Samsung Galaxy S II

[Tycho]

dorme said:

most android fanboys either havent tried an iphone out or cant afford one so have irrational hate for i devices, you only have to google "android vs iphone" to get reems of people trying to defend android phones, i think it speaks volumes.

It speaks volumes about you to assume that everyone who has an Android phone can't afford an iPhone. You only have to look at the computing forum here to see that there are lots of people who rush to defend any Apple product when someone says they don't like them to see that there are rabid fans on both sides (Bit like yourself actually


Like the Windows/Mac wars, the closer the 2 products are to each other, the more ferocious the arguments are IMO.

Both Android and iOS are good systems, Android is more sensitive to hardware differences a bit like PCs but Apple choose to have a tight leash on what can and can't be done on their platforms therefore you are guaranteed to have a good experience but Android is shoehorned onto phones which it shouldn't be on (Similar to the Vista Ready stickers on crap PCs) At the end of the day, Android has caught up in terms of apps and features so it really depends on if you want to spend a little extra on an iPhone or not and which OS you prefer.

[Tycho]

kiwifraser said:

How about a new thread for an iPhone/iOS versus SGS2/Android bh session...

This one was a helpful resource before the iPhone warriors turned up

Totally agree.

[LukeSi]

Richyvrlimited said:

I'm not sure I follow? is the SGS2 screen glass? I thought it was plastic.

If it is glass it's very impressive.

Yup tis glass, Gorilla Glass to be exact.

[Tycho]

Teppic said:

Richyvrlimited said:

I'm not sure I follow? is the SGS2 screen glass? I thought it was plastic.

If it is glass it's very impressive.

The GS2's screen is most definitely glass.

I think it may be Gorilla Glass


They have just released the 2nd version of it and it is really impressive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16523817

Personally I can't see how much thinner I would want a device but if it gives more room to put batteries then I'm all for it.

[im]

LukeSi said:

Richyvrlimited said:

I'm not sure I follow? is the SGS2 screen glass? I thought it was plastic.

If it is glass it's very impressive.

Yup tis glass, Gorilla Glass to be exact.

What...are my posts invisible? Mods! There's a problem over here...

[Tycho]

im said:

What...are my posts invisible? Mods! There's a problem over here...

Sorry, did you say something????

The iPhone double posts on PH and Android filters out im's posts...

Android 1 - iPhone 0

Edited by Tycho on Thursday 12th January 17:52

[GreigM]

dorme said:

the iphone is definatly made better and feels solid.

most android fanboys either havent tried an iphone out or cant afford one so have irrational hate for i devices, you only have to google "android vs iphone" to get reems of people trying to defend android phones, i think it speaks volumes.

You've got me, I couldn't afford an iphone

[Wing Commander]

Teppic said:

Wing Commander said:

Teppic said:

I would suggest you head over to XDA Developers and enquire there.

Personally I would re-flash the appropriate firmware via ODIN (there is a thread on XDA with all the official firmwares, a link to ODIN and instructions on how to flash the ROM, although it's a bit daunting at first, what with there being many ROMs to choose from) - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1...

Bloody hell! Definitely going to have to do some reading to find out which firmware ROM to use! That is mental! I reckon once I have that decided, it should be quite easy (famous last words...)

The good thing is that you can use pretty much any firmware on that page e.g. I'm using XWKJ2, although because it was packaged with a French CSC file the language defaulted to French until I changed it. The Frankenstein Firmwares (see post 3) have all been amended to have a UK CSC file, so will be in English.

I believe that XWKK2 or XWKK5 are the current firmwares of choice.

Oh, it might be worth investing in a USB Jig too. You can get them on eBay for a couple of quid - I got mine from here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140613132507. This is basically a modified USB Micro B plug that will enable you to force the phone in to download mode (simply by plugging it in and booting the phone) if things go tits up.

You won't need the stock kernels unless you have rooted your phone and need to reset the download counter in order to return it for warranty purposes (some root methods increase the download counter, which is checked if the phone is returned for a warranty fix). The USB Jig also has the added bonus of resetting this counter on the older bootloaders.

One last thing: Disclaimer - you do all of this at your own risk, etc. But from what you've posted about being stuck in a bootloop you've pretty much got nothing to lose.

Thank you for taking the time to write that - very useful! Just about to embark on the reflash or whatever it would be called! Wish me luck

[Richyvrlimited]

LukeSi said:

Yup tis glass, Gorilla Glass to be exact.

Well that makes me look like a tt ha ha

Could've sworn it was plastic. Maybe I subconsciously looked after the iPhone better as I liked it much more?

Dunno

[robmlufc]

Richyvrlimited said:

Maybe I subconsciously looked after the iPhone better as I liked it much more?

Probably because its more fragile and not built as well

[Wing Commander]

Wing Commander said:

Right, I am having some serious issues with my SGS2.

Currently on 2.3.3 software version. Plugged it into Kies which told me that I could get 2.3.4, so ahead I went, after a backup.

4 times now I have had the same computer BSOD. So I left it at that, and was going to work on the problem another day. Cue me getting to work today, and my colleague who also has an S2, telling me about the software update you can do on the phone.

Went through all that, and it installed ok, as in it went to 100% and rebooted. Now the phone is stuck in a cycle of rebooting/starting up but never gets to the home page. It does the animated flashy S thing, and says SGS2 etc, then just goes blank and does the same over again.

Any ideas on a) how I can fix it, and b) how I can do the update, and c) what is the latest software update available?

Many thanks

Hate quoting myself but just wanted to put a bit of closure on this.

Basically, the problem for me has been a dodgy cheap USB lead out of China. For whatever reason, it kept kicking my PC into BSOD about a BugCode USB Driver when it started to transfer the new firmware onto the phone.

Plugged in the official wire, and a bit of tweaking here, and a quick wipe of the phone (luckily backed up a day or two ago), and it is now on 2.3.6 through Odin. Currently just restoring data which is slow but it's looking good.

Hopefully, everything should be just how I left it 2 days ago, bar the fact I will be on the latest firmware.

Thanks to all who have helped

[Wing Commander]

Wing Commander said:

Wing Commander said:

Right, I am having some serious issues with my SGS2.

Currently on 2.3.3 software version. Plugged it into Kies which told me that I could get 2.3.4, so ahead I went, after a backup.

4 times now I have had the same computer BSOD. So I left it at that, and was going to work on the problem another day. Cue me getting to work today, and my colleague who also has an S2, telling me about the software update you can do on the phone.

Went through all that, and it installed ok, as in it went to 100% and rebooted. Now the phone is stuck in a cycle of rebooting/starting up but never gets to the home page. It does the animated flashy S thing, and says SGS2 etc, then just goes blank and does the same over again.

Any ideas on a) how I can fix it, and b) how I can do the update, and c) what is the latest software update available?

Many thanks

Hate quoting myself but just wanted to put a bit of closure on this.

Basically, the problem for me has been a dodgy cheap USB lead out of China. For whatever reason, it kept kicking my PC into BSOD about a BugCode USB Driver when it started to transfer the new firmware onto the phone.

Plugged in the official wire, and a bit of tweaking here, and a quick wipe of the phone (luckily backed up a day or two ago), and it is now on 2.3.6 through Odin. Currently just restoring data which is slow but it's looking good.

Hopefully, everything should be just how I left it 2 days ago, bar the fact I will be on the latest firmware.

Thanks to all who have helped

I cocked it up by speaking too soon. The restore fell over for some reason, and now, despite having a working phone, the restore doesn't happen.

I have used Kies to backup the data (mistake, I now know!) and when I plug it in to the phone and try a restore, it just hangs around on the "preparing to start restore process" at 0%. Is there anything in particular I need to do on my phone? It is unlocked (in the sense that the screen is not locked) and the taskbar has the trident icon which says USB connected - MTP connected.

But nothing happens.

Any thoughts?
Many thanks in advance

[robmlufc]

Are you trying to restore data with Kies? I have tried to keep away from Kies as much as possible! Maybe it gets upset if your not using an official ROM?

[dorme]

scovette said:

Been thinking of maybe going from SGS2 to iPhone for a change - how good is the automation? I get that Siri can do some stuff, but other options maybe limited?

Currently when I leave the house my phone switches off wifi and sync, and Mon-Fri switches on bluetooth. Coming back to the house bluetooth goes off, wifi and sync on, and it emails the house to unlock the door and switch off the alarm. Is this (easily) possible with an iPhone?

its been very useful for my work, it calls, texts, sets reminders, googles stuff, tells you the weather all via voice control, it always understands me and gets things right-no complaints here.

there are multiple apps to support the remote unlocking function on i0s devices.

[Wing Commander]

robmlufc said:

Are you trying to restore data with Kies? I have tried to keep away from Kies as much as possible! Maybe it gets upset if your not using an official ROM?

Yes, trying to restore using kies as that is how i saved it. Can i restore using a different program??

I also assumed it wasnt working because of the custom rom.

Thanks!

[Wing Commander]

Problems are ongoing, it would appear.

Still using 2.3.6 and have accepted that I have "lost" my apps that I had previously. All other data has been recovered one way or another.

I am, as before, using the buddy widget thing on the homepage. I have 4 set up, and they are randomly (sometimes all together - sometimes individually) disappearing. The icon remains, but defaults back to the unallocated state.

I don't think I can positively attribute it to running any particular apps etc. Any help or suggestions??

Also, what can people recommend as the best backup tool? Want to ideally back up everything to the computer, either by USB or ideally OTA.

Thanks

[Richyvrlimited]

Here's a humdinger.

I have a contact, I can phone and txt this contact, BUT when he replies I cannot respond to that reply, I have to make a new message.

It looks like the phone is adding the letter N in front of the contacts number.

Ivetried deleting and re-adding the contact, I've tried a new contact with a different name, makes no difference.

What the fk....

[Devilstreak]

Just a quicky,

On Monday morning I took my phone off charge as normal, But the Battery 100% is staying on, with the "Battery fully charged, Unplug Charger" Message staying in the info bar. It stays there all the time, even when the battery is down to <10%. It also seems to be draining the battery alot quicker too.

For example, It is at 51% now after being taken off charge at 8am. With all wifi/3g turned off

Anyone got any ideas or seen anything similar?

Thanks in advance..

[GreigM]

Devilstreak said:

Just a quicky,

On Monday morning I took my phone off charge as normal, But the Battery 100% is staying on, with the "Battery fully charged, Unplug Charger" Message staying in the info bar. It stays there all the time, even when the battery is down to <10%. It also seems to be draining the battery alot quicker too.

For example, It is at 51% now after being taken off charge at 8am. With all wifi/3g turned off

Anyone got any ideas or seen anything similar?

Thanks in advance..

Do a hard reset - pull the battery.

[Devilstreak]

GreigM said:

Do a hard reset - pull the battery.

Tried that...