Androidforums is a mess.
If you want good information, hit XDA.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1493
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Samsung galaxy note
- Thread starter MsBeauty
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you want good information, hit XDA.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1493
After a month of owning the Note, I have to say that it is an excellent phone, and prior to that I had the Iphone4, but not the 4s. The Note fits in any pocket I carried the IP4 in, and it is excellent for use as a phone. After a couple weeks, I no longer think about the size, and being 6ft 5" anyway, I know it doesn't look too big to use as a phone. Personally, I could care less what others think about what my phone looks like. My 2 sons got the Notes, but my 1 son already returned it and stayed with IP4, and is waiting for the new Iphone this summer. He missed all his Apple Apps that he had on the Iphone, and didn't want to learn the new operating system. The main thing I like about the note is the screen size. I rarely ever use the digitizer pen, but I realize there is use for it for certain people. The battery life is probably 90% of what my Iphone was, but I carry a spare battery in my wallet, so i no longer worry about running out of juice.
I would tell anyone interested in trying it out to go ahead and do so, but realize that there is a $35 return fee with ATT, AND Att will still charge you the $36 upgrade fee, even if you return the phone, as long as you kept it more than 3 days. So the actual return is $71 if you keep it the full 30 days. I'm an Apple fan andf have all their products, but the small screen size was the reason I looked elsewhere. Any apps that I had on my IP4 are available on Android.
Yes, I know that games come to Iphone first, but I could care less about that, as I rarely play games on my phone.
My wife has the IP4 and likes the size of her screen. To each his own! Freedom of choice is great.
And one last thing......The Note does not take the place of a tablet ,,,for me at least. I still use the Ipad when I want to lay in bed and surf the net. Yes I can use the Note, and it is much better than the IP4 for browsing, but nothing beats an Ipad.
Last edited:
Regarding XDA: The forums there are fairly hard to get around in. It makes me appreciate MacRumors even more after visiting that site. There are essentially zero guides available, no forum spy, and you might as well search outside of XDA using Google. Just searching for good apps for the Note was a tremendous pain. I found one thread, where you'd have to read through numerous pages to find out what people recommended, because the OP never bothered to take the results and place it in an easy to find place.
XDA is a developer site, not typically designed for end users.
If you want tech info, this is where you go.
If you want apps, go to appbrain.
There are two things that stick out to me here. One, you are very tall, and I'm guessing in turn have very large hands. Which makes the enormous screen easier for you to handle compared to most consumers. Two, you say you carry a spare battery in your wallet, which sounds like a nightmare to me and is something most consumers would have no desire doing.
I'm happy you enjoy your Note, but I really think it's a niche device. I personally could never use such a large smartphone.
I do want the iPhone screen to get bigger but form factor plays a big role in this too.
What I was saying is there are no guides on how to use the phones, no recommendations on what apps to get, etc. Appbrain, is pretty much like the Appstore, IMO. It just gives you ranking by most popular, highest rated, etc.
Guides to use the phone? That would be your owners manual.
Or you could check the AT&T Galaxy Note I717 Q&A section on XDA.
XDA has app recommendations in both the general Android section and then in the device specif sections.
Did you look in here on XDA? AT&T Galaxy Note I717 Themes and Apps
XDA is not a hand holding site... you have to use the search feature.
Yesterday was my first full day with the Note and battery life was awful compared to my 4s as I figured it would be.
8hrs 54mins off the charger with 2hrs 46mins screen time and I am already down to 23% battery. In comparison, my 4s has been off the charger 9hrs 14mins with 4hrs 19mins of screen time but my battery is still at 51% I should also point out that the iPhone is on my main line, so I have been texting and calling with it too. No texts or calls with the Note...
8hrs 54mins off the charger with 2hrs 46mins screen time and I am already down to 23% battery. In comparison, my 4s has been off the charger 9hrs 14mins with 4hrs 19mins of screen time but my battery is still at 51% I should also point out that the iPhone is on my main line, so I have been texting and calling with it too. No texts or calls with the Note...
The first few days rarely tell the tale.
One comment I've seen over and over in magazines is that a reviewer will slam a brand new device's battery life... then come back to test another feature a few weeks after the device has been in daily use by someone else... and find out that the battery life is now several times longer than it was the first few days.
True, sometimes that is the case with the Android phones I have had. My 4s battery was great from day 1 though, as it should be.
Guides to use the phone? That would be your owners manual.
Or you could check the AT&T Galaxy Note I717 Q&A section on XDA.
XDA has app recommendations in both the general Android section and then in the device specif sections.
Did you look in here on XDA? AT&T Galaxy Note I717 Themes and Apps
XDA is not a hand holding site... you have to use the search feature.
You're not getting my point. And no, I'm not talking about the user manual. For example, I was trying to find out how to take a screen shot, and numerous sites said you needed software and the "manual" stated you use the S-pen. However, I find out from a response on here, that it's just swiping your hand across the screen or holding the home icon and the power button, simultaneously (something I'd actually tried before asking, but which I later found was something that needed a certain touch to work right). I also can't believe you told me I have to use the search feature, unless you were just trying to be funny. If you search MacRumors, you can find out all you want to know about battery life, apps, etc. and there are numerous stickies and guides for reading. Bottom line, the site is nothing like this one, and there doesn't seem to be a comparable site to MacRumors out there for the Android phones. Now I know why there are all these threads on here for the Android.
Anyway, not meaning to sound like I'm bitching. I'm just trying to state some of my frustrations with the information out there.
Got the Note 2 nights ago and never looked in the box till today. I had been charging it with the charger from my S2. Look in the box today and there is another battery just sitting there. No idea how that happened but I just came up! Maybe I will end up keeping this thing after all. I sure get better data reception in a few places my 4s on Sprint can't.
weren't you just posting negative feedback about the note in a different thread?
How you finding the note anyway? Screen size? Pocketable? Worth sacrificing the comfortable pocketability for the size?
Pros and cons to it like any device. Terrible battery life and some glitchy stuff going on but the size is awesome. Fits in my pocket just fine but good luck trying to sit with it in your pocket, not gonna happen.
Thats fine, as long as you can walk with it comfortably. Usually everyone takes out their phone when sitting down.
Other cons? Battery life?....that has been having good reviews. Anything else?
was that your first iPhone? if not then it more than likely got a more normal first day use on it. There was nothing really fancy or new part of the toy to play with as it was more of the same. Only real upgrade in terms of new stuff to play with from the iPhone 4 was siri. Other wise it was more of the same.
I picked up the Note this past Tuesday, so I'm five days in, 25 days left in the return period. The iPhone 4 screen was starting to feel too small, which is a direct result of crappy eyesight as I get older, as well as using my iPad the majority of the time. My iPhone had turned into nothing more than a phone and the few txt messages between my wife and I. Browsing the web was getting to be an exercise in frustration due to the screen size and my Fred Flinstone fingers.
That, and to be blunt, the iPhone and IOs were getting stale, at least for me. I've been using the iPhone since launch day of the original model.
The Note is most likely going to be a keeper, and my 4 will be used as an iPod by my 9 year old.
Battery life has been great, screen brightness on auto, Bluetooth on only when in my truck and WiFi connectivity the majority of the day - it's currently on its second charge since I bought it late Tuesday morning. That being said, I'm not on it 24/7 surfing, emailing, texting and playing games like a lot of people. It's nothing more than a tool to be used, rather than an extension of myself.
Yeah, it's a large phone, and have received a few funny looks, but I could give a rip if it doesn't fit with what's hip or cool. 2 people have made smart comments, but once they saw the screen light up and now fast it was, it went from being stupid to cool. Funny how that works.
Fits in the front pocket of my Levis, shorts, khakis and business pants. And yes, I can sit with it comfortably with it in my pocket.
Pros:
The screen is incredible. AMOLED is the way to go. Vibrant. Images pop.
Battery life, so far, so good. I'm happy with it. Not running any widgets or live wallpaper, so that helps. Again, for me, it's a tool to be used, rather than a plaything.
LTE. Unreal. I'm getting between 38-32 MB down, 18-24 up. Fast.
I haven't experienced any lag that others have report, so other than getting familiar with Gingerbread, it's all good on that front also.
Cons:
Samsung/Android keyboards leave a little to be desired, as well as the Android implementation of predictive text. Kind of intrusive, but getting used to it.
I was one of the tools that was doing the "that things stupid, it's huge, it's retarded" based solely on seeing a display model at Best Buy. Then I spent 30 minutes with it one day, and 30 minutes with it a week later.
I like it.
That, and to be blunt, the iPhone and IOs were getting stale, at least for me. I've been using the iPhone since launch day of the original model.
The Note is most likely going to be a keeper, and my 4 will be used as an iPod by my 9 year old.
Battery life has been great, screen brightness on auto, Bluetooth on only when in my truck and WiFi connectivity the majority of the day - it's currently on its second charge since I bought it late Tuesday morning. That being said, I'm not on it 24/7 surfing, emailing, texting and playing games like a lot of people. It's nothing more than a tool to be used, rather than an extension of myself.
Yeah, it's a large phone, and have received a few funny looks, but I could give a rip if it doesn't fit with what's hip or cool. 2 people have made smart comments, but once they saw the screen light up and now fast it was, it went from being stupid to cool. Funny how that works.
Fits in the front pocket of my Levis, shorts, khakis and business pants. And yes, I can sit with it comfortably with it in my pocket.
Pros:
The screen is incredible. AMOLED is the way to go. Vibrant. Images pop.
Battery life, so far, so good. I'm happy with it. Not running any widgets or live wallpaper, so that helps. Again, for me, it's a tool to be used, rather than a plaything.
LTE. Unreal. I'm getting between 38-32 MB down, 18-24 up. Fast.
I haven't experienced any lag that others have report, so other than getting familiar with Gingerbread, it's all good on that front also.
Cons:
Samsung/Android keyboards leave a little to be desired, as well as the Android implementation of predictive text. Kind of intrusive, but getting used to it.
I was one of the tools that was doing the "that things stupid, it's huge, it's retarded" based solely on seeing a display model at Best Buy. Then I spent 30 minutes with it one day, and 30 minutes with it a week later.
I like it.
Quick question:
If I assume most of you like me are fully invested in the Apple echosystem like the Mac, iPad, etc...How do you guys use your Note and still use it with your Apple products? I assume you guys have a gmail account?
If you are using an icloud acount and using a google account to sync your contacts, and calendars then I would like to know how. It seems easy enough and google gives you a step by step, but my family who is on icloud and syncs with the home Mac for all of our contacts and calendars always gets screwed up, so many duplicates when you try to use both platforms.
Whats the secret? If I could figgue this out I would love to try the note
If I assume most of you like me are fully invested in the Apple echosystem like the Mac, iPad, etc...How do you guys use your Note and still use it with your Apple products? I assume you guys have a gmail account?
If you are using an icloud acount and using a google account to sync your contacts, and calendars then I would like to know how. It seems easy enough and google gives you a step by step, but my family who is on icloud and syncs with the home Mac for all of our contacts and calendars always gets screwed up, so many duplicates when you try to use both platforms.
Whats the secret? If I could figgue this out I would love to try the note
I agree the stock Gingerbread and Samsung keyboard complete suck. One thing I can strongly recomend to you is go get the swiftkey X keyboard https://play.google.com/store/apps/...GwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS50b3VjaHR5cGUuc3dpZnRrZXkiXQ.. It is a great keyboard and fixes many of the issues with Android keyboard and its predictive typing blows iOS out of the water big time.
They have a free trail version that will work for a month https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ftkey.phone.trial&feature=more_from_developer based on the looks of the menu it fully supports everything in the full version just it only works for a month and it is safe to say you will like it enough to go full version. I been using it it since I got my Atrix 4G back in May of 2011. They have only been improving it. Either way that should solve your keyboard issues.
Today was my 3rd full day with the Note and I think its going back. My biggest issue is the battery life which is awful. Again I am down to 28% battery life but I have only had 2hrs 19mins of usage, off the charger for 9 hours. Thats with the screen set to auto brightness and no updating widgets or apps left running. Everyone I have seen claiming the battery is great is running on either 4G or 3G and NOT LTE. You can kiss that battery life you are getting goodbye on LTE. Speaking of the screen brightness, today was the first day I have really tried using the web while outdoors and its just awful. I set the brightness both in the settings and the browsers settings all the way up and the screen was still almost too dim to read outside with overcast skies The actual phone screens and apps looked fine but as soon as you launch the browser, it auto dims the screen, even with auto brightness OFF! When you press the bookmarks button, you see the screen light back up as it shows your bookmarks. Select one and it dims again as soon as it goes back to the browser, very frustrating. Whats the point of having such a nice big colorful screen when it either uses too much power to have it more than half brightness and it auto dims and looks like crap when you are in the browser? Games do the same thing BTW. I seriously had to pull my 4s out just to read this forum, it was that dim of a screen and my eyes are pretty damn good.
I have other issues with the screen, its far too oversaturated. Flesh tones look orange and colors are too cartoonish. The international Notes have the ability to control the saturation but the AT&T versions do not, why was this removed? Although the 4s screen is much smaller, the level of detail in photos and even text is very noticeable. Photos and text are so much crisper and sharper on the 4s although the colors don't quite "pop" as much, however, the iPhones colors are more neutral and true than the oversaturated look on the Note. Another small complaint is that its slightly too big for one handed use. A 5 inch screen would have been perfect I think, 5.3 is a bit too much.
I was really hoping to like this device as its bigger than any phone but smaller than any tablet which is what I really want. However, the very poor battery life and screen issues just don't seem worth it to me. I am not doing any calls, texts, emails or WIFI on the Note either. If I started using it as my main phone, forget it, it would be dead within half a day. I would be doing like one reviewer who said he had to charge it twice a day, no thanks.
The actual phone screens and apps looked fine but as soon as you launch the browser, it auto dims the screen, even with auto brightness OFF! When you press the bookmarks button, you see the screen light back up as it shows your bookmarks. Select one and it dims again as soon as it goes back to the browser, very frustrating. Whats the point of having such a nice big colorful screen when it either uses too much power to have it more than half brightness and it auto dims and looks like crap when you are in the browser? Games do the same thing BTW. I seriously had to pull my 4s out just to read this forum, it was that dim of a screen and my eyes are pretty damn good. I have other issues with the screen, its far too oversaturated. Flesh tones look orange and colors are too cartoonish. The international Notes have the ability to control the saturation but the AT&T versions do not, why was this removed? Although the 4s screen is much smaller, the level of detail in photos and even text is very noticeable. Photos and text are so much crisper and sharper on the 4s although the colors don't quite "pop" as much, however, the iPhones colors are more neutral and true than the oversaturated look on the Note. Another small complaint is that its slightly too big for one handed use. A 5 inch screen would have been perfect I think, 5.3 is a bit too much.
I was really hoping to like this device as its bigger than any phone but smaller than any tablet which is what I really want. However, the very poor battery life and screen issues just don't seem worth it to me. I am not doing any calls, texts, emails or WIFI on the Note either. If I started using it as my main phone, forget it, it would be dead within half a day. I would be doing like one reviewer who said he had to charge it twice a day, no thanks.