Force update your Nexus One with multi-touch pinch zooming

The only thing keeping your Nexus One from laying the smack-down on Apple’s iPhone is this small software update that Google and T-Mobile are sending over-the-air (OTA). Packed inside an update no more than a couple dozen megabytes lies the power to enable multi-touch pinch zooming on your N1. So, why let something like a random update roll-out stand between you and multi-touch zooming on the Nexus One‘s browser, Google Maps or gallery apps? You can force update your Nexus One and flip the switch on your multi-finger goodness right now!

The force update process is super simple. You don’t even need to root (jailbreak) the Nexus One to do it. Here’s how:

1. Download the software update file to your desktop.
   • Nexus One update file
2. Rename the downloaded .zip file as “update.zip” (without the quotation marks).
3. Power down the device.
4. Once powered down, power back up by holding down the Power and Trackball buttons simultaneously.
5. You’ll boot into a white screen with multi-colored text.
   • Use the Volume Up and Volume Down keys to navigate through the list
   • Use the Power button to select
6. Select Bootloader by using the Power button
7. On the next screen, select Recovery
   • The Nexus One will go black, this is normal.
8. Hold down both the Power button and Volume Up botton when you see the droid/triangle image
9. Select Apply sdcard:update.zip
10. Once done, reboot.
11. That’s it, go forth and enjoy pinch zooming.

Just make sure to take it easy on your friends with iPhones. It can be a traumatic experience, realizing that the iPhone has a worthy challenger.