Android L Developer Preview Ported to Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 2012 Wi-Fi

Earlier this month, Google released the Android L Developer Preview source code to the AOSP, which is available for Nexus devices such as Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 2012 Wi-Fi/LTE variants, Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi/LTE and the Nexus 10.

This indicates that Google's older Nexus devices will also get the Android L touch.

While the Android L Developer Preview is only available for the Nexus 5 codenamed Hammerhead and the Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi variant codenamed Flo, developers at XDA have managed to bring Google's latest Android software for the fourth generation Nexus smartphone codenamed Mako and the Wi-Fi model of the Nexus 7 2012 known as Grouper.

Senior XDA member, sykopompos, has successfully ported the Android L Developer Preview to the Nexus 4.

The developer has also shared a flashable zip file allowing Nexus 4 users to taste the Android L Developer Preview ahead of the official release. Navigate to the source thread to know more about the port.

IBTimes UK will not be held liable for any damage to the device, so proceed at your own risk.

Download link: Android L Developer Preview for Nexus 4

How to install Android L Developer Preview on Nexus 4

Step-1: Place the downloaded file into the internal storage of the phone

Step-2: Reboot the phone into recovery-CWM or TWERP. To do so first switch off the phone then press and hold Volume Up, Volume Down and Power buttons together. Release all the buttons when Bootloader/Fastboot menu appears. You should also see the Start button on the screen. Now press the Volume Up/Down button until the Start text changes into Recovery Mode. Then press the Power button to boot into Recovery Mode

Step-3: In recovery mode, perform wipe date/factory reset then select Yes on the next screen to confirm the action. Once the action is completed return to the main recovery menu

Step-4: Select mount and storage >>format system and click Yes on the next screen to confirm

Step-5: From the main recovery menu go to advanced and select wipe dalvik cache and click Yes to confirm the process. Then go back to the main recovery menu

Step-6: Select install zip >> select install zip from sdcard then select the downloaded zip file and confirm installation. Wait for some time until the process is completed

Step-7: Select wipe cache

Step-8: Select advanced>> wipe dalvik cache

Step-9: Go to the recovery menu and select Reboot system now to reboot the phone. The first boot might take up to 10 minutes

Note: If the Home button does not work then perform a full wipe to fix the issue.

Nexus 7 2012

Another member from the forum has released the SDK port of the Android L Preview version for the Wi-Fi version of Nexus 7 2012. Below are the features which are working and not working in this SDK port. Head over to the development thread to know more about the SDK port for Nexus 7.

What is working

Boot animation

Touchscreen

Sound (partially)

Screen rotation

Settings app

Camer

Installing apps

Wi-Fi

What is not working

Installing some apps, such as Chrome, from Play shows Incompatible device error

Playing some sounds, such as the Ding noise played by Google Search after recognising OK Google

Bluetooth

NFC

Google Text to Speech

Nexus 7 users who wish to install the SDK port of the Android L Developer Preview may follow the guide below. Make a backup of all data of the device before following the installation method below as the SDK port is highly experimental, notes the developer.

How to install Android L Developer Preview on Nexus 7 2012 Wi-Fi

Step-1: Download MultiROM

Step-2: Move the downloaded zip file to the internal storage of the tablet

Step-3: Booth into MultiROM recovery

Step-4: Select Advanced

Step-5: Select MultiROM

Step-6: Select Add ROM

Step-7: For "Choose ROM type" select Android

Step-8: For "Share kernel with Internal ROM?" select Don't share

Step-9: Select Next

Step-10: Select Zip file

Step-11: Choose the downloaded zip file which was earlier copied to the tablet