Anyone have any idea of what retailers sell which SGS IIs? - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I'll elaborate:
I bought one of these back in May from Expansys-USA, and it was the Polish OXA version. I sold it last month and got the AT&T SGS II instead, and now I wish I had not done that. So now I'm looking for another one.
So does anyone know which version you get from retailers, or is it all random? I could buy from Expansys again, but I want to see if there are any better deals out there. But to my knowledge when I got rid of mine, it was the only one to receive the KI3 2.3.5 update at the time, so I'd prefer another OXA version, or at least one that is OEM unbranded.

Whats the difference? Just unbrand/debrand the machine by flashing stock ROM through Odin!

nicholaschum said:
Whats the difference? Just unbrand/debrand the machine by flashing stock ROM through Odin!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use Odin very often, I like to keep most of my devices as close to stock as possible. But it's all good because I just acquired my old one back lol. No worries!

Related

[Q] Questions for USA buyers

What CSCs are you generally getting from resellers? Latest European?
Anyone buy from NewEgg? (30 day exchange for issue laden device)
What are the pitfalls if any with using International Versions on ATT. I can see the advantages.
Flashing methods seem to be the same from what I am reading. Even A TiBu restore may work from a saved folder from the Captivate. Have not read of any differences there in apps or TiBu.
VPN settings work?
Been looking to get this handset but not sure about about a few processes. I am guessing MobileTech can unbrick one of these should I have an issue as they did one of my Captivates. I have not read of any US repair support expected.
USA Buyer
I have a SGII here in US, bought from onthegosolutions.com, works well on AT&T sim card. No setup issues, nothing to complain about but the problems with the native email app and activesync exchange server, that is supposed to be fixed in KE7 if I can ever get it.
The phone is the standard EU version XWKE2
I got mine from Amazon and the CSC was from Chile. Flashed the generic European ROM soon after to update the build to KE7. Everything has been working fine before and after flashing and rooting.
THanks for the replies. Being a "noob" to non branded Android Galaxy (always bought Nokia before and had to set up VPN was the only difference.
The two branded Captivates which were complete turds initially have been very nicely polished by developers. (hence my support of donations to them and this site.) I believe in supporting the helpful developers with my wallet for ROMS and paid Apps.
I don't use either Exchange or the stock Email app. I like Gmail and K9. I will root for TiBi and root Explorer. Probably run Cog at first since DG was a force on the SGS I and still is. When I get comfortable with the flashing processes I will try other ROMs
I guess most processes are similar to the S1. I did notice two rooting methods. I even read somewhere SuperOneclick may work.
OF hundreds of flashes I bricked once (recently) but $50 late MobileTech and the JTAG had me like new. Small price to pay to save a few hundred dollar phone. IM guessing Josh cna do the same with the SGS II.
Does anyone know when it will be available for AT&T?
I bought mine from New Egg and received it Thursday and I must say it is a great phone. Mine came with KE2. I just flashed Cognition on it a couple of hours ago and its even smoother and faster.
I read on Android Central the other day that Samsung was having issues with the carriers in the US on getting them to pick up this phone. I don't know why since its an awesome phone and they already have phones on all the major carriers. I'm glad I bought it outright instead of waiting for ATT to officially carry it.
astarling10 said:
I read on Android Central the other day that Samsung was having issues with the carriers in the US on getting them to pick up this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The source of all those stories was a Korean writer with no facts talking out of his ass. A dev just found AT&T LTE code in the 2.3.4 leak along with PNG logos unique to their network.
Here's a link to the story that started it all. You judge if its credible.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/...070701109.html
astarling10 said:
I bought mine from New Egg and received it Thursday and I must say it is a great phone. Mine came with KE2. I just flashed Cognition on it a couple of hours ago and its even smoother and faster.
I read on Android Central the other day that Samsung was having issues with the carriers in the US on getting them to pick up this phone. I don't know why since its an awesome phone and they already have phones on all the major carriers. I'm glad I bought it outright instead of waiting for ATT to officially carry it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah IM over Carrier branded handsets. I was glad ATT never carried the N82/N95/N97 Nokias...... I could not care if ATT never gets the SGS 2. Probably get an SGS 3 instead to compete with ifad 5
Bought one here from the Market place with KE7....Hasn't arrived yet.
tbong777 said:
Yeah IM over Carrier branded handsets. I was glad ATT never carried the N82/N95/N97 Nokias...... I could not care if ATT never gets the SGS 2. Probably get an SGS 3 instead to compete with ifad 5
Bought one here from the Market place with KE7....Hasn't arrived yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too..no att crap ware..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Q] Should i buy international version or ATT version of this phone?

I have been waiting a while now for the SGS2 to come to att, but now im thinking i might just be better off with the international version anyway.
Right now im using a samsung captivate. I like that the phone has so much community support, but sometimes wish i had the i9000, because it gets updates faster, and has a better modding community.
I know att's version will have support, and will probably be ok. But since both phones are gonna cost me about the same, should i just get the international version?
I hope to be able to run cyanogenmod as well.
Internatiol is better , but if you consider to use a custom rom, i doesnt matter which version do you have.
regards
SupraN0va said:
Internatiol is better , but if you consider to use a custom rom, i doesnt matter which version do you have.
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well akaik the captivate was a different story. I9000 roms would work on it, but with modifications and bugs. Looking back on the SGS1, i would much prefer to have the international version. Is that going to be the same case with this phone though?
Please help... I did a search and didn't find what exactly what I was looking for. I'm coming over from an iPhone So I'm in the US and I just purchased the international version of this phone. I'm going to use it on AT&T. I know that the international version does not have a warranty in the US, but am I going to have trouble getting official Android updates via Kies or Odin if I'm not rooted? In other words, does the updates originate based on what country my phone was originally made for? I got an unlocked version and I don't see any carrier branding on the outside.

[Q] T-Mobile UK Lack of Updates

Hello,
Im fairly new here, used to own a Samsung Galaxy Portal and I got an SGS2 last friday . Excellent device and everything but one thing thats wrong, Its on T-Mobile. Everyone must agree with me that T-Mobile are fairly late with their branded firmware, updates and leave the handset users at a disadvantage. As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone who has actually recieved a T-Mobile Branded Firmware update thus far for any android device, whats the crack here? anyone have any insight on this?
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
It is entirely possible to update the firmware, root and remove the network lock on your phone using the various threads on those topics. I am using XWKI4 on this SGSII which is now a generic XEU unit rather than TMU.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
JR-i5700 said:
Hello,
Im fairly new here, used to own a Samsung Galaxy Portal and I got an SGS2 last friday . Excellent device and everything but one thing thats wrong, Its on T-Mobile. Everyone must agree with me that T-Mobile are fairly late with their branded firmware, updates and leave the handset users at a disadvantage. As a matter of fact, I don't know anyone who has actually recieved a T-Mobile Branded Firmware update thus far for any android device, whats the crack here? anyone have any insight on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aren't t mobile now with orange?
sent from t'internet
don't mean to revive an old thread, but yes they are. Even so, they keep their firmware seperate. Anyhow, I'm on MIUI Rom now with Dorimanx Kernel, everythings all good

Galaxy S III 4.3?

Anyone know or have a rough guestamate when they will be releasing the 4.3 update or in fact any update? Just i read a while back there was an update due, not official I think but we've had nothing for ages , im getting kinda bored.
I was in the o2 shop is Edinburgh the other day playing with the Galaxy Note 3, saying this is nice and quick and responsive, it had written next to it the samsung mega with no price or info, I'd never heard of so I checked system info and it said Galaxy Note 3, so I thought i'll get some coin together after a week or 2 and get one cos it was gonna be my next new phone anyway, I got home and checked every where online and they aint even released yet, in fact they don't even know the full spec of them, if i'd have know I would of stayed and dug out all the info, DAMN if I was on here more often I would of known.
I do remember it was on 4.2.2 and was really responsive but thats all, shame on me
Kickasskev said:
Anyone know or have a rough guestamate when they will be releasing the 4.3 update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Trust me, if any one of us knew, everyone would know. This forum would be flooded with info.
I read on google some were that 4.2.2 is defo scrapped for 4.3 and thats not coming out till early 2014. Little after the nexus5 comes out. Nexus should be out nov/dec time.
I9300/neatrom 4.2.2
andrewwright said:
I read on google some were that 4.2.2 is defo scrapped for 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but it's all rumours and 95% of them turn out to not be true. We'll know when we know.
4.2.2 is binned. Networks have chosen to wait for 4.3
I9100/I9300
andrewwright said:
4.2.2 is binned. Networks have chosen to wait for 4.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not all S3's are tied to Networks, so it's not completely their call.
Edit> so what I am saying is even if "networks" are waiting for 4.3, it doesn't mean Samsung aren't releasing 4.2.2 - Many of our S3's get updates directly from sasmung. That's what owning an unbranded handset means. There's a leak of 4.2.2 so they definitely worked on it. They may indeed skip it but they have not officially announced that, ergo it is nothing more than a rumour.
When the big ones make there move the other follow. Orange and o2 run the uk. If they pick not to do something other follow them. As most piggy bk of them.
I9100/I9300
andrewwright said:
When the big ones make there move the other follow. Orange and o2 run the uk. If they pick not to do something other follow them. As most piggy bk of them.
I9100/I9300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EE and O2 send out their own updates OTA. Unbranded handsets are network independent and get their updates directly from Samsung. Piggy-Back networks do not pass out OTA updates. All Piggy Back networks use unbranded, Samsung managed handsets. They have no choice in what happens.
So if your on giffgaff which is run on o2 you have it from sam and not o2?
I9100/I9300
andrewwright said:
So if your on giffgaff which is run on o2 you have it from sam and not o2?
I9100/I9300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep thats' right.
When you buy a phone from O2 directly, you get an O2 branded handset which recieves updates from O2.
If you buy a phone from Carphone warehouse on O2, it will be unbranded. Essentially, CPW will give you the exact same phone no matter what network you go with. Giff Gaff do not even supply phones so, chances are if you buy a handset from somewhere ( a shop) it will be unbranded.
On top of this, if you have an Orange phone on O2, it will still get updates from Orange. It doesn't matter what SIM card you have on the phone. It's to do with the software that's on the phone. If I put an O2 SIM in my Three phone, my updates will continue to come from Three.
So what happends if you change software. Were do you get it then? Nice info btw:thumbup:
I9100/I9300
andrewwright said:
So what happends if you change software. Were do you get it then? Nice info btw:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have over simplified it. It is more to do with the CSC set within the phone, but it is all part of the software none-the-less.
If you have an O2 branded phone (O2 CSC) and flash Three UK ROM (Official) you will then get your updates from Three. If you Flash UK Unbranded official (BTU CSC) you would get updates from Samsung.
However, if you are in the UK and flash an Indian official ROM (with Indian CSC) you are unlikely to get updates in the UK. KIES would recognise your CSC does not match your geographical area too, so it would refuse you updates. So As long as you Have an official ROM (CSC) from your country, you will get updates from that provided / Samsung.
Thank for that info mate. I learn some thing new every day. You full of good info. :thumbup: thanks to what you have put about the mg4 imei problem iv flashed neat 4.2.2 and yes I lost my imei but only for a few mins.
I9100/I9300
andrewwright said:
Thank for that info mate. I learn some thing new every day. You full of good info. :thumbup: thanks to what you have put about the mg4 imei problem iv flashed neat 4.2.2 and yes I lost my imei but only for a few mins.
I9100/I9300
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now it's "enjoy" time!

Would a US-bought Tab S3 work okay in UK?

The prices that I have seen for a Tab S3 are usually the same in $ as in £ (599) or sometimes less in the US - are there any drawbacks to buying one in the US for permanent use in UK? Software updates maybe (although I regularly use Odin to keep my S7 Edge up-to-date, so do that to apply UK updates?)? Anything else apart from enforcing a guarantee if something went wrong?
I'd be grateful for your thoughts.
Thanks
S
I bought the Wifi model from Amazon US which arrived on the 15th of May and I am from Australia. All good, the only thing, you will have to use an adapter if you want to use the US plug or any UK Samsung Fast charging plug would do. And you won't have the local warranty, but for me no problem as I have included it with my personal valuables in my home & contents insurance. Software update? Well when I started using it the firmware got updated to Android 7, so all fine in that regards.
smartcall#w said:
The prices that I have seen for a Tab S3 are usually the same in $ as in £ (599) or sometimes less in the US - are there any drawbacks to buying one in the US for permanent use in UK? Software updates maybe (although I regularly use Odin to keep my S7 Edge up-to-date, so do that to apply UK updates?)? Anything else apart from enforcing a guarantee if something went wrong?
I'd be grateful for your thoughts.
Thanks
S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you have the wifi version, day to day should be fine. You may need to update via odin, but as you've mentioned, you are comfortable with this. I'd advise you to try and download the US manual and see what it says with respect to the warranty before you take the plunge. I've had a similar experience with a HP laptop and I had to go back to the US to get it repaired.
If its not the wifi version, don't even think about it. All of the US LTE bands are different. (I learn't this the hard way in the days of the Nexus 5.)
I wouldn't bother. The delivery cost, import and duty charges will outweigh any savings and your warranty will be non existent in the UK.
I should have clarified that my intention, subject to advice here, was to pick up one whilst on my next business trip there rather than order one from the US for delivery in UK.
Good advice thus far but am concerned about how I'd enforce the warranty if it came to it, especially as I don;t dictate when I make a business trip to the US....
S
It should be fine on the WiFi only version. I have the US version and flashed the UK firmware onto it in order to root. Haven't had any problems with it.
hacksaw999 said:
It should be fine on the WiFi only version. I have the US version and flashed the UK firmware onto it in order to root. Haven't had any problems with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you do that? I'm trying to flash uk firmware but getting error in odin (unsupported type_id ). I have even flashed BL and CSC files. Want to remove the US from the tablet.
Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
Kyrillos said:
How did you do that? I'm trying to flash uk firmware but getting error in odin (unsupported type_id ). I have even flashed BL and CSC files. Want to remove the US from the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bypass odin and use Flashfire if you have root.
Kyrillos said:
How did you do that? I'm trying to flash uk firmware but getting error in odin (unsupported type_id ). I have even flashed BL and CSC files. Want to remove the US from the tablet.
Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did it in Odin. Didn't have any trouble at all.
It seems the odin version that i had was causing it.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

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