Official Release Date Rumor Thread

[Artisan]

For sure....the carriers have a huge stake in all this chaos.

But why? I don't get the motivation. Considering there were virtually no changes to the hardware between the AT&T version & the international version.....why wouldn't AT&T want to have an "iPhone 5" caliber Android phone on their shelves 2-3 months in advance of the iPhone 5 release?

You have all these disappointed Android users of the Attrix (the only other dual core processor phone out), and all these disappointed iPhone users (that are on the fence) that are PO'd about the non-launch in July. It would have been a perfect opportunity to get a phone of that caliber to market early....with a reasonable time frame to get in the beefed up Q4 phones in time for the holidays.

I just find it hard to believe that AT&T pushed this deal off because they weren't convinced it would compete with the iPhone. (Verizons reasoning) Especially when they were in the position to port this thing straight over...considering the spec they settled on.

I'm not sure AT&T is to "blame" for this, at least not entirely. Yes, it would have been stupid of them, to release it so soon after the Infuse, but that delay doesn't explain why *all* three carriers getting the S2 are getting them at around the same time. Surely ma bell couldn't have convinced them to delay it.

I think this is all Samsung, and maybe Apple's suit about the physical button forcing them to redesign the hardware.

If it's not out by September 18th, this is a non-starter for me and I'll either have to stick with the Infuse or go with the Thrill and get a nice little refund.

 

[N6EAJ]

I was a block away from the At&t store today so I stopped by to check the Thrill out. They had just put it on display and the demo software was still loading. I waited a few minutes for it to finish up. The 3D demo stuff was quite impressive considering you don't need glasses although the pixels did seem to be obvious on the 3D stuff.

......... Has anyone tried the GPS on the Thrill yet? That's a huge part of why I'm switching to an Android (vs. another BB) so it better work at least ok on the SGSII........

I ran the navigation app. It told me GPS was off, took me to the screen where I could turn it on, and then gave me an "I agree" screen. It locked into the location very quickly (and this was indoors). As far as I can tell, the GPS had not been run recently.

It looks like the Thrill has a uUSB/HMDI out. Does it do USB on-the-go? This is a nice feature that the GSII has. I am not sure how often I would use it, but it would be nice to grab files off a friends USB thumb drive.

I also ran the Quadrant Benchmark test after downloading it through the app store. I realize it is on the older side, but it is the only one I know off the top of my head. Results attached (2431).

Matt

 

[charlie310]

The only reason why I have AT&T is because AT&T and T-Mobile were the only carriers that worked in my Condo (AT&T won because I was getting 20% discount vs T-Mobile's 10%). After a year and a half, it looks like Verizon has excellent service in my Condo now. Going to finally have reliable service, not to mention LTE. The corporate discount is less than the discount I'm getting w/AT&T (17% vs. 20%), but it is totally worth the extra $6/month. Samsung Droid Prime is rumored to be released next month, which is when I'll make the switch.

Too bad, AT&T won't be able to merge w/T-Mobile. Looks like you guys will still get decent phones, but on the worst network with outdated technology (HSPA+).

Sorry, I'm being so snide. I'm just really glad I won't have to use AT&T much longer.

 

[boggdy]

The only reason why I have AT&T is because AT&T and T-Mobile were the only carriers that worked in my Condo (AT&T won because I was getting 20% discount vs T-Mobile's 10%). After a year and a half, it looks like Verizon has excellent service in my Condo now. Going to finally have reliable service, not to mention LTE. The corporate discount is less than the discount I'm getting w/AT&T (17% vs. 20%), but it is totally worth the extra $6/month. Samsung Droid Prime is rumored to be released next month, which is when I'll make the switch.

Too bad, AT&T won't be able to merge w/T-Mobile. Looks like you guys will still get decent phones, but on the worst network with outdated technology (HSPA+).

Sorry, I'm being so snide. I'm just really glad I won't have to use AT&T much longer.

Indeed, your post is helping us a lot understand the release date. You wanna hear about our problems? Maybe some ladies have some period issues that they can share with us?

 

[charlie310]

Indeed, your post is helping us a lot understand the release date. You wanna hear about our problems? Maybe some ladies have some period issues that they can share with us?

Indeed, your post is also helping others "a lot understand" the release date. Haha.

Come on! "Ladies have some period issues"? I guess that's how people talk in Lawrenceville, GA.

BTW, the release date is rumored by various sources to be the 18th or 19th. I thought everyone here already knew, but I guess some people were left in the dark.

 

[MisterEd]

Um... really? I thought horses were smart? (no offense Mr. Ed)

Mister Ed, you are making terroristic remarks towards your fellow comrades, and frankly, i don't like it. What part of returning a phone, getting the discounted price of $40 knocked off of a $600 dollar phone sounds appealing? If you buy a tire on sale, a few days go by and you want to return it for another one that was on sale, but that sale is no longer going on, they don't just say, oh, here you go, we will give it to you anyways

WTF are you talking about? Terroristic threats! LMAO.

I'm not talking about anything ON SALE I'm talking about the always discounted price you get when you are allowed an upgrade. That price is ALWAYS there for new subs or those out of contract.

Any yes, for 90 days you do get the "discounted" price if you make a change. At least in NJ at Costco.

 

[MisterEd]

Sorry if I was unclear, she specifically stated exchange for SAME EXACT item OR return for purchased price and nullifying upgrade eligibility. She might be wrong, but she seemed pretty familiar with the policy.

I walked up to the booth at Costco today and was reading the TMO price plan booklet with no intent on buying. As I was reading the brochure the first thing the guy said to me was "if you buy here you can return it within 90 days if something newer you like better comes out."

He said that to each person who even glanced at anything there. Obviously he was told to say that by his boss who was there taking care of customers.

Oh, and just to clarify, it is only ONE exchange within the 90 days and it doesn't "go on ad nauseum." It's 90 days from the purchase, you get 1 swap. Just like AT&T except 90 days vs. 30.

 

[jinwons]

I walked up to the booth at Costco today and was reading the TMO price plan booklet with no intent on buying. As I was reading the brochure the first thing the guy said to me was "if you buy here you can return it within 90 days if something newer you like better comes out."

Costco phone return policy is one return or exchange with any phone in 90 days from purchase. You can exchange with different phone. And you can return phone at no cost within first two weeks. I actually exchanged my phone there in 80 days for only price difference.

 

[sircolby45]

Oh my...Looks like some people have jumped on their menstrual cycle and starting running people over in here lol.

Anyway back on topic. I actually suspect that the reason the GS2 is being delayed is because of lack of competition. This is pure speculation on my part, but that is my theory. I mean why release a new phone when you can sell the old models like hotcakes for the same price? What is there to compete with the Infuse? Atrix? Ha! That goes the same for the other carriers as well. They don't have anything to compete either which is why everybody is chomping at the bit to get this phone. The other phone manufacturers will haft to step up their game before this is going to change for us over here. But look at like this. iPhone 5, HTC Holiday, etc. etc. is right around the bend and magically the GS2 has arrived? Coincidence? I think not. I could be wrong, but that is what I suspect.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Hey Mr. Ed, how much was that GS2 @ entertainmart? I just found one at the Plano location for $350 and bought it. nobody there even knew what it was.

Good deal! that is the same one I bet. I was looking at that very entertainmart!

When I looked it was $550 and they had no idea what it was.


Enjoy it!

If you have any issues with it and need help let me know. When I powered it on it was a bit of a mess with a ton of forecloses....

 

[Mr. Ed]

Sooo.........not straying to far off of cellphone topics lol, how would the benchmarks be better on the Thrill Mr. Ed? Were you expecting this? Also, If I'm not that much into 3d stuff would the Thrill still be for me? Just curious.

AJ

this TI processor combined with the dual ram Is what I think makes the difference.

as for the 3d...I bought for the dual core and the fact that I was bored. Not to mention it can be had for $39-49 ... on contract

I have been "thrilled" with the 3d...which I typically despise. I was so impressed with the LG Thrill 3d tech that I actually went TV shopping this weekend...and came home with a new LG 3d TV.

Could I have waited for the glasses free TV's that the LG and TI guys are spreading rumors about...sure...but this was a deal too good to pass up.

 

[remrem]

This Costco approach sounds enticing. I absolutely must buy a new phone by Sept 12, because I'm going away on a trip for 2 weeks. If the GS II isn't available by then, I'm thinking of buying the Infuse (upgrade with AT&T) and when I return to then exchange it for the GS II, which will likely have been released by then. The 90 day Costco window sounds like it will provide me some "time insurance", just in case AT&T decides to again delay the release of the GS II. Not to mention, it could provide extra time for me to wait and see if something even better comes out within my 90 day window.

My question is (sorry to have taken so long to get to it )- Does Costco usually get the new phones at the same time that AT&T company stores and Best Buy stores do? I'd hate to have that great 90 day window, only to find out that because of it, Costco delays offering the new phones in their stores.

I thank you in advance and look forward to your replies.

 

[MisterEd]

I don't believe Costco gets every phone that is released but it does seem they get most of the high end "popular" (other than iPhone iPad) devices so there is a possibility,however slim. they might not get what you want.

They usually get them at the same time within a day or two from what I have seen.

 

[atx84]

Just found this


"Dinesh Kamarajan 5 days ago
well i want to share something i found: in their rules and regulations for the "g is for genius" sweepstakes on facebook, they listed the prizes; "Grand Prizes (3 total, 1 per Entry Period): Winner’s choice of one (1) of the following three (3) Samsung Galaxy SII Mobile Phones: Samsung Seine GSII (Model SGH-i777) (AT&T provider) (Estimated Retail Value (“ERV&#8221 $529.00); Samsung Hercules GSII (Model SGH-T989ZKBTMB) (T-Mobile provider) (ERV $529.00); or Samsung Gaudi GSII – Epic™ 4G Touch (Model SPH-D710) (Sprint provider) (ERV $529.00). Total ERV of all prizes combined is $2,645.00.
As you may have noticed the att gs2 is called the gSeine, which i have never heard of.
Any thoughts?"


Never heard of this sweepstakes, ( If any of you do the phonedog games iene-paw bandit, i would highly recommend playing for free phones) I'm gonna look in on this so we can put some credit to this. Maybe we at least have a name now

The guy on this website had this name back in Febuary.
More Samsung Galaxy S2 “Seine” specs show up Unwired View

what kind of games are they playing? lol we should keep all names in consideration when searching for clues so I figured id bring this up


Edit: found the page, like it, and guess the question. Terms and conditions says answer does not have to be right to win
http://www.facebook.com/SamsungGalaxyS?sk=app_121931951236100

 

[randomtask16]

Good deal! that is the same one I bet. I was looking at that very entertainmart!

When I looked it was $550 and they had no idea what it was.


Enjoy it!

If you have any issues with it and need help let me know. When I powered it on it was a bit of a mess with a ton of forecloses....

It's been running great so far, rooted and customized no problem. They sold it with some random Motorola charger though, was giving it all sorts of trouble when plugged in.

 

[Puddin422]

Dedicated camera button?

Notification light? I heard Sprint was the only one that was getting one.

 

[TRD_Power]

I wish I just got the Infuse 47 months back... In too deep now! Swear to god, if this thing doesn't come out by the end of the month, I just may have some lady period issues of my own.

 

[Mr. Ed]

Just found this


"Dinesh Kamarajan 5 days ago
well i want to share something i found: in their rules and regulations for the "g is for genius" sweepstakes on facebook, they listed the prizes; "Grand Prizes (3 total, 1 per Entry Period): Winner

 

[Puddin422]

That's the dumbest name I've heard yet.

 

[maerlim]

The Costco guy I talked to on Friday said that you can return a phone within 90 days but if you're outside of 30 days, you cannot exchange it for a new phone and you are still locked in a contract with AT&T. I asked him very specifically.

 

[AndroidDazed]

"Samsung will launch three different Galaxy S IIs on September 16. Sprint, ATT and T-Mobile which each get different models tailored to their networks."
Tech Beat: Samsung prepares to release Galaxy S II - YNN, Your News Now

 

[KMPrenger]

"Samsung will launch three different Galaxy S IIs on September 16. Sprint, ATT and T-Mobile which each get different models tailored to their networks."
Tech Beat: Samsung prepares to release Galaxy S II - YNN, Your News Now

Not sure I believe that since it has already been stated that T-Mobile will get theirs this fall. That said, I hope they are correct.

Really, at this point its anybody's guess, but my money is still on the 18th.

 

[jinwons]

The Costco guy I talked to on Friday said that you can return a phone within 90 days but if you're outside of 30 days, you cannot exchange it for a new phone and you are still locked in a contract with AT&T. I asked him very specifically.

I'm not sure if they changed policy recently. But I did exchange mine with different one in 80 days early this year. And I know several others who did the same at costco. I have yet to see anyone who got denied for that.

But as of late, I see several folks here saying that like you. So I will revisit my local costcos and see if it changed.

 

[MisterEd]

"Samsung will launch three different Galaxy S IIs on September 16. Sprint, ATT and T-Mobile which each get different models tailored to their networks."
Tech Beat: Samsung prepares to release Galaxy S II - YNN, Your News Now

Everyone is misquoting what they THOUGHT the original announcement stated. No way all 3 will be released the same day.

That being said, I hope I am very wrong because I want to see the T-Mo version.

 

[MisterEd]

The Costco guy I talked to on Friday said that you can return a phone within 90 days but if you're outside of 30 days, you cannot exchange it for a new phone and you are still locked in a contract with AT&T. I asked him very specifically.

LOL ... and the guy I talked to last week said you could. In fact he was standing at the booth telling anyone who stopped by to just look at the displays that "the reason it's better to buy here was you are able to return it within 90day if something you like better comes out." His manager was right next to him. If I get something there I am going to record the conversation.