Review: Sprint Samsung Galaxy SII - Epic 4G Touch - The Mammoth

[dkaile 1,051]

Samsung Site & Support : http://www.samsung.c.../SPH-D710ZKASPR

User Guide : http://org.downloadc..._User_Guide.pdf

& here - http://www.samsung.c.../SPH-D710ZKASPR

Engadget Review : http://www.engadget....g-touch-review/

The Mammoth in hand:

Stock Photos:

Initial Observations-

1. Build quality is plasticky but top notch; Very Very light feel in hand

2. 4.52" Super AMOLED Plus screen is brilliant but colours slightly over saturated than Super LCD of EVO3D

3. The size is just too big and any bigger will be difficult to handle in normal human hand

4. The sound quality is just brilliant

5. The 8MP camera is just brilliant and better than EVO3D but no 3D effects here. It can take videos with flash light ON.

6. Google Talk Video works for 1st time for me on any stock rom. It is on 2.3.4 (Gingerbread)

7. One hand handling feels cumbersome to me though my friend Dj says just the opposite.

8. The soft key buttons work perfectly for a change (unlike the original Epic) and just like an HTC

9. I miss the Sense interface of the EVO3D though the Touchwiz is quite improved from its predecessors

10. We can easily set lock-screen photo of our choice though it is not that customisable like HTC sense

11. GPS locking is now without any error and very fast like HTC

12. 16GB in built memory + option to add upto 32GB micro sd card

13. NO dedicated camera button unlike the 3VO

14. Notification light is now present in Galaxy S2

15. Humongous 1800mah battery

16. Default voice settings already on EVRC B

17. Its superfast. A little faster than the 3VO.

18. The fonts look quite big due to lower resolution than the 3VO but that should be taken as a positive as its easy on the eye and an ideal SENIOR CITIZEN Phone... Everything looks so BIG.

19. The patterned battery cover and all plastics are of the highest quality only attainable by Samsung.

20. Unique Voice Talk and Driving Mode from Samsung reminds me of the SIRI

What I don't like:

1. Overly plasticky and light. Feels like it can slip out of hand easily due to lightness.

2. Over saturation of colours (in some photos). Videos just look unbelievable.

3. Unrefined interface compared to HTC. But 3rd party options like Go Launcher and Launcher Pro Plus ko bhi to sales deni hai...lolz

4. Lack of bluetooth file transfer drivers (big defect from Samsung). I am unable to transfer files to my laptop on Windows 7 from the S2 via bluetooth. Update: Bluetooth is working perfectly. There were some driver problem in my PC.

5. Notchy EVDO speeds compared to HTC. Still does a respectable 1.2~1.5MBps here in Meerut (refer screenshot)

6. ##DATA# can reset data settings if you go into EVDO settings from the phone. Be careful with that.

7. No headset in box (cost cutting nowadays?)

8. No kickstand aka Motorola photon or the original Evo.

Even with these, it still remains the MOST DESIRABLE SMARTPHONE in the world at the moment. It's sales numbers are proof of that. I may have a little critical view as my expectations from the S2 were sky-high...

Do this:

1. Change Proxy to 0.0.0.0 to enable YouTube Playback on EVDO by doing this - http://www.rimweb.in...026#entry237026

Edit 09-08-2012

2. Fix GPS issue after official ICS update FF18 -

Now for some PHOTOS:

The Box

The Box opens in 3 layers

The Box contents and completely unboxed

The 1800mah Battery

The Front and the Back

The Left, Bottom, Right and Top

The battery door opened, The Camera and the Speaker

The Volume Buttons, 3.5mm Jack, Power Button & Micro USB jack

The Lock Screen, Top edge (Notice the Front camera, Sensors and LED Light), Bottom Edge (Notice the Thinness) & Bottom Menu

Edited August 9, 2012 by dkaile

[dkaile 1,051]

Some More Photos:

The Settings, Build Version, Home Screens

Google News, Home Page

Video can be taken with Flash ON

Unbelievable Quadrant Score and compared with Quadrant Score of 3VO - ALMOST DOUBLE THAN 3VO!!!

Comparison of size with 3VO

Some Screen Shots. Screen shots can be taken directly from phone by just pressing home+power key and releasing immediately and voila!! you have a screen shot. It is saved in a ScreenShot directory in the Memory.

The Lock Screen, Home Screen and Applications

The Quadrant Score once again

The Music

Sygic Navigation

Photo Editor and inbuilt NOVA HD Game

The EVDO speeds and Speed over WiFi

Enjoy...

Edited November 6, 2011 by dkaile

[joee77 10]

its great review....as u always

[Karthik R 246]

Great review, as always. Your fair / honest views set you apart.

[parin 857]

As usual gr8 review dhiraj Bhai

+1

[dkaile 1,051]

The unique desk stand is a must have accessory and a fashion statement http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EDD-D1D9BEGSTA -

[puneetghai1978 0]

Amazing review by our dearest Dhiraj jee

[pbananth 1]

Hi,

When headset connected there is no indication on the notification area.

Have you noticed?

Can you help to root by pointing good method and rom?

[dkaile 1,051]

Hi,

When headset connected there is no indication on the notification area.

Have you noticed?

Can you help to root by pointing good method and rom?

Now that you mention it, yes, I also did not see any notification of the headset connected. But the sound quality through my Sennheiser's was amazing.

The root most are doing is here - http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1265429 BUT it has been known to cause signal loss issues to some. So proceed with CAUTION and at your own risk. JFYI there is no such issue as of now on my non-rooted phone.

And in case some of you did root and now are stuck, there is a way to unroot and return to stock as given here - http://epic4gtouchro...-epic-4g-touch/

Edited November 6, 2011 by dkaile

[pbananth 1]

Thanks..

What stereo bluetooth headset you recommend.

My nokia 505 which works perfectly with

hero doesn't connect.

[dkaile 1,051]

Samsung Epic 4G Touch Teardown

Checkout some accessories here - http://store.androidcentral.com/samsung-epic-4g-touch-accessories.htm

Edited November 6, 2011 by dkaile

[Karthik R 246]

@ DKji Is the desk stand compatible with Galaxy S2 GSM flavor? How much did it cost.

[dkaile 1,051]

@ DKji Is the desk stand compatible with Galaxy S2 GSM flavor? How much did it cost.

I have not got it yet. It should cost around 50$ (quite costly). It should NOT be compatible with the gsm version as their width's are slightly different.

[dkaile 1,051]

Those who feel the default font size is too big - TuffyInfant_Regular.apk

Install the apk. Then go to settings - display - screen display - font style - set to TuffyInfant_Regular for this font. You can change back to the default font at any time.

For the cr@cked voice caller id ad free -

Edited November 6, 2011 by dkaile

[dkaile 1,051]

Update: Bluetooth is working perfectly. There were some driver problem in my PC.

[pbananth 1]

1 .kies wifi works fine. able to view full data and upload file.

2. sprint hotspot wifi works fine..i can able to browse internet.

3. when connected with USB mtp initialization started. As suggested on the other thread i cannot able to connect to read./write sd card..

but i can able to connect dial-up modem and it works fine.

4. bluetooth full service for samsung (driver) not installed.

in usb connection kies informed that the device doesn't supported.

but kies wifi works..

[@mitJ@in 256]

A stupid Question.

What is This Kies? What is its Benifit.?

[dkaile 1,051]

What is This Kies? What is its Benifit.?

Kies is a 'stupid' program from Samsung to sync your phone's data (like Nokia PC Suite) and other programs like updating the phone, drivers etc. I have never used Kies and am most at peace.

[dkaile 1,051]

Ice Cream Sandwich coming to Galaxy S II, Samsung UK confirms

Edited November 17, 2011 by dkaile

[Karthik R 246]

No surprises there considering the sales figures!

[pbananth 1]

hello guru,

1. have u tried "[ROOT][EG30/31] Automated root of your existing stock ROM (w/o ODIN or ROM Flash)"

can i do that..

2. when i switch off the wifi , and again turned on it is not finding the signal..

i should have to switch off the wifi, and the router/modem and suddenly it is connected.

what i am doing wrong..?

kindly help.

[dkaile 1,051]

hello guru,

1. have u tried "[ROOT][EG30/31] Automated root of your existing stock ROM (w/o ODIN or ROM Flash)"

can i do that..

2. when i switch off the wifi , and again turned on it is not finding the signal..

i should have to switch off the wifi, and the router/modem and suddenly it is connected.

what i am doing wrong..?

kindly help.

Most roots for the S2 have some issue or the other which are messing up the radio.

You may be in low wifi signal area. No such issues detected.

[santanu@impaq 16]

To all eager experimenters

Please listen to Dhiraj ji and do not root S2 as of now.

S2 users rooting worldwide are facing radio related issues on rooting.

Please wait for sometime till we get positive responses from the Gurus.

[pbananth 1]

The method in the post I mentioned tells me, only rooting.

Nothing updated.

Kindly go thro the tread at xda and advice.

Thanks.

[dkaile 1,051]

Changing default SMS Application to Handcent and also changing the 4 default icons on the homescreen -

Click Applications-Menu-Edit- Now just change any of the 4 bottom apps with the ones you want e.g. hold down Handcent SMS icon and take it to the Messaging icon below. Both will get automatically interchanged.