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A Phone That Is Almost a Tablet – The Samsung Galaxy S II

November 24, 2011

Samsung Galaxy S II

A few weeks ago, Samsung gave me a Galaxy S II SGH-T989 phone from T-Mobile to test out. I have been an Android fan for a while.  My previous phone was a Google Nexus One (made by HTC), which I liked except that the space for apps is limited.

Here are my first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S II:

Screen
The screen is a 4.52” Super AMOLED™ Plus Screen, and even if I did not know what this meant, it is really attractive. While making a call, the numbers are big and bright – very easy to see – and I love watching videos on it, as it gives you a nice screen view.

Camera
The camera is a 8MP Camera with an additional 2MP front-facing camera for video chats. I can also take 1080p HD video, which is very useful for me.  I usually carry a lot of cameras, but, of late, I have been carrying only this phone, leaving my digital and video cameras at home. The picture below was taken with my  Samsung Galaxy S II.

Here is an example of a video using the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Colors on my Samsung Galaxy S 2

Address book and email
I love the way the Samsung Galaxy S II address book integrated across all my contacts, including social networks.  It also counts interactions on email or on the phone. Of course, that feature helped me come this painful realization that I make more work-related calls than calls to my house. The device syncs very well with work exchange server Exchange ActiveSync®, and it also has the ability to look up my global address book.<

Voice Talk powered by Vlingo
While driving, I can set the Voice Talk app to driving mode so it does some cool things, like letting me know a text has arrived or letting me speak to it to make a call, send a text or a memo, or even navigate. Initial test results are surprising, as it even understands my “southern” accent.

Calendar
The Samsung Galaxy S II Calendar syncs not only with Exchange and Gmail calendars, but also Facebook events. I find this sync feature usfeul for seeing the birthdays of Facebook friends.

Screenshots
The Android OS, as far as I know, does not offer this option.  With the Galaxy S II, you can take a screenshot by pressing the home button and the power button simultaneously. This adds the screenshot of the screen to the photo Gallery.

Moving from the Google Nexus One to Samsung Galaxy S II was pretty seamless. I just logged out of the Nexus One and logged in to the Samsung Galaxy S II and all my settings were carried over. Even iPhone users admired the screen and size of the Samsung Galaxy S II.  With the Google+ app on the phone, my media is now seamlessly integrated to my Google+ account and Picasa.

Special features:

  • NFC: The Samsung Galaxy S II phone has the Near Field Communication feature, and I plan to use it when it becomes prevalent where I shop.
  • HDMI Capable: Currently there are times I have had to use a laptop to connect to my wall-mounted Sony TV. The Samsung Galaxy S II with a HDMI adapter can be connected to the TV.
  • Telenav Navigation System: I love the Google navigation system but need a change from the droning voice (not the fault of the voice provider).  The Samsung Galaxy S II has an alternative the Telenav Navigation system with turn-by-turn guidance. I find the voice a relief!
  • AllShare™: This feature lets you wirelessly stream media to Smart TV, PC and other DLNA Certified® devices. I could detect my DirectTV DVR but have still to figure out how to make it work.

In closing, I love this phone – except for these two issues:

  • T-Mobile bloatware: Compared to the clean Android system that I had in my Google Nexus One, the Samsung Galaxy S II for T-Mobile comes with a lot of bloatware that I cannot uninstall. In my opinion, this is a failure on T-Mobile’s part rather than Samsung’s. I would like to have the option of installing these apps rather than have them already on the device.
  • Phantom switch off: For no reason at all, my Samsung Galaxy S II switches off.  The only way to restart is to remove the battery and reinstall it. I have not sought any help as this has not yet been a big issue for me yet, but I will check out online forums to figure out how to get around this.

Do you own a Samsung Galaxy S II? I am interested in hearing your opinion of the phone – leave a comment below!  If you own the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus Prime, I would love to hear from you as well.

NOTE: Tech Cocktail worked with Samsung on a special Tech Cocktail Mobile Mixer sponsored by Samsung in September 2011.


About the Author
Shashi Bellamkonda

Shashi Bellamkonda is the Social Media Swami (otherwise known as Sr. Director, Social Media) of Network Solutions/Web.com and Adjunct Marketing Professor at Georgetown University.

Shashi is passionate about helping startups and small business and has been recognized twice as one of the Top 100 Tech Titans by the Washingtonian and Top 100 Small Business Influencer Champion 2011 by Small Business Trends. Follow him on Twitter @shashib.

13 Responses to “A Phone That Is Almost a Tablet – The Samsung Galaxy S II”

  1. @JRNavarro75 says:
    November 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    The best phone I have ever used. They should have just called it the AWESOME. I'm already itching to get my hands on a Nexus, but the GS II is a technological marvel. It makes my free time more enjoyable. It makes work fun and easier. Mine is from Sprint. Buyer beware. Check your data usage plans and do some research before you sign a contract. Some plans bill you if you use over a certain amount of data. Once that's done or you aren't concerned with the data billing stuff, buy it. you won't regret it.
    P.S. No ghost crashing here.

    Reply
  2. shashib says:
    November 24, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Thanks JRNavarro075. How is your experience with battery life ? I have a app called "Juice Defender" which is a great app for the Galaxy S2 and the battery life is really extended specially if you are traveling.

    Reply
  3. Tim Southernwood says:
    November 24, 2011 at 12:59 pm

    I purchased the Galaxy SII GT-I9100M the first day on the market here in Canada and I love the phone.
    Not ever having a smart phone before (my previous was a Motorolla Razor 1st gen) I can't really compare it to others.. but still.. as a first time owner I found this phone to be fairly easy to get to know (although I still have some issues with getting contacts added properly..lol)
    Fortunately I've never even come close to hitting my limits on the plan with Bell Mobility here in Edmonton because I can call ten top contacts without cost any time of day, and my data access is most often through wifi networks at home or when I'm out and about. It seems that everywhere I'm going the phone picks up available networks readily.
    I've become a wiz with texting but my 16yo daughter has tried the screen pad and prefers her querty keyboard style phone.
    All I can add is that if you're looking to get a new phone.. this is a TOP contender!

    Reply
  4. shashib says:
    November 24, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Thanks Tim,

    Many of us may be partial to Qwerty keyboards ;) The size of the keyboard definitely makes it easier to text. I love the way te phone moves from 4G to wifi. As mentioned in my comment above let me know if you tried the Juice Defender app?

    Shashi

    Reply
  5. Beth says:
    November 25, 2011 at 3:04 am

    I REALLly wanted this phone and still do. I am with Verizon and they chose not to get it. I guess I am going to get the Samsung galaxy nexus but don't know if I will like it as well as the S2. I love the shape of the s2 and as much excited about about the look of the nexus. I have seen the print version of it the epic, and was blown away at how beautiful the colors are and the cool features it has. Don't think the nexus will have those as it is more a google phone than a Samsung phone. Really wish verizon had given us the chance to choose this phone or not :( Still want it.

    Reply
  6. shashib says:
    November 25, 2011 at 9:07 am

    Hi Beth,

    It is a big disadvantage that the way the mobile marketing is done in the US, you cannot choose a phone and then choose a provider like you can do in places like India. Google did try to change that but it is also difficult to change the consumer mindset where we are so accustomed to monthly plans and sign up for more than we can consume because it is convenient and sometimes lose our freedom of choice.

    Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

    Shashi

    Reply
  7. @brothabinary says:
    November 25, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Best phone I've ever owned and I even wrote a review myself as well…it's really that good. Samsung did a great job with this. http://brothabinary.com/nononsense-review-of-the-…

    Reply
  8. @brothabinary says:
    November 25, 2011 at 10:50 am

    I even found some neat tricks that many don't know about the phone like a hidden art picture and controlling the brightness.

    Reply
  9. Rjs says:
    November 28, 2011 at 7:43 am

    I am very much unsatisfied with the usb threat & mass storage option SGS2 was designed, When every we connect the USB, we have to set the option in a two different way, as both was located in two different path, Why dont SAMSUNG do it like HTC. It is a very simple in HTC device, once you plug in the usb, a popup window will open to choose the option. In this part i really hate my SGS2.

    Reply
  10. shashib says:
    November 28, 2011 at 10:55 am

    Thanks Brothabinary Yes I liked the neat trick of having the picture of zombie art by Jack Larson embedded and that is spreading virally.

    Rjs- I have not tried to use the USB storage and thanks for providing that feedback. I agree a choice is not always a good thing.

    Shashi

    Reply
  11. Battery says:
    January 25, 2012 at 3:11 am

    Wow.. very useful information. Keep up the good work. Thanks for posting :)

    Reply
  12. Angela says:
    February 26, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    Can I email from my apple iPad, to my gallaxy S2 phone?

    Reply

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