The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is here! Well, almost anyway. In anticipation of this stunning Android smartphone and its whizzy dual-core wizardry, we’ve rounded up all the essential knowledge, gear and apps you’ll need to get it if you’re planning on picking it up on day one. Read on and get in the know.
Launch day info
The Samsung Galaxy S 2 trickles on sale starting on 27 April – that’s this Wednesday – with general availability kicking in on 1 May, with both contract and Pay As You Go ways to buy. The model on sale comes packed with a hefty 16GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot so you can add a further 32GB as you please, but if that’s not enough space for you, a 32GB capacity model is coming down the line as well – there’s no exact ETA on it though.
Essential accessories
The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is hitting shelves with a range of accessories for you to make the most of the super phone. First on the list for motorists should be the car dock, so you can make use of Google Maps’ free satnav feature without getting Sellotape involved. There’s also a bespoke power pack, an alternative back panel you clip on with a much larger battery, so you can run for longer away from the mains. However, the one add-on no Galaxy S 2 owner should go without is the MHL adaptor: plug this into the phone’s micro USB port and you can connect it to a HDTV for sharing video, photos, websites, games – anything, really. It turns your phone into a stealthy HD set top box, so it’s a must have.
Must have apps
There are more than 300,000 apps available to download on the Android Market alone, so it’s hard to know where to start. A good place is our 50 best Android apps feature, but for a truly essential selection for your Samsung Galaxy S 2 try these out: Spotify for unlimited music streaming; Astro for browsing your phone’s storage; Battery Indicator for an accurate at a glance update on your remaining juice; Widgetsoid for creating custom power control bars to suit your needs; HulloMail for visual voicemail alerts and lastly, if you really don’t like Samsung’s homescreens and menus, LauncherPro, for an Android experience closer to what Google intended. Oh, and Angry Birds. They’re all free, and they’re awesome.
