Samsung Galaxy S2: Will be doing review for Clove - what questions are you looking to be answered?

Forums › Android › Samsung Galaxy S2: Will be doing review for Clove - what questions are you looking to be answered?

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#448443 15-Mar-2011 08:51

There won't be anything you can't change, I can tell you that already. This is a stock unlocked device, and Android to boot, pretty much everything is replaceable. After a few days getting to know TW4 I'll be replacing the whole UI with LauncherPro, so I think its safe to say you shouldn't have anything to fear in regards to things being locked in.

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Lambchop

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#448699 15-Mar-2011 21:42

i've actually ordered one from mobicity ...

not completely sure i should be parting with my leedroid flashed htc desire .. but there you go.

kinda gambling that exynos was hindered by unfinshed drivers in benchmarks and don't want to be stuck with a tegra2 powered one if i miss out on the 1st batch ...

siimo2005

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#448800 16-Mar-2011 10:07

GPS is definitely a major.

I have a Galaxy S and a Nexus One. Nexus One locks almost instantly anywhere at most it will take 10-15 seconds. Galaxy S takes a long time some times and even when it does lock its accuracy is rubbish compared to N1 (15-20 metres vs 1-2 metres). With the Nexus One I was even able to get GPS lock when flying across the pacific going 1000km/h.

I won't buy another Galaxy phone if they haven't sorted this GPS issue in V1.

NZtechfreak

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#470854 18-May-2011 22:51

...and GPS review is up:

http://blog.clove.co.uk/2011/05/18/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-real-user-reviewpart-twogps/#more-6176

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lokhor

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#470874 18-May-2011 23:29

So you going to be selling the SGS2 after you've finished reviewing?

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NZtechfreak

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#470877 18-May-2011 23:34

Not likely, nothing better to upgrade too!

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Spong

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#470893 19-May-2011 01:05

Having owned my SGSII for a week now, the only major issue I've found so far has been the poor wifi sensitivity in comparison to some other Android and iPhones that many xda forum members have also experienced, . Would be good if you could investigate and report as part of your review. I don't think this has been brought up in many online reviews. As you say, you have to wonder how long these reviewers have actually used these devices in the real world.

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NZtechfreak

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#470906 19-May-2011 07:05

Exactly, I'm aware of the WiFi issues, will certainly br bringing them up.

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lokhor

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#470914 19-May-2011 07:56

NZtechfreak: Not likely, nothing better to upgrade too!

Dibs in 6mths then haha

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NZtechfreak

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#470931 19-May-2011 08:30

lokhor:
NZtechfreak: Not likely, nothing better to upgrade too!

Dibs in 6mths then haha

Wow, I've quite often had a buyer lined up for my phones before I come to sell them, but not usually within the first week of my owning them!

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ArtooDetoo

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#470960 19-May-2011 09:58

siimo2005: GPS is definitely a major.

I have a Galaxy S and a Nexus One. Nexus One locks almost instantly anywhere at most it will take 10-15 seconds. Galaxy S takes a long time some times and even when it does lock its accuracy is rubbish compared to N1 (15-20 metres vs 1-2 metres). With the Nexus One I was even able to get GPS lock when flying across the pacific going 1000km/h.

I won't buy another Galaxy phone if they haven't sorted this GPS issue in V1.

I was wondering what software is reporting 1-2 metres? The reason I ask is that the GPS receiver solutions incorporated into cellphones are less sensitive than those in standalone GPS receivers, and the manufacturers of the GPS standalone receivers don't claim accuracy better than 5 metres, with most claiming 5-10 metres.

The accuracy you're seeing reported is usually associated with WAAS enhanced GPS, something that requires an external antenna and a separate discrete signal from a 'fixed' satellite source, something that in practice tends to be a GPS transmitter located on the Earth's surface, and with GPS requiring line of sight, is only useful for GPS receivers being positioned above the Earth - in aeroplanes specifically.

There are other technologies able to enhance GPS accuracy but they require sophisticated additional electronics that make them of such a size that they won't fit into anything the dimensions of an old Motorola brick let alone the GPS chip space inside a modern cellphone.

GPS lock requires a minimum of 3 satellites of sufficient signal strength to be in view at any one instant, but in practice, my SGS1 expects 4 and doesn't indicate a lock until this happens. The speed to lock in contemporary GPS cellphone solutions is helped by AGPS assist, which simply means that the cell-tower signal is being co-opted into providing a 'head-start' in trilateration by simulating satellite lock #1, which then reduces the time of the calculations required to resolve the position, so being near a strong cell signal will speed lock up while being in a poor signal area will not offer enough surety for it to help the trilateration significantly. So a longer lock time results.

In short (bit late for that, I accept

), your N1 is lying to you in reporting 1-2 metres, something the chipset is incapable of delivering even though it may 'fluke' it from time to time. But you're suggesting by your comment above that you expect that accuracy, implying your N1 constantly delivers it. I doesn't because it can't.

An aside: are you aware that having your cellphone radios turned on in a commercial aircraft flying at 1000kph across the Pacific is illegal?

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R2D2

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owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

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#470963 19-May-2011 10:04

Is the Navigon navigation app still on the device SGS2? It tends to have more detailed maps than Google and the built-in TTS sounds really good (on my Tab anyway)

Have you got the genuine SGS2 car dock or a generic one? I can't find much info about the quality etc of the Samsung unit.

The best GPS signal I've ever seen on my N1 is "within 3 metres" and that was when it had a lock on 12 satellites. Also, the GPS receiver can be turned on when the cell radio is disabled on the N1, which turns it into a regular GPS unit.

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archheretic

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#470973 19-May-2011 10:20

I'll second the earlier request for sound quality. I know gsmarena review sound quality, but what i'd really like to know is how this stands up to a good dedicated pmp (like my cowon s9, or a sony, i already know that it sounds better than an ipod) :)

NZtechfreak

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#470978 19-May-2011 10:32

archheretic: I'll second the earlier request for sound quality. I know gsmarena review sound quality, but what i'd really like to know is how this stands up to a good dedicated pmp (like my cowon s9, or a sony, i already know that it sounds better than an ipod) :)

Its coming!

I don't have a dedicated PMP, so I can't really comment on that - there is a good thread at XDA developers on sound quality (OP is Supercurio) with lots of comments from audiophiles.

RE: GPS accuracy - I talk about that in the review. 3m is the best you'll get, since that is in line with the restrictions on non-military GPS units. My SGSII occasionally says it is getting 2m for brief periods, but I take it with a grain of salt. It rounds to the nearest 2m, so the 4m - 5m accuracy it usually reports is just fine.

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ArtooDetoo

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#470999 19-May-2011 11:15

stevenz: Also, the GPS receiver can be turned on when the cell radio is disabled on the N1, which turns it into a regular GPS unit.

Good point. :-)

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R2D2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

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