So this Christmas, I put the Coby Kyros MID7012 tablet (which only runs Android 2.3.3) on my wish list. I was surprised when I actually received it! By that time, I had decided I didn’t really need it. I am returning it, but I thought I would share some things I learned through the experience. This mainly concerns installing the Android Market on the Coby Kyros.
Ok, just to give you a little background info, the Kyros 7012 and others don’t have the Android Market installed out of the box. It would seem like all you’d need to do is install a few .apk files and you’d be good right? Well all but 2 articles I read online were not like that at all. Most required you to root the device. Although rooting itself can be undone, certain things done with rooting privileges cannot. Not to mention the fact that “rooting” the tablet most likely voids the warranty on the device. So, in short, it doesn’t seem like “doing it right the first time” is very popular with people installing the Android Market. That is why I wanted to throw in my two cents about this so that more people can do this right and not mess up their devices.
After a good amount of research, I found a method that actually worked for me. It is based off of a YouTube tutorial. If you go on YouTube, it’s the first one that pops up if you search “install android market on coby” I believe. Here’s the actual URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrWSC2uiAg
NOTE: I, NORTHWEST TECH EXPERIENCE, AND ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY NEGATIVE OUTCOMES BY FOLLOWING THIS TUTORIAL. WE PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO YOU FREELY. IN FOLLOWING THESE STEPS, YOU AGREE THAT YOU AND YOU ALONE ARE TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY NEGATIVE OUTCOMES.
I have to put that there in case someone messes up their device by following this, although I doubt they will. OK, here we go.
1. Download the “Android Market_install_files.zip” below with your PC and unzip all the files to a convenient location (say, your desktop).
Android Market_install_files.zip
2. Now connect the tablet to your PC and put these files on your tablet’s SD card or internal memory. If your not sure how to do this, consult your product manual (on page 30 I think). I stuck the files in the “downloads” folder on the device itself.
3. After the files have finished transferring, disconnect the tablet from your PC.
4. Go to your file viewer app. On my tablet, they installed “ES File Explorer”. Yours should have a similar file explorer program.
5. Now find where you put those .apk files. I put mine in the “downloads” folder.
6. Ok, now you are going to install them in a specific order. (Just tap on the file to install. Hit “Done” after each one. DON’T RUN THEM AFTER THEY INSTALL!) Here is the order:
a. OneTimeInitializer.apk
b. SetupWizard.apk
c. GoogleServicesFramework-signed.apk
d. com.android.vending.3.3.12.apk
7. Ok, this step is important. DO NOT GO TO THE HOME SCREEN!!!!. Press and hold the power button on the tablet and turn it off.
8. Now turn it back on!
9. After start-up, you will see a menu with two options. Check the “Use this as default” box on the bottom, then select the option on top (“Launcher”). You don’t want to set up anything. You just want to use the regular initializer.
10. Make sure you are connected to a wireless network (WIFI). If not, get your tablet connected.
11. Now that your connected, go to the Apps list (by tapping the box made of little squares that’s either on the bottom or right hand side of your screen).
12. You should see the Android Market icon in this list. Go ahead and open it. Since this is the first run, you’ll need to enter your Google Account information and accept the license agreement.The Android Market will filter out most apps that won’t work with your tablet.
You should be good to go. Enjoy your new apps!
Hi,
I followed your instructions on my Coby MID7010 and you have broken my wi-fi because my device won’t connect to my acess point. It just gets to obtaining IP address then scans again. Can you please tell me how to uninstall those 4 rubbish apps that were installed to hopefully fix it ? Thanks
Please tell me how to fix my device ????? I tried clearing the defaults under launcher and now all my apps on my homescreens have GONE !!!
Coby has outlined the proper process to uninstall apps from the Coby Kyros MID 7012 on page 28 of the manual.
Also, you said you are working with an MID 7010, not a 7012. This tutorial was written for the 7012. Other people have tried it on various devices and have had success, hence the title, however, this tutorial was written for the MID 7012.
I highly doubt the Google APKs have anything to do with your WIFI problem. These tablets have a terrible WIFI range. To get a decent signal, you practically need to sit on the WIFI router.
As to your last problem, I don’t completely understand what you did to make all your icons go away.
I’m sorry you are having trouble with your device. Since this tutorial doesn’t involve rooting, you should be able to contact Coby and get some help as well.
-RED 7
Hi, My wi-fi problem must have been caused by this as it just says obtaining IP address, then it says disabled and does not connect. What I meant by the uninstalling was how can I remove what I did – what must i uninstall/change back ?
On a side note – I got my wi-fi to work again by using a static ip (only works when I use static) and the market does work.
Do you know if I can use the latest version of google play now ? And what is the easiest way to get the markey/play store to show ALL apps ?
Thanks
Apologies for the delayed response. I’ve been away for a while.
The best solution I could recommend, since you are convinced that these APKs caused the problem, is to do a “Factory Reset” and get you back to where you started. Yes, this will bring you back to the beginning regarding settings and applications. You will have to set up email accounts and all that again. A Factory Reset does not delete files from the device, so you shouldn’t have to reload music or anything of that sort. A “Factory Reset” is not a wiping procedure, it is a reset feature. It’s important to understand the difference. I have done a “Factory Reset” many times.
Hope that helps.
-RED 7
We have a Trio 7c tablet (Cortex a8 at 1.2ghz) running 2.3.1, but it doesn’t have access to Google Market. We tried using your method above, but it does not work. Is there anything else you could suggest?
Thanks,
Rob Chametzky
I’m not familiar with the Trio 7c. I do know the Coby Kyros has an ARM based processor. Looks like your Trio has a different type of processor. I don’t think the APK files I have here would work for you then. The application (APK) would have to be built for your processor. That would be my guess.
Sorry you didn’t have any luck here.
-RED 7
todo salio muy bien muchas gracias, son lo maximo!!!!!
I try with new market store application that you provided and when I put my google account it shows ” Can’t establish a reliable data connection to server. This could be a temporary problem or your phone may not be provisioned for data services. If it continues call Customer Care.”
Any Idea how to sort out this problem?
Thank you.
I have COBY MID 9742 with ICS
First thing I’d do is verify that I have a reliable internet connection.
Your using an MID 9742 which is a much newer tablet than the MID 7012, which is what this tutorial is targeting. I could see a potential for hardware and software issues because of that.
You said you tried the new APK I posted. Are you referring to the URL I have given out in a couple of the comments here or the files I have posted in the tutorial above?
-RED 7
The Coby tablets can be rooted on OLDER models, I have yet to find a MID9742 procedure for getting the tablet to work with Google, some have gotten this to work others have not. You can simply get the Amazon App Store for these tablets, I use this just fine. I also use other sites like 1Mobile to get apps that I can’t find elsewhere. Google charges a license fee for companies to have there Google Market on there tablets. Saying these tablets are not working right because it is not meant to run the Google Play is not accurate, Amazon App Store works just fine as well as others who do not charge license fee’s to use there software on your tablet. Misinformation is not a good thing to tell others. I always caution people to not try rooting on the newer models until there is a correct method. Live and learn.
I have this exact same tablet since last December and all of a sudden the audio’s not working it was working fine up till a week ago…it’s driving me nuts any idea how to fix it? I have the audio turned on in settings so it SHOULD be working.
My tablet won’t install the Google Services Framework and whenever I try it says that Application not installed. I had downloaded another file to get Marketplace and installed everything but this file since it wouldn’t go and the Marketplace was there but all messed up. So, I really need this one to install apparently but the tablet won’t let it. Any reason why?
It could be like Pedro’s problem below: an OS compatibility issue. This tutorial, although it works on many different tablets, was written for Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) devices. With Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) out, I have a feeling people are running into compatibility issues.
Here’s a different APK you might try instead.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1161320&d=1340858784
It sounds like the other APKs installed just fine for you, but you might also try enabling “Unknown sources” under Settings » Applications. If you are on Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0/4.1, find it under Settings » Security.
Good luck! :-)
-RED 7
I installed that APK that you gave me above and it got the Store app on my tablet but each time I try opening it it closes itself. I’ve rebooted it, thinking it might help but it didn’t…. The Unknown Sources was already checked off when I went to look at it.
I do have Android 4.0 though. Do you think it could be something else?
Thanks!
Couldn’t get the Android Market but I found the second best thing: SlideMe Market. It didn’t take long to download and has the apps I had wanted from the Market.
After two full days of trying to get this, I am happy(:
Thank you for helping me out!
If you do this, can you download facebook and instgram? Those are the apps I really want to download.
It looks like you should be able to get Instagram. However, the Facebook app says it varies by device. The only way to really tell is to get the Android Market/Google Play installed. When you look for apps, the program will filter out any apps that aren’t compatible with your device.
P.S. I just went to Google Play and looked at the compatibility list to see if they’d work for you. Anybody can do that. :-)
-RED 7
thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much
it is so good
I followed these steps for a Coby Kyros MID-9742, and everything seemed to be in order. But at the time of launching the App Market for the first time, and as I provided my gmail account, it would say that it could not log me in . Also immediately it said that ‘Google Services Framework had stopped’, and if restarted it would just crash again. If I tried to start Market again, it just crashed, again and again…
Too bad, because we bought 20 of these tablets for a pilot with students. GetJar just won’t work for us. Looks like I’ll have to return them…
I have the same problem :/
Maybe the problem is Android Ice Cream Sandwich?
You know what, if GetJar isn’t working, you should get Coby to replace them for you. I agree in that it sounds like a software or OS problem. Coby was supposed to sell you a functioning device. If the device doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do in the first place, then I don’t know that you could modify it (with the Android Market apps) and expect that to work.
Because you are not rooting your device, you shouldn’t have voided your warranty.
Oh, duh, your not saying that GetJar isn’t working, you are saying that it doesn’t do what you need it to do for your students. Sorry ’bout that…
Yes, that does sound like a compatibility issue. The Market ‘.apk’ file I have posted here is actually for Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) not 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). I haven’t tried it myself, but you could experiment with this APK instead…
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1161320&d=1340858784
I apologize for the delay, but I have been pretty busy.
-RED 7