Daily Steals is currently running one of their “Last Calls” collections promos that includes a variety of Android products that may be worth a look should you be in the market for something new or “recertified” but don’t want to sign a contract. The Galaxy Nexus LTE on Verizon is one in particular that is carrying the low price of $199. And again, that’s the full retail price for the device, meaning you don’t have to sign a contract to pick it up. The phone is “recertified,” so you may only want to consider this one if you are desperate. Replacement G-Nex models are known to have issues. 

But the deal also includes the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S4 for $599 (unlocked model doesn’t work on LTE in the U.S.), the incredibly old DROID X for $69, original DROID RAZR for $169, and more. There are listings for a couple of Samsung tablets, the Blackberry Playbook, GSM Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note 2, Motorola Atrix 2, and the Microsoft Kin One. Lots of options.

Feel free to give them a look before they sell out.

Via:  Daily Steals

Cheers Nick!

Daily Steals Sale: Galaxy Nexus LTE for $199, Galaxy S4 for $599, DROID X for $69 (Wait, What?), and More is a post from: Droid Life

The new “milestone” release from the Android Open Kang Project (AOKP) is starting to roll out today. So far, we’re seeing builds available for most Nexus phones including toro (Verizon Galaxy Nexus), toroplus (Sprint Galaxy Nexus), mako (Nexus 4), and maguro (GSM Galaxy Nexus). We’re told that a post detailing the full changelog is in the works, but for now, you can expect changes to the nav/statusbar for tablets, “rewritten” RomControl, custom toggles, and a ton of bug fixes.

To grab the latest builds for your devices, hit up the source link below. 

We’ll update this post as soon as we have more details.

Update:  The announcement for this new milestone is live and includes a new release schedule for “builds.” In fact, the AOKP team is mostly referring to them as nightlies that will come out every four days going forward. There won’t be announcements for them, and they are mostly untested, so should you be willing to flash them, be sure to report back any issues. Also, milestone releases will likely happen on a monthly basis, assuming we get to a new month and the newest build is deserving of the “milestone” title.

And on a couple of related notes, AOKP has officially crossed the 1 million install milestone, which is quite the accomplishment. Last, they released an app called AOKPush [Play Link], so that you can keep track of all the latest builds.

Via:  AOKP [2]

New AOKP Milestone Releases Start Rolling Out, New “AOKPush” App Keeps Track of Newest Builds (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

Ever since Verizon approved the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus and Google started pushing it out, our inbox has filled up with users who are running into all sorts of issues. The most common appears to be battery life, but others are noticing issues with Bluetooth audio, the camera, tethering, and more. While we aren’t yet aware of specific fixes for each, in most cases, Verizon is actually recommending that you perform a factory reset.

I know that sounds like the worst option, since it wipes your phone of every last setting, but it may do the trick, especially if you are experiencing horrific battery life. The Bluetooth audio fixes on the other hand were supposed to be included in 4.2.2, but there is still a running AOSP thread that suggests a different scenario.

If a factory reset doesn’t work, you can also flash the 4.2.2 factory images that were released today.

Are you experiencing issues? If so, what are they? Have you tried a factory reset yet?

Experiencing Issues With Your Galaxy Nexus After Updating to 4.2.2? is a post from: Droid Life

The Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) factory images for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus have been posted. For those not familiar, factory images allow you to flash your phone back to a 100% stock state, as if you had just pulled it out of the box. You’ll find instructions for flashing factory images here.

The new 4.2.2 binaries are available as well.

Update:  They also added 4.2.1 factory images for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus.

Via:  Google Developers [Binaries]

Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.2.2 Factory Images Now Available (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

This week, the CyanogenMod team announced that their newest nightly ROM builds of CM10.1 would include Pie Controls. We have been a fan of Pie since we first saw it being used in Paranoid Android, so it made us happy to hear it was coming to the more widely-used CyanogenMod. To help show some folks how to enable Pie Controls and set them up, we put together this nice little video that you see below. 

The truth is that we spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out how to set it up ourselves, so we are sparing you any possible frustration down the road.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: How to Set Up Pie Controls on CyanogenMod Nightlies is a post from: Droid Life

This week, there was an overwhelming cry for us to feature BAMF’s Paradigm v3.1 for Custom ROM Friday. We touched on the original Paradigm last year, but it looks like there has been some major updating going down since then. It is based off of Android 4.2.2, and brings some killer custom features, coupled with great speeds and long battery life. What else could you ask for in a custom ROM? 

It is currently available for Nexus devices such as the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4, but there are murmurs suggesting it is also coming to the Galaxy S3. Below, I have thrown in some of the more awesome features that come baked inside, which should help you decide if you want to go ahead with your flashing. As a quick example, there are some extra LWP’s (I love LWP’s), configurable search soft key, and even a snazzy custom boot animation.

Add-ons:

• All stock sound files
• Additional live wallpapers not included in AOSP
• Enabled extra browser settings
• Increased rotation and animation speed and opened up 360 degree rotation
• Accurate battery
• Custom clock widget from ICS pre-release
• Added long press of Recent apps to activate menu key
• Configurable Search soft key with option to enable/disable
• Custom launcher with search bar removed, 4×5 grid layout, and custom app drawer button

BAMF Add-ons:

• Custom boot animation with audio (thanks to gadget! for the logo)
• BAMF LTE Widget
• BAMF Torch Widget
• Configurable Lockscreen with three hotseats, selectable left target, and pull down for Torch
• Completely configurable QuickSettings replacing normal settings in Status Bar

Downloads: Nexus 4 | Nexus 7 | Galaxy Nexus

Via: Team BAMF

Cheers everyone who submitted!

Custom ROM Friday: BAMF Paradigm v3.1 For Nexus Devices is a post from: Droid Life

I’ll admit that I’m one of Verizon’s biggest critics when it comes to the rate at which they update their Android smartphones to new software. They are unbelievably  slow for the most part. In fact, I’ve pointed it out a handful times, particularly with the Galaxy Nexus and the amount of time it has taken to update a device that should be the easiest of all. But we also know that Verizon stands firm on their update practices, which have a reputation for being the slowest in the business. Their network is reliable, maybe even the most reliable after all, and they attribute parts of their success to their testing practices. But something seems to have changed in 2013. I ran through a list of updates released by them this year, and the number is impressive. 

I count 17 different devices receiving updates since the beginning of the year. The original Incredible, Thunderbolt, Lucid, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Tab 7.7, RAZR HD, Charge, RAZR, DROID 4, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Stellar, Intuition, Rhyme, Incredible 2, Rezound, DROID DNA, and Galaxy Nexus have all seen some sort of an update over the last three months, many of which were major.

Now, it’s not all positive just because it’s an update. Devices like the Thunderbolt were promised updates back in the summer of 2012 only to finally receive them a short few weeks ago. Hell, the original XOOM 4G LTE still hasn’t received Jelly Bean and it’s technically a “Nexus” type of device.

But if we overlook those few, even I have to give props to Big Red for getting the job done as of late. We can’t seem to go more than a couple of days without seeing another approval on an update for a different device. In the last 10 days alone we have seen updates for the Charge, RAZR HD, DROID 4, Galaxy Nexus, and original RAZR. Three of those updates were major (two to Jelly Bean and another to 4.2.2).

We aren’t sure if Verizon’s update process has been streamlined recently to be more efficient, if manufacturers are finally getting the hang of this update thing which in turn means submitting better builds to Big Red’s testing team, or if there was a stockpile of updates that are just now seeing mass approval. As surprising as this may sound, I’d lean towards one of those first two options.

If you look at the Galaxy Nexus and its recent move to 4.2.2, Verizon took just over one month to get that update ready and push it out. Sure, they managed to skip three other updates along the way, but if you look strictly at 4.2.2, which was released by Google around February 11, Big Red managed to fit it into their update schedule, which included another dozen or so devices, and still push it out five weeks later. Not bad, if you ask me.

So from one of the most annoying and at times harshest critics in the wireless industry, all I can say is, great job, Verizon. Keep it up.

Giving Credit Where It’s Due, Verizon Turns Into an Android Update Machine is a post from: Droid Life

The day has come, the official Android 4.2.2 update for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus is rolling out. We’re hearing from readers who are already able to force it to appear through the trusty ol’ Google Services Framework trick, while others have had it pop up without any work. 

To force the update, if you don’t feel like waiting, try this:

Head into Settings>Apps>All. Find “Google Services Framework” and “Clear data” and “Force stop” the app. Then hit “Back” twice and scroll down to “About phone.” Then tap “System updates” and the update may pop up.

If that trick doesn’t work or you have experienced issue with it in the past, feel free to manually update using our detailed instructions for all users. Or at this point, if you have yet to update, you might as well wait for it to arrive on your device OTA.

Cheers Matt!

Android 4.2.2 Update Rolling Out to Verizon Galaxy Nexus Now is a post from: Droid Life

After approving the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus this morning, we were waiting patiently for Verizon to post up their official changelog, to make sure that the update was build JDQ39 and around 88MB in size. Thankfully for our sake, it is indeed JDQ39 and the same update as the build that leaked a couple of weeks ago, so for those who already updated, you are golden. And for those who wish to manually update instead of having to wait for the update to be pushed to their devices, you can go ahead and do that without worry.

Manual instructions here. 

As expected, the update includes PhotoSphere, improved notifications, better widget control, an all new camera UI, lock screen widgets, new Google Now shortcut, Daydream, and a smarter keyboard. Jumping from 4.1 to 4.2 is a bigger update than I think most expected.

One thing we’re a little confused about is the “Photo Display” section. There is a mention of enabling “wireless display,” but we know that the Galaxy Nexus doesn’t support Miracast and does not have this option. Someone at Verizon is confused.

The update is 88.8MB in size.

More info.

Verizon Finally Posts Galaxy Nexus LTE Changelog, It is Indeed JDQ39 is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon has announced that the Android 4.2.2 update for the Galaxy Nexus will start rolling out in phases today, March 19. No, this is not some sort of sick joke.

We’re assuming it’s the same build that leaked a couple of weeks ago as Android 4.2.2 build JDQ39. We’re still waiting for the support docs to arrive, so we won’t know for sure until that happens. But since JDQ39 is the most current version of Android, I’d assume it’ll be the one.

You can manually update to JDQ39 here with our instructions for all situations. If you just want the radios, you can grab those here.

Update:  The changelog is finally available and shows that the build is JDQ39. Feel free to manually update without worry!

Here is our first look at Android 4.2.2 on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  Verizon

It’s Official: Verizon Announces Android 4.2.2 Update for the Galaxy Nexus is a post from: Droid Life

Since the departure of Pete Alfonso and updates to his Bugless Beast ROM, folks have been on the search for a new minimal, stock AOSP build that brings smooth operation and vanilla Android feel. We received a few requests to make sure everyone new about a somewhat newcomer to the custom ROM scene called, Shiny. 

The developer has been building multiple ROM’s from source, but this is his first published work for the toro Galaxy Nexus. It brings a complete OTA feel to the device, running Android 4.2.2. What will make this different from your stock firmware though is the replacement of the stock browser app with Google Chrome, the ROM is deodexed, comes with custom reboot options in the power menu, and more.

Features:

• Stock Android 4.2.2, build JDQ39
• Source (AOSP) built kernel (boot.img)
• Deodexed
• Easily rootable (see information below)
• G-Apps (GMail, Play Store, etc.) included in build along with Nexus apps
• Stock browser replaced with Google Chrome
• Shiny restart options
  
• 4.2 wallpapers and sounds included
• Updated frequently
• Everything works!

If you are not for all of the crazy aesthetic changes that some ROMs bring and you just want a smooth operator (shout out to Sade), then check out Shiny.

For instructions on flashing and finding downloads, head on over to the forum thread by following the via below.

Via: RootzWiki

Cheers JaronDW!

Custom ROM Friday: Shiny ROM for Verizon Galaxy Nexus is a post from: Droid Life

With the Android 4.2.2 update dropping tonight for the Galaxy Nexus LTE, we thought it was the perfect time to do a recap of some of the new features that came after 4.1. We know that not all of you jumped on to 4.2 ROMs as soon as they were released and instead stuck with official 4.1, so there is a chance that you may not know all that you were missing. And I hate to say it, but you were missing quite a bit, as 4.2 introduced all sorts of fun.

In this clip, we take a look at lock screen widgets (go get DashClock!), the new camera, the updated notifications panels, DayDream, and more. It may not touch on every single new aspect of 4.2, but these are certainly some of the bigger additions.

Full instructions for the update can be found here. The new radios are here. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: First Look at Android 4.2.2 on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is a post from: Droid Life

The new radios from the Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) for the Galaxy Nexus LTE on Verizon that was released tonight are now available in .zip form. Thanks to XDA member mwalt2, this file should be flashable over any current G-Nex radios as it includes the full radio.img.

With little testing thus far, it’s tough to tell what kind of difference these can make it network connectivity, battery life, etc. If you are willing to take the risk and do not feel like leaving your current custom ROM, feel free to give them a look. Understand that the CDMA radio will take a while during the flashing process. 

Download Link [XDA Link]

Flash the .zip file in your favorite custom recovery.

Cheers adbFreedom and Steven!

Download: New Radios From Galaxy Nexus LTE 4.2.2 Update is a post from: Droid Life

Over the weekend, our buddy El Madhatter sent us a screenshot of his Galaxy Nexus test device which had received an update to Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39). This caused some excitement around the DL community, as in the past when we had seen leaks from him, they were quickly released for our own flashing. Unfortunately this time around, he had already taken the update and was unable to grab the file URL, thanks to a busy schedule. Well, folks, he finally found some time and wit ha little help from XDA member oldblue910 has grabbed the direct Google download of the update for your flashing pleasure. 

Download Link [mirror]

*In order to apply this update in any of the situations below, you need to be 100% stock Android 4.1.1 (JRO03O). This is not a ROM that can be flashed over another ROM. It’s an update.

Instructions (rooted):

*For 100% stock Android 4.1.1 (JRO03O), but with root and custom recovery.

*Keep in mind that this is technically a test build.

1.  If you are rooted and with a custom recovery, download the file from above to your phone.
2.  Reboot your phone into recovery.

*Hold both Volume Up and Down plus Power at the same time until you see a “Start” button appear.

3.  Choose “install zip from sdcard.”
4.  Find the file you downloaded, and select it.
5.  Once it finishes, reboot your phone and enjoy 4.2.2.

Instructions (non-rooted “adb sideload”):

*For some reason on my Galaxy Nexus, I did not have the “adb sideload” option to update via stock recovery. If you do, these instructions are for you. If you get into stock recovery and don’t see the option, you’ll need to jump down to the next set of instructions.

*I’m also going to assume you know adb commands if you know about the sideload command.

*These are also the abbreviated adb sideload instructions. For the full guide, check out this post.

1.  Download the file from above to your computer.
2.  Plug your phone into your computer and type “adb reboot bootloader” in your command prompt.
3.  Your phone will boot to fastboot.
4.  From here, scroll down with Volume Down to “Recovery” and select it with Power.
5.  When the exclamation point and Android appear, tap Volume Up and Power at the same time.
6.  You should now be in recovery.
7.  If you see “adb sideload” as an option, choose it. (If you don’t, jump to the next set of instructions.)
8.  From your computer terminal, type in “adb sideload <filename of the update file>”
9.  Your phone will prompt you with a set of instructions for updating.
10.  Follow them, update your phone, and enjoy.

Instructions (non-rooted):

*If you tried the instructions above and are not seeing “adb sideload” as an option in stock recovery, you’ll have to use these instructions. The only way to update at this time, is to temporarily flash a custom recovery. It’s not hard and will not ruin your phone by any means. Temporarily flashing means that after you install the update and reboot, your stock recovery will return. This will not root your phone.

*This Nexus toolkit is the one I’ve chosen for this set of instructions. [XDA thread]

*Once downloaded, run the .exe file (Windows) and follow the install instructions. Once installed, hit up the instructions below.

1.  Download the update file from above to your phone’s storage.
2.  Using the toolkit above, choose LTE Galaxy Nexus with build 4.1.1 (JRO03O).
3.  From the main menu, choose option 10, “Boot to custom recovery without permanently flashing it.”
4.  Then choose option 1, boot to Clockworkmod Touch Recovery.
5.  Follow the next on-screen instructions to boot into Fastboot mode.
6.  Watch your phone boot into fastboot, flash recovery, and then take you to recovery.
7.  From there, choose “install zip from sdcard.”
8.  Find the update file you downloaded in step 1.
9.  Select it and install the update.
10.  Once finished, reboot, enjoy Android 4.2.2 and your stock recovery.

Update:  Here are the new radios as a .zip file.

Update 2:  Video of some of 4.2′s new features for those new to it:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  XDA

Cheers oldblue910 and El Madhatter!

Download: Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39) for the Galaxy Nexus LTE on Verizon is a post from: Droid Life

Earlier this week, Verizon’s official Twitter support account made mention of a new Galaxy Nexus update on the horizon. In fact, they said it would be here “soon,” prompting a little excitement from the G-Nex crew. What we weren’t sure about was whether or not this would be a 4.1.2 update or a big jump to 4.2.2, the current version of Android that almost all other Nexus devices are running. Thanks to a very special man with a very special version of the Galaxy Nexus, it looks like 4.2.2 might indeed be the build we see in the near future. 

If you have followed along in the journey of the VZW G-Nex, then there is a better than average chance that you have grabbed an early test build for the device from El Madhatter, a long standing member of XDA. Well, we reached out to him this morning to check in on his device, and sure enough, he claims to have received 4.2.2 (JDQ39) this week. He also sent along the screenshot above. Unfortunately for our greedy update-needing purposes, he has already applied the update, is no longer rooted, and doesn’t have access to a computer. So any chance of us retrieving this update, are slim for the moment.

In good news, we are seeing new radios listed as FK01 and FK02.  The kernel appears to be somewhat old, but that could be for a variety of reasons.

If you want to follow along to see if someone in the community can get the file or URL of the file from his device, he has created a new XDA thread here.

We should also point out that another source of ours is also claiming that the next VZW G-Nex update will be 4.2.2.

Update:  Another XDA thread to keep an eye on. Looks like he was talking to another guy about the update and he’s been active there.

Cheers El Madhatter and Open1Your1Eyes0!

Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.2.2 (JDQ39) Update Hits Testers, New Radios Included is a post from: Droid Life