How to Install Google Now on your Android ICS Device

Google Now is a new app joining the team of System Apps provided in the Android OS. The app was unveiled at the Google I/O this year and it comes preinstalled on the Android Jelly Bean. However, this version of Android is too new for the users to test out on their devices and there aren’t any updates from companies for which devices they will be pushing out the JB update. So, in the meantime, you can install the ported version of Google Now on your device running the ICS version of Android. Following guide shows you how you can do so.

I. Before You Begin:

1. You must have rooted your device before doing this procedure. Please head to our Android How Tos section to find the rooting procedure for your device.

2. You must be running on the ICS AOSP ROM.

II. Downloading Required Files:

1. Download the Astro File Manager App from here. (Google Play Link)

 2. Download the Google Now App from here. (Download link is there in the first post)

III. Installing Google Now on your Android Device:

1. Download and install the Astro File Manager app on your smartphone. Do NOT install the Google Now app right now.

2. Open the Astro File Manager on your phone and navigate to the /system folder.

3. Tap and hold on the build.prop file and choose Open As option.

4. Choose Text from the screen that follows.

5. Choose File Editor option from the options displayed on your screen.

6. Edit the following line in the build.prop file:

ro.build.version.sdk = 16

7. Save the file.

8. Now, navigate to /system/app folder and you will see a file there called GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk. Tap and hold on it and choose the Rename option.

9. Enter GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk1 as the new name and save it.

10. Exit the app on your phone and reboot your smartphone.

11. When your phone boots up, install the Google Now app on it.

12. After the app is installed on your phone, open the Astro File Manager once again.

13. Navigate to the /system folder and tap and hold on the build.prop file.

14. Choose the Open As option from the list of options.

15. Select Text from the four options displayed on your screen.

16. Select File Editor option to edit the file.

17. Edit the following line in the build.prop file:

ro.build.version.sdk = 15

18. Reboot your smartphone.

Well done, you have successfully installed the working version of Google Now on your Android ICS Device. You can open the Google Now app on your phone to start exploring its features.

If this procedure helped you, then please head to the official thread over at XDA Forum to thank/donate to the original developer of this trick !

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