A few days ago, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update began rolling out to some Nexus S models. Just last night, two more models started receiving the OTA update. However, the most interesting news is what Google has said regarding updates for Nexus S devices purchased through a carrier, which are already on their way and could arrive within days. Furthermore, the announcement was made via Twitter, a very public platform where there's no room for half-truths.
The announcement comes after two other Nexus S models, the Nexus S i9023 and i9020T , received the OTA update earlier tonight . These phones can now be updated to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.
This is undoubtedly a sign that Google is providing excellent support for its products and that the Jelly Bean update process isn't stalled within the development offices in Mountain View. This is good news for everyone who still has a Nexus device that hasn't received the update, as they won't have to wait much longer.
Specifically, the announcement made by the search engine company on Twitter, from its @googlenexus account, stated: "We've started rolling out Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, to Nexus S phones on a number of carriers with more to come." This means, as mentioned, that they have begun the update process to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and that it will arrive soon on Nexus S phones from a number of carriers.
If you have a Nexus S with Ice Cream Sandwich, we recommend that you don't forget to check Check if there's an update available by going to Settings > About phone > Software update. There you'll see if you already have the latest version, or if a new firmware is available. You can also force the check by entering the code. *#*#2432546#*#* and download via Wi‑Fi with enough batteryIf you prefer, there is also a AOSP ROM with Jelly Bean for the Nexus S.
Models, operators and builds
The OTA update is being rolled out gradually to the i9020T and i9023 models , and, according to Google, also to carrier-specific units. Among the first carriers mentioned were T-Mobile, H3G, O2, Rogers, and Vodafone , with more to come. The update package for the i9020a model corresponds to a different variant. Technically, the Nexus S received Jelly Bean in builds such as JRO03E ( soju/sojua family ), which are also available as factory images for clean installations. The Sprint Nexus S 4G typically has a separate rollout schedule and may take longer.
What does Jelly Bean 4.1.x bring to the Nexus S?
- Project Butter: Smoother interface with smooth animations and improved touch response.
- Google Now and voice search (initially in English) with contextual cards.
- smart widgets that automatically adjust to the available space on the desktop.
- Expanded notifications with fast action straight from the tray.
What about Android 4.2?
Google confirmed that the Nexus S will not officially receive Android 4.2 ; its maximum version will remain Android 4.1.2 . The decision was announced by Google's head of AOSP (Jean-Baptiste Queru) without providing technical reasons, and a similar situation occurred with the Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi . Although 4.2 introduces minor changes compared to 4.1.2, there is no official support for the Nexus S beyond that version, although unofficial versions like CyanogenMod 10.2 exist.
Manual installation (optional) and ROOT
If the OTA update is slow or you prefer a clean install, you can flash the official Jelly Bean ROM. Warning : This process will erase your data and is done at your own risk.
- Unlock the bootloader and make sure you have the ADB/Fastboot drivers installed.
- Install an updated recovery (e.g. ClockWorkMod) compatible with the Nexus S.
- Backup complete and, from the recovery, execute wipe data / factory reset y wipe cache.
- If you want total cleaning, format the Internal SD after copying your files to the PC.
- Copy to SD the official ROM ZIP (do not unzip it) and flash from Install zip from sdcard.
- Optional: Flash the ZIP ROOT and restart with Reboot system now.
For many users, the OTA route is the safest , while the manual route allows you to restore the system to factory settings or advance the arrival time if your operator is delayed.
The Nexus S continues to enjoy a great experience with Jelly Bean: if you've already received the OTA update, check out the performance and new features; if not, monitor Settings and consider manual installation only if you're comfortable with the process.
