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I’ve taken a small step towards rooting my phone, by understanding how to fast boot and install update to gingerbread 2.3.3 – cheers! haha. If you have unrooted and stock phone, here is your guide to update your nexus s from 2.3.1/2.3.2 to 2.3.3 . The reason im updating it because its been reported that 2.3.3 fix the yellowish screen. I don’t give a damn about NFC update, seriously.

Disclaimer: Proceed at your own risk. fadzli.com is not responsible if your device ever gets bricked or broken during the process.
This is manual method only for the experienced and brave-heart. Otherwise, i suggest you to wait for the OTA update to hit your phone (which can take forever especially for Malaysia / non US/UK user).

Preparation

• USB cable to connect your nexus s to laptop
• Updated gingerbread version 2.3.3 – I’ve got this from the following thread in XDA-Developer forum
  • If you’re currently running 2.3.1 (build version GRH78):- http://android.clients.google.com/packages/ota/google_crespo/e0b546c442bf.signed-soju-GRI40-from-GRH78.e0b546c4.zip
  • If you’re currently running 2.3.2 (build version GRH78C):- http://android.clients.google.com/packages/ota/google_crespo/98f3836cef9e.signed-soju-GRI40-from-GRH78C.98f3836c.zip

Steps

1. Download the above file, depending on your nexus s build (you can check build version in Settings/About Phone/Build version).
2. Connect your nexus s to your computer.
3. Copy the downloaded file into your SD card root level. Dont extract the file but you can rename the file to update.zip if you want.
4. Disconnect your USB connection to computer and turn off your nexus s.



5. Reboot your nexus s into recovery mode. To do this, simply press and hold “Volume Up” and “Power” button simultaneously
6. Once in recovery mode, use volume up and down to navigate. Choose option ‘Recovery’. Select by using power button.



7. You will now see the “!” symbol. Hold the “Power” button and then press “Volume Up” button.
8. In the recovery options, choose “apply update from /sdcard” option.



9. Select the update file (update.zip or any filename) on your sdcard and then press the “Power” button to flash it.



10. Wait for the Android 2.3.3 upgrade process to complete.



11. Reboot your phone. Hurrah and three cheers, you’ve just upgrade your phone firmware manually.

My Observation after updating to 2.3.3 (after 5 hours updating it)

1. It’s going to take a while during first load at splashing X loading screen. Dont freak out.
2. My yellowish screen appear to be fixed now. The screen look gorgeous and sexy.
3. Battery level no longer turn orange when 30% or less. It turn yellow now.
4. Radio reception appear to be improved, WIFI too