My New Phone - Galaxy S2
Remember last month I talked about the Galaxy Tab I'd bought? It was meant to be a cheap way to aide my learning mobile development. The Android phone I had (HTC Hero) was stuck on a version of Android unsupported by Flex.
Anyway, a couple of weeks in to owning the Tab I realised it was a bit daft having two tablets and a phone. Although I bought the Tab as a development tool I did end up using it day-to-day and grew to really like it, but I just couldn't justify owning an extra device. So, I've sold it and bought a new phone.
I am now the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S2, which I've had for about a week now and can honestly say it's the best phone I've ever used. And, yeah, I've used an iPhone!
To fund the S2 I put the Tab back on eBay and got back the same price I'd paid for it. I've also sent the Hero back to HTC for repair (it's been broken pretty much since I bought it). Once repaired it too will go on eBay. Combined they almost cover the S2 price, which means it's free, kind of.
For not much more money than I'd already spent I now have a new phone (the Hero was almost 2 years old). Which has killed two birds with one stone as I was going to get a new phone at some point anyway.
Why no iPhone?
My plan had been to wait for the iPhone 5's release, cave in and buy one of them. But using the Tab reminded me how just how much I like Android. I'm a heavy user of Google's services and Android ties in seamlessly with them all.
And deep down I'm just the kind of person to buy the same as everybody else. Never have been really.
If you're looking for a smartphone but don't like the idea of buying in to Apple's general air of smugness then try an S2. The screen alone makes it stand out (Samsung's own Amoled technology) above the rest. Read the reviews too. It's consistently coming out above the iPhone.
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I'm doing the same. Switching from iPhone 3GS to Galaxy S2.
I still like my iphone, and has done me well - but the final straw for me was when they denied Personal Wifi Hotspot for 3GS, just to drive everyone to a newer phone.
Especially poor when there is no technical limitation preventing it (MyWi)
Don't get mine for 3 weeks or so...
Are you getting the one with NFC for payments - heard mixed messages about whether UK was getting that model
Jason
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Hate to admit that I'm no longer nerdy enough to know if what I've bought has NFC capabilities. Doh.
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welcome to the club :)
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Be sure to take advantage of what non-Apple phones let you do. In my case that was to purchase a backup up battery. That way if I'm running around all day with my Galaxy S while using battery draining features, I can slip in the fresh battery and keep going. Evidently Apple doesn't think we're smart enough to do that ourselves.
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I think Samsung plan on releasing an extended-life (big) battery pack that incorporates in to a replacement cover.
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LOL! - did you watch the extreme un-boxing videos? Hilariously brilliant marketing. I probably wouldn't have watched except for the "320 HP rally car" part... and your link, naturally. When it comes time to have a "non-secure phone" (requisite at present assignment) (defined as "has camera") this looks like a nice upgrade from my $8 flip phone... though shamefully more than I strictly need.
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I meant to link to the vids. Did you see the one on the rollercoaster. Worth it just to see the face of the girl sat next to the geek.
http://www.samsung.com/uk/galaxys2/unboxing.html
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hi,
Does anyone know when and to which carriers this phone will be released to in the USA?
Thanks,
pam
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These phones look so darned amazing, but there are 2 issues that keep tripping me up:
1. I use an Nokia E71, and what I really like about it is the keyboard. I've got big fingers, but I can still type fast and effectively when I only have one hand free (i.e standing in a bus holding a briefcase), and I can reach all the necessary controls quite comfortably. But when I try and use someone's iPhone, for example, I make a lot of errors when I type, and I also can't really reach all the controls across the screen with one hand. Is this just because I am not familiar with the device? Will I adapt if I persevere?
2. How is the battery life? I hear bad stories about Android. My E71 goes for days without charging. I don't talk a lot on the phone, but my browser, email and chat is pretty much always on
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Onscreen keyboards is probably one of those things you'd get used to. Or not. There's only way to find out though.
The S2's battery life seem ok. I've not tested it fully yet, as I plug it in to charge over night each day. It's never gone below 50% after a day though.
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