Samsung Note 8

[convergent]

I'm still just not quite sure what you are referring to. I'm very familiar with Android so maybe it's just a Samsung thing. But with my time with the S8 and Note 8 this year, what you describe seems like Samsung Connect. When I had those phones and don't remember seeing anything in the notification panel (other than the BT quick toggle) that showed my BT devices other than Samsung Connect.

When I drag down the notification shade... at the very top is the quick options, then if Samsung Connect is turned on, a row for Connect settings and a row for its devices, then starts the rows of notifications. I didn't have Samsung Connect turned on in notifications until we started talking about this, and it drags with it the row that says Samsung Connect with the settings button. So I'm confident what I'm talking about isn't Samsung Connect. Where Samsung Connect now is at, there was prior a row that listed the connected Bluetooth devices. This was really useful because when I get in my truck, I have to let the Note 8 connect to Bluetooth on the receiver before plugging in the Android Auto cable, or it disconnects from my Gear S3 when I plug in the cable. So it was a lot easier to just drag down to see that rather than going into the Bluetooth menu. If I didn't know I'd looked at it numerous times getting in my truck, I'd think maybe it wasn't there and I am just confused about something... but it was definitely there before and now its gone for some reason. An unsolved mystery!

 

[co.ag.2005]

When I drag down the notification shade... at the very top is the quick options, then if Samsung Connect is turned on, a row for Connect settings and a row for its devices, then starts the rows of notifications. I didn't have Samsung Connect turned on in notifications until we started talking about this, and it drags with it the row that says Samsung Connect with the settings button. So I'm confident what I'm talking about isn't Samsung Connect. Where Samsung Connect now is at, there was prior a row that listed the connected Bluetooth devices. This was really useful because when I get in my truck, I have to let the Note 8 connect to Bluetooth on the receiver before plugging in the Android Auto cable, or it disconnects from my Gear S3 when I plug in the cable. So it was a lot easier to just drag down to see that rather than going into the Bluetooth menu. If I didn't know I'd looked at it numerous times getting in my truck, I'd think maybe it wasn't there and I am just confused about something... but it was definitely there before and now its gone for some reason. An unsolved mystery!

Gotcha. Yes, you have me baffled. Did you have a 3rd party app installed that maybe did this? I don't have my Note 8 anymore or else I'd poke around in the settings for myself. I definitely don't remember seeing anything like that on my S8 or Note 8 but usually kept that area pretty tidy. Thanks for the detailed response.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Before I do that, which would be a real pain since I have a lot of things paired in cars, watch, audio, etc...

Is this thing I'm talking about a Samsung thing or an Android thing? I have very little Android experience, so just assumed this was normal until it wasn't there.

To be clear, you are talking about this right? That's definitely tied to Samsung Connect ......

I would just go ahead and do a "Reset network settings".

You can also try one last thing before "Reset network settings". Go to Settings/Apps/Samsung Connect .... Then tap Storage ... Then tap Clear Data. It basically brings the app itself as new. Sometimes an app will have a bug, especially after an update.

 

[convergent]

To be clear, you are talking about this right? That's definitely tied to Samsung Connect ......

I would just go ahead and do a "Reset network settings".

You can also try one last thing before "Reset network settings". Go to Settings/Apps/Samsung Connect .... Then tap Storage ... Then tap Clear Data. It basically brings the app itself as new. Sometimes an app will have a bug, especially after an update.

View attachment 741688

Yes, that is the thing I was talking about, but really surprises me that its Samsung Connect, because I don't recall ever turning it on and don't recall the Samsung Connect top line being visible. I must have just missed it. I now think I understand what happened. I installed a Smart Things hub and a bunch of home automation gear several weeks back. That resulted in more items listed, which doesn't fit horizontally. I just scrolled to the far right of those devices and found my watch. Mystery I think is solved.

EDIT, I went into settings and disabled all the smart home devices in the Samsung Connect notification panel and now it is back to just showing the Bluetooth devices.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Yes, that is the thing I was talking about, but really surprises me that its Samsung Connect, because I don't recall ever turning it on and don't recall the Samsung Connect top line being visible. I must have just missed it. I now think I understand what happened. I installed a Smart Things hub and a bunch of home automation gear several weeks back. That resulted in more items listed, which doesn't fit horizontally. I just scrolled to the far right of those devices and found my watch. Mystery I think is solved.

Maybe the AT&T carrier version is slightly different. There is always some slight variations with manufacturer UIs depending on carrier. Something that needs to end. I'm on T-Mobile.

 

[convergent]

Maybe the AT&T carrier version is slightly different. There is always some slight variations with manufacturer UIs depending on carrier. Something that needs to end. I'm on T-Mobile.

No, I think it was there and I just never noticed it. It was probably on by default and I did a lot of fiddling with my smart home experiment and probably turned it off because I was using Smart Things instead of Smart Connect, and then when I turned it back on it was very different looking. All is back to the way it was now. Thanks for helping me figure it out.

 

[Kiwikat88]

This is enough to make me swear off ever buying a Samsung phone again (even from a carrier), as well as any Samsung product period. I own several of their appliances, and I believe the electronic/mobile division is a separate company. Unfortunately, I have lost all trust in the brand, and for better or worse, I will be avoiding them in the future.

I just had basically the same experience with Apple and my iPhone 7+. After a month of back and forth with over a dozen support people and no phone, I've now got a Note 8. I'm not particularly compelled to buy another Apple product ever again. As stuff becomes obsolete they'll be replaced with alternatives.

I think it's safe to say that customer service is dead with very, very few exceptions. A couple audio companies I've dealt with have been fantastic, but everyone in the computer world has been atrocious. What a shame.

On a positive Note (heh), the N8 is everything I loved about my 7+ in addition to everything I loved about Android. Hoping for a happy long-term relationship as with my N4!

 

[steelcityguy]

A question, I would like the members opinions. Which do you use, Android Pay or Samsung Pay & why? Can both be used? Thanks in advance. Dave

 

[convergent]

A question, I would like the members opinions. Which do you use, Android Pay or Samsung Pay & why? Can both be used? Thanks in advance. Dave

Samsung Pay because in the US it's accepted in about double the number of places.

 

[Dodgeman]

What's the difference between Samsung Connect and Smart Things?
Do they both do the same thing?
Also how can you toggle Samsung Connect on/off in the notification drop down menu?
[doublepost=1513139123][/doublepost]I've noticed the Bluetooth display that's referenced above w/o using Samsung Connect if I recall....
I think I have noticed this in the car. Never messed with the audio portion but out of curiosity what is TaoTronics?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Samsung Pay because in the US it's accepted in about double the number of places.

Yup, that and the fact the Samsung gives you the biggest incentive to use it. I get enough points to get a $20 or $50 debit card about every two weeks, depending on my usage. I have around $200+ on my Samsung debit card. I'm going to let it build up and eventually use it to purchase my next Gear Watch. S3 Frontier or S4.

And the best thing is, points are by usage, not by how much you spend.

I think I have noticed this in the car. Never messed with the audio portion but out of curiosity what is TaoTronics?

The audio icon is to toggle where you want the audio output from.

TaoTronics is the brand of my bluetooth earbuds.

 

[convergent]

What's the difference between Samsung Connect and Smart Things?
Do they both do the same thing?
Also how can you toggle Samsung Connect on/off in the notification drop down menu?
[doublepost=1513139123][/doublepost]I've noticed the Bluetooth display that's referenced above w/o using Samsung Connect if I recall....
I think I have noticed this in the car. Never messed with the audio portion but out of curiosity what is TaoTronics?

Samsung bought Smart Things. And they developed Samsung Connect. They are overlapping capabilities that also seem to work together. There is hardware and software on both sides. I think the future is probably Connect, but just a guess. You can toggle the panel on and off, as well as individual devices showing up in the panel on and off, from the notification area.

 

[Dodgeman]

Nice. I would be more inclined to use Samsung pay.
NYC you're getting at least $20 every two weeks?
I might need to start using Samsung pay more often lol.

 

[Tsepz]

Back on my Note8 after a few days on the Mate10 Pro, loving that device but the Note8 keeps drawing me back with its huge display and SPen.

Something that people take off granted is Samsungs PIM suit if apps like Samsung Email, Calender, and their widgets, they work so well with Microsoft Exchange, it is actually so ridiculous, the Note8 is truly built for business, it handles everything so damn well and even gets emails a good 10-15mins before my laptop. The Calendar List Widget is constantly updated on time etc...

With the Mate10 Pro the Huawei Email and Calender couldn't connect to my work Exchange account so I had to use the MS Outlook app and Calender List widget, you would think with it being Microsoft it would work well..... Nope, it didn't always update the List when I accepted meeting invites and it got me bad on Tuesday, I was sitting in traffic at 8:45am on my way to the office thinking I do not have any meetings until the afternoon, until my work WhatsApp group started blowing up, wondering if I was coming to the meeting at 9am. Luckily I was down the road and managed to make it, and it was an internal meeting, had it been a client meeting I would have been dead meat.

The Note8 and all my previous Samsungs have been so damn solid and reliable in this area I had no idea how I was taking it for granted.

The iPad also had an issue with connecting to Exchange and I had to dive into the settings to get it sorted out, so Apple is just as bad as Huawei in this area.


Samsung seem to have a lock on Exchange as I have never ever struggled to get any Samsung to work with Exchange.

I rely heavily on my phone for work, and I must say the Note8 continues to be the perfect workhorse.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Nice. I would be more inclined to use Samsung pay.
NYC you're getting at least $20 every two weeks?
I might need to start using Samsung pay more often lol.

Yup, I just try to use it like I normally would swipe. After you make a certain amount of purchases, your status go to silver, gold, platinum. The higher level gives you the most points per purchase. Even if you spend just two dollars on a purchase.

 

[convergent]

Back on my Note8 after a few days on the Mate10 Pro, loving that device but the Note8 keeps drawing me back with its huge display and SPen.

Something that people take off granted is Samsungs PIM suit if apps like Samsung Email, Calender, and their widgets, they work so well with Microsoft Exchange, it is actually so ridiculous, the Note8 is truly built for business, it handles everything so damn well and even gets emails a good 10-15mins before my laptop. The Calendar List Widget is constantly updated on time etc...

With the Mate10 Pro the Huawei Email and Calender couldn't connect to my work Exchange account so I had to use the MS Outlook app and Calender List widget, you would think with it being Microsoft it would work well..... Nope, it didn't always update the List when I accepted meeting invites and it got me bad on Tuesday, I was sitting in traffic at 8:45am on my way to the office thinking I do not have any meetings until the afternoon, until my work WhatsApp group started blowing up, wondering if I was coming to the meeting at 9am. Luckily I was down the road and managed to make it, and it was an internal meeting, had it been a client meeting I would have been dead meat.

The Note8 and all my previous Samsungs have been so damn solid and reliable in this area I had no idea how I was taking it for granted.

The iPad also had an issue with connecting to Exchange and I had to dive into the settings to get it sorted out, so Apple is just as bad as Huawei in this area.


Samsung seem to have a lock on Exchange as I have never ever struggled to get any Samsung to work with Exchange.

I rely heavily on my phone for work, and I must say the Note8 continues to be the perfect workhorse.

Agree with you that the Samsung apps are great. I have, however, moved to Outlook and had no problems with it. Using it together with the Microsoft Launcher and Skype for Business its incredibly well integrated.

When I was using an iPhone, any meeting that changed never got updated via Exchange on my phone. My meetings move around a lot. So I was constantly getting reminders for things that were no longer a thing.

 

[jamezr]

The more I use my Note 8 the more i really like and appreciate all it does. I mean it is like having laptop like functionality in my pocket.

I find out of all my phones......i end up using the Note 8 the most. The reason why is it offers so much flexibility. I can do Christmas shopping on it without grabbing my MBP while Netflix bingeing (sp) on my sofa.
It really is a robust workhorse of a phone. Great camera.....great battery.....awesome performance. Don't use the S-Pen that much tbh.......but it is there if when I need it.

The Note 8 gets my vote for smartphone of the year award!

 

[convergent]

The more I use my Note 8 the more i really like and appreciate all it does. I mean it is like having laptop like functionality in my pocket.

I find out of all my phones......i end up using the Note 8 the most. The reason why is it offers so much flexibility. I can do Christmas shopping on it without grabbing my MBP while Netflix bingeing (sp) on my sofa.
It really is a robust workhorse of a phone. Great camera.....great battery.....awesome performance. Don't use the S-Pen that much tbh.......but it is there if when I need it.

The Note 8 gets my vote for smartphone of the year award!

Me too...

 

[Klyster]

I forgot to charge my Note last night, didn't realise til I got to work and noticed I was at 39%.
Turned on powersaving mode, disconnected the S3, got home with 16%.

Not bad really, nearly 29 hours on and I'm still using it

 

[M5RahuL]

Absolutely loving my Note 8 too. Easily the best smartphone of 2017 for me too.. The battery on mine isn’t that great though, or maybe I use it too much!

Does yours’ drop from 100% to mid 90s within minutes (~ 20 mins or less ) of use ? That’s the one thing I love about iDevices!

 

[convergent]

Absolutely loving my Note 8 too. Easily the best smartphone of 2017 for me too.. The battery on mine isn’t that great though, or maybe I use it too much!

Does yours’ drop from 100% to mid 90s within minutes (~ 20 mins or less ) of use ? That’s the one thing I love about iDevices!

I would suggest using the tuning tools. Probably something is sucking it down. The flexibility of Android means you can do things you shouldn't. I've had a couple of apps that were misbehaving so I kicked them to the curb. I generally get great battery life.

 

[M5RahuL]

I would suggest using the tuning tools. Probably something is sucking it down. The flexibility of Android means you can do things you shouldn't. I've had a couple of apps that were misbehaving so I kicked them to the curb. I generally get great battery life.

The only new App I installed is Outlook, but it isn’t sucking anymore battery than normal.. Otherwise, I don’t use many apps (much less any side loaded apks) .. Maybe I should try a cache wipe from recovery... I got two Note 8s and the other one gets much better SOT.. Both set up identical too!

 

[Tsepz]

The more I use my Note 8 the more i really like and appreciate all it does. I mean it is like having laptop like functionality in my pocket.

I find out of all my phones......i end up using the Note 8 the most. The reason why is it offers so much flexibility. I can do Christmas shopping on it without grabbing my MBP while Netflix bingeing (sp) on my sofa.
It really is a robust workhorse of a phone. Great camera.....great battery.....awesome performance. Don't use the S-Pen that much tbh.......but it is there if when I need it.

The Note 8 gets my vote for smartphone of the year award!

Agreed!

It is just insane how capable this device is

I am thoroughly loving mine. Everytime I try to use the Mate10 Pro as my main phone I find myself running straight back to my Note8, it's just such a complete device.

 

[vine-boating]

Has anyone got the link again where you can download different fonts?

 

[Dodgeman]

Anyone notice if their note 8 rear cameras are not perfectly centered (or aligned)??