Galaxy SII, Amaze/Ruby, or Nexus Prime

I think you understand

But thats the problem.  I don't know what to google.  I cannot find the wallpaper.  Where is it?  What is it under.   Did you create it?

Thanks

No, I didn't just saw it somewhere. Here is a bigger version http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/samsung-google-nexus-prime2.jpg

The screenshot is T-Mo HSPA+, he is doing the T-Mobile version of SGS2 review.
I really hope you are right. But there is a lot of evidence pointing in the other direction:
http://www.androidcentral.com/notion-ink-ceo-confirms-ice-cream-sandwich-oct-omap-reference-platform-says-adam-will-update-nov http://androidandme.com/2011/08/news/tis-omap4-pretty-much-confirmed-as-lead-platform-for-ice-cream-sandwich/

I hope it's all bad rumors but I think I remember news of Google choosing OMAP4 as the reference platform.
Why Google would up the resolution but still use the same GPU as for the Nexus S? Maybe they optimized the OS significantly which would be very good news but the GPU is still a weakness. As much as I don't like it, it does make sense from Google's point of view to ensure ICS can ran on lower end devices. Even though some are still waiting for Gingerbread update.

We wait and see I guess.

Anand has a nice article on the S4 lineup:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4940/qualcomm-new-snapdragon-s4-msm8960-krait-architecture.

These things are fast, Qualcomm's version of the A15 Cortex is 30%-50% faster than current A9's clock for clock so even more overhead there with the 28nmm silicon, Adreno 225 said to be 50% faster than the 220. Those combined should make for a next gen performance. These will make it into phones in H1 2012. Both Nvidia and Qualcomm have published the whitepapers, indicating they are ready for production but all waiting for the die shrink. I am sure the next Evo will have one of these.

H2 is where it gets really interesting though  During summer and fall, OMAP5, A6, Exynos 4212 and Kal-El+ (28nm) are all expected to make into phones and tablets and Qualcomm is saving it's best for H2 2012. MSM8974 is a brand new architecture, quad core @2.5 GHz with Adreno 320. Can't wait to see how they all compare to each other. It's all shaping up for a next gen storm storn in summer/fall 2012 followed by clock bumps and rehashes, it will be a while before new architecture replaces A15.

The problem we T-MO users have is to match these new SoC's with our preferred phone makers, then with our preferred OS and finally, with out preferred carrier, T-Mobile. In this process of elimination, 5 out 6 good phones we want we can't have because the above process has made out of reach for us with at least one factor.

Even when we do get lucky with that selection, it takes a very long wait to get our hands on such phone.
We both know the SGS2 is a really good phone but here in the US, they are delayed by 6 months and that's a lot of time in the mobile industry.

Yupp.. Just wait and see.. but yea, OMAP4460 is still using the outdated SGX540.. So HOPEFULLY its using atleast OMAP4470 since its using SGX544 + a dedicated 2D graphics core.

I read that S4 article from anandtech already.. very informative.. some things I don't even know what it really does, but sounds good.. And the S4 series is A9, not A15.. A15 won't be here until 2013 I believe.. But yea, I can't wait for the S4 series.. And the Exynos 4212 should be here in 1H2012 instead of 2H.

Awhile before new architecture replaces A15? We just started with A9 not too long ago, so we have atleast another year with the A9.. But yea, 2nd Half is going to be HOT! The 8974 is not brand new architecture from the 8960.. They are both A9/Krait.. but of course the 8974 is wayy better, but won't be here until another year.. Kal-El is 40nm.. After Kal-El is Wayne (A15 @ 28nm).. OMAP5 will be A15.. And Exynos 4212 will just be an updated 4210 (faster GPU, and clocked up A9 to 1.5GHz).

And yea it sucks we gotta wait for the Euro version to hit the US.. but sometimes the US gets em first.. Sometimes only for us.

Qualcomm always had custom cores and again changed the architecture a lot compared to scorpion, they aren't likely to ever adopt a ARM design without changing it. They are licensed to A15 and they make their own versions for the S4, albeit weaker than the true A15 core. From the article:

Krait has been upgraded to support the new virtualization instructions added in Cortex A15. Also like the A15, Krait enables LPAE for 40-bit memory addressing.

DMIPS/MHz Benchmark:
ARM11= 1.25   
ARM Cortex A8= 2.0
ARM Cortex A9= 2.5   
Qualcomm Scorpion = 2.1    
Qualcomm Krait= 3.3

Another one from the article:

At 3.3, Krait should be around 30% faster than a Cortex A9 running at the same frequency. At launch Krait will run 25% faster than most A9s on the market today, a gap that will only grow as Qualcomm introduces subsequent versions of the core. It's not unreasonable to expect a 30 - 50% gain in performance over existing smartphone designs. ARM hasn't published DMIPS/MHz numbers for the Cortex A15, although rumors place its performance around 3.5 DMIPS/MHz.

That's nearly the same level. And notice how the stock A9 Core beats Scorpion? Qualcomm's primary reason for making custom cores is power management and better GPU integration as stock ARM cores are power hungry. Devising their own architecture is very expensive and time consuming, Qualcomm wouldn't bother unless they had to.

Nvidia already showed updated slides, they will introduce a 28nm Kal-El plus chip when they get the 28nm silicon back form TSMC. They can't enter the smartphone market with the 40nm parts, so at launch they are limited to tablets and have to wait for the 28nm. By that time, Exynos 4212 should be on the market too. Samsung could start pumping out serious volumes of the Exynos 4212 even before this year is over.

                 

Ok, so where are Qualcomms A9's at? Or are they just skipping that completely and going straight for A15? Because currently, S3 is A8.. And the reason Stock A9 beat Scorpion is because Scorpion is an A8 (which is 0.1 faster than stock A8).. NOTE: Ppl are saying S4 is a custom A9 design that hits close to A15 DMIPS.

I found the kal-el+ article (http://www.anandtech.com/Show/Index/4840?cPage=3&all=False&sort=0&page=1&slug=kalel-has-five-cores-not-four-nvidia-reveals-the-companion-core) .. this was an updated plan (I only seen the previous plan).. and kal-el will still be single channel memory =(

They can't enter the smartphone market with 40nm? Tegra 2 is using 40nm.. and Kal-el is still 40nm.. but yea, I'm really waiting for Qualcomm and Samsung to start pushing out their next gen chips.

When we first got rumors of Pyramid coming and having a QHD screen, Anand was given a 8260 test phone from Qualcomm around the same time. I asked about it's architecture and why it was the only chip that couldn't do off screen rendering in benchmarks to compare results for non QHD resolutions. He said he couldn't talk much about it because of embargo but he did tell me that Qualcomm's designs are too custom to fit regular comparisons.

When I look at how the S3 in our Sensation, SGS2 and Amaze compare against others, I see that I shouldn't have doubted him. Without custom design, A8 based Scorpion wouldn't have numbers nearly as good as the Exynos and in most cases it isn't too far behind.
 
Looking at these preliminary scores, S4 lines up nicely between A9 and A15 however Qualcomm's GPU's lately have been weaker than the competition. I am not so sure the Gpu can compete well against Tegra 3 and Exynos 4212. Mali 400 is getting a 65% clock bump, it will be clocked the same as my desktop video card from 2006. Qualcomm will have to whip out the brand new quad core with the Adreno 320 to beat those.

I know you watch this stuff just as much I do, if not more. Can you remember articles from September last year, when we were being told Tegra 3 will be a early 2011 chip? Tegra3's design is old, in terms of SoC aging. the power draw at 40nm is too much for smartphones, that's the word from respected sites. ZTE already has a Tegra 3 tablet but they had to clock it down to 1.3 GHz to make the battery life more manageable. Nvidia seems to focused on marketing and securing exclusive game titles, they are playing the GPU card because that's their specialty. The have thrown 4$ mil at Madfinger games to gain exclusivity on Android again. Shadowgun game, Apple trailer, the Android version preview is on Anandtech as well:


[youtube]QWfLZluv7Ss[/youtube]


 I do know that in a 4 horse race (Qualcomm, TI, Nvidia and Samsung) two will be a bust from our perspective. I just want them to clash as soon as possible so we know what to buy next.

Off-screen rendering? I'm still learning GPU terminology.. But yea, Qualcomm's CPU's are always better, but right now they are lacking in the GPU field compared to the others (SGX543 & Mali400--haven't seen the next Tegra ULP GPU scores yet).. Hopefully 225 will be comparable to Mali.. if not, they need to haste 305, and 320.

I sorta remember just hearing sometime in 2011 for Tegra 3.. but that hasn't happened yet.. Tegra 3 is kal-el right? But yea, 40/45nm is maxed out right now (can't fit LTE inside of it with the current innards--phone versions--not sure on Tablet version).. Anymore will just cause more power draw for phones.



I just came back from my local Tmo store to check out the 2 new releases (SGSII & Amaze 4G).. I mainly was playing with the SGSII of course.. They had the Samsung rep there and I was playing with his SGSII (my store didn't put up the demo unit yet).. The SGSII basically ate my G2, lol.. my app icons looked soo small compared to the icons on the SGSII (because of the same res, but larger screen on the SGSII).. The phone was preddy large, but my hands will get used it.. plus it was lighter than my G2.. The body was an improvement from the previous generation of the Galaxy S series.. Felt like a higher quality plastic (harder/tougher).. Oh, and (so far) the screen didn't look overs saturated also.. The whites were fine.. but he did have his phone for awhile, so the white probably "broke in" after use.

I did a AnTuTu benchmark (w/o sd card test), and it showed the 8260/S3 was ~40% faster than my [OC'd w/ CM7 kernel] G2's 7230/S2.. The GPU (Knights test exactly) part of the test showed FPS at a constant 50-60 fps (compared to my G2's 20-30 fps).. I'm mad I forgot to do a NenaMark2 test >( .. Online scores shows 54.5 fps (which is really good), and my G2 maxes out @ 13.5 fps on NenaMark2.

G2 = 3200's [OC'd @ 1.5GHz]
SGS = 5000's [stock 1.5GHz]
G2 =  2200's [stock 806MHz]

But I have to go back and check out the phone again because the Samsung rep said his SGSII is using old firmware, and the in-store version is using a newer version.. I also noticed stuttering moving between homescreens, even after the reboot.. but he did have lots of widgets on his homescreens.. and remember its also using old firmware, so it could be improved once I check out a SGSII with newer firmware.. Opening and closing apps stuttered at times also.. The app drawer was smooth tho.

Overall nice phone, but I have to check back on the updated version.. I'm mainly waiting for the Nexus Prime announcement to hear all the details, pricing, and availability.

So I went back to look for it and I found the article dating all the way back to September last year. On 9/21/2010, Nvidia CEO said "Tegra 3 almost done, Tegra 4 on the way"
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/21/nvidia-ceo-tegra-3-almost-done-tegra-4-on-the-way-expect-a-ne/

I don't know how long I can hold out myself. I was in the Sprint store last week to check out their SGS2. This is the first phone that even tempted me.

If you think G2 is slow compared to SGS2, lol the HD2 is even slower. The demo unit had a ton of pictures on it. browsed with flash and I opened galleries on both phones to compare... we'll talk about the results some other day lol.

I keep telling myself that whatever phone I buy I'll have to keep it for 2 years to stop thinking about upgrading. It's working so far but we'll see how I hold up when I become eligible for the full discount in January...

Haha @ Nvidia.

Before the G2, I had the TP2.. wayy slower than the HD2 (especially with WMSense/Manilla 2.5).. I had that phone for a year.. and its a year now with my G2.. its time to upgrade!!! I've been eligible for a full upgrade since a year ago.. I'm waiting for the Nexus Prime announcement before I make any decision right now tho.. I'm also waiting for the online community to get there hands on the Tmo SGSII to make it better with CM7, (CM9 later), tweaked TW4 (hopefully), and other custom roms.

Old touchwiz was a pain, but honestly, TW4 isn't bad at all but if you get, you need root ASAP. I would customize CM7, T-Mobile stock version has 27 bloatware apps, only 2 can unistalled without root. That battery could be a champ on a good ROM. I set up a profile for days when I am away from the charger, HD2 sips ~6mAh idling I can only imagine what this ROM would do on a 50% larger battery (HD2 is 1250 mAh)

I told you, the SGS2 was the first phone that even tempted me. I was looking at some high res photos of the T-Mo version, very tight.

I didn't know you were out of contract for that long, that's different. Maybe wait out the Nexus but scan wirefly and simple mobile daily once you make up your mind. I saw 179.99 for a contract extension the other day, new contract price was 149.99. Deals get even better later on, I also saw a $99.99 price (new contract) for the Sprint version. Sensation was free with 2yr agreement at Best Buy today lol.

I made my self to stop using the red hang up button to preserve the digitizer lol, 1 of my buddies had to get his fixed.

Yea, TW4 is nice (wayy better than previous iterations).. I said tweaked TW4 as in make it faster/smoother if possible by the devs.. And u haven't seen he Tmo version in person yet? Looks better in person than in photos.. and the size of it in my hand is very noticeable, but I can deal with it (rather have a 4.3" tho).. And the body has a stronger plastic also which is nice.. But yea, go in the store asap to check it out.

And yea, i've been out of contract for awhile now.. I was waiting for something like the Nexus Prime to come my way.. but it depends if I can get it subsidized (like the last two).. If not, then I might just take the plunge for the SGSII and try to get it at a good price via Retention.

Don't buy just yet: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/14/samsungs-korea-bound-shv-e120l-pops-up-in-fcc-filings/

This one is clocked at 1.5GHz and Exynos 4212 has the same clock speed, so this actually be it. To clock the existing Exynos 25% higher on the same 40nm part with the same battery, and an LTE chipset and a 4.65" display, unlikely.

[youtube]-GM9hchMIDU[/youtube]

Use Google translator for this, if I link the translated page it's broken: http://smartdevice.kr/101

Anyone bite?  I'm curious to hear your thoughts... I have both, Amaze and GS2. Great phones, solid. Not liking either though, lol.

I love the minimal slate design of the GS2, still don't like those widgets though and I'm not feeling all of the plastic.

The Amaze is a brick. I was surprised the by the girth and heft of the phone. I was expecting a phone closer to the Sensation in thinness and style. It does feel premium in hand, but then it also feels "old" due to the weight and size of it.  The Amaze and GS2 are the same lenght (nearly identical), yet the Amaze is narrower due to its screen size and resolution.

How do you guys find the phones to be?

Thanks

Tried both. IMO, SGS2 is the better phone. Galaxy Nexus? Tough one. On a subsidy, I would say yes. Ponying up $600 for an off contract version? No. Well maybe for the $30 Walmart plan and GV calling because 100 minutes per month is not enough.

Galaxy Nexus will get spanked by the first "regular" ICS phone that comes out. What are the odds of that phone coming to T-Mobile though?

How long will it be before we do get an ICS phone on T-Mobile? The answer to that question determines the value of our current lineup.

After checking out the phones in the store, I ended up buying a spare battery for my HD2. With CM9, my HD2 will likely get a taste of ICS sooner than any phones in the store right now.

What's next? Something high end coming before the next version of EVO/Sensation? Hopefully LG will have out a high end phone come our way before then, as unlikely as that may be.

From now on til T-Mobile's death, I doubt we'll be getting a phone better than competition, something worth extending for. Up to T-Mobile to prove me wrong though.

^^ Yupp.. I want the G-Nexus, but with subsidy.. No subsidy? leaning more towards a no.. I'll just "patiently" wait for a great ICS phone.. CM9 (ICS) on my G2 will ease the pain (whenever CM9 for G2 gets released).

Plus, the thing that irks me about the G-Nexus is mainly 3 things: micro sd slot? hasn't been confirmed yet.. the last spot they didn't show yet was underneath the battery.. the next one is if my phone is lost, damage, stolen,, Tmo wont support it, meaning i can't use my insurance to replace it (manufactures only supports malfunction).. and last, GPU.. the SGX540 is dated (Galaxy S--2010) in the OMAP4460.. yes it clocked higher to 386MHz, but its old now.. Yes it'll do fine on the HW accelerated UI,, but what about GPU heavy games? Especially the new/upcoming ones coming out on Android.. The best SGX540 (306MHz) can do on the NenaMark2 benchmark is 35 fps.. and thats using the WVGA res.. Imagine the 720p test! I have a feeling the 386MHz one @ 720p will be around 20fps.. but hey, my G2's Adreno 205 GPU maxes out at 13.5 fps using WVGA, so it'll be an upgrade for me =)

And getting a non-Nexus phone means possibility of a manufacture skin/overlay.. unless manufactures only add widgets and apps to differentiate from others, and not messing with the Android core & UI/UX.. Also, updates will be delayed.

Yeah on all counts. We'll probably see a lot of gingerbread phones too. I'm secretly hoping OEM's take a departure from skinning and just stick to widgets, lockscreens and wallpapers to differentiate their phones. There is a galaxy nexus benchmark on mobiletechworld page. Dipping into 20's FPS most. of the time. Hardware acceleration is nice for UI but you are right. It will suffer in playing 720p in videos and games too. I just saw a few screens over on android police of an upcoming game. OMAP4 will struggle, even the more powerful 4470 would be an issue and that one is still vaporware too, let alone omap5. At this point, I would like to stop watching phones until March or so. This is torture, I wish I had no clue about phones, just walk into a store like normal people, buy and be happy.

Like you T-Mizzle my HD2 is soldiering on quite nicely thanks to NAND Android. But lately I have been getting that itch for a different phone.  The only one that has peak my interest is the G-Nexus. About the only thing I don't like about it is the possibility of it not having a MicroSD slot.  But J-Hop did bring up a great point with the insurance. Since I have the T-Mobile insurance on my phones I guess I will have to remove it for my phone if I go with the GN, then pick up some other insurance like SquareTrade.

I cut out a piece of paper to the size of the GN and it is quite a bit taller then the HD2. Width wise it is about the same so that is not an issue for me, but the length might take a little getting use too.  Until I can get my hands on one (Verizon Store?) I will sit patiently with my HD2 in hand.

G-Nexus NenaMark2 score = 24.30 fps -- http://nena.se/nenamark/view?version=2&device_id=944

NenaMark2 scores: http://nena.se/nenamark/view?version=2

So its an ok score, but it still should of been a stronger SGX.. I guess its more about the software and the added features than a newer GPU.. Well atleast the UI/UX is HW accelerated which the GPU will be good enough to keep it buttery smooth.

And there's 3rd party phone/device insurance?

And there's 3rd party phone/device insurance?

J-Hop go look at SqareTrade:

 http://www.squaretrade.com/pages/

They will cover any electronics you buy anywhere (even if you got stuff off of ebay).  I picked up a Canon S1-IS used off of ebay a while back and got warranty from them for it (3 year warranty if I remember right).  I had some issue with it after a year or so and since they couldn’t fix it they sent me a check for what I purchased the camera for.

These guys are also good:
http://www.worthavegroup.com/cell-phone-policy

Anyone buying a phone out of contract should also consider hunting down a good credit card deal in advance.
I know a few who bought Euro version of the SGS2 and knocked 200-300 off price, YMMV.