The Samsung Galaxy range.

Why take a Samsung Galaxy S when the Wave is a cheaper option? Now I know that the Samsung Galaxy S is an incredible Android powered handset, but you get the exact same phone, except a bit smaller for around £10 cheaper a month. After doing some research I’ve found what’s on offer for Galaxy range handsets for each network.

Standard 24 month	O2	Orange	Vodafone	3 Network	T-Mobile
Galaxy S	£40	£40	£30	£40	£35
Wave	£30	£30	£25	£35	£25
Apollo	Not Available	£20	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
Portal	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	£30	Not Available

Opinions

Galaxy S – Awesome Android phone, but no camera flash
Wave – My choice if it was loaded with Android 2.2
Apollo – Cheapest Galaxy phone, but cheap for a reason. Only available on Orange
Portal – One of the first Samsung/android phones with a decent spec. Only available on T-mobile.

The fact is the Samsung Galaxy S is the top of the range Samsung out. It could also be considered the very best of the Android phones available, but it lacks a camera flash. Now if you’re like me and go out on the drink and take mad photos, the lack of a camera flash is a big thing to miss out on. The Apollo, which is an Orange network only phone, is another lovely cheap Android phone which has been ruined by Orange’s bulky proprietary software. They did it to the HTC Tattoo Ink and now they have done it to the Apollo. Thank God it can be turned off! The Wave in my opinion is the best Samsung handset out there, although it’s the only one not running Android. It runs Samsung’s brand new Bada software, which is nice but it just looks like an iphone knockoff. The wave has one of the most impressive specs for a phone I’ve ever seen and the fact that it’s still so cheap makes it most attractive. It runs on a 1GHz processor, while equipped with a 5mp camera, 720p video recording and a super AMELOD screen that really pops out on its 3.3” display. Finally the Samsung Portal is one of the first Samsung-Android devices and has been out for a good while now. The portal is only available on the 3 network and it’s nothing to scream about. The phone itself looks like a sack of potatoes and the spec is very ‘Android standard’. I’d much rather take the Samsung Apollo over it or even look into a similar android phone like the Google-Magic.

Android 2.2 Froyo & 2.1 Éclair

Ive been waiting too long for this update like many others but at some point in the next week (around the 3rd of August) we will see the long awaited software update for google devices, Froyo android 2.2. The majority of these handsets will get this automatically but some users such as HTC Hero users may have to do it themselves. 


Heres how to do it:

▪ Your HTC Hero will show version 2.73.61.66 meaning your ready to receive the first update Éclair android 2.1.

▪ Most users will receive a text from their network telling them to upgrade their software in the next 1 - 14 days but if your reading this, just DIY.

                         1. Open your hero's settings

                         2. Go to about phone, then system software updates 

                         3. Click check now

Once completed you should receive a message stating that you have successfully updated to Éclair 2.1

One piece of huge news is the HTC Desire users will gain 720p video capture/playback with the update. Yes you heard it, well......read it. Also itunes sync will become available as well as some improvements on the overall speed of the handset. 720p video is the feature that was rumoured but now confirmed but what i find strange is that it wasn't an already included feature with the phone at the start like the HTC incredible. Obviously they just wanted to push a HTC branded version of the Nexus One as quick as the could, which was a good idea after seeing their sales figures.

Keep an eye out for the update next week!

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