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Arnova 9 G2 Android 4.0 ICS custom firmware with Google Play

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admin

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2012/05/16 - 14:09

This firmware has been updated, please check the following post.

Thanks nocedroid and ZioDJSub, androidiani.com forum members for supplying an ICS firmware dump for the Arnova 9 G2. Based on this dump, I have prepared an Android 4.0 ICS custom firmware with Google Play for the Arnova 9 G2 (running Android 2.3 Gingerbread) or Arnova 9 G2i (running ICS).

File download:

http://www.arctablet.com/assets/firmware/Arnova9G2/kasty-arn9g2-40-02.zip

Firmware installation instructions:

If you are familiar with Rockchip device flashing, you should have no problem installing this firmware as it follows the regular RKAndroidTool v1.29 (RK29update.exe) flashing procedure. If anyone wishes to contribute in the procedure writing, feel free to post it in this forum.

Release history:

Version 0.2 (2012-05-21) : Fixed internal storage not formatted issue

(included misc.img from Arnova 9G2 Gingerbread with recovery.img from androidiani.com dump)

Version 0.1 (2012-05-16) :

- Arnova Android 4.0.3 firmware (2012-04-19) with all stock apps from the Arnova 9 G2i model and Google Play Store 3.5.15

- partial root support, the system partition (/system) is still read only

- Google Play is missing some apps (ex. Youtube)

- with the limited memory on the Arnova 9 G2 (512 Mb) the tablet can get a little unresponsive when many applications are running

Firmware Flashing instructions (by taotsing, thanks to him !)

1) Get the firmware unpack it on your pc – somewhere you can easily access it

2) Get your device in recovery mode. Depending on your device there is different ways:

    a) The flashing requires a USB connection between the Arnova and your PC. So plug in your micro/mini USB

    b) Shutdown your device. It seems to make things easier if it is off.

   c) For my Arnova 9 G2 I have to press Power and Menu button simultaneously. While holding the two buttons press the reset
        button with a small pin. Continue to hold the Power and Menu button. (I do not know for how long you have to hold it so – I have held them for quite a while)

3) Windows should now tell you that an unknown device has been connected – BINGO. If the Arnova screen appears you gave done something wrong !

4) Depending on which windows you run you will have to install the respective usb driver for flashing. For me the quickest way was to go to -> Control-Panel -> System -> Device-Manager. You should now see the device with the yellow warning sign. Tell windows to provide your own driver for it through the "drivers" folder of the downloaded firmware directory. Once the install is complete windows will tell you that you have a new device attached. If you run into problems here have a look at the following thread which explains the rockchip flasher tool which is behind this:http://www.arctablet.com/blog/featured/flashing-arnova-g2-rockchip-2918-rockchip-flashing-tool/

5) Now to the actual flashing. Right-click the RK29Update.exe file. The context menu opens. Click on run as administrator. In the bottom line of the opening windows it should tell you "Found RKAndroid…." – if you get a "No Found RKAndroid" you have done something wrong. Go back to step 2.

6) Make sure the "Loader" tick-box is activated and "check the remove IDB" box,press run. Wait till the flashing is done. The tablet should reboot automatically.

Done ! Happy Flashing

Don't forget this is a work in progress, we'll make our best to improve this custom firmware.

The following users say thank you to admin for this useful post:

triviman

If you like our web site, applications and firmwares, feel free to support our site. Donations are used to pay the bills for our server hosting costs, development tools and purchase new tablets to support.

taotsing

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2012/05/17 - 00:10

Thanks, Great work to get the ICS firmware out. Still, on my device I get stuck on the ARNOVA boot screen after the flashing. Any suggestions ?

admin

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2012/05/17 - 00:24

Can you try to flash again, make sure the loader checkbox is ticked and you push EraseIDB button and let it finish before flashing again (with Run button).

taotsing

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2012/05/17 - 08:50

Great - that did it !!

Works like a charm now.

One more question - arctool stops with the error 28 cannot create temporary directory - do you have any tips or plan to integrate market?

globula_neagra

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2012/05/17 - 10:35

did read the title of the topic ? which is
"Arnova 9 G2 Android 4.0 ICS custom firmware with Google Play"
google play is market

THE FLASH/UNBRICK PROJECT

djfonixie

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2012/05/17 - 20:46

so i had a go of updating to ics,got it after a few trys,got very excited when it worked,its great,though an issue i have noticed and im wondering did other people notcie it,the ram is half the size,is it something that will not be changed,or have i done something wrong in the process of upgrading?

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2012/05/17 - 21:08

What makes you think the RAM is half the size ? Confused

globula_neagra

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2012/05/17 - 21:16

ics uses more ram then gingerbread

THE FLASH/UNBRICK PROJECT

djfonixie

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2012/05/17 - 21:23

i know it still exists,but it shows up as 281mb through go launcher hd,that maybe the issue,will have to look were to find the proper information

smillen

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2012/05/17 - 21:53

looking forward to installing ICS on my Arnova 9g2. Is there an idiots guide for real idiots like myself and is there much difference apart from the UI between gingerbread and ICS i.e. apps run better?

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2012/05/17 - 22:59

smillen said
looking forward to installing ICS on my Arnova 9g2. Is there an idiots guide for real idiots like myself and is there much difference apart from the UI between gingerbread and ICS i.e. apps run better?

It should not make a big difference on how applications run, you may just get access to more apps as some require ICS to run,

and you have some new ICS features and system apps.

Here is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread vs Android 4.0 ICS comparison: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-2-3-gingerbread-vs-android-4-0-ice-cream-sandwich-37742/

Regarding a flashing guide, I'm relying on forum members that want to help the community to write one...

taotsing

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2012/05/18 - 16:12

@ admin - thanks for the heads-up on the play=market. Had it figured out now as well...

@ smillen - Simple Guide for Flashing - Here is how I did it.

1) Get the firmware (see top of the Thread); unpack it on your pc - somewhere you can easily access it

2) Get your device in recovery mode. Depending on your device there is different ways:

a) The flashing requires a USB connection between the Arnova and your PC. So plug in your micro/mini USB

b) Shutdown your device. It seems to make things easier if it is off.

c) For my Arnova 9 G2 I have to press Power and Menu button simultaneously. While holding the two buttons press the reset
button with a small pin. Continue to hold the Power and Menu button. (I do not know for how long you have to hold it so - I have held them for quite a while)

3) Windows should now tell you that an unknown device has been connected - BINGO. If the Arnova screen appears you gave done something wrong !

4) Depending on which windows you run you will have to install the respective usb driver for flashing. For me the quickest way was to go to -> Control-Panel -> System -> Device-Manager. You should now see the device with the yellow warning sign. Tell windows to provide your own driver for it through the "drivers" folder of the downloaded firmware directory. Once the install is complete windows will tell you that you have a new device attached. If you run into problems here have a look at the following thread which explains the rockchip flasher tool which is behind this: http://www.arctablet.com/blog/featured/flashing-arnova-g2-rockchip-2918-rockchip-flashing-tool/

5) Now to the actual flashing. Right-click the RK29Update.exe file. The context menu opens. Click on run as administrator. In the bottom line of the opening windows it should tell you "Found RKAndroid...." - if you get a "No Found RKAndroid" you have done something wrong. Go back to step 2.

6) Make sure the "Loader" tick-box is activatetd and press run. Wait till the flashing is done. The tablet should reboot automatically.

Done ! Happy Flashing

For me the ICS made a big difference from the Honeycomb. Everything seems to be quicker/snappier. The GUI seems much more focussed on tablets and not only smart-phones. Browser rendering and handling is much nicer. Thanks again to all the folks that made the ICS firmware possible !!!!!

Maybe sombebody has a recommendation for a user-introduction to Ice-Cream-Sandwich a lot of the handling and controls seem to have changed from Honeycomb?

smillen

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2012/05/19 - 10:17

thanks to taotsing for your flashing guide, I have followed this and now have a 9G2 running ICS.

Just a question does any one have any issue's running streaming type video apps

I've installed Netflix, which previously ran fine on Gingerbread, I can login and select a video, the video player window opens but the video never starts a black screen with the controls (It does not freeze the app)

I've installed BBC Iplayer which uses the mobile version as It says the desktop version is not suported, I can select a video which in very choppy in small screen but when I try to go full screen I get the same as Netflix a black screen with the controls (It does not freeze the app)

When viewing videos via youtube website It plays the video fine in small screen but If I go fullcreen I get the same as above a black screen with the controls (It does not freeze the app)

I tried updating the flash via appslib but its still the same

globula_neagra

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2012/05/19 - 13:01

check this topic
http://www.arctablet.com/blog/forum/arnova-g3-general-discussions/flash-player-2/

THE FLASH/UNBRICK PROJECT