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Upgrading The Galaxy

By Andy Sim - on 24 Dec 2010, 8:54am

 Downloading the binary files might take a bit. Be patient, and you'll have your Froyo to play with soon enough.

Lest the title should mislead you, I was referring to the Samsung Galaxy S, and not the Milky Way. Having tasted the Eclair, I made a cautious leap to Froyo to see if it would resolve the occasional bug experienced with the integrated Android 2.1. Making the upgrade is easy, and here's a relatively painless way on how to enjoy the zippier Android 2.2 JPA build.

In truth, there are more than a single path to the Froyo update for local wielders of the Galaxy S. If you are savvy with the Android platform, you may use Odin, an application designed to flash your phone's ROM, to the desired firmware. It can be a little tricky since it requires downloading and executing numerous files. I won't recommend this method if you are uncomfortable with its tedious steps. Like me, however, you can stick with the safer and simpler route by using Samsung Kies, a desktop program which syncs and manages your Galaxy S' content besides doing much more. As for Android 2.2, Samsung have since pulled the buggy JP6 build and replaced it with the JPA version.

Having said that, here's what you need to do for the Android upgrade:

1. Download the latest version of Kies. This step is critical, and you may obtain it here.  
2. Fully charge your Galaxy S. The application did not allow me to proceed because my phone was only 45% juiced. 
3. Once you have fulfilled these steps, you may install Kies and run it.
4. Connect the Galaxy. Ensure Kies properly detects your phone.
5. Click on the little 'phone+arrow' icon at the bottom right to kickstart the firmware upgrade.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.
7. Assuming you are using a decent broadband connection, the entire process should take about 30 minutes or so.  

Once the upgrade is complete, the phone will reboot. It is safe to unplug the device at this point.

One of the quirks I faced after the upgrade was a case of missing app icons, although, thankfully, the previously installed applications were all intact. You might have to spend a minute or two to reinsert the icons on the phone's UI. The other quibble I had was the device took a pretty long time (approx 3 minutes) for the initial warm boot. The update went without a hitch otherwise. You may now sit back and enjoy your Android desserts. Merry Christmas everyone!

Andy Sim

Andy Sim / Former Senior Tech Writer

Andy is a self-made geek with a penchant for good music and a hearty pint. His domain includes swanky TVs, notebooks and networking gizmos.

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