Usability, Calling / Data


Usability

Samsung used the Galaxy S Ii to show off its brand new TouchWiz iv.0 user interface, which runs atop of Android ii.iii.3 Gingerbread. I was a large fan of TouchWiz iii, and am pleased to report that 4.0 is even better. The main menu and home screens, every bit you'll run across in our videos, are even more flexible and useful than before.

The improved unlock screen provides quick access to missed calls or messages, plenty of new and bonny widgets for the home screens take been added, and the phone'southward 1.2GHz dual-core processor makes certain that everything happens near instantly. I fifty-fifty prefer Samsung'southward copy/paste and text pick arrangement to that offered past stock Android 2.three Gingerbread.

The touchscreen on the phone is accurate in use, but if you tire of tapping and swiping, you lot can utilise Samsung's surprisingly helpful Kies Air software to access near of your phone'south content over a simple web interface that connects over Wi-Fi. The phone's contacts app is like shooting fish in a barrel to use and pulls in friends from Facebook (merely not Twitter), and offers a squeamish index of letters along its right border for speedily finding a needed tape.

The Galaxy S Two features a number of new gestures for interacting with the phone. Users can identify 2 fingers on the display and tilt the phone back and forth to zoom in or out in the browser or gallery, for example. The phone also recognizes flipping the telephone to mute an inbound call. The Vlingo-powered Voice Talk app even recognizes a double-tap on the top of the telephone to initiate a voice command. The app can be used to easily ship text letters or access features like navigation, music, or calls. For example, proverb "Send bulletin to Jack Black message Hey Jack don't forget our luncheon engagement" would prepare a message for Jack, and all you would be required to do is tap the send push button.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy S 2 is very powerful and fun to utilize. It might lack the tight social network integration that HTC's Sense offers, simply it excels most everywhere else.


Calling / Data

While I was unable to exam the 3G data capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Due south II due to it lacking support for T-Mobile's network in the U.Due south., I was able to compare its GSM performance with a number of devices. The Galaxy Southward II performed very well when it came to GSM reception and offered especially crisp and articulate audio during calls. Information technology's worth noting that if I had an AT&T SIM bill of fare, this Uk Galaxy S II even so would have had access to 3G information, since information technology offers UMTS support on the 850, 900, 1900, and 2100MHz bands, which is great.

The Galaxy S Ii features HSPA+ data that should be good for theoretical top download speeds of 21Mbps. In practice speeds will be slower, but information technology's skilful to know that the phone has the capability if your network does. I did experience some Wi-Fi connectivity issues on the phone, having to do with Wi-Fi connections remaining active, just not working. No other device in my possession had that problem.

In improver to Wi-Fi connectivity, the S II besides features Bluetooth and USB information. The telephone supports USB tethering and a Wi-Fi hotspot mode, equally well.