Nexus 5 OTA after rooted and TWRP installed

I have been using Nexus 5 for quite a long time, and it's great to frequently receive update notification from google to get me the latest version of Android OS. We often joke that as a Nexus user, we paid for the system and get the device for free.

The update is called OTA (Over The Air). But since google changed its policy of verifying whether an OTA can perform or not, our lives become hard. In short, most of Nexus users will root the device, unlock bootloader and flash third party recovery for instance TWRP. (With this, you have most of controls of the Android OS and install lots of applications.) After done these, the system files will be changed. Google now changed the OTA policy to not only check some of the files are original version but check the whole system partition, which means in our case the OTA check will definitely fail and cannot run the update.

Below is a sample error:
expects build fingerprint of google/hammerhead/hammerhead 5.0.1/LRX22C/160258:user/release-keys or google/hammerhead/hammerhead 5.1 LMY47D/1743759   user/release-keys 
this device has Android/omni_hammerhead/hammerhead:4.4.4/KTU84P/4ef4c299f5:eng/test-keys

When what to do?

I had a lot of pain trying different methods, each time failed by the phone cannot boot and I have to reinstall the whole factory image, which means I have a complete fresh OS and have to install all the applications! So each update I need to spend days to get my phone ready, this is really hard.

During this Labors' Day vacation, I decide to study this problem and luckily I found a solution.

First of all,
Don't try the sideload, don't try to use TWRP to install... I have tried all these and they failed. :)

Solution:

1. Download Nexus Root Toolkit and update it to the latest version
2. click

 3. Very importantly, very importantly, very importantly CHECK don't flash userdata

Then follow all the instructions to flash, after this is done, phone will boot and updates all the application. Last but not least, flash the latest custom recovery and the latest Super

Enjoy the latest Android!

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Anroid Emulator Genymotion Connect to Internet

We have attended an Android training class and the lecturer told us that Genymotion is so far the best Android emulator.


https://www.genymotion.com/

I have setup a device as shown above: Nexus 5 and it can successfully run. But the problem is, when I am in company, I cannot access the network. But you can see on the top the WiFi icon shows connection is successful.

I searched and finally found out a solution.

1. Click and hold the Connected WiFi (typically the name is WiredSSID) for 2 or 3 seconds.

2. Choose modify network

3. Specify the proxy hostname and port, then click Save

4. Now you can web surf!

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OK, Google! How to enable Google Now in China

I have got the Nexus 5 and it's very cool that you say "OK Google" to trigger voice search function, you can also speak to use Google Now to find interesting things for you. But Google Now is not available in China, and by default you will see in Android system settings it says Google Now is not supported in China. But the great fire wall cannot stop us, and below is the way you can do it.

The prerequisite is that you have a rooted device. 

1. Please download a third party market app and install it. I recommend Cool Market, the best one I have ever used.
Download link: cool market

2. After installation, search in cool market an app called "market unlocker". Run it and turn on
1) Enable Unlocker
2) Auto Unlocker

3. Turn off location
Go to Settings, under "PERSONAL" there is "Location" icon, click it and turn it off.

4. Clear Data and Cache of Google apps
Very importantly, please turn off your WiFi in this step
Go to Settings-->Apps, slice to ALL apps, clear cache of three Google apps
1) Google Play services (Click manage space, and then clear all data)

2) Google Play Store (Click clear data)

3) Google Search (Clear data)

Now reboot your device

1. go to Google Play to initialize it.
2. long lick the "Up" icon in home screen and click Google now.

Wait Google Now to be initialized. After this, you can enable locations service and google now will be there with you.

OK, Google!