russian

Phone Search:

RSS

Samsung Galaxy Note. First Look

Today, large companies, especially corporate giants like Samsung, do not surprise users with extraordinary products...

First look. Sony ST21i Tapioca Microsoft Windows Phone 7: Reasons for Failure First Look at Samsung Galaxy S3 as a 2012 Flagship

Reviews Editorials

Mobile Phones Editorials MP3 Forum

Samsung Galaxy S II: Accessories

The amount of attention paid by Samsung to Galaxy S II is staggering. I am scared of money invested in its promotion and advertising. Future owners of the model will get a hotline to ask questions associated with different features or receive help. It is just one of many examples. I do not remember any other Samsung smartphone to be graced with so many accessories. Look at them yourself.

Cases

At the moment there are two types of cases for the phone. The first one resembles a book and it is offered in brown and black. In the box you can find cloth for cleaning and it can also be used to store bank cards and other trifles. I liked the brown version, which looks nice despite the lack of functionality as you have to get the phone out of the case to answer calls. The inside is made of velvet and cleans the screen of Galaxy S II. The second case is more down to earth. It is made of leather and has a brand logo to show off. There is no special beauty here, but it is rather practical. Luckily, we have a speaker hole as well.

External Battery

Specifically for Galaxy S II an external battery was created. I have heard about the product for some time, but there were different gossip about it. It was supposed to be a bigger battery with the special back cover or Samsung could have offered a battery in the case. The end product happened to be different. Look at pictures to make your own conclusions. In fact we get a back, which considerably increases the size of the phone. I would have preferred to have matte plastic at the back as the glossy one gets soiled far too quickly. Besides the phone and the accessory seem to have been created by different companies. A strict Galaxy S II and its shiny addition do not go well together. On the other hand the battery will not be handy on a daily basis. To connect the gadget you need to move aside the bottom part revealing the microUSB jack. In the box you will find an appropriate cable to charge from the PC. The access to all buttons is available and the speaker has an opening too. The smartphone fits well without any danger of falling out. Below is located a tiny light indicator. The accessory weighs 50 g, but its exact characteristics are still an unknown quantity. Its practical use is more important though. A fully charged accessory will boost the operation time of Samsung Galaxy S II. Moreover the case can also be used for carrying the handset.

I am not sure that all owners of Samsung Galaxy S II will rush to the shops looking for this case, but if the standard battery is not enough you can always boost it with this accessory. The price has not been determined yet, but the product will appear in retail soon.

Tabletop Dock

It is not a simple dock. Boasting an unusual look the back side has a jack for a charger and audio cable. It allows sending the audio signal to an external speaker. For example, I connected Galaxy S II to a Yamaha speaker. The front has a light indicator to find the gadget easier in the dark. Finally, the build is right and the phone is fixed properly in the dock, which is luckily different from traditional approach when only the bottom is buried in the cradle.

Audio Cradle

This cradle features an unusual resonator and the sound is boosted by the empty cavity at the bottom. The handset has to be install horizontally. Unfortunately, there is no charging or 3.5 mm jacks. The sound becomes more powerful and acquires additional volume. This nice looking gadget will make Galaxy S II fans happy. It can also be used to create a weather station. It's a pity that some jacks are missing.

Car Holder

Traditionally, the holder contains two parts. I think that commercial samples will be offered with the car charger too. The build is reliable and you will be able to fix Galaxy S II vertically or horizontally. At the back side we see a microUSB and 3.5 mm jacks to connect to the car audio system, which is a good solution for navigation.

Headset

This accessory can be used not only with Samsung Galaxy S II, but will fit any four pin jack (whatever it may mean). The headset looks original and offers metal headphones. The same can be presumed about the remote, at least if we judge by the feel. Galaxy S II allows for automatic playback of music and video. The sound quality is comfortable, the cord is long enough, while the stretch near the headphones is symmetrical. The cable stays straight and tips are made of white silicone with two more sizes in the box. The plug is standard, while the microphone works well in the street or in an open car. I advise you to get this nice Galaxy accessory. It will set you back around $35.

HDMI Converter

There is not much to say about HDMI. One side had an appropriate jack and the other one features microUSB for charger. It is a wise solution if you decide to watch a movie and not to bother about the battery.

Cardreader

I cannot show you the pictures of the cardreader at the moment. You can connect a mouse to Galaxy S II and manage the device this way. Memory cards support is available too.

Conclusions

The lineup of accessories for the second Galaxy is truly impressive and it is not the end. More cases and accessories are under way. I would buy the headset, cradle, brown case and both converters. An external battery is not that vital. I will try to add information on prices as soon as possible. Owners of Galaxy S II can have the whole range of handy devices, which is definitely good.

Sergei Kuzmin ([email protected])
Twitter Livejournal
Translated by Maxim Antonenko ([email protected])