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My Custom Galaxy Nexus Setup [How To]

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I have to admit right off the bat that I have steered clear of adding custom ROMs to my phones for most of my smartphone life. Back when I was a long time Microsoft MVP, the modding phones and Pocket PCs was kind of a grey area and it was just better for me to leave that world alone.

When I became an iPhone user for a year, I got into customizing the looks of my iPhone doing some heavy theme modding though. I wrote an article on Mobilitysite, which I republished on my personal blog last year about the subject. If you are inclined to know more about my views on the subject back then, feel free to read it. My views today are similar on some aspects, but clearly different on most of the issues. I flashed one Android device prior to this Galaxy Nexus just to test something on my Xperia X10. It was painless, but there are plenty of steps and you have to be careful not to miss a step. That said, I think it’s safe to say I am a NOOB when it comes to ROMs.

Like Adam, I love the Galaxy Nexus but there are some little things I don’t like. These little things are severely overshadowed by the things I like though.

  1. I couldn’t stand that Google Search bar on every screen. I was happy when I defeated it. This was the 1st step to getting me on a custom ROM.
  2. I wished that I had one more icon slot in my icon dock for the camera app.
  3. I always thought that the icons were too big for a device that has a screen with such a good resolution.
Well, I was able to fix all those with a new launcher. The thing is the ICS (Android 4.0) launcher is pretty good as it is. It would be horrible to go to another launcher that didn’t take advantage of what ICS brought to the table. I found a launcher that let me have my cake and eat it too! Nova Launcher Beta.

Take a look at the before and after shots of my home screen on the Galaxy Nexus and then I will tell you how I accomplished all of it.

  • The far left screen shot is from the stock ROM for the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Notice the 4×4 grid and the static Google Search widget up top. This wasted an entire 4×1 and can’t be removed.
  • The middle screen is after I removed the Google Search Bar. I used a fix that requires that the device be rooted and unlocked. This fix increased the grid to 4×5, allowing icons and widgets to be placed in the void that the search bar left behind.
  • The far right screen shot is after I installed Nova Launcher. I go over the settings for this launcher in the video below. Notice how I have more room in the icon dock for the camera icon? Notice that I have a 5×6 grid? I really like having more real estate to shove icons on.
Here’s a video showing off my Galaxy Nexus setup:

Before reading any further, it should be known that installing custom ROMs will void your warranty if something happens and you can’t return it back to factory. There is a possibility to brick your device as well. In many cases, you will be able to fix any mistakes, but this is your warning. Myself and GottaBeMobile will not be responsible for any damages that might occur if you decide to proceed with any of this modding.

If you are completely new to installing ROMs, unlocking, and all the other jargon associated with modding and Android Device, there is a super informative guide over at XDA. I would recommend giving it a read before you get started if you are new like me!

So here’s what I have done to get to the point I am at with my Verizon Galaxy Nexus.

As I said above, proceed at your own risk. I will link some of the procedures as I am fairly new to this, I don’t feel qualified to tell you how myself. I will arm you with links and knowledge to accomplish the same.

Before installing any of the mods or roms, you have to root and unlock your Verizon Galaxy Nexus.

The procedure I used to walk me through this procedure was found in the Android Central forums. Josh also posted a guide on doing this a different way if it looks easier for you. After this is done, you are almost ready for action!

Next, you have to install ClockworkMod Recovery LTE. 

This version is custom-built for the Verizon LTE Galaxy Nexus. Hit this link and follow these instructions to install ClockworkMod Recovery. Once you have this installed, you are ready for fun!

ClockworkMod Recovery is a tool that allows you to flash the phone with different ROMs from the phone without having to be connected to a PC. It allows you to install modifications, roms, and more from a zip file that you will add to your MicroSD card. In the case of the Galaxy Nexus, you virtual (internal) SD card. This tool also allows you to make complete image backups of your phone in case you run into troubles. You can easily back up and restore with this recovery tool.

Now that you are unlocked, rooted, and have ClockworkMod Recovery in place, you are ready to get to the fun stuff.

Android Revolution HD ROM

I chose to go with the Android Revolution HD ROM. This ROM is based on the stock ICS 4.02 ROM. I chose this ROM because the developer of this ROM is reputable and has produced quality ROMs for numerous devices already. I have full faith that they will continue development of this ROM long enough for me to move on to another phone. There are plans for themes and add on mods are already popping up that are compatible with this ROM. This ROM doesn’t change the looks of Android 4 at all.  I have been on this ROM for a full day now and haven’t run into any issues.

The installation is quite easy. Just follow the instructions in this thread and you are golden. Make sure to do a Nandroid backup before you proceed just in case.

Get Rid of the Google Search Bar

The mod that I installed to get rid of the Google Search bar is from the work of XDA member djmcnz, but this isn’t the launcher that I ended up using. (Link) Make sure to choose the right download if you choose to go this route. This launcher is based on the stock ICS launcher but changes the grid and removes the persistent Google Seach bar.

Nova Launcher

Instead of the launcher I linked above, I chose to go with Nova Launcher. Nova Launcher is a launcher replacement based on the stock ICS Launcher. You can still use folders and if installed as a system app, the app tray will still include widgets. Nova also returns old school Android methods of adding widgets. In previous versions of Android, you could tap and hold the screen to add widgets and change wallpapers. With stock ICS, you can only add wallpapers and you have to pop into the app tray to work with widgets. Nova Launcher offers several great additions to an already awesome phone. Check out the video embedded in this post for a decent walkthrough of what you can do with Nova Launcher.

To install Nova Launcher, head over to this thread and follow the instructions. Basically, you throw the ZIP file onto the virtual SD card, get into ClockworkMod Recovery mode and install from SD.

Widgets?

That’s all I have done so far aside from setting up the Galaxy Nexus icons/folders the way I want and adding some widgets. The widgets I use for the clock with weather and the toggle widget is HD Widgets, which is on sale for $0.99 in the Android Market right now.

I will share more that I do with this unlocked/rooted Verizon Galaxy Nexus as I play some more.

Let me repeat, there are potential warranty issues involved when you start modifying your device. Please use caution and read, read, read. We won’t be held liable for any damages cause should anything go wrong. This post is designed to share with those interested how I achieved the setup I am using on my Galaxy Nexus.

19 Comments

19 Comments

  1. Ice

    12/29/2011 at 12:56 pm

    now only if i can afford to get galaxy nexus. why only verizon, why not tmobile or att. this phone is jst too dam expensive

    • SportsterBK8

      12/29/2011 at 4:40 pm

      there is a gsm version of the phone as well, so you can get it on tmobile or att.

      • Mimsyborogove923

        02/22/2012 at 7:44 pm

        But like he said, it’s fracking expensive to get it unsubsidized. 

  2. Christina Hendricks

    12/30/2011 at 5:09 pm

    i wish someone is going to make custom backplate for the galaxy nexus

    • Chris Leckness

      01/18/2012 at 11:18 pm

      I am with you on that. I was actually thinking that, if I had the resources, this would be something that I could make a few bucks with. For such a great phone, it’s a crappy cover.

    • Mimsyborogove923

      02/22/2012 at 7:53 pm

      Here, check this out. It’s still largely the same style, but you can at least get a cool picture added on to it. https://www.indiegogo.com/Galaxy-Nexus-Laser-Etched-Doors

    • Mimsyborogove923

      02/22/2012 at 7:55 pm

      Also, hey Christina Hendricks. Fancy seeing someone famous like you commenting on an android rooting article.

  3. Adx350

    01/04/2012 at 1:37 pm

    Now only if the volume woked

  4. Gideonstorms

    01/09/2012 at 4:39 am

    I am sad you have to do all this hacking just to get a decent homescreen. I like the phone but the homescreen sucks. Verizon should create a home screen similar to what is in this post or model their homescreen as the Galaxy S 2

    • Clayton Jones

      01/09/2012 at 2:00 pm

      Hacking?!?!? a tremendous amount of customization can be accomplished unrooted. Plenty of free widgets/apps/icons to choose from.

  5. Chris

    01/09/2012 at 3:26 pm

    Where did you get the boot animation from?  It looks nice and simple & will probably suck less juice than the stock one.

  6. FreeTacos

    01/21/2012 at 9:08 pm

    how did you get the clock widget i have nova launcher installed and hd widgets but my clock is still only 4 x 2 how can i make it 5 x 2?

  7. Mattbarup

    02/03/2012 at 11:30 am

    nova launcher lets you resize your widgets once you set them on your homescreen long press them and you will get a menu pop-up push resize and your good to go. i believe there is a command in the nova options you have to push to resize widgets that you normally cant resize

  8. Cwolsen4

    02/09/2012 at 9:42 pm

    Are you running an LTE galaxy nexus? I cannot find the CDMA/LTE version of the Android Revolution HD ROM. I just went through the whole process and thought I had it all right but couldn’t get a data connection. Realized I had flashed the GSM ROM. Could you provide a link to the CDMA ROM if you have it? Thanks

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