Download: New Gmail from Android 4.2

Well we’re back again, yesterday we gave you a new Play Store update and now we have a new Gmail update from Android 4.2, thanks to our friends at Android Police. Every time we get wind of a new version of Android, we try everything we can to make our devices like the new version, in any way possible by themes, new apps, or ROMs.

So what’s special about this new update? A bunch. Pinch to zoom, swipe to delete/archive, and new attachments features just to name a few. You can check out most of these features in the settings menu and will be able to note the new attachment changes, when you get them. Some other small features are under side, removal of settings, or things like font size.

No on to the goods, we have the apk for you all to download, at the bottom of this article. I will post the instructions found on Android Police. Follow them THOROUGHLY if you do, you shouldn’t have any problems. If you don’t follow them, and mess something up, and come crying to us, we will say “Factory reset fixes it.”

Instructions:

This is only available on ICS+ ROOTED devices.

1. Download Gmail 4.2 from one of the mirrors above.
2. Rename it to Gmail2.apk.
3. Make a Nandroid backup in case something goes wrong (this is always a good thing to do before messing with your device).
4. Remount /system for writing (via your favorite root-aware file explorer).
5. Delete (or move if you want to save the APKs) all other versions of Gmail.
   Update: We’ve seen multiple successful reports of simply uninstalling Gmail using Titanium Backup or ROM Toolbox instead of performing this and the next step. If that works for you, go directly to step 7. If not, proceed below.
   Usually there are 2 or 3 copies. One will be in /system/app (that’s the original Gmail that was pre-installed on the device) and there may be a few in /data/app (these are the updates installed from the Play Store). They’ll be called “Gmail.apk,” or “com.google.android.gm-[number].apk,”  An easy way to tell is to look for the Gmail icon.
6. You may need to delete the .odex files matching the APKs in step 5 too, if you have them. Neither I nor Artem had to do this, but there are many different ROMs out there, and we’re trying to cover all bases. Ignore this step and only come back to it if something doesn’t work later.
7. Reboot. Once you do, you should have no Gmail as far as Android is concerned.
8. You can try to install the Gmail 4.2 APK you downloaded at this point by tapping it in your favorite file explorer (move the APK to your device first, of course). If that doesn’t work, or if you prefer ADB, fire up a command line and type adb install Gmail2.apk.