Now that I’ve upgraded to a new phone, it’s time to reset and sell on my G2 Touch (aka HTC Hero).

However, working out how to perform a master reset (aka hard or factory reset) was harder than I thought it would be. There are all sorts of workarounds involving pressing combinations of keys but I couldn’t get any of these to work. In the end, I found a specific G2 Touch support page on the HTC site that told me…

1. From the Home screen, press the Menu key.
2. Touch Settings.
3. Touch and slide the menu upward.
4. Touch Privacy.
5. Touch Back up my data & settings.
6. Verify that the Back up my data & settings check box is selected.
7. Press the Back button.
8. Touch Factory data reset.
9. Touch Reset phone.
10. Touch Erase everything.

A master reset restores the original factory settings and may erase all downloaded content, including ringtones, images, programs, and contacts stored in the internal memory. It does not erase data stored on the SIM card or memory card. A master reset will erase all your data and require you to sign in again and go through the set-up screens.

Now, if anybody would like to buy my HTC (very good condition), let me know!

With many phones using Gorilla Glass you’d think they’d be no need for screen protector – thin layers of plastic that are stuck over the screen of your mobile phone. Sadly, they are as even the toughest of glass can be scratched by a rogue set of car keys in your pocket.

When I bought my Galaxy S2 I wanted to protect that screen – I’d used a screen protector on my HTC Hero and it had worked well. I’d bought the official HTC version, which cost about £5 for 2. I’d never needed the 2nd as the 1st went on so well – nearly 18 months later the original is still in place perfectly (but now has a scratch on it – that could have been the screen!).

An “official” Samsung version, though, will set you back £10 for just one. If you apply it wrong, it could be an expensive mistake. Others are available, some more expensive, but users seem to complain about “rainbow” effects across the screen.

Instead, I went to eBay and bought the cheapst I could – they cost me a couple of pounds for 6. And it was a good idea to get so many 2, as I managed to get a good fit on the 3rd attempt. However, at that price you can afford to go through all 6 in one go if you need to.

I’d done the same when I bought a Samsung Tocco Lite for my daughter – cheap eBay versions. In fact I too also go through a number before I get the fit 100% right. But the end result always seemed good and, well, they do their job. And it’s the same for my Samsung versions. They’re not as light to the touch as the original glass at first, but over time a build up of grease within the plastic improves this.

Certainly when it comes to value for money they’re worth it.

Now I have a Samsung Galaxy S2, I wanted to get myself a desktop dock for it.

The dock for my HTC Hero was the official HTC one – a shiny piano black horizontal slab with the phone sitting solidly in the middle. Underneath was power, USB and audio out connections. It was simply but has drawn many admiring enquiries due to its superb looks.

Samsung have their own dock for the S2 but, unfortunately, it’s rather pricey at £30 – £40. Instead I decided to go for one of the many cheaper alternatives on eBay. I say “many” not because there are different types, but simply because so many sell the same type (pictured). There is a 2nd type available, but this simply holds the phone vertically whilst a spare battery is charged behind it.

At between £10 – £12, I wasn’t expecting anything too much but, as the same time, for that money wouldn’t expect a simple stand with a USB cable attached.

However, that’s just what I got. The “metal look” surround is a bronze-ish piece of painted plastic. It comes with a captured USB cable that you can connect to your PC for charging or syncing. When connected up to a USB source a blue light is evident on the top- there’s no way of switching this off. There’s also a USB connector on the back, the same as the one on the S2 – not sure what this is for, unless it’s so you can connect other accessories at the same time.

You put the S2 down onto the male USB connector and it connects you. And that’s it. The S2 wobbles a bit when in position (a couple of rubber pads inside the mounting area would have helped here) and it’s just generally deeply, deeply underwhelming. And to top it off,even the thinnest of cases prevents it from being docked without having to remove the case first. I guess it does what it says – just. For the money I’d expect more – a good solid seat for the S2 and a power cable (not just the USB connector) at least.

I put mine straight back on eBay – it sold within hours but I made a loss. Oh well, I can just remember, wistfully, my excellent HTC dock.

Summary of Samsung Galaxy S2 Desktop Dock

It works but it’s totally without the frills. The phone wobbles in place and you don’t get a mains charger. There are better for the money

Reviewed by David Artiss on 1st August 2011.