Same ere. Can't wait to get and tinker with what is my first Samsung, my first droid, and my first dual-core smartphone.

Here's hoping that it will lead a longer life than my lost/stolen iPhone 4.

Just checking, does the SGS2 have a magnetometer/digital compass?

That's what I thought, until ONE review managed to list out a spec sheet without the compass in a shootout against the Sensation. I was like, huh?

And about the whole Exynos vs A5 vs Tegra 2 thing, I was under the impression that the Nvidia ULP /ULV(Tegra 2) was SLOWER then the Mali in terms of pure specs? It's just the less mature (read: crappy) drivers for the Mali holding it back (plus the lack of Texture compression).

Where's the sauce for the whole "powervr(ipad2 n, i5) > adreno(htc phones) > tegra2(optimus2x, sgs2)> mali(sgs2 exynos version)" thing?

Yes specs wise PVR and Adreno is more powerful but Nvidia ULP (Tegra 2)?

Quoted from the Anandtech benchmark (the only sauce I can think of when you gave the mali is pawned by everything comment above):



And really man, a pure spec battle? When did smartphone users become hardcore PC overclockers so obsessively looking at stats? Plus if the A4 was underclocked on the i4 the A5 will be doing the same on the i5. Apple likes battery life people.

Just had to spill my 2 cents. And no, I'm no fanboy. I CAME from the iOS ecosystem.

Now let's focus on some REAL issues, like devs not updating Tegra games for the Mali (due to no texture compression).

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 16 2011, 09:57 PM

ROFL. Crap that's so jahat comment lol.

But at least we get to poke more hard stuff into our more promiscuous SGS2 (through the USB-OTG port)

Truth be known, I've never liked sense to begin with. I JUST DON'T LIKE OVERWHELMING WEATHER WIDGETS lol. Like Uncle Benny, I like em simple, plus I'll be customizing the hell out of my UI to begin with (my old iPhone, for instance, had a full flat black UI and a notification drawer lol).

The phone tracking through Sense.com is nice though. And really, phone tracking is more or less very useless in real life conditions, unless the phone can be tracked WHILE it's turned off or even when it's wiped clean/restored/reformatted. Also it needs to be more accurate.

I've learned that the hard way from losing my iPhone 4. FindMyIphone didn't help much once the perp switched off my phone. And it's rough tracking location is too rough especially in an urban setting like KL.

Won't stop me from installing an app to do that on the SGS2 though.

I AM sad though that I'll be trading my old crystal clear retina IPS for a lesser reso SAMOLED+ screen, hopefully the deep colours (and enough NAND real estate and RAM to feed a small country) will make me feel better.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 16 2011, 10:24 PM

Issit? I is happy now. A bit sad we don't get the option of 32GB built in though. I miss dumping everything into my phone lol.

To those of you using Samsung Dive, how's the battery drain? The Netz says that it drains more somewhat on the Wave with Dive enabled, does it do the same on the SGS2? Also, does remote GPS activation work (turn off the GPS and try locating with Dive)?

Note I came from a single core fruitphone that can last an entire day with heavy use (while using a battery case), and thus would like my SGS2 to at least last half as long (also with a battery case, which is the MAIN REASON why I chose the SGS2 - it's one of the VERY few dual-core Droids with a battery case option).

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 16 2011, 10:34 PM

As yet ONLY the 16GB model is available everywhere.

How much is a 32GB microSD now anyway? Also, my question about Dive battery drain eh, just in case people missed my prev post.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 16 2011, 10:36 PM

How much? 64GB card got already or not?

Not many. I'm scouring the internet for good screen protectors and full body films for the SGS2. Currently it boils down to:

SKINS

Gadgetshieldz: Cheapest (RM21 per unit with free shipping), but known to have orange peel effect (which I don't really mind for the back, but will be killer for the screen). A bit thick (hopefully it won't kacau fit into the external battery pack, which I KNOW I'm getting, either from Samsung themselves or from PowerSkins when the US version comes out later). No warranty. Wet application

IS: No. Just no. Expensive, orange peel-y and overrated. Dry application.

BSE: Best in terms of value/quality. No skin for SGS2 out yet. Wet application.

Warpsol: Expensive, but supposedly good. A bit on the thin side. Dry application.

iDefense: Local/Asian product (no info on the web) but a tad on the cheaper side (RM69). Lifetime warranty. Dry application.

I couldn't find a decent branded anti-glare screen protector for the SGS2 though. Any suggestions?

As far as skins are concerned, I'll be getting 2 from Gadgetshieldz (just because it's so freaking cheap) and prolly one from iDefense if the Gadgetshieldz one doesn't hold up in terms of quality.

Depends on what you want from a phone bro. Overall (except for screen reso, slightly crappier GPS and supposedly not so clean headphone-out) it's the best DUAL-CORE phone out there IMHO. Plus Samsung has an open bootloader (YAY).

If you want a sharper screen, some "sense", a thicker body, better GPS and no USB-OTG, get a Sensation. It has a locked bootloader (IINM) so ROMs are gonna be a bit harder to come by and to tinker with.



@sy.yin: IINM the SGS2 vid cam focuses on it's own, and does continuous AF after that.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 17 2011, 12:24 AM

On the list:

Android 2.1 (Eclair) OS <--- ARE THEY SERIOUS LOL

Anyway, UK asso no NFC what. Chip should be there, should be able to use with a hack/firmware update.

Phew, Andorid 2.3 (Gingerbread) listed in the table section haha. No mention of Exynos or Tegra?

EDIT: Game Hub is there, so most prolly Exynos.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 17 2011, 12:31 AM

Most prolly WITH a Maxis Plan lol. If W/O, that's just mean Samsung. I'm WORKING on that day + I'M IN KUALA LIPIS LIAO!

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 17 2011, 01:30 AM

I've not only ordered my GadgetGuardz skin, I've also ordered 2 SGP Ultra Optics SP + 1 SGP Ultra Capsule (from 2 different sellers too lol - lets see who does better) + 2 Epik Jet Black TPU cases from the Flea-Bay.

Will post up my reviews on all the stuff + my recommended Flea-Bay SGP seller later when I receive all the items (hopefully RIGHT before I get my SGS2 lol).

Let's see if the Ultra Capsule is worth the extra money VS the plain Epikcase TPU.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 17 2011, 02:23 PM

Faster faster SME set come. I wanna my dual core (but not quite sharp) beast already.

This is like watching the pre-iPhone launch days all over again lol.

I'm okay and all set as far as carrier goes, staunch supporter of Celcom and their not so "cekik darah" data billing practices.

@nicregi & cruzzmz: Yay, fellow Celcom P150 users.

@Teng N: Samsung has an official battery pack accessory available. 1350mAh for RM330 isn't cheap, but at least it's cheaper then Morphie packs for the i4 - plus it's an official accessory.

If you want a cheaper alternative (not THAT much diff anyway), wait for the At&t SGS2 to hit America and PowerSkin should come up with an SGS2 pack real quick.

@StopSpamming: I was under the impression that NFC is enabled/disabled at firmware level, and the hardware is the same. Either way, it IS a loss but at least we get SuperAMOLED+.

So AP sets from UK/SG has NFC then?

@jcst83: Tegra 2 performance better then Orion/Exynos? Where did you get THAT idea? The Mali graphics chip smokes ULV on the Tegra except when it comes to gaming compatibility (because the Mali doesn't support more common texture compression formats). Problem is, drivers need to be more mature vs the Terga 2's.

Exynos overall is much faster then Tegra 2, but with less mature drivers holding it back.

---

Added on June 18, 2011, 12:13 pmAnd at least we get A9 cores rather then the last gen A8 cores on the Sensation.

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 18 2011, 12:13 PM

I'm getting the Ori battery case, I came from a battery packed iPhone 4 after all. And compared to iPhone battery packs (the Morphies especially), it's not THAT bad lol. Here's hoping you can still use the MHT port with the battery case, which was NOT the case with iPhone 4 battery packs.

Yep it's exp. But having used battery packs before (I still have TWO - One Xpal 1200mAh pack and one Portablepowersupplies.co.uk 3200mAh pack), I just can't live without a battery case any more. It's just too convinient.

Hopefully iWalk comes up with an SGS2 case. Their Chemeleon case for the i4 was a personal fave (and it was cheap too at RM168). Or at least PowerSkin, knowing that they DO have products for the Nexus S and the Galaxy S.

That being said, that Otterbox case looks rad. I had an Otterbox for the N900 a while back, and that case was wonderful. Shame I plan to use the battery case exclusvely + GadgetShieldz for the back and SGP Optics for the screen.

Which reminds me. I need to order either CF stickers or a large DIY GadgetShieldz/BSE skin for the battery pack later. Hopefully this time the SGS2 gets to be used longer then my stolen 4 month old iPhone 4.

Also after reviewing the SGP Air Capsule Case, I might get rid of it. Anybody interested?

This post has been edited by Eiraku: Jun 18 2011, 04:40 PM

Well said.

BTW, while my i4 is missing and my SGS2 not yet here, I'm replying this from the N810 I bought from you. The little bugger still going strong lol.

And are you gonna overcook your SGS2 too mate, like last time?

I treat my gadgets rough so no SP = death. Gorilla or no gorilla.

Plus I like less glare.

But if you take care of your SGS2 (or any phone for that matter) it should be ok.