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O2 Samsung Galaxy S2 Android 4.0 live update: Discussions

Under: Google Android, O2, Samsung
Date: March 27th, 2012

The last few weeks for owners of the Samsung Galaxy S II in the UK has been confusing with regards to the latest version of the Android operating system reaching the handset. Today we have some more news for you as the O2 Android 4.0 update is now live for the Samsung Galaxy S2, which is causing a lot of discussions amongst owners of the device.

Only yesterday we told you that Samsung had taken to its Facebook page to reveal that the update was still undergoing testing, and couldn’t give a specific date of when it would be available. Now according to an article over at SlashGear carrier O2 has announced the availability of the Ice Cream Sandwich update for its customers owning the Galaxy S2.

When Samsung first released the software earlier this month it warned at the time that specific carrier versions may take longer to be released. Normally when new versions of the Android operating system are released its unlocked handsets that receive the software first; this is because the OS has to go through the testing process for each individual carrier before being released.

Surprisingly though now O2 has joined rival carrier Three by releasing the update, owners of SIM free versions of the Galaxy S2 are still waiting for it to arrive. Users on the O2 network will have to update the handset via Samsung’s KIES application connected to a PC instead of an over the air update.

Users will still see the Samsung TouchWiz Android overlay with the update, but there will be some owners that have already installed one of the various third-party versions of the operating system that comes without this. Have you managed to get Android ICS on to your Samsung Galaxy S2? If so what do you think of it?

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  • Dave Soldini

    I have just installed O2 flavour ICS. 
    Installation went great, did not loose any settings or apps etc. call logs in tact. Double Twist media player even remembered where I was in my playlist. Runs quick, appears stable and easy upgrade.
    Down sides:-
    Home screens reset, lost my shortcuts/widgets and Kies does nto have backup/restore option for that.
    Not full ICS. Panorama mode for camera is not present.

    • Tom Burns

      Have to slide across the ‘Contacts’, ‘Logs’, ‘Groups’,
      ‘Favourites’  tabs(just a little bit).
      All should fit on the screen like 2.3.5. Gingerbread.

      Smilies are worse (very basic looking).

      All your app locations are reset to a default setting.

      Some apps/games no longer run. Biggest disappointment was my
      Kaspersky Antivirus doesn’t run on ICS.

      Created two folders on my phone, ‘Games’ and ‘Apps’ easily
      on Gingerbread.  Can’t either find how to
      rename the new folder I’ve created, or tI’ve seen you can change their name through the
      long winded “Go to the ‘My Folder’ app”, but I can’t see the folders I created
      there either.

      A major plus point is that the battery management seems to have make it’s life a little longer.

      The notification bar is a lot clearer.

      I’ve heard that it’s also improved the camera functionality,
      but not tried it yet.

      BUT OVERALL, I WISH I’D WAITED A WHILE LONGER FOR O2/SAMSUNG TO IRON THE PROBLEMS OUT 1ST!

  • Bruce

    O2 Official ICS updated (on my unlocked, but O2 supplied GS2).
    Upgrade was problem free, and everything seems ok, apart from home screen / widgets / shortcuts all reset to default.

    Also had some fun trying to undo the contacts sync from everything except google. 
    Could not find easy way to do this, apart from launch each app in turn and ensure it was off.
    The sync settings account section seemed to show they were all on.

  • Steven91

    I’m still waiting for it to show yet i’m on o2 uk and says i have the latest software on kies maybe it takes abit of time 

  • Bruce

    Was going to add, at least this article correctly noted that Sim Free update still missing in action. Quite a few site claim it was freely available on 19th Mar.

  • Dhruv Narula

    cant update, it says i have the latest firmware !

  • Ian Morrison1

    cant update, it says i have the latest firmware !

  • http://twitter.com/NewMancunian Nick

    Same here: Brand new SIM-free Samsung Galaxy S2, Android 2.3 and Kies says “this is the latest firmware”. Samsung is just a bad joke really.

    • Nige

       Think yourself lucky Kies told you anything. I can’t find anything about firmware updates/downloads on mine to even ask!

  • Mark8ball30

    it just goes to prov samsung don’t no what they are doing if a team off people can bring a rom for phones mouths be for samsung do they must be a joke. when i phoned samsung they said they are relesaing android 4.0 in stages so they like to lie to customers as well i got to say iv loved samsungs phones but now just p++t off with the after care we get for phones that cost us £600 each time 

    • Inglophile99

      Maybe you should learn to speak properly before you even use a phone?

  • rodb

    updated last night; KIES was clunky and download and install took a while, but was successful. Haven’t had a chance to check out new features yet, but WIFI icon now has an orange dot at the bottom (not sure what that’s about) and the low mic volume fix using the *#*#197328640#*#* audio chnges is no longer available as it was in 2.3.4; i can’t get past the “main menu” screen.  Haven’t been able to find out whether the poor sound quality  at the callee’s phone has had a software fix in 4.0.3.

  • Just4miki

    what is this BullShit SAMSUNG????  why still ICS not available for Sim Free?

  • Rodjaneandfreddy

    Updated my SIM FREE Galaxy s2 no probs with KIES but I used WIFI not the usb cable, try that…
     

  • Shelly

    Where can I download ICS? I’m on Orange and can’t find an update anywhere. Nothing on the Samsung website either and kies is rubbish…
     

  • Lukasz Chrzanowski

    Shelly, this is only available on Three and O2 for a time being, I am sure Orange is working hard to get it for you.

  • Nik

    ICS has killed my battery life. I am lucky to get a day out of my phone now and that’s using the power saving settings. Really not very happy

  • Steve

    Connecting my O2 GS2 to Kies does not initiate an upgrade. Is there something I’m supposed to do? Can someone who’s upgraded sucessfully give a step-by-step walkthrough?

  • Panky92

    HHow do I get the update?

  • Afsheader

    What last few have said…I’m not sim free…how the hell do I get the upgrade???

  • Stevenxr2

    dnt upgrade i wish i never… its slow n always crashes 

  • Mikal Oneill

    I got the update message ota in the park in belfast. updated, seems faster and improved keyboard response. no crashing or lagging but unable to add pics to msgs. says incompatible filetype but its a .jpg ?

  • Garry_f

    I wish I could go back to the older version. This update seems to hang a lot. I also noticed that my notes icon is gone and my playlist have been deleted and changed. 

  • Jgoodwin Homelife

    I loved the old system it was fantastic, I just updated today, and the new system is horrible! I just want to smash my phone or get rid of and switch to something else now.  Does anyone know if you can somehow go back to the old system?

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