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I have create an application and installed it to a device in the Android system image.
Now I have added some new features to my app and I want to update my current install app with that new feature.
One way I could do this is by re-installing the android OS with the new version of the app.
Is there another way that I can do this so that I can update the app without having to update my whole Android operating system?
As long as you have the release key (or whatever key you use) used sign the app in the /system you could just quickly side-load your application:
adb install -r bin/my-signed-app.apk
Note the '-r' option.
This will update the application, but not remove/update the apk file in /system or clear the user's data.
You might have to clear the data first due to database schema changes:
adb shell pm clear my.app.package
You could then go and manually remove this 'update' via the app settings Activity.
There's not a "straightforward" way to do it. You can't update the system application from the Play Store - you can download the update, but it will install as an indepent application (that will work instead of the system application from there on), but the system application will still stay in the system, and it cannot be replaced by the Play Store or the defalt installer present in the system.
You can do it manually, by replacing the .apk file from /system/app (or priv-app) with the different .apk, and setting the adequate permissions.
And it can also be done by updating the system, either OTA, or by flashing ROMs - that will completely replace the old application.
Root the device
Remount /system as writable (I use Root Explorer for this)
Replace /system/app/NameOfYourApp.apk with the new version
You might have to clear the app cache/data and reboot.
