Level Up - Android: How to Flash (Upgrade) Nexus 4 to Android Lollipop 5.0 (Easy)

If you have a Nexus 4, then you can have Android Lollipop now! Google recently released the factory image, and I'm now successfully running it (with root, which will be explained in a later post).

Nexus 4 running Android Lollipop 5.0

This will be a short walk-through because I assume you already have the tools needed, but just need the steps to get the flash done. If you have any questions, then please write a comment and I will update as necessary.

1. Download Android Lollipop 5.0 factory image: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occam
2. Uncompress the file, possibly twice. I used 7-zip. You should see six files there, including a zip, which you do not have to unzip.
3. Make sure `adb` is in your PATH environment variable, which can be found in %android-sdk%/platform-tools/. Also, you will need `fastboot.exe` from that same folder in your PATH. (I assume you already have the Android SDK and you know what I mean by "Advanced system settings"->Environment Variables->PATH.)
4. Connect your Nexus 4 device to computer, then run `adb reboot-bootloader` in your computer's terminal. This will bring your device to the "fastboot" mode.
5. At the very bottom-left, you should be able to see whether your bootloader is locked or unlocked. It must be unlocked to flash a new system image. If unlocked, you're good, go to the next step. If locked, then run `fastboot oem unlock`. WARNING: Unlocking will erase all data.
6. Open your computer's terminal to where you downloaded and uncompressed the files, and run `flash-all`. That command will run the "flash-all.bat" script which will setup the new system image for you!

Congrats! When the script is done, it will reboot your device and Lollipop will be running. It may take a bit for it to boot the first time.

More info: There sure is a lot more information you could read about this entire process, but that's not what this post is for. These are the minimal instructions (with appropriate warning) for most people wanting to do this. If anybody has some good resources to share, then please add them to the comments.

Now, are you ready to root your Nexus 4?

:)
~ Danial Goodwin ~

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My Android Apps | My Windows Phone Apps | My Developer Blog

Level Up: Nerdiness: Mod Japanese Super Famicom Games to Play in US Super Nintendo Consoles

Thus, my Nerd level has once again increased after today's completion of modding my Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) so that I can play my ~20 Famicom games on there.

Thanks to MakeUseOf for pointing me in the right direction.

I learned that there was no software restricting the pay of the Japanese games on the American consoles. There was just two small pieces of plastic restricting the cartridge from sitting properly inside. American cartridges have two grooves on the back and the Japanese cartridges are flat.

It seems a lot easier to cut the plastic restrictions off inside the console, compared to creating indentations on each of the games.

The website used only a wire cutter to remove the excess plastic that was in the way, inside the SNES. After discovering that the closest pair of wire cutters next to me were too big, I reach for the next closest thing, which just happened to be a saw.

The oscillating/vibrating saw worked perfectly. It was made to cut flush against surfaces, and that's exactly what happened.

One other note. Japanese cartridges are a little less narrow than the US counterparts, so you have to be a little more careful when inserting them. But, it shouldn't be difficult.

Have fun!

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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My Android Apps | My Windows Phone Apps | My Developer Blog

Android 4.4 Developer

A few days ago, I had my Nexus 4's OS updated from Android 4.3 to Android 4.4. The system is running very smooth. Two of the first things I did was enable developer mode and then enabled all apps to use the new ART compiler rather than the old Dalvik compiler.

You are now a developer! Again! 

~ Danial Goodwin ~

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My Android Apps | My Windows Phone Apps | My Developer Blog

1989: Transportable Cellular Phone System

"There's nothing else to buy."

"Only $799"

New technology of the past. The corded transportable cellular phone system.

http://www.wimp.com/remembercellphones/

~ Simply Advanced ~

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