How to install Google Now on ICS devices

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One of the greatest features that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has is the Google Now service, said to make the user as productive as possible. Google Now works like a charm, according to Jelly Bean users, and its functionality is just superb. The service has the ability to learn and remember your habits in terms of what you use the service for, such as weather, traffic, location, time, mass transit, and a lot more.

While Google Now proved to be a very likable and cool feature of Jelly Bean, the rest of the world, still running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) on their devices, is really eager to receive this update. To sate their curiosity and yearning for the service, XDA Developers member, febycv, has provided a way for non-Jelly Bean users to finally get a hands-on experience with Google Now.

Keep in mind that this will just work with devices that run on AOSP-based ICS ROMs like CyanogenMod 9. If you have, say, an HTC Sense ICS ROM running on your device, this wouldn't work. And, since this is still undergoing further development, its voice search function is not working. But apart from that, all the other great features Google Now work with no problem. To install Google Now on your Android phone or tablet, follow the requirements and instructions below.

Warning

The instructions in this guide are intended for use with rooted Android devices running AOSP-based Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs. Applying these instructions on another device or model that don't run the said ROMs may produce undesired outcomes.
The information in this guide is provided for instructional and educational purposes only. There is no guarantee that these instructions will work under your specific and unique circumstances.
Use these instructions at your own risk. We shall not hold any responsibility or liability for whatever happens to you or your device arising from your use of the info in this guide.
Read and understand the whole guide first before actually performing the instructions.

Requirements

Any rooted Android device running AOSP-based Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs (such as CyanogenMod 9). For help with rooting, see our beginner’s guide to rooting your Android device.
Your device's USB cable.
Download the Google Now APK (Velvet.apk, md5sum: d124772cd2cf9ce3ab4b9a828d51c917). You can also download from a mirror source.
Download ES File Explorer File Manager app or any root-enabled file manager app from the Google Play Store.
Backup all personal data on your phone to make sure you have a copy of your personal data (e.g., contacts, SMS, MMS, Internet settings, Wi-Fi passwords, and the like) in case the procedure in this guide erases such data.
- For backup tips, check our guides on how to sync your data to the cloud and how to create local backups of your mobile data.

Instructions

Open ES File Explorer File Manager or any other root-enabled file explorer on your Android device.
Navigate to /system directory.
Once you've opened the folder, find build.prop and open it in a text editor. To do this, press build.prop until a prompt appears. Tap the Open in Text Editor button.
Locate the line that says ro.build.version.sdk=15and edit it to ro.build.version.sdk=16. Take note, the value 15should be changed to 16.
After editing, press the menu button and tap Save and Exit.
Go to /system/appand find GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk.Rename it to GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk1and save it. Again, take note of adding the number 1 to APK.
Reboot your device.
Launch your file manager app again, locate the Google Now APK, and install it on your device.
After installing, go back and edit build.prop in the same manner as in steps 3 and 4. This time, it should be ro.build.version.sdk=15.Change the value 16back to 15 again.
Reboot your device again to complete the process.