Galaxy S firmware update (Android 2.2)

From Linux users point of view only nuisance in Galaxy S is that you have to use Windows to update firmware. Kies is only official application for updating firmware (there is Odin, but that is not official or Samsung supported), and Kies is not available for Linux.

So you have to boot up Windows in some form (XP, Vista, 7) and have

• latest Windows updates and
• latest Kies

And Froyo update must be available in your country, of course.

This is not enough, however. There has been lots of problems around, and thousands of people have been unable to connect Galaxy S with Kies. I was one them. Only way how I could finally get Kies and Galaxy S to talk to each other was

• taking external sd card out
• factory resetting the phone,
• removing all files with filenames longer than 16 characters, and
• drastically reducing the amount of files on internal sd card

Factory reset may not be necessary, but removing long filenames seems to be. After this Kies connected immediately with Galaxy S, and notified of new firmware. Upgrade of firmware went smoothly.

After upgrade there are number of changes in menus.

USB settings are not any more under About Phone section in the Settings menu. They are now under Wireless and network. Also, they have been divided under two sub-menus: USB settings and Tethering. Under USB settings you have options for Kies connection, Media player and Mass storage connection. Under Tethering you have the option for USB tethering. However, this can activated only if USB cable is already connected.

Mobile AP menu under Settings opens options for wifi access point settings in Galaxy S.