galaxy s2

The evolution of Samsung's Galaxy S smartphones (video)

At last, Samsung has introduced the world to the Galaxy S4 smartphone, holding its 5-inch toy aloft like a little electronic Simba. While the South Korean tech giant's latest effort is shaping up to be a dynamite little mobile, however, it didn't emerge from Samsung's forge fully formed.

Instead, the S4 is the result of years spent crafting and refining mobile tech, in an effort to build the best Android phone ever devised.

In the video above we don our big bushy Darwin beards and take a look back at the origins of Samsung's Galaxy S … Read more

Sprint's Samsung Galaxy S2 scores Jelly Bean update

Sprint today announced an Android 4.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy S2. Yes, you read that right. The flagship smartphone from 2011 is getting a new coat of paint.

As expected, the Android 4.1 software update brings about changes such as Google Now, Project Butter animations, and lock screen widgets. Also included are the requisite richer notifications, smarter keyboard, and improved Google Search.

In addition to the standard Jelly Bean features, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is getting some of the Galaxy S3's more popular options. Details include the Smart Stay eye tracking for keeping the phone awake … Read more

Stream media from your Galaxy S3 to a Samsung Smart TV

Maybe it's not as streamlined as Apple's AirPlay, but Samsung's AllShare system is an often-overlooked feature that lets you wirelessly beam content like music, videos, and photos among your devices at a moment's notice.

So, you find a video you shot on your phone, tap a few buttons, and voila -- there it is on your TV screen.

Though AllShare lets you share media among your phone, TV, computer, and tablet, its most practical use can be harnessed by those who own both a Galaxy smartphone (like an S2 or S3), and a Samsung Smart TV. … Read more

Virgin kicks off Galaxy S2 4G promo with Lady Gaga tour

While it's true that Lady Gaga wants your bad romance, prepaid carrier Virgin Mobile really wants you to check out its Galaxy S2 4G instead.

That's why it has teamed up with Samsung to promote the device while sponsoring Mother Monster herself as she goes on tour across the U.S.

Hitting the Pacific Northwest first with stops in Washington and Oregon, the tour made its way to the Bay Area last night in San Jose, Calif.

Two Virgin Mobile kiosks or "activation sites" were set up so fans could take photos of themselves, many of … Read more

Samsung unveils Galaxy S2 Plus with a shot of Android 4.1

A new Galaxy S2 phone is coming to town, though it isn't much different than its predecessor.

Announced today by Samsung, the Galaxy S2 Plus builds upon the S2 by including Android 4.1.2, aka Jelly Bean.

Initially outfitted with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the original S2 received an update to Android 4.0 last June and is finally due up for Android 4.1 sometime soon.

Otherwise, most of the tech specs between the S2 Plus and the original S2 are the same.

Like its precedessor, the S2 Plus will offer a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, … Read more

Virgin Mobile to offer Galaxy S2 4G on November 15

Better late than never, right?

Virgin Mobile today announced that it will soon add the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G to its smartphone roster. Priced at $369.99, the top-selling handset of yesterday joins the no-contract carrier on November 15.

Lest you think that is a lot of money to part with, consider that Boost charges the same for its version of the Galaxy S2. Also, T-Mobile and Sprint are asking $499 for their models if you don't sign a contract. … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S2 available at Wal-Mart with no annual contract

T-Mobile subscribers can now pick up a Samsung Galaxy S2 smartphone through Wal-Mart with no annual contract required.

To grab that deal, you buy the Galaxy S2 for $299 and then pair it with a T-Mobile Monthly4G plan for a minimum of $30 per month. The Monthly4G plan offers unlimited Internet access with the first 5GB of data at 4G speeds, unlimited text, and 100 minutes of talk time with a charge of 10 cents per minute beyond the first 100 minutes.

But with no annual commitment, customers are free to cancel at any time.

Wal-Mart is also selling the … Read more

Galaxy S3 bumps Samsung's lead over Apple, say analysts

Samsung continues to increase its dominance over Apple in the smartphone arena, thanks largely to the launch of its latest Galaxy S handset.

For more than a year, the two companies have been dueling for the bigger chunk of the smartphone market, with Samsung the winner more often than not. But analysts polled by Reuters say that Samsung's lead increased even further last quarter.

Boosted by heavy demand for its new Galaxy S3, Samsung likely sold around 50 million smartphones in the second quarter, according to the 41 analysts surveyed. That figure would easily surpass the 30.5 million … Read more

U.S. Cellular gets the Samsung Galaxy S II

If you were salivating over the Samsung Galaxy S II last May, but were bummed because you're on U.S. Cellular, you'll be happy to hear that it is available on the carrier's network right now.

For customers who are eligible for an upgrade, the device is $249.99 after you sign up for a two-year agreement and send in a $100 rebate.

The device has a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and has a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU.

It also has an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and … Read more

Qualcomm S4 chip renders Ice Cream Sandwich 'butter smooth'

Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 chip is racking up benchmark numbers that make the Samsung Galaxy S II's performance seem so last-year while turning Ice Cream Sandwich into a dreamy experience, said a chip review site.

"Occasionally we'll see performance numbers that just make us laugh at their absurdity," said Anandtech. "[Snapdragon S4's] Linpack performance is no exception. The performance advantage here is insane. The MSM8960 is able to deliver more than twice the performance of any currently shipping SoC (system-on-a-chip)."

And what about that Adreno graphics processing unit? "From a compute standpoint … Read more