The AOKP update for the Samsung Galaxy S2 to Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean is now available for those waiting on the update from Samsung. AOKP ROM’s also called Open Kang Project, are a popular set of ROM’s for updating devices and or installing custom ROM’s. They are fast, stable and based on the AOSP release of the Android OS.

NOTE: The instructions here are for the Samsung Galaxy S2 I9100 only. Your device must already be rooted to perform the instructions below.

NOTE 2: Samsung KIES will no longer detect your phone after updating to Android 4.2.2 using the following method.

Before you begin be sure that you have done the following to your device. Root the device as stated above, backup any apps or data that you would like to keep, and wipe your dalvik cache.

How to Update the Galaxy S2 to Android 4.2.2 using AOKP build:

1. If you haven’t already done so install ClockworkMod Recovery (we assume this has already been done but figured we would mention it)
2. Download the Android 4.2.2 AOKP ROM (Download Link)
3. Download Google Apps (Download Link)
4. Connect your Galaxy S2 to your Computer via USB
5. Copy the files from step 1 and 2 to your phones SD card in the root folder
6. Turn off your Galaxy S2 and disconnect from the computer
7. Turn the phone back on while holding volume up, menu and power buttons at the same time.
8. Wait for the device to show the recovery mode screen
9. Perform a full data wipe and dalvik cache wipe first thing
10. Scroll down to “Install zip from SD card” use arrows and power button to select the zip file.
11. Confirm the installation on the following screen
12. Once complete go back and select the Google Apps zip file in the same way
13. After this is completed go back and select restart device from the recovery menu and wait for it to reboot.
14. Be patient as the first boot may take longer than normal
15. Congrats your Galaxy S2 is now running Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

If you want to verify that everything went ok then you can navigate to your “Settings -> About Phone” and look at the Android version there. If you have any issues as always leave us a comment below. As always these instructions are for your information and you are responsible for the use of them but we will help as able.

CyanogenMod 9 is available for the Samsung Galaxy SII in the form of a CM9 nightly build. If you remember, there was recently a leaked version of the official Ice Cream Sandwich build available but if your interested in the CM9 version you can now get that as well.

CyanogenMod 9 is the fully custom Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM by CyanogenMod that is by far the most popular Android ROM development team there is. CM9 for the Samsung Galaxy S II is the complete Ice Cream Sandwich experience without TouchWiz getting in the way.

To download the CyanogenMod 9 Nightly build for the Samsung Galaxy S II follow the source link below. If you try it out let us know what you think and if you notice any issues.

Source: CyanogenMod

Samsung gave a Q1 release date for Ice Cream Sandwich on the Samsung Galaxy S II, this update has been verified for March 1. This update will allegedly be pushed OTA (over the air) and be available through Samsung Kies sync software.

This update will be rolling out in phases March 1 so depending on where you are in the world and your carrier will depend when you get the update. If you don’t get it on March 1 then check out Kies to see if that is available yet.

While there are many leaked ROMs and builds available for the Galaxy S II but the official update will be here soon. Please let us know when you get the update so we can figure out the pattern for updates so others have an idea when it is available for them.

If you have managed to mess up your Samsung Galaxy S2 already then have no fear there is a way to get it back on the stock firmware. There are many different methods available to get your high end Galaxy S2 back to working condition but this one is courtesy of Intratech over at XDA and provides kernels for for different regions.

Make sure that you don’t have Samsung Keis running in the background before completing the instructions below.

Instructions to Flash the Samsung Galaxy S2 back to Stock:

1. Download ODIN and extract it to your PC (Download Link)
2. Download the correct Firmware from XDA (Source Link)
3. Extract the Firmware on your PC somewhere you can find it
4. Download and Install Samsung Keis
5. Make sure you have the correct drivers for your device installed
6. Reboot your computer after installing Keis
7. Put the Galaxy SII in USB debugging mode (Settings -> Applications -> Development)
8. Reboot your Galaxy S2 into Download Mode (hold vol down + home + power)
9. Press volume up at the warning to continue
10. Start Odin
11. Connect the Galaxy s2 to your PC via USB
12. ODIN will show the device connected after a few seconds
13. Make sure only “Auto Reboot” and F. Reset Time” are checked
14. Press the “PDA” button and select the firmware you downloaded earlier
15. Press “Start” and wait for your Galaxy S2 to reboot
16. Congrats you are now on the stock Samsung Galaxy S2 ROM

If you have any issues please feel free to post them here. Also if you notice anything that should be mentioned here outside of the current instructions bring it to our attention and we will be sure to add it.

There is a video floating around that we have seen at GSMArena showing Ice Cream Sandwich running on the Samsung Galaxy S II. With Android 4.0 and Google announcing their newest smartphone we would have assumed that the Galaxy S II was running a ported version of Ice Cream Sandwich although nothing seems to show that the ROM came from the new Nexus to be released.

The Android 4.0 build running on the Galaxy S II looks to be the real Ice Cream Sandwich although will not be able to confirm this until we see what Google tells us in Hong Kong tomorrow.

We are sure that the Samsung Galaxy S II will get Ice Cream Sandwich officially but aren’t sure when. We can however see here that an unofficial release will be available to S II users soon. The ROM for the Galaxy S II has not been released yet but is promised to be released soon. We will let you know when it comes available for public download.

Samsung setup a small temporary store beside the Enormous Apple store in Sydney Australia this week selling the Galaxy S II for $2. They did this to put a dent in Apples launch of the iPhone 4s there and it seems to be working.

Samsung who is easily Apple’s number one competition currently has already sold over 10 million units worldwide since May of this year. These numbers are despite it only launching recently in the United States.

Samsung is giving the first 10 people in the store a $2 contract-free Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone. There have been people camping in front of the store since Monday so odds are if your reading this its too late for you to get this deal.

We are interested to see how this affects the iPhone 4s launch in Sydney and are sure there will be an impact from it. As we find out more we will be sure to let you know.

Everyone in the US including myself has been waiting for the release of the Galaxy S 2 forever it seems. Now that Hurricane Irene has decided to make a presence it seems we will have to wait an extra day.

The Samsung Galaxy S II press event was supposed to take place Monday although it seems the event will be Tuesday. This isn’t a huge deal but is kind of like waking up on Thursday thinking its Friday … What a bummer. Those that are traveling to the event will just have to rearrange schedules so that you can stay an extra day.

At any event its great that the time has finally coming to see this new Samsung powerhouse for ourselves.

XDA has done it again, they have an early leaked release of Android 2.3.4 for the Samsung Galaxy S2. The ROM they have created to update your Galaxy S2 installs without wiping your data.

Samsung Galaxy S2 ROM

Instructions to Install Android 2.3.4 on the Samsung Galaxy S2:

1. Download SuperCore 1.0 Kernel (download link)
2. Download DarkyROM2 (download link)
3. Install SuperCore Kernel with ODIN
4. Boot and upload DarkyROM2 zip file to your internal SD Card
5. Reboot into recovery (volume up + home + power)
6. Be patient recovery takes a bit to load
7. Select the DarkyROM2 using recovery and install it
8. Reboot your Device
9. Congrats your Done!

A few things to keep in mind:

• The ROM will not wipe your data although if you want to wipe data don’t use factory reset from CWM just create a folder called “wipe” in your /sdcard/Darky folder.
• If you only want the basic install with lots of the apps not installed create a folder called “no-samsung” inside the /sdcard/Darky folder.
• If you don’t want Swype then create a folder called no-swype” in the /sdcard/Darky folder.

Via XDA Developers

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