The guys at sammobile have released an Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM (alpha) for the Samsung Galaxy S 2 II I9100.

You can download it using these links:

Download Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM I9100XXKP8

To install Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich on your Samsung Galaxy S 2, you will need:

- Samsung USB Drivers (Samsung Kies)
- ODIN Client
- Stock Android 2.3.5 ROM

How to Install Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich I9100XXKP8 on Samsung Galaxy S 2 II

Install Samsung Kies from the official website – Samsung Kies

Make sure the USB drivers have been installed properly with Kies. Now close Kies and make sure Kies isn’t running in the Task Manager.

Download Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM I9100XXKP8 (via XDA)

Extract all the files (ROM + Odin client) from the file (password: samfirmware.com)

Start ODIN client as administrator, and select these files:

PIT – u1_02_20110310_emmc_EXT4.pit
PDA – I9100_CODE_I9100XXKP*_CL42141_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5
PHONE – MODEM_I9100XXKP*_REV_02_CL1092599.tar.md5
CSC – GT-I9100-MULTI-CSC-OXAKP*.tar.md5

Also select these check boxes:

Re-Partition
Auto Reboot
F.Reset Time

On your Galaxy S 2, go to Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging > Enable it.

Now switch off your phone and enter download mode.

To enter download mode, hold the Volume Down + Menu Key and press the Power button.

After you see the yellow Download mode screen, just connect it to your PC via USB.

You should now see the ID:COM section turn Yellow and the message box display ADDED. If you don’t, repeat the whole process.

Click on the Start button to begin the flashing process.

In 5 minutes, your Samsung Galaxy S 2 should reboot with Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich installed.

Note: It’s not risky, but still proceed with caution. I’m not responsible if you brick your phone.

For more details, visit XDA

How to Upgrade Samsung Galaxy S 2 II to Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread

The guys at samfirmware recently released a leaked Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread ROM for the Samsung Galaxy S 2. There are two versions available – the stock 2.3.5 ROM and the Darky 2.3.5 ROM.

Today, I flashed the Stock Android 2.3.5 ROM on my Samsung Galaxy S 2. The battery life has improved considerably, and so has the sound. It’s fucking awesome.

To install Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread on your Samsung Galaxy S 2, you will need:

- Samsung USB Drivers (Samsung Kies)
- ODIN Client
- Stock Android 2.3.5 ROM

How to Install Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread on Samsung Galaxy S 2

Install Samsung Kies from the official website – Samsung Kies

Make sure the USB drivers have been installed properly with Kies. Now close Kies and make sure Kies isn’t running in the Task Manager.

Download the Android 2.3.5 stock ROM from samfirmware.com

Download Android 2.3.5 Stock ROM

Extract all the files (ROM + Odin client) from the file (password: samfirmware.com)

Start ODIN client as administrator, and select these files:

PIT – u1_02_20110310_emmc_EXT4.pit
PDA – CODE_I9100XXKI3_CL577579_REV02_user_low_ship.tar.md5
PHONE – MODEM_I9100XXKI3_REV_02_CL1062028.tar.md5
CSC – GT-I9100-CSC-MULTI-OXAKI3.tar.md5

Also select these check boxes:

Re-Partition
Auto Reboot
F.Reset Time

On your Galaxy S 2, go to Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging > Enable it.

Now switch off your phone and enter download mode.

To enter download mode, hold the Volume Down + Menu Key and press the Power button.

After you see the yellow Download mode screen, just connect it to your PC via USB.

You should now see the ID:COM section turn Yellow and the message box display ADDED. If you don’t, repeat the whole process.

Click on the Start button to begin the flashing process.

In 5 minutes, your Samsung Galaxy S 2 should reboot with Android 2.3.5 installed.

Note: It’s not risky, but still proceed with caution. I’m not responsible if you brick your phone.

Today, Google Plus (Google+) announced that they will start rolling out verification badges for celebrities and public figures, just like Twitter. They are also verifying accounts of people who have been added to a large number of circles.

For now, there is no way to get your Google+ account verified for standard users like us. However, here are a few tips that might help.

How to Get Your Google Plus (Google+) Account Verified?

1. Become a celebrity

This one’s not so easy.

2. Become a public figure

This one isn’t very easy either.

3. Get added to a lot of Circles on Google+

This one is easy if you are one of the above. If not, it is still manageable.

4. Wait until Google+ rolls out verification for standard users

This will take some time. But Google+ seems focused on getting people to use their real names on their network. Currently, there are no incentives to do so. Throw in a “Google+ Verified Account” badge and some gamification, and that will be a great incentive for most people to use their real names.

Here’s how I did it.

How to Root Nook Color 1.2 and Install CyanogenMod 7 (Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread) on the Nook Color

1. Create a bootable Clockwork Mod SD card

You will need to write a CWM image on your card to create a bootable ClockworkMod SD card.

Check out this guide here:

Making an updated bootable ClockworkMod SD

2. Copy Manual Nooter to the SD card

Download Manual Nooter 4.5.18

Copy the ZIP directly to the bootable CWM SD card you just created.

Check out this guide here:

ManualNooter 4.5.18 (For Stock 1.2)

3. Root your Nook Color using Manual Nooter

Turn off your Nook Color
Insert the bootable CWM card with Nook Color
Connect the USB cable to your PC and the Nook Color

You should boot into CWM recovery mode.

Select Install ZIP from SD card
Browse to the Manual Nooter ZIP and install it.

After the installation is complete, you will have a rooted Nook Color.

4. Install Cyanogen Mod 7 (Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on Nook Color)

Download the CyanogenMod 7 ROM for the Nook Color (Stable Mod)

Copy the ZIP to the SD card

Reboot into recovery mode again, and this time, flash the CyanogenMod 7 ROM ZIP.

Install ZIP from SD card > CyanogenMod 7 ZIP.

When you reboot after the installation is complete, you should be running CM 7 on your Nook Color.

A nightly build of Cyanogen Mod 7 is now available for the LG T-Mobile G2X. You can install Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on your LG T-Mobile G2X by flashing it with the CM7 ROM.

Some background: The LG T-Mobile G2X was launched with the stock version of Android 2.2 Froyo, but will receive an official updrage to Android 2.3 Gingerbread soon. But if you can’t wait for it, you can install Cyanogen Mod 7 (Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread) on your LG G2X. It’s still a work in progress, so try it at your own risk.

How to Install Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread on LG T-Mobile G2X

1. First of all, you need to root your LG T-Mobile G2X. You can use SuperOneClick to root it, if you haven’t already.

Follow this tutorial – Root T-Mobile G2X Using SuperOneClick

2. Next, just install ROM Manager from the Android Market on your G2X.

3. Download the latest build of the CM7 (Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread) ROM for the LG T-Mobile G2X.

Download CM7 for LG T-Mobile G2X

Copy the CM7 Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread ROM to the root of your SD card.

4. Start ROM Manager and select the Flash Clockwork Mod Recovery option to flash a recovery image.

(Note: In this case, the developer recommends flashing the clockwork recovery using NVFlash – Flashing instructions)

5. Once you are done with this, start ROM Manager and click on Flash ZIP from SD Card.

Select the ROM you copied to your SD card and check the Wipe Data/Cache and Backup options.

Your LG T-Mobile G2X should reboot in a few minutes, running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread (CyanogenMod 7).

Check this XDA thread for Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread CM7 on LG T-Mobile G2X for more details.