Installing custom OS on original Nexus 7 (2012)
Before starting, make sure you have working adb (Android Development Bridge) tool on your PC. adb.exe is part of Android SDK, so if you have Android Studio, you should already have adb. If not, you can download Android Studio (or SDK only) from developer.android.com.
Warning: following instructions below will wipe all data on your tablet.
Step 1 - Unlock bootloader
- Enable USB Debugging on Nexus 7. Settings > Developer Options > USB Debbuging
Developers Options by default are disabled on all Android tablets. To enable them, got to Settings > About tablet and tap multiple times on Build Number - Connect Nexus 7 to your PC with USB cable. When you get a prompt "Allow USB debugging" choose OK.
- Open command prompt and navigate to the location of adb.exe.
Exact path where the file is located depends on where you installed Android SDK. i.e. D:\sdk\platform-tools - Run command adb reboot bootloader
Nexus 7 should reboot into FastBoot mode. - Run command fastboot oem unlock. Accept a warring on the device.
- Nexus 7 should now have bootloader unlocked.
Root failure - Firmware upgrade encountered an issue
Issue
Trying to root Samsung Galaxy Note 3 using Kingo Root failed. The phone doesn't boot and only displays following message when turned on:
Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again.
Recovery attempt in Samsung Kies failed. Re-flash full Samsung firmware via Odin also failed.
Read more: Root failure - Firmware upgrade encountered an issue
Flashing using ODIN fails - Complete(Write) operation failed
Issue
Trying to install a custom recovery on Samsung Galaxy Note 3 using Odin fails with following output:
<ID:0/003> Firmware update start..
<ID:0/003> recovery.img
<ID:0/003> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/003> cache.img.ext4
<ID:0/003> Complete(Write) operation failed.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)
Read more: Flashing using ODIN fails - Complete(Write) operation failed
Google Photos doesn't show people album outside US
One of the coolest new Google Photos features is "Group similar faces", which automatically detects faces in photos and groups them in "people" albums. Unfortunately, this option at the moment is only available in the US. The good news is that there is quite simple workaround that lets you to enable "Group similar faces" wherever you are.
The trick is to fool Google Photos that you are connecting from United States. The best thing is that this only needs to be done once (to enable "Group similar faces" option). After this is done, the feature will work regardless of where you are connecting from.
Read more: Google Photos doesn't show people album outside US
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- Keep Bluetooth tethering always enabled on Samsung Note 3
- How to turn old Android tablet into high-end picture frame
- Log in to sync Facebook with your other applications
- An application has been forced to stop for an unauthorized attempt
- iPhone - very high data usage (email stuck in outbox)