Nexus 7 2012 Tablet and Android Marshmallow (M)

[bobbyhawk]

Hi,

I'm a frustrated Nexus 7 2012 user. I have the current build of Android Lollipop and it has basically ruined my tablet. I've tried clearing the cache, etc. It's just choppy, flaky, slow and just down write frustrating to use.

Does anyone know if Android Marshmallow "M" will work on my table?

Is Android M going to be released for this device?

Should I just go back to KitKat?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

 

[cliffy223]

More likely not since none of the developer builds were for it. But you are in the same boat as a majority of Nexus 7 2012 owners. Lollipop was the worst update to install. I can't say I will never buy from the nexus line again, but I will look at all my other options first.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[anon(5597702)]

Hi,

I'm a frustrated Nexus 7 2012 user. I have the current build of Android Lollipop and it has basically ruined my tablet. I've tried clearing the cache, etc. It's just choppy, flaky, slow and just down write frustrating to use.

Does anyone know if Android Marshmallow "M" will work on my table?

Is Android M going to be released for this device?

Should I just go back to KitKat?

Thanks in advance.
Bob

I recently got this tablet and stuck with Kitkat 4.4.4 for the most part. I'm glad I did, because I've read nothing but mixed results about Lollipop on this tab.

Recently, I went with a custom rom -- Xenon HD, which is based on 5.1.1. It is very nice and has great community dev support. It was easy to install using the Nexus Toolkit (which I'd also use to roll back to Kitkat.)

 

[natehoy]

Finally broke down last night and said I had had enough, and did a factory wipe of both the data and cache partitions. Set it back up, and.. WOW!!!!

I never thought this old tablet could be that fast. It's holding its own against my Note 4.

The N7 2012 is getting long in the tooth, but it's nice to see that we're only now seeing the possibility of no Android updates over THREE YEARS later.

I have one of the first production run with the screen that doesn't stick properly to the bezel, but a 10Terra bamboo case solved that problem nicely. Probably the best $200 I've spent on electronics so far this decade.

 

[ghostinrags]

I too had nothing but hellish experience with lollipop. Cleared cache and all that, ran good for a day or two, then it's back to craptacular city. KK runs fine, and unless you're a die hard tablet user, it's fine. Just fine. If they release Marshmallow, I'll try it, but that's based on L code, so I'm not hopeful. The older stuff just isn't meant for the newer platforms. But, it's OK. I run my '12 Nexus and old GNex on KK, and they both get regular use around the house, no sweat. We have seven devices floating around and It's the same no matter what: if one is dead, they're all dead! Lol. But I'd say stick to a nice, stock KK ROM. It's all the old girl needs. And it still runs quite nice for the age. I watch YouTube on it a lot, books and magazines, a movie in bed now and then. It's a great device still. We're very quick to discard things these days. My old M7 became the universal remote control, we use it as much now as when I first got it, the Nexus 7 usually resides in the bathroom... Useful!!!

 

[koam]

Finally broke down last night and said I had had enough, and did a factory wipe of both the data and cache partitions. Set it back up, and.. WOW!!!!

I never thought this old tablet could be that fast. It's holding its own against my Note 4.

The N7 2012 is getting long in the tooth, but it's nice to see that we're only now seeing the possibility of no Android updates over THREE YEARS later.

I have one of the first production run with the screen that doesn't stick properly to the bezel, but a 10Terra bamboo case solved that problem nicely. Probably the best $200 I've spent on electronics so far this decade.

Wow.....what Android Version and build?

 

[natehoy]

Wow.....what Android Version and build?

Stock, 5.1.1 or whatever the latest (and, now, last) stock build is pre-Marshmallow.

It's now not holding its own quite so well against my Note 4, but it's still acceptable.

 

[koam]

I'm currently using NRT to flash 4.4.4 stock to N7 2012 WiFi. Right now it's downloading the Factory Image.

don't know if i should Root it or not. i just want Android to work on it.

 

[koam]

flashing 4.4.4 to N7 worked fine. I did not root. I relocked the bootloader.

Google immediately pushed the OTA for 5.0.2 to me. I don't want that. Trying to figure out how to disable OTAs and delete that one.

 

[koam]

After rolling back from Lollipop 5.1.1 to KitKat 4.4.4, i found it was still sluggish.

I've now rolled it back to Jellybean 4.3.0. So far so good.

It's way more important for me to have the thing work....respond to my touch and not stutter and pause for every little thing than for it to have new features on a 3-year old device.

4.3 will do for now...haven't tested it fully yet. But I won't hesitate to try another build.

I haven't tried any custom ROMs on any devices yet, but I have figured out how to do stock ROMs using Nexus Root Toolkit from WugFresh.

 

[koam]

After rolling back from Lollipop 5.1.1 to KitKat 4.4.4, i found it was still sluggish.

I've now rolled it back to Jellybean 4.3.0. So far so good.

It's way more important for me to have the thing work....respond to my touch and not stutter and pause for every little thing than for it to have new features on a 3-year old device.

4.3 will do for now...haven't tested it fully yet. But I won't hesitate to try another build.

I haven't tried any custom ROMs on any devices yet, but I have figured out how to do stock ROMs using Nexus Root Toolkit from WugFresh.

 

[Tarun Sidharth]

Have you tried out the new android M release for N7 2012 ? It's a port but people over at XDA are saying it's working great with the old hardware. It is sad though that the N7 is in such a condition. It used to be my favourite device but it resides in my drawer now coz I can't be bothered to deal with the performance stutters, freezes, app crashes etc.

 

[anon(5597702)]

Custom rom (Nexus Toolkit) - install TWRP
Format /data and /cache to f2fs
Install Xenon HD (5.1.1)
Receive regular updates

Voila -- a reborn Nexus 7 2012.

 

[Tarun Sidharth]

Sounds interesting. I'm always up for some tinkering with the Nexus, especially since it isn't my daily driver now. I have a few questions though.
1. Do you use Xenon HD as your main OS on your nexus or as a secondary rom via MultiROM?
2. Is it stable?
2. Can you PM me some screenshots, if possible?

 

[anon(5597702)]

Inline responses below. HTH

Sounds interesting. I'm always up for some tinkering with the Nexus, especially since it isn't my daily driver now. I have a few questions though.
1. Do you use Xenon HD as your main OS on your nexus or as a secondary rom via MultiROM?
- I do use it as my main OS. Works great as a daily driver, and you get update notifications from the ROM itself. Great dev support.

2. Is it stable?
- Extremely stable. I find it extra snappy with the F2FS formatting, and the rom supports that well. The only crashing I noted was the aosp browser, which I didn't like using anyways. I disabled it and switched to Polarity (basically lightweight Chrome) and it works great. Key is, though, to use lightweight apps. I don't do any gaming on it or anything -- just streaming video, browsing, etc. But it feels snappier than the official stock OS (especially as you get into 4.4.4 for the latter. I didn't bother trying official Lollipop after reading the horror stories).

2. Can you PM me some screenshots, if possible?
- I'll try if time permits, but might be awhile. It has a stock look and feel. I imagine there's a video or two on Youtube.
- UPDATE: some screenshots of settings here: http://hackerspace.kinja.com/android-rom-breath-new-life-into-your-2012-nexus-7-1701630996

 

[Tarun Sidharth]

Inline responses below. HTH

I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks!

 

[jetski777]

I installed the marshmallow build from the developer dmitrygr as noted on multiple websites. The installation went smoothly and once booted up I did not see any OS or application issues. That said, the performance was terrible with long (10-15 seconds) pauses where the tablet was completely frozen, only to start up again. Additionally, installing my applications took hours, 2-3 times slower than with other OS builds. I finally went back to Android 4.4.4 and now the tablet is working great with the performance I expect from the tablet. Will stay with that OS version until the tablet is retired in the future.

 

[anon(5719825)]

I got my 2012 Nexus 7 usable again by going back to KitKat and the battery life is great also once again. On the latest Lollipop update, my battery would go dead after just 8hrs and one hours usage. On Kitkat, I get a full day standby with 2-4 hrs usage. I keep data turned off since I could never get more than 1-2 hrs usage when I was using a data card on T-Mobile.

 

[SonDan]

I got my 2012 Nexus 7 usable again by going back to KitKat and the battery life is great also once again. On the latest Lollipop update, my battery would go dead after just 8hrs and one hours usage. On Kitkat, I get a full day standby with 2-4 hrs usage. I keep data turned off since I could never get more than 1-2 hrs usage when I was using a data card on T-Mobile.

NeusGirlX,
Do you have a little link to instructions on how to roll back my N7 to KitKat? I have cleared cache and tried all of the other suggestions here to no avail. I give up and am ready to roll back to use my N7 again.

 

[anon(5719825)]

NeusGirlX,
Do you have a little link to instructions on how to roll back my N7 to KitKat? I have cleared cache and tried all of the other suggestions here to no avail. I give up and am ready to roll back to use my N7 again.

Just search for Android Toolkit. It will do all the work for you. I messed up my N7 trying to do it myself so it was stuck in a boot loop. Downloaded that toolkit and it fixed everything.

I turn off my N7 now when I won't be using it for a day or two and I can open and use apps the second it boots up. KitKat makes it SO usable again.