Is it just me or is the sgs2 over-rated?

[mrvirginia]

You can do it using iTunes

Load all of the files you want to convert into iTunes, select them all, and then right click and go to "Create AAC version" - this will create a copy of the files in the AAC format.

thanks. i'm aware of the AAC conversion using iTunes. i just choose to do MP3's and use other software for converting purposes. i use iTunes strictly for organization and syncing to my iPod.

the software i use is called Total Audio Converter. if you do a search on google, you can find a few links for a free download. i torrented a paid version so i can't comment on what features are missing from the free version.

this program can covert
from the following:
(*.wma,*.mp3,*.wav,*.ogg,*.cda,*.mpc,*.flac,*.mpp,*.mp+,*.ape,
*.aac,*.mp4,*.m4a,*.ofr,*.spx,*.tta,*.wv,*.ac3,*.au,*.snd,*.aif,
*.aiff,*.aifc,*.iff,*.svx,*.aud,*.vox,*.xm,*.it,*.s3m,*.mod,*.mtm,
*.umx,*.mo3,*.mid,*.amr,*.voc,*.pvf,*.sds,*.sd2,*.xi,*.w64,*.mat,
*.mat4,*.mat5,*.sf,*.ircam,*.nist,*.fap,*.paf,*.caf,*.ra,*.rmm,*.ram,
*.rax,*.rpm,*.rm,*.rmvb,*.aa,*.rmj)

to the following:
wav, mp3, wma, ogg, mpc, aac, mp4, flac, ape

you can not only do mass files, but also mass folders

 

[eclap]

"MP3, OGG, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB
AMR-WB, WMA, WAV, MID, AC3, IMY, FLAC, XMF"

AAC is quite clearly listed as one of the supported audio formats, so somebody would buy it thinking that it does suit them

Not trying to say that the SGS2 isn't an amazing phone because it clearly is, just pointing out a shortcoming. No device is perfect mate!

well, it's the actual tags that are not supported, am I right? but then again, everyone who knows about different music formats and even tags will hopefully do research into the music player's capabilities.

Plus, it's a software issue as far as I can tell. There might be an update in the future. or a different player.

 

[stbutt]

I have been using my S2 for a month now. I think there is no such thing as a perfect handset. But still i would like to raise concern about one major flaw. The intermittent reception. It has not been fixed after 3 firmware updates. I just hope it is not a hardware problem like on all the iphones. Back to the question. Is the Samsung Galaxy S2 overrated? I have used the best of the best handsets in the last 10 years. This is without a doubt the best smartphone in the market right now. If the reception issue is not fixable then it will have major effect on the future sales of the phone. But even so, it will be a huge success. Finally i would like to finish by voicing my suggestion to all phone manufacturers. Please do a more thorough check of your products. A fault like intermittent reception is not acceptable. The phone functionality of the handset should be first priority. Take Apple phones for example. From the first iphone to the present iphone 4, they all have faulty radio hardware/software. Random calls go to voicemail despite full reception. This fault has not been rectified even after 3 products. The S2 has a similar problem now. It is really disgracefull that we should have to folk out so much money to find such a major fault in the product. Almost a perfect smartphone spoiled by silly fault.

 

[mrvirginia]

You can do it using iTunes

Load all of the files you want to convert into iTunes, select them all, and then right click and go to "Create AAC version" - this will create a copy of the files in the AAC format.

I have been using my S2 for a month now. I think there is no such thing as a perfect handset. But still i would like to raise concern about one major flaw. The intermittent reception. It has not been fixed after 3 firmware updates. I just hope it is not a hardware problem like on all the iphones. Back to the question. Is the Samsung Galaxy S2 overrated? I have used the best of the best handsets in the last 10 years. This is without a doubt the best smartphone in the market right now. If the reception issue is not fixable then it will have major effect on the future sales of the phone. But even so, it will be a huge success. Finally i would like to finish by voicing my suggestion to all phone manufacturers. Please do a more thorough check of your products. A fault like intermittent reception is not acceptable. The phone functionality of the handset should be first priority. Take Apple phones for example. From the first iphone to the present iphone 4, they all have faulty radio hardware/software. Random calls go to voicemail despite full reception. This fault has not been rectified even after 3 products. The S2 has a similar problem now. It is really disgracefull that we should have to folk out so much money to find such a major fault in the product. Almost a perfect smartphone spoiled by silly fault.

i don't believe i'm aware of the reception issue you are referring to having, or that others possibly have too.

a few hours ago i paired a new bluetooth headset to my phone. this is the first time i've ever used one of these headsets on a phone. i'd always heard how horrible the audio was while using one, of course depending on brand, model etc. i had no issues with reception even while using that inside my house where i get about 2 bars of signal, sometimes 3 (between -103 to -97 if i'm lucky).

it really sucks that such a good product is being hurt with issues that some are having. data is good as well on AT$T with it usually displaying H+/H. sometimes 3G.

what are the carriers for those having issues? same or in another country other than USA?

 

[lilo]

M4A = MP4 = the successor to MP3 and better in every way. Smaller files with better sound quality!

MP4 is VERY widely supported these days. MP3 is old, outdated technology.

The fact that a cutting edge phone doesn't support MP4 is nothing short of ridiculous, but luckily alternative apps exist

I do not think you are correct. At least it's not that simple. Here is what Wikipedia says:


.MP4 versus .M4A filename extensions

M4A stands for MPEG 4 Audio, it is a filename extension used to represent audio files.
The existence of two different filename extensions for naming audio-only MP4 files has been a source of confusion among users and multimedia playback software. Some file managers, such as Windows Explorer, look up the media type and associated applications of a file based on its filename extension. But since MPEG-4 Part 14 is a container format, MPEG-4 files may contain any number of audio, video, and even subtitle streams, making it impossible to determine the type of streams in an MPEG-4 file based on its filename extension alone. In response, Apple Inc. started using and popularizing the .m4a filename extension, which is used for MP4 containers with audio data in the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or its own Apple Lossless (ALE, ALAC) formats. Software capable of audio/video playback should recognize files with either .m4a or .mp4 filename extensions, as would be expected, as there are no file format differences between the two. Most software capable of creating MPEG-4 audio will allow the user to choose the filename extension of the created MPEG-4 files.

 

[Blue1k]

M4A = MP4 = the successor to MP3 and better in every way. Smaller files with better sound quality!

MP4 is VERY widely supported these days. MP3 is old, outdated technology.

The fact that a cutting edge phone doesn't support MP4 is nothing short of ridiculous, but luckily alternative apps exist

M4A is not MP4. MP4 stands for Mpeg part 14 which is a container that is made up of audio, video, and picture/subtitle data."MP4" files can house different audio and video streams (h.264, .3gp etc...).

M4A is actually MPEG Part 4, which is a container for an audio codec in this case AAC. Apple also used their proprietary Apple loss-less audio codec in m4a files as well.

So really you mean AAC is a better format that MP3. And ya you are definitely right about that

 

[cb2000a]

It always amuses me that people get so tied into itunes that it drives their whole music life. Folks...learn to drag and drop...could not be easier (and I get my mp3's from Amazon and Rhino). Discover the world without Apple (like Cowens amazing line of mp3 players with sound quality that puts ipods to shame). I guarantee that Apple pretty much just wants to trap people into using their systems and their hardware and will do just about anything to keep you there.

 

[eclap]

It always amuses me that people get so tied into itunes that it drives their whole music life. Folks...learn to drag and drop...could not be easier (and I get my mp3's from Amazon and Rhino). Discover the world without Apple (like Cowens amazing line of mp3 players with sound quality that puts ipods to shame). I guarantee that Apple pretty much just wants to trap people into using their systems and their hardware and will do just about anything to keep you there.

This! Drag and drop all the way! It's just so much better than having to sync! Total control over what you are doing. One of the reasons I never had an iphone is itunes.anything with an I in it just smells. I hate being told how to organise my data... Drag and drop or itunes sync? Drag and drop any day!

 

[TobesEtc]

Having not bothered to read all this thread (sorry!) and coming from an HTC Desire I'd say:

The SGS2 scores highly - very highly - on screen, size (thick/thinness) & weight.
Like all android phones it struggles with iTunes - but then we know why that is. (I had a iPod Touch for car kit but now...
I now love the car integration (official Samsung Vehicle Dock)...audio through Micro-USB is fantastic. So may un-install iTunes and re-rip everything.
Kias is a pile of brown steaming stuff - HTC ota updates are WAAAAAY better.

So I'm happy.

 

[eclap]

So true!

 

[Craig_W]

Hello, new SGS2 user and poster, having come from a Nokia 6120c this is a major step up for me, liking it thus far.

My main PC and laptop both run Ubuntu so not having alot of integration is something i have lived with for sometime, i can load movies and music, i can live with that

 

[elektrobix]

I don't think it's perfect but it's definitely the best handset i've ever owned and i'm generally really happy with it. My only niggle is when i leave the house and then come back later the phone doesn't reconnect to wifi. I have to stop wifi (on the phone) and restart it to get it to find it.

 

[mrvirginia]

It always amuses me that people get so tied into itunes that it drives their whole music life. Folks...learn to drag and drop...could not be easier (and I get my mp3's from Amazon and Rhino). Discover the world without Apple (like Cowens amazing line of mp3 players with sound quality that puts ipods to shame). I guarantee that Apple pretty much just wants to trap people into using their systems and their hardware and will do just about anything to keep you there.

This! Drag and drop all the way! It's just so much better than having to sync! Total control over what you are doing. One of the reasons I never had an iphone is itunes.anything with an I in it just smells. I hate being told how to organise my data... Drag and drop or itunes sync? Drag and drop any day!

drag and drop is great and all, but as far as i'm aware, after market deck units have only started supporting iPods. one of the features of mine is being able to plug into my after market deck unit via the pin connector to usb instead of an input cable via headphone jack. doing it this way also allows the player to play/stop on it's own when my car is turned on/off respectively without me having to push a button on the player itself. just some added convenience over those "drag and drop" players that some of you seem to love

 

[AndroidSPCS]

It always amuses me that people get so tied into itunes that it drives their whole music life. Folks...learn to drag and drop...could not be easier (and I get my mp3's from Amazon and Rhino). Discover the world without Apple (like Cowens amazing line of mp3 players with sound quality that puts ipods to shame). I guarantee that Apple pretty much just wants to trap people into using their systems and their hardware and will do just about anything to keep you there.

God can I tell you how much I hate iTunes!!!!

I have iPod Class, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad 2. I DESPISE itunes with all my heart. It freezes up my PC, many issues in terms of not finding apps because Apple app store is blank on my PC iTunes, takes FOREVER to sync to my devices.

Android drag and drop is VASTLY better.

I may like Apple products better if there was no iTunes (or I call it iPain in the butt)!!!!!!

iTunes - the most horrible software ever created.

 

[daivik]

God can I tell you how much I hate iTunes!!!!

I have iPod Class, iPod Nano, iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad 2. I DESPISE itunes with all my heart. It freezes up my PC, many issues in terms of not finding apps because Apple app store is blank on my PC iTunes, takes FOREVER to sync to my devices.

Android drag and drop is VASTLY better.

I may like Apple products better if there was no iTunes (or I call it iPain in the butt)!!!!!!

iTunes - the most horrible software ever created.

Agree with the iTunes part, but this is a bit of a wild accusation here, but does anyone know if it is true?

With all that Mac Software is made out to be, I highly doubt that iTunes is that laggy and that slow on a MAC. So I think that Apple don't "make it laggy" but they don't put any effort into "optimising" it for the PC?

 

[ayoo456]

iPhone does not work out the box. You have to download iTunes. And know how to use that.

 

[mrvirginia]

Agree with the iTunes part, but this is a bit of a wild accusation here, but does anyone know if it is true?

With all that Mac Software is made out to be, I highly doubt that iTunes is that laggy and that slow on a MAC. So I think that Apple don't "make it laggy" but they don't put any effort into "optimising" it for the PC?

on a quad-core PC... lag... pfffffffffft
didn't experience any lag on a dual-core laptop when i had one, either. only slow start up/slight lag on my old Pentium III single-core.

if anyone is experiencing lag, they're either full of it, have an ancient PC, or something else is effecting their system (ie virus or other software).

 

[ArmageddonX]

To the OP:
I agree it's over-rated in the sense that there is no perfect phone. Glorifying the iPhone, the S2, or any other device as "the only device to have" or "the best device" is just an unfair statement. People should pick what's best for them and stop buying phones as status symbols. That's just my opinion obviously...

 

[daivik]

on a quad-core PC... lag... pfffffffffft
didn't experience any lag on a dual-core laptop when i had one, either. only slow start up/slight lag on my old Pentium III single-core.

if anyone is experiencing lag, they're either full of it, have an ancient PC, or something else is effecting their system (ie virus or other software).

not laggy, but it just feels a little slow (compared to Zune player which I've started using recently) I suppose it's something to do with the 40GB of music and 13GB of movies?

 

[lotus49]

iPhone does not work out the box. You have to download iTunes. And know how to use that.

No you don't. It was installed on my beautiful MacBook Pro when I bought it.

When I bought my iPhone I plugged it in, iTunes recognised it immediately and I just dragged and dropped (yes, iTunes DOES do drag and drop) my music onto my phone.

When I got my SGS2, it took two weeks of pissing about, two bought pieces of software, at least 15 posts here and then having to convert 70GB of music to MP3 format from a better format to get my phone to recognise it.

The SGS2 is a better phone than my iPhone but the integration was infinitely better on my iPhone and I didn't have to bugger up my music to play it on my phone (which, amazingly, could read all the tags correctly, wow, isn't that clever?).

iTunes has always done exactly what I wanted it to. I have never had to look up anything on forums like this to get it to work. If only Samsung had something as rubbish as iTunes.

 

[mrvirginia]

not laggy, but it just feels a little slow (compared to Zune player which I've started using recently) I suppose it's something to do with the 40GB of music and 13GB of movies?

doubtful. it really sounds like your system setup/environment.
i have 100's and 100's of gigs worth of music and almost a terabyte of HD vids haha

my system has two 1TB drives and another that's 2TB... almost time for another 2TB
(video games take up a lot of space too)

i also run off of 6GB of DDR3 1600 Dominator RAM... could be your RAM too.

anyway, sorry to get off topic of the thread.

edit: at below, true. i was just saying that the left over space that's filled up is because of video games

 

[ArmageddonX]

A video game can take up to (maybe) 20GB MAX. Video, especially HD video, can dwarf things like games and applications on your PC from a storage point of view.

 

[AndroidSPCS]

on a quad-core PC... lag... pfffffffffft
didn't experience any lag on a dual-core laptop when i had one, either. only slow start up/slight lag on my old Pentium III single-core.

if anyone is experiencing lag, they're either full of it, have an ancient PC, or something else is effecting their system (ie virus or other software).

Please remember, your experience is a single data point. Others can experience issues and not be full of it or have an ancient PC.

My laptop is a year old, 4GB Ram, Intel Core 2 Duo, but CPU usage shoots up to 100% the moment I open iTunes, my laptop fans start kicking up into high gear, and remains high the entire time iTunes is open. My CPU temperatures shoot up from 36/37 C to 55 - 60 C during this time.

I am a veteran in working with PCs, build my own PCS, use Linux / Windows. I keep my PCs clean, free of viruses / malware. iTunes is basically the only malware on my computer.

 

[Shocky]

1. iTunes? Seriously?
2. Change Network, no problems here
3. Not reseting here, works perfectly, maybe try another music player if your not happy with the stock one.
4. All I need Kies it for is firmware updates which it does fine, I don't care about anything else it does or doesnt do.
5. Social Hub working fine here, try another app, there are loads of them.

 

[mrvirginia]

Please remember, your experience is a single data point. Others can experience issues and not be full of it or have an ancient PC.

My laptop is a year old, 4GB Ram, Intel Core 2 Duo, but CPU usage shoots up to 100% the moment I open iTunes, my laptop fans start kicking up into high gear, and remains high the entire time iTunes is open. My CPU temperatures shoot up from 36/37 C to 55 - 60 C during this time.

I am a veteran in working with PCs, build my own PCS, use Linux / Windows. I keep my PCs clean, free of viruses / malware. iTunes is basically the only malware on my computer.

actually no. i should mention i work off of a similarly spec'd machine at work where it works just fine. and previously i said i also used iTunes on a dual-core laptop. so that's 3 totally different system environments where iTunes works smooth as butter. the laptop i had also had 4GB of RAM, but i think it was DDR2. can't remember what exact CPU it was but it was 2. something Ghz.

you're right, though. users may not be full of it, have an ancient PC, or have a virus... but if neither of those are definitely not the case, it is most certainly their system setup/environment. if you're a vet with working with PCs, like myself, then you should know this to be true. you could have the exact same parts as someone else in your PC but have it set up completely different. heck, could be other software interfering or some incompatibility that you aren't aware of as well.

regardless, you can't just blame one piece of software when it's clear that it works on very similar machines just fine. there is obviously another issue somewhere else.