![]() ![]() In short, there's a whole lot going on in the Galaxy S II, and it's a continuous surprise that Samsung has managed to keep it so light and thin. Connectivity includes quadband GSM and quadband HSPA (850/900/1900/2100), Bluetooth 3.0+HS and WiFi a/b/g/n, making the Galaxy S II one of the more complete wireless powerhouses we've seen only Nokia's pentaband HSPA smartphones go the extra step. Each can handle up to a 32GB microSDHC memory card. Two Galaxy S II SKUs will be offered, one with 16GB of internal storage – of which just over 11GB is available to the user – and another with 32GB. Keeping things running is a 1.2GHz dual-core Samsung Exynos processor paired with 1GB of RAM and 2GB of ROM. In a somewhat unusual flip, the SIM can be removed without taking out the battery – though it takes a power-cycle to recognize a different card – whereas a microSD card cannot. The camera has autofocus and an LED flash, and is set in a textured battery panel underneath which you'll find the SIM slot and microSD card slot. That's handy, since the Galaxy S II is capable of shooting Full HD 1080p video at 30fps, still something of a rarity in the market. On the base of the phone is a microUSB port which also supports the MHL standard for HDMI connectivity, assuming you have the correct adapter cable. A narrow volume rocker lives on the left edge while the power/lock button is on the right some people are used to that from the Galaxy S and Nexus S, but we still wish Samsung would put the key on the top, next to the 3.5mm headphone socket, as is more common. Holding down the menu button calls up search. Plus, since the phone runs Android, you've got Google's own built-in back-up to sync your settings and apps.Ĭlick the gallery above to walk through the Galaxy S 2's smorgasbord of syncing.Under the display is a central physical home button flanked by a touch-sensitive menu key on the left and a back key on the right. You can also set up which files, folders, or file types you want to sync.Īll this syncing and sharing makes the Galaxy S 2 one of the most connected phones we've ever seen. Once you're connected, you can configure the phone to sync at a set time of day, when it's fully charged, or when you're connected to a particular AllShare device. Samsung tells us you'll also be able to back up your phone straight to the hard drive in a Samsung set-top box or Blu-ray player. You can install AllShare on any Windows 7 computer. It works wirelessly too, but it uses Samsung's own DLNA system, AllShare. Yet another way to connect your Galaxy S 2 to your computer is the Auto Backup and Sync app. Since the original Kies tended to struggle to even discover a phone connected over USB, we think connecting over Wi-Fi could actually prove to be more reliable than with a cable. You can send text messages, edit your photos and plenty more. Once you're in, you can start messing with your stuff. You don't need to install any software on your computer, just use your Web browser to log into the phone's IP address. You don't have to plug your phone into your computer, just have it connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Kies Air isn't software for syncing your phone - instead, it's a way to control the phone itself, from the comfort of your browser. So although Kies 2.0 looks promising, we'll hold fire on our judgement until we can take it for a lengthy test drive in our full review. It's worth remembering that the original Kies was as buggy as a bag of beetles. You can even skip the USB connection and connect your phone to your computer over Wi-Fi. You can buy Android apps, sync your music and other media, and sync your contacts with Google and Outlook. Kies 2.0 is a thinly veiled take-off of iTunes. The original Samsung Kies syncing software let you connect your Samsung Galaxy S to your PC using a USB cable to transfer files and grab software updates. But Apple users will have to wait for theirs, because it only supports Windows. Kies 2.0 should come with a letter of apology to everyone who's struggled with the first Kies. We could go on about Android's features until the cows come home, but even with our bovine buddies all tucked up in bed with a story, we'd still need time to introduce the extra software Samsung has added to Google's mobile operating system.įortunately, we have some time on our hands, so let's dive into the software - starting with Kies. The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is more than just a stunningly pretty face and an insanely fast smart phone - it's got more extras than a DVD box set.
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