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.