Android 7.0 Nougat roll-out: Google Nexus 7 (2013) gets update via imperfect AOSP? Download at own risk [WARNING]

By Michael G. Skinner / Aug 28, 2016 08:17 AM EDT
(Photo : Getty Images/Mathew Sumner) Google Nexus 7 (2013) is Google's first tablet, utilizing a 7-inch screen, a Tegra 3 quad-core processor on the latest Android Jelly Bean OS.

Google Nexus 7 (2013) users can now download the unofficial Nougat Android Open Source Project (AOSP) since the device has been left out after Google released the official Android 7.0 Nougat. However, it is advised that users who are bold enough to try flashing their devices should download the said AOSP at their own risk. This is because the AOSP is still reportedly unstable and still in its early stages of development.

Google officially launched Android 7.0 Nougat on a number of Nexus devices, but it left the older models of Google Nexus 5 and Google Nexus 7 (2013), XDA Forum reported. This is the reason why the developer community brought the Nougat flavor even to old Nexus devices through the AOSP.

The AOSP is now available for download but a warning is raised for interested Google Nexus 7 owners that it is still under development. This means that if users decide to flash their device, they must do so at their own risk. It is also expected that the AOSP may cause a slew of crashes while some of its elements may be up and running and some may not even work at all just yet.

For instance, reports claimed that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are working after flashing the Google Nexus 7 but Google Apps are not quite accessible yet. It has also been noted that Google Play Services kept on crashing due to some missing location permission. Additionally, the camera and audio are also reportedly not working so the AOSP is labeled as semi-working for the meantime.

Google Nexus 7 owners are reportedly advised that the AOSP is not a perfect custom ROM that users may use everyday, ZDNet reported. However, it is expected that the ports would be improved as the developer community continues to work on it. The AOSP would likely become stable enough in time to warrant a daily constant use. Meanwhile, watch the Android 7.0 Nougat introduction video.