Upgrading Android Version On Samsung Galaxy S2

[revjames]

I have the galaxy S2 which I like and didnt upgrade, instead I went for a sim only deal.

BUT - I am finding some limitation, for example the mapmyrun software I use needs android 4.2 or higher but mine is 2.3 (I think)

I have googled but not convinced I can upgrade it safely.......

Advice? Please

 

[Barx]

Take a look here Rev to get 4.3 on it. I wouldn't go 4.4 yet as it's not fully tested on the s2.

http://www.androidpit.com/android-4-3-on-galaxy-s2

Rooting can be a little daunting at first, but it ain't all that bad so long as you follow the steps to the key...

 

[steptoe]

upgrading to newer Android versions is usually network dependent,

if you are on O2 then it is primarily up to O2 as to whether you can upgrade on the network, [and if you phone can actually handle the new firmware]

the other solution is as Barx suggests,

rooting,

although my current phone is rooted, I wont ever ever do it again, it causes a lot of stuff to refuse to run, ie, banking apps will NOT run on a rooted phone without a lot of faffing around,,,,

my phone is still routed simply because I cant be AR**D booting into windoze to unroot,

I deffo wont root my next phone, not worth the hassle IMHO

 

[NozSpark]

I had a rooted HTC Desire that bricked within the 2 year warranty.... it was so bricked that they couldn't tell it was rooted (thankfully)

IMHO it was really worth rooting that phone as the app memory was a bit poor, rooting it opened up part of the sd card for apps. ..

 

[revjames]

rooted?

still a bit confused

 

[NozSpark]

Its like jail breaking an iPhone,,, but on Android

 

[Barx]

rooted?

still a bit confused

android is basically linux, which, like windows can have user accounts and administration accounts. Normal use for phone is a user account. Rooting means gaining access to the root account. Which in Linux terms is the main administrator. Having access to this allows you to things you wouldn't normally be allowed. Things such as flashing a custom rom (a rom being an instance of the operating system)

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Can you unlock an android from a network yourself ? (i know nowt about computery things)

 

[Barx]

If you root, then generally yes. You gain s - off and unlock.

 

[revjames]

My son is visiting, he worked out that I hadnt upgraded the firmware - something called sumsunk kies that I never used. Done that and now its running 4.1 with no probs. He reckons he can get the 4.4 running on it too.