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Phones Galaxy Note 7
- Thread starter jamezr
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Quick update. Still Loving the phone.
The wireless charger has a loud fan and a bright blue light at night so I can't use that I might use it in other places though. Or I might take it back because fast charging wired is so quick.
The case that I recommended on here (NGP advanced) still looks great and feels great however, the sides are a little bit more loose than I would like. The Spigen rugged armor is thinner and keeps the rounded feel of the phone it also has the loose edges but not as bad. I don't feel safe dropping the phone in either of them. Not that you should ever feel safe dropping a phone. Im now looking into the CandyShell grip because I liked those in the past and now they have blacked out everything so it looks great. They also feel very sturdy and seem like they can take drops well.
Lastly, I still would prefer a completely flat screen I believe. The curves are much more subtle so I can ignore them for the most part and it's not a deal-breaker. But I still get a little annoyed by the distortion and touch points on the Curve. If I had a choice I would have a completely flat screen on the note 7.
Edit: really enjoying the s pen
The wireless charger has a loud fan and a bright blue light at night so I can't use that I might use it in other places though. Or I might take it back because fast charging wired is so quick.
The case that I recommended on here (NGP advanced) still looks great and feels great however, the sides are a little bit more loose than I would like. The Spigen rugged armor is thinner and keeps the rounded feel of the phone it also has the loose edges but not as bad. I don't feel safe dropping the phone in either of them. Not that you should ever feel safe dropping a phone. Im now looking into the CandyShell grip because I liked those in the past and now they have blacked out everything so it looks great. They also feel very sturdy and seem like they can take drops well.
Lastly, I still would prefer a completely flat screen I believe. The curves are much more subtle so I can ignore them for the most part and it's not a deal-breaker. But I still get a little annoyed by the distortion and touch points on the Curve. If I had a choice I would have a completely flat screen on the note 7.
Edit: really enjoying the s pen
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I'll give my own update as well. Came from the iPhone 6S+ and have used iPhones as my primary phone since the 4 (blackberries before then). Have always dabbled with various android phones here and there but have never lasted more than a few days. Mainly because I've felt that both iOS and the iPhone hardware provided a better overall experience. I think that is probably changing this time. I love this phone for the most part as well as Android. Here are some of my thoughts after using it the last two days.
Likes:
- Customization - Not just putting icons where I want, you can literally do anything you want with this phone. Nova launcher opens up so many functional and efficient options that make my usage so much quicker and easier.
- Notifications - I love Android notifications so much better. I hate a screen filled with "1s" and "2s" on each app on the iPhone. The actual notification center is so much more useful as well, I can end calls among other things. Just a much better experience.
- S Pen functions - making GIFS out of a video is awesome when you have kids. I've made some stuff that I know I'll look at everyday, just little clips of my 4 month old little girl smiling and laughing. Don't have to watch the whole video just little clips of her. Also love being able to take a scrolling screenshot and writing on the screen. So useful (although you can now "markup" photos and screenshots on iOS10 but it's not the same imo, functionality is way better)
- Form factor/design - Absolutely love the black on black. What a sleek looking device. I'm a tech nerd and i"m in love with this thing I stare at it and make my wife jealous.
- Screen and camera - The screen is amazing and the camera is so much better than the iPhone. Not so much in picture quality imo (although the Note defiitely has the "edge") but in functionality. So easy to flip to selfie mode with my thumb or go into pro mode, just once again a much better experience.
- Gear VR - obviously not part of the phone but this thing is a great toy/tech demo for us tech nerds. Tired of waiting around for Apple for my next toy. Samsung is doing stuff NOW and it's well implemented for the most part. Just a fun thing to play with.
- Chat heads - not a big deal if you don't use fadcebook messenger but with the absence of iMessage my big family will now probably use FB messenger for group texts. Chat heads are awesome, make the texting experience so much better and efficient and easy as opposed to opening the app and going through the motions that way.
- Fast charging - self explanatory. I've drained the battery 3 times already just playing with it the last two days. Charges to 100% in 1.5 hours. Awesome. Not to mention wireless charging although for me thats not really a big thing but i'd rather have the option than not.
- OK Google integration - just blows Siri out of the water. I need info quick sometimes and I can actually get it from OK google anywhere in the phone. Siri is clunky and tells jokes. Not my thing.
- Sonos integration with Google Music - again this one is only for me or others who use Sonos but i love being able to stream to my Sonos speakers right through the GPM app as opposed to the Sonos app. That coupled with OK google play this song is a wet dream for me. Basically voice integrated Sonos.
- Photo management - hate having to tag and manage my photos on a Mac (that's just about all i use my Mac for) All my photos are on Google Photos and I can tag and edit right from my browser.
- Water resistance - self explanatory and a must have going forward for me
That's all I can think of now but it's a major change (in a great way).
Dislikes:
- Mobile Chrome/Samsung Browser - not that they're terrible, they do the job but mobile Safari is leaps and bounds ahead of Androids options. Safari supports functional extensions and is so smooth and snappy. Much better browsing experience
- Lack of iMessage - this is more a function of everyone in my network having an iPhone as opposed to iMessage being such a better service than Whatsapp/Facebook Messenger or other competitors. But as it stands, iMessage is an excellent integrated service and it's a shame it's not cross platform.
- General lagginess - I feel that the Note is laggy sometimes, it seems to be smooth one hour and the next is a stuttering mess (slight exaggeration). Ive been running iOS 10 beta 5 on my 6S+ and i've never had faster or smoother performance out of a Plus model before. Its a lag free and quick OS imo. My note just seems clunky in comparison but I think the overall functionality of Android (and the Note features in particular) trump a lag free experience imo.
That's really all of my dislikes after 2 days. Overall I give this phone a 9 out of 10 so far. Curious to see how the next few days go and if this is just a honeymoon phase. My only long term "worry" is that I've read that Galaxies kinda crap out after a year or so and just go to ****. Not too worried about that since I typically upgrade once a year. Not worried about lack of updates either since for the most part i'm used to waiting a year for major updates with iOS.
Hope that helps anyone who is on the fence. IF anything give it a try with an open mind, it really is a great overall product.
Is the lag being mentioned real lag or dropped frames? I hear both. Is there a difference?
What's going on here?
What's going on here?
And Verizon blocked Samsung cloud. I'm calling them now to explain why I'll be leaving them effective immediately. I like their coverage in the desert but ATT here I come. I have a work iPhone on VZW if I need a connection. 4 lines, gone like that Verizon. Good job screwing things up. Again.
Very nice summary. I agree on pretty much everything including the laginess. I'm coming from a 6s and it's just better. But I'm finally willing to overlook it for what I'm getting this time.
I even like TouchWiz this time! What is this world coming to?
The lag i'm seeing is real lag I think. One example is when the iris scanner doesn't work and it asks for my passcode. There always seems to be some keyboard lag, serious keyboard lag. Maybe I don't know the difference but another example is just that things seem "stuttery" sometimes which i guess could be dropped frames? I would say that it is more laggy, choppy, and chunky when compared to my 6S+ running latest beta of iOS 10 but in a vacuum it's not that bad (but still a little laggy).
I would disable the Lookout app, if it's on your device. Or any other heavy security app.
I'm switching too. Between that and them putting non removable bookmarks in the samsung browser i'm done. My brother is coming home with an AT&T note in about an hour and we're gonna compare carrier BS. If AT&T is just installing crapware then I'm fine switching. Taking away functionality tho? That's a whole different ballgame
I'm not sure which one it is to be honest. But I definitely see stutters and jank when switching apps and just navigating around the OS in general. And I very very very rarely saw that on iOS even on the beta. It's not nearly as bad as it used to be so not a deal-breaker.
A question about the iris scanner, has Samsung or will Samsung open it up to third parties? So apps can be made to use it?
I think we all get hung up on the iris scanner being just for unlocking your device, but it can be used for other things, like security to log into banking apps or other sensitive information and access.
And since it only will register your eyes, that's added security. At least considered safer than passwords or finger prints.
So is this already happening or will happen? For Samsung to really run away with this novel tech in a smartphone, they need to open it up to other apps. Imagine when games start using it too? Sci Fi games that might require your iris for certain things would be a more fun interpretation of the feature.
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I don't experience that in my s7 edge. Wonder if a patch is needed.
Not good, Samsung.
I think we all get hung up on the iris scanner being just for unlocking your device, but it can be used for other things, like security to log into banking apps or other sensitive information and access.
And since it only will register your eyes, that's added security. At least considered safer than passwords or finger prints.
So is this already happening or will happen? For Samsung to really run away with this novel tech in a smartphone, they need to open it up to other apps. Imagine when games start using it too? Sci Fi games that might require your iris for certain things would be a more fun interpretation of the feature.
[doublepost=1471711542][/doublepost]
I don't experience that in my s7 edge. Wonder if a patch is needed.
Not good, Samsung.
I don't know of any instances where a third party app is already using it but given how well it works i really hope that they do open it up. It's actually useful when you have wet hands or gloves or something like that.
Meh its not a big deal. And this coming from someone who is hyper sensitive to lag.
My understanding is that it uses the android security api, so it can be used interchangeably with fingerprints. So any app that can use your fingerprints can also use your iris.
Is that what you note owners are seeing?
I'm not seeing that. I have a lot of banking/credit card apps that use the fingerprint and none of them use the iris scanner. at least not yet.
Hopefully they get deals done.
http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-pass-security-system-announced-partnership-several-banks
That's disappointing. Hope they make it easy for app developers to update and take advantage of it
Agreed that it's not a big deal. I wonder if noones mentioning it because people are used to a little lag with Android devices (galaxies in particular)? I'm hyper sensitive to it as well and i think mainly it's because I've used iPhone for so long. Although my 6 Plus and 6S+ on iOS 8 and 9 were laggy as well.
The lag is real for me.....haven't experienced this in a loooong time on an android phone. My battery life is pretty bad too...i might need a reset or have a bad unit.
I think if you just use android without using an iphone, you get used to it and don't notice until you use something smoother. I remember when I originally got my Note 4, I was using it so much and barely touched my iPhone that I got used to it and didn't notice any lag until the honeymoon period ended and I started using my iPhone again, then suddenly the lag stuck out like a sore thumb.
But the lag now isn't really that big a deal, even side by side the only thing I can say is my iPhone is more consistently smooth when compared to my S7 which will stutter on occasion. Though the Beta of ios 10 has been really laggy and stuttery for me.
I dunno guys... not really digging the camera that much but it could be I need to spend more time with it. The post processing really over exaggerates the saturation where everything looks too "pasty." You can also forget about taking low light photos without a flash!
Note 7 - Lily 1
Here's some more photos on my Flickr. I will continue to add more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFqChRc
Note 7 - Lily 1Here's some more photos on my Flickr. I will continue to add more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFqChRc
What kind of lag are you experiencing? I'm noticing a lot of lag with the keyboard. I've tried the Samsung keyboard, Swiftkey, and have now settled on Google and they're all bad lag wise with Swiftkey being the best, google the middle, and samsung the worst (their keyboard just completely sucks in general).
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That''s how i felt too when I first started taking pictures. I don't feel the quality is that great compared to my 6S+. it's only marginally better. The iPhone (6S+ only i think) also trumps the Note with the front screen flash for selfie mode. Can take a decent selfie in pitch black.I dunno guys... not really digging the camera that much but it could be I need to spend more time with it. The post processing really over exaggerates the saturation where everything looks too "pasty." You can also forget about taking low light photos without a flash!
Here's some more photos on my Flickr. I will continue to add more photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFqChRc
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