Google or Samsung?
• How to Backup Galaxy Nexus Apps & Data without Rooting

Samsung Galaxy Nexus GSM version comes in several variants and you might not be aware that the source for its OTA updates varies depending on the device version. After going through some credible forums, we noticed different product names of Galaxy Nexus (GSM) such as yakju, yakjuxw, yakjusc, yakjujp, yakjuux, etc. Apparently, it’s said that devices with ‘yakju’ build are Google branded and thus eligible to receive updates directly from Google. Whereas, devices with non-yakju builds (yakjuxw) having brand as Samsung are region/carrier specific and will probably get updates from Samsung. There is no confirmation yet if there is any difference in the updates but it is certain that Google delivers prompt updates while those from Samsung are delayed by a few weeks.

Here’s an easy way to Check the product version of Samsung Galaxy Nexus which can help you easily determine whether your device is updated by Google or Samsung. Simply install the free app ‘GN Official Update Checker’ from Google Play on your Galaxy Nexus. Then run it to check the device product name, yakju or yakjuxw.

If you’re looking for more detailed info than just the product name, then install the app ‘Android System Info’ from Google Play. The app provides a lot of technical information about Hardware, System, Telephony, etc. and has built-in Task Manager, App manager, logs viewer, battery stats and more.

To view the relevant details, open the app and navigate to System tab > BuildInfos. Listed there are the hardware, brand, device, product name, etc.

Stay tuned! We’ll soon be covering more interesting articles on Galaxy Nexus.

Related Posts:

• Guide to Update Samsung Galaxy Nexus (YAKJUXW) to Android 4.0.4 and Get future Updates from Google
• Galaxy Nexus – Official Specifications & Video
• Buy Unlocked GSM Galaxy Nexus for $399 on Google Play
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus Coming Soon to India
• Download Galaxy Nexus Android 4.0 User Guide/Manual

CyanogenMod is the best and highly popular open source Custom ROM for Android devices. CyanogenMod is designed to increase performance and reliability over Android based ROMs released by vendors and carriers. It also offers a variety of features and enhancements that are currently not found in stock versions of Android.

The Stable CyanogenMod 7.1 build has been finally released after a long delay. CM 7.1 comes with lot of new features, improvements and support for 68 devices! This build is based on Android 2.3.7. While stable CM 7.1 is available for majority of devices but still there are many devices still in beta status (Pyramid, HP Touchpad, Optimus 3D, etc.)

Official CyanogenMod support for Samsung Galaxy S II has been added in CyanogenMod 7.1. Here is our Guide to Install CM 7.1 on SGS2 (follow the below steps carefully). This tutorial can be used to install CM7 on other supported Android devices as well if your device is rooted with an appropriate tool.

Disclaimer: Please try this guide at your own risk. We will not be responsible in case you brick the device or its warranty gets void.

Before proceeding, Make a BACKUP – It’s recommended to backup entire phone data like contacts, messages, photos, etc. Use Titanium Backup to create a backup of all Applications installed on the phone (requires rooting). Also, backup everything stored on the SD card to a folder on your PC because it might be formatted too.

>> To Flash a custom ROM on your device, you first need to ROOT the Galaxy S II. Visit this thread posted at XDA-Developers forum to see how to root your SGS2.

Perquisite: 100% charged phone and download below files.

• Download CyanogenMod 7.1 (Stable Mod) for SGS2 I9100
• Download Google Apps for CM7

Installing ClockworkMod Recovery -

• Download and install “ROM Manager” app from the Android market. Now open ROM Manager, a message will appear, select OK to continue.

• Select the first option “Flash ClockworkMod Recovery”.

  

• A confirm phone model window will appear, select ‘Samsung Galaxy S II’. A pop-up will open asking for Superuser access, instantly click Allow. A dialog box will appear saying ‘Successfully Flashed ClockworkMod Recovery!’.

• Re-open ROM Manager and select “Reboot into Recovery”.

Backup Current SGS2 Gingerbread Stock ROM -

In ClockworkMod Recovery, open ‘backup and restore’ and select the ‘Backup’ option. The recovery image of current ROM will be backed up to a folder named ‘clockworkmod’ on your SD card. Then select ‘reboot system now’ to restart the phone. Next,

>> Make sure to copy the ‘clockworkmod’ folder from SD card to your computer.

>> Transfer the update-cm-7.1.0-GalaxyS2-signed.zip and ‘Google Apps zip’ file (downloaded above) to root directory of your SD card.

Reboot the Phone into Recovery Mode – Launch ROM Manager on phone and select “Reboot into Recovery”.

• In ClockworkMod Recovery, scroll down to 3rd option “wipe data/factory reset” using the volume keys and select it. Select ‘Yes — delete all user data’ to confirm.

• After the Data Wipe is completed, select “wipe cache partition” and then select ‘Yes – Wipe Cache’ to confirm.

• Then open “advanced” and select “Wipe Dalvik Cache”, confirm to proceed. Next “Wipe Battery Stats” too.

• Next select “install zip from sdcard” from the main Recovery menu. Select “choose zip from sdcard” and then choose the update-cm-7.1.0-GalaxyS2-signed.zip file to apply, select ‘Yes..’ to confirm.

• Just wait for few minutes until the installation gets completed.

• Similarly, Flash the Google Apps zip file (gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip).

• Once the installation has finished, select +++++Go Back+++++ to get back to the main menu, and select the Reboot system now option. The Samsung Galaxy S II should now boot into CyanogenMod.

That’s it! Enjoy the all new, powerful and customizable CyanogenMod 7.1 ROM.

Related Posts:

• Guide to Install Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Custom ROM on LG Optimus One [Step by Step Instructions]
• How to Install/Flash Franco Kernel on Custom ROMs
• Guide to Update Samsung Galaxy Nexus (YAKJUXW) to Android 4.0.4 and Get future Updates from Google
• How to Backup Galaxy Nexus Apps & Data without Rooting
• Extract Single Files/Apps from your Nandroid Backups with Nandroid Browser

LG India has finally started rolling out Android 2.3 Gingerbread update for LG Optimus One. You can upgrade your P500 from Froyo to Gingerbread in India using LG Mobile Support Tool but many users are reporting that no new update is available when checking for it via LG PC Suite. That’s because LG seems to have pulled the update or their update server is down due to excessive load. However, if you cant wait anymore than you can choose to install the Stock V20b update for India on LG P500 using the KDZ update software. Check our step-by-step guide after the jump.

Requirements:

• Download LG P500 Official Gingerbread India Update V20B_00.KDZ  [Alternate link]
• Download KDZ updater
• Download LG P500 USB Driver
• A USB cable and a fully charged phone

Before proceeding, BACKUP Phone data such as contacts, messages, photos, etc. because the internal storage gets wiped and you will loose all your data.

>> It is advisable to Reset the phone before upgrading which can result in better performance. To do so, open Settings > Privacy and select ‘Factory data reset’ option.

Follow the below procedure to update LG P500 firmware using KDZ updater -

1. Install the LG P500 USB drivers on your PC. Note: Do NOT connect the phone to PC while drivers are installing. Alternatively, you can install the drivers using LG Mobile update tool. To do so, check the Step 1 and 2 mentioned here.

Important: If you’ve installed LG PC Suite before, then open the ‘Device Manager’ and Disable LGE Virtual Modem.

2. Extract the file KDZ_FW_UPD_EN.7z to a folder on desktop. You can change the file extension from .7z to .rar to open it with WinRar.

3. Open the KDZ folder and run msxml.msi.

4. Enable ‘USB Debugging’ on Phone. To enable, go to Menu > Settings > Applications > Development and tick mark the USB debugging checkbox.

5. Then Connect your phone to PC with USB cable. (DON’T turn on USB storage)

6. Run KDZ_FW_UPD.exe from the folder you extracted before. (Run as Administrator)

Select the TYPE as 3GQCT and Phone Mode as DIAG. For ‘KDZ file’ entry, browse to the update file directory and select V20B_00.kdz.

7. Press the ‘Launch software update’ button. The flashing will start and you will see an ‘Emergency mode’ screen on your phone. Wait for 5-10 minutes until the process gets finished. Don’t touch your phone or disturb the KDZ updater at this moment.

When process gets completed, the phone will reboot automatically, then disconnect it from PC. (If phone doesn’t reboots itself then switch it ON manually only after noticing the ==FINISHED== confirmation in KDZ software update window on your PC).

Voila! Upon restarting, your phone should be running up Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. Visit ‘About Phone’ in Settings to confirm.

Also See: Guide to Install Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Custom ROM on LG Optimus One

Source: XDA Forum

Related Posts:

• LG Optimus One gets Android 2.2.2 update (v10D)
• LG Optimus One to get Android 2.3 Gingerbread upgrade
• How to Install Gingerbread keyboard on Android phone without rooting [Tutorial]
• How to Update Firmware of LG mobile phones [Guide]
• Guide to Install Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread Custom ROM on LG Optimus One [Step by Step Instructions]

How to Update LG Optimus one P500 to Gingerbread anywhere in the World -

Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread is the latest version of Android currently available for smartphones powered by Android. LG Optimus One P500 comes pre-installed with Android 2.2 and LG officially announced sometime back that Gingerbread update for Optimus One will be available by May end in India but until now there are no signs of its launch. Thus, most users who got the device assuming it would get Android 2.3 aren’t much happy.

So, we’re here to share a detailed tutorial which describes as “How to manually update LG P500 to a custom Gingerbread ROM (void. #forever)”. This ROM developed by XDA member ‘Noejn’ is based on CyanogenMod 7 (CM7) who earlier released Megatron, Prime and Devoid Rom based on 2.2 which are the most stable and best ROMs on 2.2. The void. #forever ROM (latest ver. r1.6.15) released a week ago is amazing and stable too.

Why Use Custom ROM? – Certainly, it’s not easy for everyone to install a custom ROM because it’s a complex task and might break your device if not done properly. But using a custom ROM has several pros like you’re free to customize it, plus they don’t have any pre-loaded apps. Custom ROMs tend to increase the speed at-least by twice (check the benchmarks at XDA to compare with other devices after modding). Plus they’ve MANY other minor tweaks, which makes your smartphone really smart.

Disclaimer: Please try this guide at your own risk. We will not be responsible in case you brick the device or its warranty gets void.

Note: Don’t install this custom ROM if you’re running Official Gingerbread V20b ROM or you will see No Network. That’s because GB Stock ROM has a new baseband that is not supported by void ROM. To install void ROM, you first need to restore the Stock 2.2 ROM. To restore, download the official Android 2.2.2 V10e ROM. Then follow the steps given in this guide to downgrade the firmware using KDZ updater.

Prerequisite: Optimus one (Charged), USB cable, a computer and adequate time. Download the below files to your desktop.

• Download File 1: void-forever_0_2.zip (62.9MB)
• Download File 2: void-forever-addon.zip (4.76MB)
• Download File 3: voidAddonsPack.zip (16.2MB)
• Download File 4: stock.zip (2.09MB)

Before proceeding, make sure to BACKUP entire phone data like contacts, messages, photos, etc. Also, copy the full contents of your SDcard to a folder on your PC because it will also be formatted. You may want to note the names of installed Apps as they will also be lost. This is similar to formatting Windows.

Procedure – Step by Step Instructions to install Custom Gingerbread ROM on LG Optimus One P500

Modding involves 3 main process:

1. Rooting

2. Setting Custom recovery

3. Flashing

>> Make sure that you follow each and every step very carefully to achieve success.

Step 1: ROOT Optimus One

Note: Make sure to Kill all the running apps and processes using Taskiller before hitting the Root button. Furthermore, connect the phone to computer via USB cable and enable USB debugging mode (Settings > Applications > Development) before rooting. Upon successful rooting, you will notice a new app called “Superuser” in the menu.

z4root offers an easy and quick way to root most of the devices. Download and install it, then select the “Permanent Root” button. The screen will go white, wait until the phone gets rebooted. Offers unroot option.

If you updated your Optimus to latest firmware V10E as I did, then you have to use the other alternative “GingerBreak”. [Download Here, v1.2]

>> Check Step 2 at Page 2

Related Posts:

• How to Install CyanogenMod 7.1 on Samsung Galaxy S II
• How to Install/Flash Franco Kernel on Custom ROMs
• Install Official V20B Gingerbread Update on LG Optimus One using KDZ Updater [Guide]
• How to Install Android 4.0 ICS Official Update on Nexus S
• How to Install Gingerbread keyboard on Android phone without rooting [Tutorial]

Samsung has finally released the much awaited Kies software for Mac OS X users. Kies is similar to PC Suite that allows you to manage, backup, and update the firmware of your Samsung smartphone using a Windows system and now Macs too! Mac users would now be delighted because they no more need to get hold of a Windows PC, just to update the software on their Samsung phones.

Using Kies, one can sync the phone contacts, transfer the data like music and videos from mobile to PC, and it automatically notifies about a new firmware version when the device is connected to PC. Kies improves device performance by updating it to latest firmware and is a must have software for users with powerful devices like the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and other major Android based phones.

Supports: Mac OS X 10.5 ~ 10.6

Download Samsung Kies for Mac

Related Posts:

• Download Kies for Samsung Galaxy S/Galaxy S II
• Samsung Kies Uninstall program
• How to update Samsung Galaxy S to Android 2.2 Froyo via Kies [Anywhere in the world]
• Take Screenshots on Samsung Galaxy S without rooting/app
• Samsung Android based Mobiles

Nokia has just released the Nokia Software Updater for Mac, currently in BETA. The application allows users to update their Nokia mobile phone with the latest software update or firmware. Now update your Symbian device software directly using Mac.

This beta build is still in development, updates will be released based on the feedback and users are asked to give their feedback on forum to improve the future releases.

You need to register at Nokia beta labs to download the application.

via [Nokia Beta Labs & Pocket Now]

Related Posts:

• Download Nokia Ovi Suite 2.0 Final
• Opera Mobile 10.1 Beta for Maemo released
• Firefox 5.0 Beta 2 Candidate Build released [Download]
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• Download Swype for Symbian Nokia S60 Phones

Guide to update your LG mobile phone firmware – It is advisable to have the latest software version aka firmware installed on your phone because a new update may include bug fixes, new features, applications, and improves performance of your device.

Tutorial – Updating LG mobile phone or smartphone firmware

Requirements – You need a Windows PC, USB cable and high speed Internet connection.

Note - Please backup all the phone data (using PC Suite) before upgrading the phone.

1. Download LG Mobile Support Tool and install it on your computer.

2. Run the tool and Click ‘Install USB Driver’ and select the model which you want to update. The correct USB driver will then be installed.

Note: Mobile phone should NOT be connected to PC while drivers are installing.

3. Once the USB driver is installed, connect your phone to your PC using the bundled USB cable.

4. Click ‘Start Updating’ button on LG Mobile Support Tool.

5. LG Mobile Phone Software Update will appear with a confirmation dialog. Click Yes.

6. It will then analyse and download the software update for your phone. (This may take time depending on your Internet connection speed).

Do not disconnect the cable or disturb your handset during the update process. Also, it may ask to disconnect the phone and re-insert the battery while updating.

7. Watch the process patiently and wait for the update to get completed.

Click the Exit button when phone gets updated. Then power on your phone and wait for a while to get it properly loaded. You can then check the new firmware version by going to Settings > About Phone. Check LG’s website for more details.

Hope you find this guide useful.

Related Posts:

• How to check and Update the firmware of Nokia Mobiles ?
• LG Optimus One gets Android 2.2.2 update (v10D)
• Install Official V20B Gingerbread Update on LG Optimus One using KDZ Updater [Guide]
• Update your Nokia N73 Firmware to New ‘Music Edition’
• How to Install Android 2.2 Froyo Update on Motorola Droid