In March, the update to Android 5.1 for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10began rolling out. The Nexus 9 was left out of the first wave, and apparently the wait is still happening despite a new update landing on the tablet now.
Today, it’s been confirmed by several different Nexus 9 owners that the tablet is receiving an update, but it’s not Android 5.1. Instead, it appears to be Android 5.0.2, and it measures in at just 23.3MB. Considering the small size of the update, and the fact the Nexus 9 was previously on Android 5.0.1, this update is more than likely geared towards security and bug fixes behind the scenes.
More than likely, this update is gearing the Nexus 9 up for the arrival of Android 5.1 at some point in the near future, too.
In case you cannot wait for the update, you can manually sideload it by downloading theOTA update from here.
If you own a Nexus 9, have you received the Android 5.0.2 update yet?
Remember the Remix Ultra Tablet? I have been talking about for the last few weeks now and it turns out that buying one on Kickstarter is not the only way to get the OS. The clever boys and girls at Jide Tech have made a $1 backer option to allow you get a copy of the ROM sent to you so you can play with the Remix OS on a Nexus 9 / 10.
Obviously this means that you will not get the keyboard for the device or indeed the kickstand, however these two tablets have been out for long enough that it may be worth picking up one on eBay for a bargain if to play with the new OS. I am particularly intrigued to see how fast it feels on the Nvidia Tegra K1 of the Nexus 9. Unfortunately it will not be optimised for 64bit chip-sets which is a downer.
Here is a video of the OS, it is in Chinese with subtitles
Please bear in mind that this will involve you having root access to your Nexus device and it will invalidate any and all warranties that you may have in place. Jide will provide detailed instructions on how to install the ROM but you will need to gain ROOT access by yourself. Also if you are using a Cellular model of either device then Remix OS in its current version may not support this feature as the Remix Tablet is not cellular equipped.
So if you are feeling adventurous or have an old Nexus 10 lying unused in the drawer dig it out and get backing on Kickstarter
The reset process is almost identical on every Nexus device.
We’ve loved our Nexus 4 since the moment we set eyes on it, but like any smartphone it can suffer from misbehaving apps, operating system oddities and other annoyances. If you’re finding that problems occur with the same app again and again then it’s a good idea to try deleting its app cache (if applicable) or uninstalling the app, rebooting your Nexus 4 and reinstalling the app again . But if you suspect something’s gone wrong with Android itself or you just want to make your Nexus 4 feel factory-fresh again, then a factory reset may be the solution. Here is how to factory reset the Nexus 4.
Want to root your Nexus rather than reset it? Find out how to root the Nexus 4 at the link.
A factory reset can make your Nexus feel factory-fresh again.
What to do before you reset the Nexus 4
A factory reset gets rid of everything apart from Android, so it’s essential that you have a backup copy of anything valuable. That could be your photos, your top secret plans for world domination or just a bunch of Wi-Fi passwords. It doesn’t matter what it is, but it’s important to make sure you won’t lose it when you reset your Nexus 4. Make sure you’ve synced with your Google Account too, as that takes care of a lot of the legwork when it comes to putting all your stuff back on your phone after the reset.
As with any bit of system tinkering, make sure your Nexus has sufficient battery charge before performing the reset. Better still, plug it into the charger.
How to reset the Nexus 4
There are two ways to reset the Nexus 4. You can do it from the Settings menu, or you can do it by putting your Nexus into recovery mode. That latter option might be the only available option if your Nexus has frozen.
Let’s look at the Settings menu approach first. To reset your Nexus:
Go into the Settings menu
Go to Personal > Backup & Reset
Enter your password/PIN if required
Tap Factory Data Reset > Reset Phone
Again, you might be prompted for your password or PIN here.
Tap Delete Everything
Choose the Reboot option
The Settings menu option is the easiest way to reset your Nexus.
How to reset the Nexus 4 by putting it into the recovery mode
If your phone has frozen, won’t let you into Settings or you just prefer pressing buttons, you can also reset your Nexus 4 by putting your phone into recovery mode. Once again it’s a good idea to make sure your phone is charged or connected to a charger before proceeding.
If at any point the phone freezes during this process, press and hold the Power button to restart it.
Turn off your Nexus if it’s currently on
Press and hold the Volume Down and Power button simultaneously until the Nexus turns itself on
Using the Volume Down button to navigate, highlight Recovery Mode
Press the Power button to confirm your selection
You should now see an image of the Android robot with a red exclamation mark
Hold down the Power button and press and release the Volume Up button
Using the Volume Down button to navigate, highlight Wipe Data / Factory Reset. Once again, use Power to confirm the selection
Using the Volume Down button, highlight Yes - Erase All User Data and use Power to confirm your selection
Wait for the reset to complete and then select the reboot option
What data and settings are restored via the Android Backup Service?
If you used the Android Backup Service to backup your Nexus, it can restore some settings and data for you automatically after you’ve reset your device. It can backup and restore:
Google Calendar settings
Stored Wi-Fi networks and passwords
Wallpapers
Gmail settings
Apps you’ve installed via Google Play and backed up on the Play Store app
Display brightness and sleep settings
Language and input settings
Date and time
Some third-party app settings and data
Android's backup service, shown here on Lollipop, can backup and restore key system settings and some apps' data.
The reason we’ve said “some” third party apps is because the Android Backup Service can only backup apps that actually use it, and it’s up to the app developer(s) whether a particular app uses it and if it does, what settings and data are actually backed up. When it comes to backing up important data, documents, files or settings it’s always a good idea to assume the worst and ensure you have a backup copy of absolutely everything. Don’t assume that your favorite app uses the Backup Service and discover the hard way that it doesn’t!
Have you found resetting the Nexus 4 fixes performance and stability issues? Have you had happy or unhappy backup experiences? Let us know in the comments.
