Apply manual update on Xoom without an OTG cable

Question

So the ICS update came out for Xoom and applying it is straight forward enough - pretty much like in any other case. Except, it seems to require the OTG cable.

Would anybody know a way to do that without using such cable? I mean, applying the patch either from the internal memory or from the sd mount?

Answer 1

If you live in non-US country, then you can follow a guide for installing the US-based ICS on you Xoom that I've written up on my blog. The basic procedure is:

1. Install Android SDK and Motorola USB drivers on your PC
2. Download US honeycomb stock ROM from here
3. Extract all files from this ZIP file into platform-tools folder under Android SDK
4. Boot the device into fastboot mode.
5. Then from command prompt (with current directory ‘sdk/platform-tools’) run following commands-
   1. fastboot oem unlock (this is red pill, at this point your device warranty voids! welcome to matrix!!)
   2. fastboot flash boot boot.img
   3. fastboot flash system system.img
   4. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
   5. fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
   6. fastboot erase cache
6. now reboot the device
7. go to settings -> about -> update, this will download subsequent ROM update and will install it, and then reboot
8. repeat step-7 until all updates are done (will normally need 4-5 update cycles)

Note that it will void your device warranty

Answer 2

Which version of the Xoom do you have? Motorola have so far only released an ICS update for the US Wifi version of the Xoom (the 3G version and the International version use different firmware and haven't had the update yet, applying this update to those models may harm them).

If you do have a US Wifi Xoom then Motorola are already actively pushing this update out and have been doing this in batches since 24th Jan. If your device is regularly connected to the internet and hasn't automatically picked up the update yet, then you can force it to go and check by going into Settings -> About tablet and selecting System updates it should then go and check for you.

In the future, if you want to have a chance of getting Xoom updates early, you can join the official Motorola Feedback Network, members of that group did reportedly get the ICS update a few weeks earlier than everyone else. Join it by signing up at the Motorola Forums and selecting the "Motorola Feedback Network" option.

If you do want to do this manual update, then you can pick up a USB OTG (aka Host Mode USB cable) very cheaply on eBay, I got one for connecting my camera to the Xoom for a couple of pounds, including postage from Hong Kong!