Samsung Galaxy S II

DRice · 29-04-2011 2:29am

bd250110 wrote: »

The SGSII looks to be the king of the Droids right now. I doubt the Sensation will be as good, but am waiting to see.

My two concerns are Kies and the screen saturation. I hear it's possible to change this in the settings, so it might be all good. I suppose with the lies of double twist, etc there is not much need to mess with Kies.

Im eager to get my hand on this, the screen size is a concern. Being used to the iPhone and HTC Desire, I am worried it might be a bit too big. IF tis the same size as the HD, it will be a no go for me. Looks nice and slim though.

yes the size, and the plasticy feel of samsungs, and the samsung OS, compared to the two phones you had there..

bd250110 · 29-04-2011 7:22am

Personally I find the Super AOLED saturation on the SGS a bit unnatural, perhaps it is because the colors really 'pop' against the true black. The size is my biggest concern, I found the SGS fine size-wise, but it does look huge in videos, etc. Im just hoping those Korean girls were very small!

I am looking forward to getting my grubby paws all over it, see what the build is like. If it creaks like the SGS did, it's a no go. I had a look at the DesireS the other day. Beautifully crafted phone. please Samsung, makes an SGS II metal edition. :eek:

I don't recall the slightly breathless engadget review mentioning Kies. The SGS II seems to have an OTA version which can be used in a web browser. I suppose a bit like the OTA marketplace from a PC/Mac. Hopefully nay future updates might be available that way.

Elessar · 29-04-2011 9:02am

I couldn't resist and ordered the SGSII on clove

Selling my iPhone 4 this week

I'm really not sure if I'll take to the Android eco system, since I'm so invested in Apple.

Time will tell though, and I'm excited to finally get a smartphone with such good credentials on top of a large screen!

RonnieL · 29-04-2011 9:20am

Elessar wrote: »

I'm really not sure if I'll take to the Android eco system, since I'm so invested in Apple.

I loved my 3gs before I bought my Galaxy S last year, and while there are some small things I'd miss about the iphone, I can't see myself moving away from android any time soon.

Rsaeire · 29-04-2011 9:27am

I'm waiting on the S II to be released by the mobile networks before I buy one as I'm due an upgrade and it would be pointless, for me, just to buy the handset outright when I can get a substantial discount. The end of May can't come soon enough!

srsly78 · 29-04-2011 9:28am

Elessar wrote: »

I couldn't resist and ordered the SGSII on clove

Selling my iPhone 4 this week

I'm really not sure if I'll take to the Android eco system, since I'm so invested in Apple.

Time will tell though, and I'm excited to finally get a smartphone with such good credentials on top of a large screen!

but but but your iphone!? Dare you to post this on the apple forum

Just be warned tho, samsung ****ed up the original galaxy s. Hopefully they will get it right this time! Also samsung kies software is a load of rubbish, similar to itunes. Other android phones don't need a pc-based software suite at all for updates etc.

valdigre · 29-04-2011 9:38am

srsly78 wrote: »

...Just be warned tho, samsung ****ed up the original galaxy s. Hopefully they will get it right this time!...

What did they actually **** up? I have Galaxy S and don't see anything wrong with it - software or hardware wise, no problems with battery, GPS - nothing.

srsly78 · 29-04-2011 10:03am

Maybe you got it after the fix, but the stock one had some terrible filesystem bug that made it slow down over time.

Ste- · 29-04-2011 10:06am

srsly78 wrote: »

Maybe you got it after the fix, but the stock one had some terrible filesystem bug that made it slow down over time.

Doesn't the Galaxy S II come with ext4 as standard ?

srsly78 · 29-04-2011 10:08am

Oh I'm not worried about them making the same mistake. Just not very confident with Samsung software! Don't like their touchwiz skin either, what will happen with android 3.0? No touchwiz on galaxy tab 2?

tman · 29-04-2011 10:58am

Just pre-ordered one of these bad boys... There's me complaining about being broke all the time, then the moment I get a raise in work, I wax the lot!

Alanstrainor · 29-04-2011 11:40am

I think this is the phone for me gents. I've been wanting to upgrade my N900 for a while now, and this seems to tick all the boxes. I'll probably wait a while though...can't justify the price seeing that i'll be paying full whack since im on prepay.:(

evolutionqy7 · 29-04-2011 1:20pm

srsly78 wrote: »

Just not very confident with Samsung software

Same boat. Sammy makes damn good hardware but im just too worried ill have software issues if i go for SGS2.

Galaxy S had it.
Omnia 7 has issues

SGS2 anyone?

Seems most handsets have alot less problems than what sammy brings to the game.

Breezer · 29-04-2011 3:45pm

evolutionqy7 wrote: »

Same boat. Sammy makes damn good hardware but im just too worried ill have software issues if i go for SGS2.

Galaxy S had it.
Omnia 7 has issues

SGS2 anyone?

Seems most handsets have alot less problems than what sammy brings to the game.

It has an unlocked bootloader, so rooting and custom ROMs are always an option. The reviews so far seem very positive though. No mention of lag, crashes, GPS problems, etc. The opposite in fact.

EDIT: Rooted already - now that was fast!

I know where you're coming from. I've thought long and hard about Samsung's problems when deciding between this and the Sensation. But the unlocked bootloader and superior specs pushed things in Samsung's favour, and then the reviews this thing is getting just killed the Sensation for me.

evolutionqy7 · 29-04-2011 4:56pm

Well that's the main reason I'm not buying either at the launch. There's always a bug or a glitch when they release it to the masses.
So gonna stay back and watch

And its not a full cf root

and in secure

Breezer · 29-04-2011 6:06pm

evolutionqy7 wrote: »

And its not a full cf root and in secure

True, but the thing hasn't even officially launched yet!

bd250110 · 29-04-2011 6:28pm

The SGS II is currently on sale at phones4u in the UK. Retail exclusive till 01 May.

Like I have said earlier, looks to be a great phone. Hopefully Samsung can get it out of the gate without major problems. Given Samsungs starting position to produce a phone of this quality and spec is astounding. The SGS was their first foray into high end Smartphones- spec wise (Prada and Armani phones were basically Tocco's with a designer dinner jacket). They have really harnessed their processor and screen production to give their own lines the best of the best - at a great price.

I'm sure there will be compromises with this device. Same to be said of the Sensation, or iPhone. The SGS II is undoubtedly the current benchmark.

seanp_25 · 03-05-2011 10:48am

Up on expansys.ie now for €594.99

http://www.expansys.ie/samsung-i9100-galaxy-s-ii-16gb-209114/

fionny · 03-05-2011 10:58am

Its looking strongly like June for the networks, Over in the three forum someone posted a screenie of a Three Ireland tweet saying June also, now whether Meteor (rumour has it they will be sharing 3g coverage with o2 soon?) will have it at the same time... if they do I might stick otherwise ill jump ship....

iclickr · 03-05-2011 1:56pm

has anyone bought from phonesonline.ie
they have the samsung galaxy s2 now

fionny · 03-05-2011 2:04pm

Im sure they're fine but Expansys is a known entity.

jersey_shore · 03-05-2011 2:20pm

seanp_25 wrote: »

Up on expansys.ie now for €594.99

http://www.expansys.ie/samsung-i9100-galaxy-s-ii-16gb-209114/

thinking of buying this, is it just a case of putting my vodafone sim in this and it will work?

fionny · 03-05-2011 2:29pm

Pretty much, you might need to configure a few settings like MMS etc all those should be easy to find on the carriers site.

xtal191 · 03-05-2011 2:43pm

Just seen one on adverts if anyones interested.

Zagato · 03-05-2011 10:14pm

I've bought from here before and they were good. In stock now and €586 delivered versus €607 from expansys.ie

fionny · 04-05-2011 11:22am

Wish I had a spare 600euro knocking about...

cant wait to get me a new phone!

seanp_25 · 04-05-2011 2:47pm

I didn't realise that the version we get here won't have the NFC chip. Can't see much use for that anyway.

fionny · 04-05-2011 3:38pm

seanp_25 wrote: »

I didn't realise that the version we get here won't have the NFC chip. Can't see much use for that anyway.

Aye, tbh NFC probably wont be common place for a fair while so there is no panic with it.

Axe Rake · 04-05-2011 9:28pm

O2.co.uk have it on their online shop for €444 euro however, apparently you will not be able to unlock the device for approximately 90 days.

Sadly i can't register an Irish address on the site

DRose1 · 04-05-2011 10:39pm

Axe Rake wrote: »

O2.co.uk have it on their online shop for €444 euro however, apparently you will not be able to unlock the device for approximately 90 days.

Sadly i can't register an Irish address on the site

I was just about to post this:

I found this article online:

We have some great news for anyone looking to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S2, UK mobile phone operator O2 have slashed their price of the smartphone to under £400, making it £100 cheaper than Expansys SIM free version.

However, there is a snag attached to this offer, you will not be able to unlock the device for approximately 90 days. However, do not fret as the handset can still be used with O2, Giff Gaff or Tesco Mobile, which between them have some of the most competitive deals on the market.

The Samsung Galaxy S2, which was only launched in February 2011, is already believed to be one of the main rivals to the forthcoming iPhone 5, which it is hoped will launch next month, but rumours indicate that it may not release until the Fall – see article here.

Features included with the Samsung Galaxy S2 the world’s slimmest phone at only 8.49mm thick are a 4.3-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen, a dual core 1.2GHz Exynos system, 1GB RAM with 16GB onboard storage, a two-megapixel front facing camera and an eight-megapixel rear camera.

Information on this deal comes to us by way of ItProPortal and is available from the O2 online store. The deal is available on any of the five Pay & Go tariffs currently being offered, which means that for the first month you will have to fork out at least an additional £7.50 top-up.

If you are still undecided if this is the smartphone for you, then why not check out our article on the spec comparison between HTC Sensation, iPhone 4 and Samsung Galaxy S 2 and hopefully this will help in your decision making. Please let us know what you decide in the comment box below

So the questions are:

1/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with an 02 Irish sim card?
2/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with a Tesco Mobile Irish sim card?

Seriously tempted to get it at €445. I can get it posted to the North

However, when I go to try and buy in online, it just says this page is not available. I dont think its anything to do with my IP address being in the South, seems to be an error with their website.

I wonder would any of the 02 shops in Northern Ireland have them in stock yet?

Headshot · 05-05-2011 12:51am

man im not sure of what to do now

The S II looks a sexy beast and probably cheaper than the HTC sensation when it comes out

Damn which one will I go for

Also im wondering about the above o2 price, its basically £399, I wont have to pay anything else?

x in the city · 05-05-2011 1:19am

Headshot wrote: »

man im not sure of what to do now

The S II looks a sexy beast and probably cheaper than the HTC sensation when it comes out

Damn which one will I go for

Also im wondering about the above o2 price, its basically £399, I wont have to pay anything else?

399 and a hefty contract no doubt * just saw this was o2 uk, that seems cheap...

I was going to get a mark 2 but its insane money for what is basically a galaxy mark 1 with a bigger screen, a bit thinner and more oomph

thanks, but no thanks!

Bikerguy · 05-05-2011 4:28am

499£ simfree - amazon uk...free delivery...

vodafone anounced HTC sensation - in coming soon section so i will maybe take HTC and better build quality and resolution instead of light samsung

omega666 · 05-05-2011 8:29am

DRose1 wrote: »

I was just about to post this:

I found this article online:

So the questions are:

1/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with an 02 Irish sim card?
2/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with a Tesco Mobile Irish sim card?

Seriously tempted to get it at €445. I can get it posted to the North However, when I go to try and buy in online, it just says this page is not available. I dont think its anything to do with my IP address being in the South, seems to be an error with their website.

I wonder would any of the 02 shops in Northern Ireland have them in stock yet?

dunno about tesco but i dont think the irish O2 sim card will work in an mobile
locked to O2 Uk. Something about them being different companies.

jetpack101 · 05-05-2011 8:41am

I'm currently using the Galaxy S I9000 and its by far the the phone I have ever had. When I heard that the new Galaxy would be a 4.3" screen I was practly wetting myself at the thought of getting one.

The I tried the HTC Desire HD as that also has a 4.3" screen. I knew the Galaxy would be much better, I just wanted to try the screen size.

I have to say I didn't like it. When holding the phone in one hand you can't reach the top left corner with your thumb (holding it in the right hand) The chap in the shop said it's a 2 handed phone and he was also surprised that he was also not mad about the 4.3" screen.

I hope to god my thumb gets about an inch longer before I get the SGS2

Elessar · 05-05-2011 8:54am

I cancelled my order from Clove.co.uk because they were incapable of sending out all orders on the day it was released and even more incapable of telling their customers when their phone is likely to ship. What a waste of time.

To top it off they take your money when they receive the stock, not when they ship it, so I have to get a refund - turns out I will lose close to €11 because of the conversion fee my credit card charges :mad: If they charge when they ship like most other companies this wouldn't have happened!!!

To hell with them.

I ordered yesterday from phonesonline.ie instead - and the SGS2 is on it's way to me. Over €20 cheaper than Clove too, even after the fee.

Zagato · 05-05-2011 11:07am

DRose1 wrote: »

I was just about to post this:

I found this article online:

So the questions are:

1/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with an 02 Irish sim card?
2/ If I bought it from the 02 UK store, would it work with a Tesco Mobile Irish sim card?

Seriously tempted to get it at €445. I can get it posted to the North However, when I go to try and buy in online, it just says this page is not available. I dont think its anything to do with my IP address being in the South, seems to be an error with their website.

I wonder would any of the 02 shops in Northern Ireland have them in stock yet?

I imagine that the carrier lock would be to the specific MCC/MNC codes for the carriers, and they are different for each carrier in each country - so no, I expect it would not work - if you have a sim locked phone now you could test it by ordering a free sim card in the UK and seeing if it works here

Headshot · 05-05-2011 11:15am

Easy to unlock the phone?

fionny · 05-05-2011 11:47am

Doubt unlock is ready yet, however there was a chip knocking around that you put infront of your SIM card that spoofed an unlock turbochip or something... cost like 25USD

Headshot · 05-05-2011 5:38pm

From reading forums it seems it can be unlocked by codes

http://sim-unlock.net/sim-lock/12/Unlock_by_code_for_any_Samsung_phones/

This site provides them it seems, not sure how reliable they are thou

mullingar · 05-05-2011 8:45pm

Yeh,

They have a video link for the sgs2:

http://sim-unlock.net/video_help/Samsung/Galaxy_S_II/

tman · 05-05-2011 8:49pm

That's the i9000, not the i9100...

TinCool · 05-05-2011 9:27pm

After 2 years with an iPhone 3G, my upgrade day is tomorrow. I've already reserved an S2 in my local O2 shop walk in and pick one up. One of the benefits of living in the UK. Whoop Whoop !!

I think I still have an Irish SIM lying about some place. If I do, I'll stick it in and see if it works.

Bikerguy · 05-05-2011 9:59pm

Headshot wrote: »

From reading forums it seems it can be unlocked by codes

http://sim-unlock.net/sim-lock/12/Unlock_by_code_for_any_Samsung_phones/

This site provides them it seems, not sure how reliable they are thou

i used this site before and i was happy all smooth so far. i dont know about sgs2 but if i will be forced i would use it again.

i know every1 is asking the same but guys does anyone from u know when is gonnna be the magic date, when the SGS2 gonna hit us?

valdigre · 06-05-2011 7:22am

Hey guys,

I'll have my i9100 next week and my current i9000 to compare.
I may manufacture some comparison review on bigger and smaller differences, so if you have any questions, give me a shout and I will try to answer them.

fionny · 06-05-2011 8:40am

Bikerguy wrote: »

i know every1 is asking the same but guys does anyone from u know when is gonnna be the magic date, when the SGS2 gonna hit us?

Early June is all we know.

alancuran · 06-05-2011 8:44am

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

NFC is basically a smart card tracking device built into your phone that wiill log all your purchase / movements on a datadase for two years under EU / Irish data retention directives.

NFC will raise serious privacy concerns when they start to roll out here. Give it about two to three years and you will start paying for your groceries, petrol and rail tickets with it.

NFC can also be used for person to person transactions just like cash which is even more worring. Of course we will be told that this technology will illiminate the black economy and kill off cash crime but there is a price. IE Big Brother.

http://wiseupjournal.com/?p=633

I think NFC is not too good technology and may be abused and cause a lot of problems, thiefs are smart and may exploit weaknesses of it.

bd250110 · 06-05-2011 12:23pm

Like all means of completing a transaction, there will be ways the unscrupulous will try to take advantage. But this is paranoia. Big brother can already track you in all sorts of ways, if you have nothing to hide, there is no problem. If you don't want to use the service, you can choose not to.

It's interesting how NFC is going to roll out in Ireland and if it will take off. Use of debit cards, even for small transactions, is a lot higher in the UK than we see in Ireland. That aside, the problem with NFC enabled cards is you still have to find your wallet/purse, remove the card from the purse and then tap it on the reader. It's not much less hassle to pop it in the card machine. NFC in a phone is a bit more attractive and convenient. I can see phone based NFC taking off in places like London, where they are used to NFC payments on public transport, using Oyster. It's a logical extension, really.

PlaybookTips · 06-05-2011 3:52pm

Bikerguy wrote: »

499£ simfree - amazon uk...free delivery...

vodafone anounced HTC sensation - in coming soon section so i will maybe take HTC and better build quality and resolution instead of light samsung

just three, orange, o2 in UK

http://samsunggalaxys2blog.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-news/samsung-galaxy-s2-will-not-be-nfc-enabled-in-the-uk/

fionny · 06-05-2011 4:07pm

Being a current HTC owner I wont be buying another "sense" enabled phone, especially now they are locking down their bootloaders. Its a clunky pos overlay. At least Touchwiz looks functional.... prob install a custom ROM there too though.

Samsung Galaxy S II

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