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:
- Download the software update file to your desktop.
- Rename the downloaded .zip file as “update.zip” (without the quotation marks).
- Power down the device.
- Once powered down, power back up by holding down the Power and Trackball buttons simultaneously.
- 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
- Select Bootloader by using the Power button
- On the next screen, select Recovery
- The Nexus One will go black, this is normal.
- Hold down both the Power button and Volume Up botton when you see the droid/triangle image
- Select Apply sdcard:update.zip
- Once done, reboot.
- 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.