I have an old A500 and for a long while, I was content with it on 4.0.3 ICS. It was also unused for a long while now. However, I recently wanted to use it for office work and my Google Docs, etc are so outdated that the old apps installed aren't usable. The same with MS Office Android app. So I think I need to flash the Rom to Lollipop. I've done some readings and I am thinking that OmniRom will update my tablet back to usability. Am I right?
Also, the steps listed are usually Windows but my computers are all Linux ones. Can anyone point me the way to update my A500?
Thank you and sorry. I'm new to tinkering with Android devices.
Related
Reading through these forums has been a real education; much thanks to everyone for posting and sharing!
I was given a reconditioned A500 by a friend (obviously a very good friend!), stock Acer_A500_1.104.02_COM_GEN1 with Android v3.0.1. Rooted with Gingerbreak, everything running fine. Really love the tablet.
Anyway, been looking over all of the choices for upgraded ROMS so graciously provided by members of the community, and hit a little analysis-paralysis. What are the major advantages (other than the "latest-and-greatest" factor) to upgrading to 3.1, 3.2, or 3.2.1? Is there any "must-have" advantage to the upgrade? And will my GEN1 have issues with some of the ROMs developed from GEN2 packages?
Thanks for being patient with an old dog trying desperately to learn some new tricks...
The later the version of Honeycomb generally the more stable and quicker it runs. You probably notice with 3.0 and 3.0.1 there are a lot of force closes on apps. There are other benefits to newer versions, such as ability to plug in USB peripherals etc, but I don't know all of them off the top of my head.
One problem that many people learned (myself included) was that when we got the upgrade to 3.2, those who had root lost it and nobody could figure out how to root it because Acer changed their boot loader. Since then people have found ways around it. Custom ROMs that the devs had created here usually make the tablet run better (of course there are risks to doing this and the occasional bug!). Some people run custom ROMS to overclock, some load them to remove Acer Bloatware and some just have the urge to try new and great things.
In terms of having issues with GEN1 and GEN2 packages, when you are installing custom ROMS made by the DEVs on XDA you won't have to worry. I think the GEN1 and GEN2 are just for ACER to distinguish things like the country that the device is from, or to determine when they should be receiving OTA updates.
CharlieSummers said:
Reading through these forums has been a real education; much thanks to everyone for posting and sharing!
I was given a reconditioned A500 by7 a friend (obviously a very good friend!), stock Acer_A500_1.104.02_COM_GEN1 with Android v3.0.1. Rooted with Gingerbreak, everything running fine. Really love the tablet.
Anyway, been looking over all of the choices for upgraded ROMS so graciously provided by members of the community, and hit a little analysis-paralysis. What are the major advantages (other than the "latest-and-greatest" factor) to upgrading to 3.1, 3.2, or 3.2.1? Is there any "must-have" advantage to the upgrade? And will my GEN1 have issues with some of the ROMs developed from GEN2 packages?
Thanks for being patient with an old dog trying desperately to learn some new tricks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Early HC versions have issues with Netflex, video, voice, GPS, etc. Alot of the drivers have been patched since 3.0.1.
TD
If you want a mostly stock rom with just Root and busybox I suggest this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1429199
It is very fast and very smooth. haven't run into any problems or force closes yet.
I found that the full screen feature of 3.2 and 3.2.1 was a great reason to upgrade. My iconia came with 3.1 on it and i was content with that rooted until i learned that my apps that didnt fill the screen (guitar hero 5) and some that just didnt run (dance dance revolution s) worked great in full screen on 3.2+.
Greatly appreciate all of the responses. It's pretty clear I need to read the threads here and learn how to upgrade the Android in this tablet. (I especially appreciate starkiller86's pointer to the 3.2.1 sorta-stock image...that looks like the most sensible direction for me to go.)
Thanks again!
Hi. I'm a 17-year old developer from the Netherlands, who was the first to get Ice Cream Sandwich booting on the HTC Desire. Then I released MIUI, CM7 and AOKP for the HTC Flyer and I was the first with every one of them
I have also been repackaging factory images for Android 4.3 for the Nexus 7 to make flashable ZIPs, and I released a nightly build of OmniROM. In case you're wondering why OmniROM Unofficial Build is not getting an update: I preferred to spend my time to prepare for KitKat.
But now that KitKat is available, I want to work as quick as possible to give you the latest best stuff for our Nexus 7. A custom ROM with features from Android 4.3 custom ROMs is what I strive to. However, I don't have a server or fast machine which is capable of compiling Android in a few hours (my machine with a dual core E2180 takes about 9 hours). This is really counter-productive as I need that box for other purposes as well. So I was wondering if anyone can give me access to a Linux box, with SSH access, and at least about 50GB free space (Ubuntu preferred). That way, I can release updates for unofficial builds of KitKat with new features much quicker.
If you think you have a machine that may be suitable for this, please reply And thanks in advance!
Sorry, I do not own such a machine, but I came here to vouch for this guy.
He was an excellent guy to have around the Flyer forums, and is sure one heck of a developer.
If you do have a box to spare, I would recommend giving it to Chaosz-X
Hello. I just got hold of an acer iconia a501 which is running 4.0.3 If it's cool I just have a couple of questions: 1. Should I just leave it as is or are there many benefits to modifying and upgrading the os? 2. If so, I can't quite figure out which process to do in the right order ie rooting, flashing a rom etc. If I could just get the information as to what steps I need to take, I'll be able to find the how to on this forum. I appreciate your help.
Ryan.
Big Upgrade benifit
yurtal said:
Hello. I just got hold of an acer iconia a501 which is running 4.0.3 If it's cool I just have a couple of questions: 1. Should I just leave it as is or are there many benefits to modifying and upgrading the os? 2. If so, I can't quite figure out which process to do in the right order ie rooting, flashing a rom etc. If I could just get the information as to what steps I need to take, I'll be able to find the how to on this forum. I appreciate your help.
Ryan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, I used to be stock ICS. got ok battery life and performance. I flashed TegraOwners Lollipop rom and it was so much better. Yes its in its early stages but screen on time went from barely 3 hours to 5 1/2-6. With no under clocking. Pretty amazing.
bacu12 said:
I flashed TegraOwners Lollipop rom and it was so much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the Lollipop ROM you flashed for the Acer 501 only?
BOTH
ransom147 said:
Is the Lollipop ROM you flashed for the Acer 501 only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rom I flashed is made for both a501 and a500. I personally use a500. They also have cm12 rom for a500 and a501
noob needs opinion 3.2.1, on upgrading acer a500
(Sorry for invading your thread, but I did not know where to start asking.)
Hi I feel like I am out of luck. If that is the case, please just treat the backstory as a bit of entertainment.
To upgrade the Acer A500 Iconia Tablet from Honeycomb 3.2.1(oem) to something more current, perhaps IceCreamSandwich 4.0, can I download a file to a microSD card, plug the card into
the tablet, and get the upgrade? I read somewhere about a file called update.zip. Is the process just this simple/easy?
BackStory:
This tablet is hard to love as it doesn't come with any sample media, or even any file-manager. Once in a while it crashes to the home screen. But another feature I really want is to take screenshots. That is why I want to root the A500.(Problem0 Recently, the lockscreen failed. (My password is made of letters, whereas the A500 would no longer display the virtual keyboard, only the virtual numeric keypad!). therefore I did a cleanWipe reset of the tablet. 'Android version 3.2.1; Build number Acer_A500_7.014.02_COM_GEN2'. Problem0 fixed.) Problem1: I am a newbie w poor computer skills. Problem2: I am a newbie w poor computer skills.
I register the tablet w Acer, and then install ICS A500 Update from Google Play Store. (ICONIA TAB Update Enhancement, Acer Inc. - March 18, 2012: Application_Acer_2.2. 120307.3_A32H_A.apk)
Next I go to settings... and click on Acer System Update "check now" button. But the only message popup is 'Network coverage is currently poor. Please move to a location with better coverage to continue.' Funny as the wifi indicator indicates the signal as very strong. I try signing into Acer.com support, but it says 'your email (id) is not recognized'.
Questions:
1. Should I upgrade to something newer than the built-in Android 3.2.1? and if so which version?
2. Should I root? (How do I root? Is a PC required to do this?)
(3. Do I first need to get Acer software/drivers for PC?)
(4. What is a good app to use to backup Acer A500 to PC?)
Thank you for your attention; a frustrated A500 user,
J.
Hi there helpful bunch out there its me with maybe and somehow a boring question for most of you but for me much guidance is needed. Here is what I have and then what I would like to accomplish.
I bought originally a packerd bell liberty tab g100 with stock android 3.something installed. As soon as Acer came with the ICS upgrade for the iconia a500, which is the same tab as you all ofc know, I installed that update with a very simple guide. Now year(s) later, and yes this brick isn't the best around but can't afford anything else so first would like a fresh install and second a upgrade while at it.
Now, I looked much on XDA and found a lot of text that made my head hurt and which I bravely tried to follow that guide but somehow it didn't work.
So now I have android 4.0.1 rooted and I would like to go to android 5 if that's even possible ofc.
Hope you smart people can help me to overcome this hurdle. Tnx
Hi all, I've looked around and tried my best to understand how to room and install a custom rom on my Xoom 2 but I can't find the files to do such job. Every time I would click the link for the tutorial to download the rom required, the page isn't found.
If someone could point me in the right direction with how to root and install a custom rom, I would much appreciate it.
I've found my old tablet and would like very much to update it, it's kind of useless now. I can't find the files aswell
It's a shame as its such a good tablet. I only want to use it for web browsing and sitting in bed watching Youtube or Twitch, but with Youtube, when I launch the app It sends me to the play store as there is a updated version, but it won't let me update it.
So I assume that the tablet's software is too old and that's why I wanted to install a more up to date rom.
Hopefully someone will step forward and give us the help and the right direction to the files needed
Same here
I would like to flash a custom ROM to a Xoom 2 Media Edition (MZ607) because some important apps won't open in the stock Android 4.0.4. It looks like some people had developed ROMs for it to run Android 5.1 (or 5.1.1), but I am not able to find this ROM. If someone knows where this ROM is supposed to be, I will be very grateful! I rooted it with Kingoroot but this won't get me any far without a ROM...