Samsung Behold II
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Telecommunications |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1, 1938 in Daegu, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, consumer electronics |
The Samsung Behold II is a touchscreen smartphone compatible with 3G networks and equipped with a 5.0-megapixel camera. It operates on the Android OS, marking it as the fourth Android device offered by T-Mobile in the United States. Other Android models available from T-Mobile include the G1 (HTC Dream), myTouch 3G (HTC Magic), and the Motorola CLIQ. The device was launched on November 18, 2009. On May 27, 2010, Samsung confirmed that Android version 1.6 "Donut" would be the final official software update for this model.
Design
Serving as an upgrade to the original Samsung Behold, the Samsung Behold II maintains the traditional candybar form factor featuring a touchscreen interface. The handset boasts a 3.2 inch Active-matrix OLED display with HVGA resolution, integrated with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. This setup enables users to personalize three distinct home screens with widgets and shortcuts. Additionally, it includes a “cube menu” that grants access to six multimedia functions: music, photos, videos, Internet browsing, YouTube, and Amazon MP3.
Interface
The Behold II incorporates Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, which has been implemented across various Samsung touchscreen devices like the Samsung Eternity. This interface allows users to customize their experience by modifying home screen layouts through widget placement. The device offers three home screens: a central main screen plus additional screens accessible by swiping left or right. According to Samsung’s official description, the drag-and-drop functionality enables quick shortcut placement on these screens for faster access to frequently used apps. Available widgets include utilities such as clocks, radio players, music players, and personal content like photos and birthday reminders. Furthermore, Samsung’s tactile technology provides haptic feedback by delivering vibration sensations when interacting with the screen. Unlike some other Android implementations, Samsung’s TouchWiz UI does not restrict users from stacking application icons atop one another.
Camera
The Samsung Behold II features a 5.0-megapixel camera equipped with several functionalities, including autofocus, a built-in flash, and the capability to record videos.
Additional information
This device supports expandable storage of up to 16 GB through its microSD card slot. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1, Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi radio, and GPS functionality. It also integrates Google services alongside Exchange ActiveSync compatibility. Users benefit from access to Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Talk via these services. The Behold II utilizes the Chrome Lite Browser for internet access. Additional built-in tools encompass an internal antenna, alarm clock, calendar, calculator, stopwatch, and a to-do list application with widget support. The phonebook permits multiple phone numbers for each contact and offers customization options such as picture ID and Ring ID per entry. Other notable features include speakerphone functionality and a voice recording app.
Bluetooth profiles
Supported Bluetooth profiles on the Behold II include:
- Headset Profile (HSP)
- Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
- Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
- Object Push Profile (OPP)
- Basic Printing Profile (BPP)
Update controversy
Although promotional materials and advertisements suggested ongoing Android OS updates for the Behold II, Samsung unexpectedly declared on May 27, 2010—just six months post-launch—that Android 1.6 "Donut" would be the final upgrade provided. This decision provoked dissatisfaction among users, sparking discussions about potential class action litigation.
While the Android operating system itself is open source, proprietary components specific to this Samsung model remain closed source and inaccessible, preventing third-party developers from continuing firmware updates.
See also
References