Android

[Stuuk1]

No, not another iphone / android thing.

My dad just got a Galaxy S2 and im extremely jealous. This thing is just great!

First of perhaps many questions....

What is Kies?

How can I update to the new IceCreamSandwich? Do they do OTA updates? The phone still says no updates available when I check through the phone's settings. Its on o2 and the update has been sent out apparently.

How do I pay for songs and apps etc? I click buy and it asks me to log in, log in to what? Gmail? Where do I add card details?

Iphone user... You can probably tell ;)

P.s. Downloading Kies now, is this the itunes of android?

[DJFridge]

What is Kies? Stop the download, delete it, transfer any Kies related files left onto a disc, burn the disc, bury the ashes, napalm the burial site and then run away. Fast.

Kies is an appalling piece of software. If they put as little time into testing their phones as they apparently do their software, they would sell fewer phones than Russell Hobbs. When it works properly it is hideously slow, and it frequently just won't work. Nokia's PC Suite has more useable feature and that's about 10 years old. It's sadly the easiest way of upgrading the phone software (I used it to upgrade an i5800 from Android 2.1 to 2.2 and it was a painful experience. It can also have unexpected side effects - if you use Synctoy (a very neat little Microsoft program which I use to synchronize our iTunes library across a couple of PCs) it will stop working when you install Kies.

And it's not just me

http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=kies+is+a+piece+of+crap&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest


Great phone though!

[Stuuk1]

So may I ask what program you use to manage your phone, presuming you have the same or similar phone?

Is there no google based program like apple's itunes?

[L3nny]

Use Air Droid rather than Kies, Kies is pants.

However the bueaty of Android is you don't have to mess about with stuff like that because you can take out the removable SD card and plug it into your PC directly.

[SoulKiss]

So may I ask what program you use to manage your phone, presuming you have the same or similar phone?

Is there no google based program like apple's itunes?

You dont need to install anything to do everything with Android - no nasty malware-like proprietary rubbish.

However a gmail account is almost a necessity, it will allow the phone to sync your contacts and the like.

Airdroid is useful if you really want some management software, and its free.

[Urbanfireblade]

I have the S2, replaced my iPhone and i don't ever regret it either!
Mines up to date and running 2.3.4 Gingerbread, so not sure if you can run Icecream yet.
To buy, you need to sign in with your googlemail.com email(mine does this automatically, i think if you set up your email on the phone then it automatically uses it), click the £price(to buy) and then 'Add card' so the App etc can take the payment from your credit card automatically.
I think Kies is just syncing over the air, i used it when i first got my S2, but haven't since(4mths ago) so its probably not worth bothering with for whatever reason.

Only things not to my taste is the auto focus on the video recorder, if its poor light or far away it'll constantly keep trying to re-focus on the object whilst ur recording! Annoying!
Original virtual keypad awkward, use 'Smart keyboard trial' its free and apart from a pop up every so often asking if you'd like to buy it works brilliantly, Dexilog, LLC are the makers btw.

Amazing phone, upgrade battery capacity(search amazon for 'Anker 1900mAh battery), to get a genuine 30% increase in battery life!

[DJFridge]

You dont need to install anything to do everything with Android - no nasty malware-like proprietary rubbish.

However a gmail account is almost a necessity, it will allow the phone to sync your contacts and the like.

Airdroid is useful if you really want some management software, and its free.

This.

[kellyjo]

Oh im so jealous, I love my Galaxy S but have another 3 or 4 months before I can upgrade to an S2. Glad to hear its worth waiting for!

[L3nny]

Oh im so jealous, I love my Galaxy S but have another 3 or 4 months before I can upgrade to an S2. Glad to hear its worth waiting for!

Galaxy S3 should be out by then, then it will be us who are jealous

[Stuuk1]

Im going to get the S3 for sure!

Just had a little play with Airdroid, wow what a great idea! Still having issues with working out how to update... Its out on O2 right now but upgrading seems to be a bit of a mystery..

[Fluffer]

I'm running ICS on my s2 as we speak and it rocks. The s2 as a phone rocks whatever the software but A 10 min job to root (iphone equivalent to jailbreak) and the software choices you can run are endless. Dead easy and way better than the already great 2.3.4 software...can return the phone to stock in moments too if ever needed but I've never looked back.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Bluefish]

kies is samsungs version of itunes, and yes it's ****, i do use it for updating the phone, for transfering songs i use media player, or drop files ie an album into kies then right click and transfer to phone, that takes seconds, it's when you go to sync on kies that it takes forever.

[L3nny]

Which ROM are you using Fluffer?

Am thinking of installing ICS myself but not sure if it's worth it. The official update should be soon anyway.

[Fluffer]

Am running miui ics, something like build 2.3.16. Still a developer rom so a tad buggy compared to the gingerbread but so easy to switch between then why not. The miui gingerbread roms are rock solid and everything is just so much nicer than standard. There are roms for most android phones so anyone can give it a go and get the benefit - I'd say if doing it first time go for gingerbread and every week the ics gets rom updates so it'll keep getting more solid.

Can back up everything to memory cards and it restores all settings nicely - don't ever have to hook it to a computer and avoid sync software completely :)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[DarrenSV650S]

Ive got an S2 but its screen is smashed because I rage threw it. Back on my 3GS now and its much nicer to use. Still slow as death but the touch screen is sooo much better.

When I got the S2 I thought it was much better because of all the extra features and how easy it is to put music on it. But I still prefer using the iphone and the S2's music player is crap.

Question for S2 users who dont have a keylock code: When you go to unlock it (after not using it for a while) by swiping the screen away, does it ever get stuck/lag and jump back in place? So you have to swipe again?

[L3nny]

Ithe S2's music player is crap.

Download a different one then, I use Winamp

Question for S2 users who dont have a keylock code: When you go to unlock it (after not using it for a while) by swiping the screen away, does it ever get stuck/lag and jump back in place? So you have to swipe again?

No but if it does try using the Go Locker

[DarrenSV650S]

Does winamp let you use the music controls with the screen locked? And if so do the controls disappear after 5 secs so that you have to press the lock button then the home button to get the control back up?

[L3nny]

If music is playing and the screen is locked press the unlock button on the side and it will bring up the Winamp controls, they will stay on the screen for as long as you have set the backlight timeout for. Seems to work better with the GO locker than the samsung one.

[DarrenSV650S]

Cool Ill give that a try when mine is repaired. Still fancy the 4S though

[hindle8907]

Ive got an S2 but its screen is smashed because I rage threw it. Back on my 3GS now and its much nicer to use. Still slow as death but the touch screen is sooo much better.

When I got the S2 I thought it was much better because of all the extra features and how easy it is to put music on it. But I still prefer using the iphone and the S2's music player is crap.

Question for S2 users who dont have a keylock code: When you go to unlock it (after not using it for a while) by swiping the screen away, does it ever get stuck/lag and jump back in place? So you have to swipe again?

I have an iphone4 Personal and a GS2 work phone.

As you say iphones are just much more pleasurable to use.
The touch screen and gestures feel much better and natural on the iphone.

Dont really use it for music so cant help you with that.

Yes the swipe to unlock is a nightmare, again poor touch screen imo.

If i had to choose between them both iphone4 (not 4s) or the S2 the iphone ticks so many more box's than the S2.

To be honest I cant wait till my 6 months are up with the S2 so I can go back to a blackberry as my work device. (LOL forgetting I've got a new job it will be given back in the next few weeks hahah )

[Stingo]

Reading this thread makes me feel as though I've just popped out from under a rather large rock...
:smt119:scratch:

Now, where did I leave those empty tins and ball of string.......?

[Bri w]

Reading this thread makes me feel as though I've just popped out from under a rather large rock...
:smt119:scratch:

Now, where did I leave those empty tins and ball of string.......?

Mmm, I went to get a new phone yesterday and was totally scooby-ed by the choice. Came away with nowt and will do the research before I go back.

[SoulKiss]

Reading this thread makes me feel as though I've just popped out from under a rather large rock...
:smt119:scratch:

Now, where did I leave those empty tins and ball of string.......?

Surely you mean running flags us masts?

[NTECUK]

Double twist is quite handy at sync of music etc.

[slark01]

Love the S2 and have just updated to 4.03. Might root it later on, but happy enough with it at the moment.
Downside....too much O2 carp.

Ste.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Stuuk1]

Does anyone here have the S2 on O2? Says all over the interweb that IceCreamSandwich is available through Kies.

Well, I've installed it etc connected and says im up to date (Currently on GingerBread)....

[DJFridge]

Mmm, I went to get a new phone yesterday and was totally scooby-ed by the choice. Came away with nowt and will do the research before I go back.

Don't do too much, that way madness lies. Most people spend longer researching a new phone or telly than they do a new house!

[Joe Marcon]

I used to do software flashing for these phones . Check out darkyRoM he makes them faster and better features . + stuff for free (copyright) . All i know is these phones dont hold value. Oh and you cant have a photo taken at night with flash on unless you want to look stoned

[Stuuk1]

I don't think any mobile phone based camera can take good photos at night.


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[Joe Marcon]

I don't think any mobile phone based camera can take good photos at night.


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I am here: http://Mr Gay UK mansion

Well take a picture later on in dark with flash on and post the pic and see what you look like with flash

[Stuuk1]

I see what you did there with my signature. Congratulations.

Gay Lord

[Joe Marcon]

I see what you did there with my signature. Congratulations.

Gay Lord

Haha :)

[hindle8907]

nice joe ! made me smile .

[Stuuk1]

Is the house that it zooms in on considered to be mansion then...?


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[DarrenSV650S]

Got my S2 back (well not mine but a repaired one) and the swipe to unlock thing is different. Now you touch anywhere and slide out of a circle to unlock it. Don't know why it's different but seems to work ok. And it also came back with a 2G memory card that I didn't have before :p

[DJFridge]

Got my S2 back (well not mine but a repaired one) and the swipe to unlock thing is different. Now you touch anywhere and slide out of a circle to unlock it. Don't know why it's different but seems to work ok. And it also came back with a 2G memory card that I didn't have before :p

Apple claim the patent on the slide to unlock. It sounds like you have a newer version of Android than you had before (jammy sod!)

[DarrenSV650S]

Oh well it still has the same problem of getting stuck as before

[hindle8907]

lol