The Nexus S is the first Android phone to get the upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich (though the HTC Sensation range and Samsung Galaxy S2 will follow). It's rolling out over the next month, but if you don't want to wait, we've got some tips on how to update yours right now.
In a statement, Google said, "We're rolling out Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, to GSM/UMTS Nexus S devices over the coming month, starting today. Enjoy the tasty update! Once you get the update, check out some tips and shortcuts for getting started at the Android 4.0 Help Center."
Previously the Nexus S ran Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Ice Cream Sandwich brings hundreds of new features, including the ability to unlock the handset using facial recognition, and resize apps on the home screen, as well as organise them in folders just like iOS.
If you haven't yet been offered the update, and don't want to wait, here's how to get yours today. Beware: this is quite technical and if you're at all wary of mucking about with your phone, we strongly advise you to wait for the over the air update.
- First, backup your phone.
- Head here (download link) and download the Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich update to your desktop computer.
- Connect your Nexus S to your computer via USB and copy the update.zip to the root of your SD card (but don't put it in a folder, or it won't work).
- Shut down your Nexus S and start it up again, holding the Volume Up button.
- Navigate to Recovery mode using the volume buttons and press Power.
- Remember to breathe.
- You'll see an exclamation mark on the screen: press Power, then Volume Up.
- Select to update from SD card, choose the update.zip package and press Power to confirm. Hey presto, it'll install. And you've got Ice Cream Sandwich running on a year-old phone.
So how does ICS run on the Nexus S? Give it a try and let us know either in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.
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Comments 16
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anonymous 19 December, 2011 12:33
Installed on my Vodafone UK nexus s like a charm. Thanks CNET :-)
dezfowler 19 December, 2011 12:41
Got mine via OTA update last night.
Am finding social stuff a bit screwy on it though. Plus they got rid of carriage return on the keyboard!
anonymous 19 December, 2011 13:04
No facial unlock on Nexus S version of ICS so don't expect it per the article. Still huge improvement over gingerbread tho.
anonymous 19 December, 2011 15:24
Liking the new layout. Worked like a charm too. Didn't realise about the carriage return though. I guess I'll switch back to swiftkey if I have to. Like the new music and gallery apps. Still to get to grips with the rest.
anonymous 19 December, 2011 15:31
Does anyone know if this will this erase all my texts/photos etc.?
anonymous 19 December, 2011 15:36
installed it on orange nexus s, seems to work fine :)
anonymous 19 December, 2011 16:30
installed fine on o2 nexus, there is a bug which is annoying when people call or text you it first shows their name then only their number in the call log and text app.
anonymous 19 December, 2011 21:11
Can I Install this ICS ROM on Samsung S2 ? PLx Tell
anonymous 20 December, 2011 03:13
Can I Install this ICS ROM on Samsung S2 ? PLx Tell
anonymous 20 December, 2011 22:10
it didnt work on my sprint nexus s...said failure on all fields...any ideas?
anonymous 21 December, 2011 02:26
I get this error:
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
Verifying update package...
Installing update...
assert failed: file_getprop("/system/build.prop","ro.build.fingerprint") == ("google/soju/crespo:2.3.6/GPK39F/189904:user/release-keys" || file_getprop("system/build.prop","ro.build.fingerprint") == "google/soju/crespo:4.0.3/IML74K/239410::user/release-keys"
E:Error in /tmp/sideload/package.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted.
anonymous 22 December, 2011 19:01
Hmmm... :(
Reboot, reboot, launcher stopped, reboot etc .......
anonymous 2 January, 2012 21:53
I have the same issue as anonymous above on the 22 December above ? Has anyone found a workaround ? Could it be to do with an rooted/unrooted bootloader ?
anonymous 5 January, 2012 19:20
Worked on my sim free nexus s in UK (baseband version: I9020XXKI1) . Install was smooth. Looks awesome. WiFi and mobile network are fine and screen colour is great. Absolutely fantastic.
Wayne Stallwood 14 January, 2012 23:57
To those with the assert failure above. Are you running 2.3.6 because if not this update will fail in exactly that way. You need to obtain the *full* update file to update from earlier releases...None of the manual update instructions I have seen make that very clear.
Have a search around for ZD3PyN0t.zip it's the same release as the link posted here but a full rather than partial update file.
anonymous 26 January, 2012 23:59
Worked great on my Nexus S that I bought in Ireland and am using in the UK. (2.3.6)
Thanks a mill CNET. Made my friday. Win.