Galaxy Note 2 Review...and comparo with iPhone 5

[Thai]

Hey all,

About 3 weeks ago, I gave up on my iPhone 5(s). No, it's not because iPhone 5 sucked. But, for some unknown reason to both Apple and Sprint, iPhone 5 is not compatible with my Sprint account. My wife's iPhone 5 (on the same account) has been flawless. But, after repeated "NO SERVICE" messages on 3 iPhone 5's, i gave Sprint an ultimatum...new phone (not iPhone) or i take my business elsewhere. I did not want to try HTC X One and Galaxy S3 because they are yesterday's news in Android world. Since this is a new phone for me (at no cost to me)...i wanted the best of Android (on Sprint). This is no-cost for me since i trade in my "broken" iPhone 5 and Sprint agreed to give me a new phone (withOUT signing a new contract). Therefore, i can still upgrade to a new phone in July 2013. Anyways, lets get to the review. My review will be to the point after 3 weeks of use as primary (and only) phone...and comparison will be made to my wife's black iPhone 5 (16GB).

Sprint White Samsung Galaxy NOTE 2 (16GB + 64GB microSD card)

Signal Reception: 5/5
As you may know, i am very big into cell signal since this is my work and pleasure phone...it MUST get great reception! This phone soundly beats iPhone 5 in cell reception. In my house, which has tons of dead zone, iPhone 5 gets borderline reception with Otterbox Defender case. With my Note 2, i get good reception (with or without case) everywhere in my house!! Wow.

1 month update = Spectacular cell reception! Rating should be 5+++!!

Wifi & 4G: 4.5/5
Wifi lock is slightly better than iPhone 5. Basically, entering the edge of Wifi coverage, the Note 2 locks on Wifi slightly quicker and holds it slightly better. The problem is that the Wifi speed (via SpeedTest app) is not consistent nor top notch. iPhone 5 wifi connection (via the app) is faster and gives more consistent results. In real world, i prefer the Note 2 since it locks and holds Wifi signal slightly better...but i took one point due to inconsistent speed results.

1 month update = No change. Speedtest app shows inconsistent results, usually less than iPhone 5. However, in real life, N2 finds and locks onto Wifi signal faster/stronger than iP5. Browsing speed remains good, on par with iP5 to my naked eyes. 4G is about the same...which isn't spectacular if you're on Sprint!

Display: 3.5/5
The screen is gorgeous INDOORS. Big screen (5.5")!! Unlike GS3, Note 2 uses a non-PenTile screen...and i believe that it is the ONLY Super AMOLED HD screen to not use the flawed PenTile arrangement. Info: AnandTech | Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review (T-Mobile) - The Phablet Returns

And the screen is simply amazing...when adjusted right. Unlike GS3, Note 2 has different display "modes," which allow it to give you very near iPhone 5 color accuracy! See: Screens test, part 2: Galaxy Note 2 vs. Apple iPhone 5 | Dialed In - CNET Blogs

I used "Natural" setting because i prefer slightly more saturation (on a big screen) than "Movie" setting. But, the "Standard" setting is way way too saturated.

Why 3.5 rating?? Well, outside in the sun, the screen is barely visible!! This is with me turning off AUTO brightness and maxing out the brightness. This is truly where iPhone 5 screen kicks the crap out of the Note 2...not even close! Inside, you can debate about which you prefer. For me, i prefer the big Note 2 screen, but it kills me that the screen is fairly useless outside in the sun.

1 month update = no change from what i wrote above. Amazing inside; crappy outside (at max brightness setting).

Battery: 5/5
This is quite a pleasant surprise! It has a big ass battery (11.8 watt-hours; 3,100mAh). Charging time can be a bit long, especially if you came from iPhones. But, for me, i did NOT notice a big difference in battery life going from iPhone 5 to Note 2...and this is huge since Note 2 has a big screen, big processor, and just big everything. Very nice!

1 month update = This remains a bright point for N2. It easily matches iPhone 5 with my useage.

Processor: 4/5
The processor is Exynos 4412 (quad A9 cores + Mali400). RAM is 2GB. Basically, this was Samsung's top processor in 2012...and was in GS3 International models, but unlike that GS3's 1GB RAM, Note 2 has 2GB RAM. Mali400 GPU is pretty good, but ranks below iPhone 5's PowerVR 3-core GPU. (GS4 has also switched to PowerVR GPUs.) Anyway, this is Samsung top processor combo in 2012...beating everything out there except for iPhone 5. This (and JellyBean's Project Butter) results in excellent smoothness when scrolling homescreens (90% as good as iPhone 5). But read on...not everything is rosey....

 

[Thai]

Play Store: 2/5
This is where Apple App Store truly holds a significant lead. Yes, there are more FREE stuff...but the quality of the app is not very good. Besides the big names (Modern Combat, Real Racing 3, etc.), the rest of the app quality stinks. For example, i like BIG WIN FOOTBALL. On iOS, it works reliably with occasional crashes. But on Android, it crashes frequently! Same with a few other apps that i have used. Epocrates medical app is far inferior on the Android.

The other big problem with Android apps is the stuttering. Unlike the homescreens that scroll super smooth, the in-app transition looks horrible. There are lag and stuttering. I don't think that this has to do with processor power since my Note 2's CPU/GPU should be more than competent. This has to do with developers and/or fragmentation of Android. The small time developers may not have the knowledge nor resources to deal with the vast amount of screen sizes and different processors on all the Android devices. There are some games only for Tegra 3 processors for example...that won't download on other Androids.

There are exceptions. Modern Combat and Real Racing 3, for examples, do look great on Note 2...and with the bigger screen, it just rocks! However, even with Modern Combat 4, the lag is noticeable whereas on iPhone 5, it runs butter smooth. Frames are smooth enough on Real Racing 3...but still not as good as iPhone 5. But, these are BIG developers with plenty of resources and $$$$...thus, are the exceptions rather than the rule. And these big games are the ONLY reason why i did not give a 1 rating.

Play Store movies are another problem. Despite "HD" label, the quality of the resolution on my Note 2 is average at best. There is a significant difference vs. HD (1080p) movies on iTunes. With Androids coming out with 1080 screens with tons of pixels, you would think that Play Store would upgrade the quality of these movies.

In addition, the selection of movies and music are not as good as App Store and iTunes. I believe that this may change in the near future as Google contracts with all the music and movie companies. Right now, Apple has the edge.

1 month update = Not much has changed. Quality app selection remains inferior to Apple by far. Luckily, the big and important apps are present on Google, but seemingly, the quality of such lags behind iOS counterparts. Is it because Android has such vast array of processors, screen sizes & resolutions, etc.?? Movies remain a sore point for me. I have emailed Google and gotten a response noting that they are at the mercy of the studios. I think that this is where Apple remains king...Apple has a strong arm-twisting influence on hollywood (and music) studios, unlike the new kid on the block (Google's Play Store).

Samsung has their own Media Hub. I have a Standard Def movie from it...and it sure looks about the same as High Def movies on Google Play Store!! So, something is wrong here. I have not bought a High Def movie from Media Hub yet...so, i will update this when i do.

UPDATE: Samsung Media Hub movies are indeed HD!! I downloaded Lincoln HD and the quality is on par with iTunes...in other words, true HD quality. In addition, one can easily tell because the download size of the HD file is several GB's! HD movies from PLAY store is less than 1 GB. The problem is that Media Hub movie selection is not as good as PLAY store or iTunes. So, right now, iTunes definitely holds a huge advantage to both PLAY and Media Hub because it offers both selection AND quality.

Modern Combat and Real Racing 3 works very well on my Note 2 as described above...still ever so slightly not as smooth as iOS counterparts. Interestingly, for some reason, even the gyroscope function on iPhone 5 works so buttery (no pun intended) smooth and fast. Gyroscope feature in the game works fine on Note 2 (for Modern Combat 4), but it just does not flow quick and smoothly like on iP5. It really doesn't affect gameplay one bit, but it makes you wonder....

I still use iTunes to buy music because i already have a good library there and selection is better (but pricey). Then I use Easy Phone Sync app (free for Samsung owners) to get them over to my Note 2. Easy painless process! Love it & highly recommend it over Double Twist and iSync, esp. if you have Samsung phone.

Browser: 3.5/5
The standard Samsung browser is decent with good features, but kinda slow. Sunspider with 4.1.2 software is only average among new phones. I use CHROME browser. Chome gives excellent Sunspider score (low 900 range), on par or just slightly below iPhone 5 Safari. The problem with Chrome is that the Bookmarks cannot be categorized (unlike Safari). In addition, the web pages sometimes load at the wrong zoom. Double tap zoom is not as reliable. The fonts are also not as readable despite Note 2's bigger screen. Pinch to zoom is not as smooth. Overall, despite the smaller screen, i much prefer Safari's smoothness and easy manipulation of web pages. (I do not use Chrome on my Sony laptop...i use IE...so, this is my first experience with Chrome.)

1 month update = Chrome remains my browser of choice. It is fast enough. But the fonts and readability of some sites/forums could be better. Despite the much smaller screen, the forum fonts and size etc just seem just as good on iPhone 5, which is a disappointment for me given how much real estate i have on my Note 2. Like above, the double tap zooming (in & out) is inconsistent and not as smooth as iOS Safari. Safari, in my opinion, remains superior...and once Apple gives iPhone a bigger screen, Chrome better watch out! Google has to improve on this...fast!

Camera & Video: 4/5
The camera is nothing new. It shares the same module as GS3. It is above average, but below that of iPhone 5. The pictures seems to have more pixelation when zooming in on a taken pic. I don't mind as much because i usually have my Sony RX100 with me. The camera's HDR mode and panorama mode are OK. Unlike iOS that has Cortex Camera app, there is nothing like that in Play Store. (I have emailed Cortex developer and ask him to make one for Android.) I give it 4 stars because the software itself has lots of features that are not available on the stock camera app on iPhone. But, yeah, i prefer iPhone 5 camera. Video is OK.

1 month update = no change. Camera is not as good as iPhone 5...but good enough for sharing thru texting etc.. But, for scenic stuff, i would skip it and go to my Sony RX.

Memory: 4/5
You may wonder why it is not 5/5 since Note 2 has SD card capability. The internal memory is 16GB which is barely enough and does limit the amount of app you can download. (Remember, there is really only 10.8GB available.) The problem is that starting with Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), Android does NOT let you move apps to SD card!! WTF?! So, in essence, having an SD card is fairly useless! (And now I know why Android phones are moving toward internal memory like Apple.) I only have ONE app that partially partitions it to the SD card (Real Racing 3)...the rest goes on my internal memory (16GB). Therefore, nowadays, only pics & videos from camera goes on SD card.

The only reason why i gave it 4 stars is because i use the SD card to put 10 movies on it. What else can i do with 32GB of external storage since i can't use it for apps?! Android does allow me to put ripped movies on my SD card for viewing. (On Apple, you pretty much have to go thru iTunes for movies.)

1 month update = I bought Sandisk Ultra 64GB microSD...works well. Now, i have a ton of movies on my phone for long trips! I still wish that Android would let me use it more for app storage. My internal memory is down to 4GB (from 10.9 GB free initially) and this has made me pick and choose carefully every app i install, which i hate to do!!

Music Player: 4.75/5
Just as good as iPhone 5...because i believe Samsung makes/writes/whatever the iPhone 5 music player. I have Klipsch S4A II for my Note 2. The controls are not as simple nor as good as Apple headphones with Apple controls. So, i deduct a point.

1 month update = Headset Controller app is awesome for those who want to use Apple (or Android) headsets with your phone. I am using my Klipsch S4A II and Apple headset with my N2. Works well enough, but not as fluid (error-free) as when pairing Apple-compatible headsets to iPhone. The Google Music app works really well. It does offer equalizer options, including slider for how much bass boost you want. For iPhone, you can only choose Bass Boost on or off...with Google Play Music app, you can adjust how much to apply. Very nice. For this reason, i have add 0.75 to my rating. The equalizer is very basic, but at least, it allows you to boost treble, mids, and/or lows individually.

Build Quality: 4/5
The phone feels fairly solid...and the plastics seem OK. Nothing close to iPhone 5 quality. But, i guess that is the price that i pay for having a SD card and removable battery. I am learning to love it.

Software & Reliability: 4.5/5
The software itself (4.1.2) is pretty slick. Samsung Touchwiz has lots of features and customizations, esp for Note 2 extra stuff. Everything outside of apps feels fast and smooth. I have always love SWYPE...and still love it today!! Awesome!

S-PEN is pretty cool...but to be honest, i have not really used it. It works pretty well for jotting down memos or surf the net, but i still prefer using my fingers (and SWYPE).

As for stability, it is better than i remembered. I have not had to pull the battery to reboot. That is a huge improvement! But, if there are more than 2 things going on, there is some lagging and stuttering. I NEVER understood Android's claim to multi-tasking when it makes the phone stutters annoyingly! Again, Note 2 processor is pretty powerful...and yet, multi-tasking is over-rated for sure on Android. It has slowed down a few times or freeze...but, resolves with POWER button push and/or HOME BUTTON push. And more than a few times, it is the app that causes problem more than the Touchwiz software. Again, Android apps MUST improve their quality!!

1 month update = not much has change from above, which is good! It remains fairly stable and reliable. No battery pull. I have added 0.5 point because N2 software has proven to me to be solid. Multi-tasking works, but as noted above, if you having something heavy in the background (like downloading or calculating), then you may encounter a little bit stuttering and lagging. I am in between in terms of liking Android's multi-task way vs. iOS's way of one process-at-a-time.

Customization: 4.5/5 (new topic)
I forgot this initially, but this is one of the THE top reasons why one should pick Android over iOS or Windows. It is true. You can have homescreens with floating fishes or planets. You can have widgets of everything possible. For me, i have one active widget, which tells me the time, date, weather, forecast, and battery life all in a small box. (This widget is not what you see in commercials...this one is very simple and to the point, no pictures of clouds etc.. It is called Advance Clock Widget; i got the Pro version to support developer.) The problem with some of these customizations is that it wastes a ton of battery...the prettier and active it is, the worst it is on your battery life! So, similar to multi-tasking, there is a limit to how effective it is in real life. But, at least, it is an option for owners to pick and choose. I also have a speed dial semi-widget (called Touch2dial) that is very effective because i can just push a speed dial from homescreen and the phone dials it immediately. No app nor menu to click. So, the ability to do these things gives Android a 5/5 rating...but the battery sucking aspect of it (for the most part) takes it down to 4.5.

Artificial Intelligence/Assistant: 4/5 (new topic)
To be honest, I am not a big user of either Siri or S-voice. I use them mainly to set alarm clocks, set reminders, and appointments. S-voice is from Samsung and is very similar to Apple's Siri. I find Siri to be more pleasant and ever so slightly better at understanding me...but the difference b/w the two is much less than they are similar. Very close. Apple needs to improve Siri to really separate "her" from competition...right now, it's barely better at best. So, why 4 points?

Well, Android 4.1 and up gets Google Now. Google Now is what saves this section from getting a lower score. Once you sign in (it is optional), Google Now will track your progress throughout the day/week. It will begin to form patterns of activity, such as knowing where you work or where your home is. So, now, whenever I go to Walmart, Google Now will notify me (silently in Notification bar) how long it will take to go back home when I get to Walmart with the current traffic condition. It does this on its own...kinda freaky (for those who are paranoid about big brother). In addition, whenever I am logged in my laptop at home and using Google to search for places, Google Now on my phone will tell me how far that place(s) that I searched for is from where I am at (with current traffic conditions). And if I have an appointment at a doctor's office, for example, and traffic is heavy, then Google Now will tell me to leave early to get there on time given the heavy traffic!! Again, this service can be turned off for those who are paranoid! But, Google Now does work as advertised from my experience. Does Google Now drain battery? Not much or not enough for me to care...but then again, my Note 2 has a huge battery...so, for phones with smaller batteries, Google Now may affect it more.

 

[Thai]

Conclusion:
Well, after a few weeks, Note 2 is growing on me. There are glaring negatives for sure...such as the disappointing Play Store, browser, in-app stuttering and crashing, and lack of SD card useage.

The positives? The big screen is gorgeous (under the right lighting) and the whole phone is plenty smooth for me (outside of app). I love to play Modern Combat or Real Racing 3 on the big screen...it is just too damn cool! I must admit that going back to the iPhone 5 screen is tough with some of the games. The customization is neat. For example, I have speed dial widget that allows me to speed dial a number from home screen...very handy while driving and working!

So, yeah, i plan to keep the Note 2 for a while. I am not sure what i will do in July when my upgrade comes up. I will check to see what Apple does with the iPhone 5S/6. GS4 is definitely not an option since i don't see much improvement over my Note 2. Maybe i will wait for the Note 3 and see what that brings. Maybe i will get iPhone 5S and then re-sell it on eBay for $$$$.

Thanks for reading.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Jeez,does the play store need to be improved and Apple's apps are much better sorted out but I'm still an android guy and with a little searching I've found the apps that work for me but Apple's are much more slick.

 

[Thai]

Jeez,does the play store need to be improved and Apple's apps are much better sorted out but I'm still an android guy and with a little searching I've found the apps that work for me but Apple's are much more slick.

I have not noticed that Android apps are any better sorted. Both have a ton of apps for any topic you choose. I still trust App Store over Play Store due to tighter security with Apple. I now have both platforms active in my house. It is unfortunate that each have their own weaknesses and we can't have cake and eat it too!

That's my problem with Android...their developers need to improve. Even with equivalent apps from same company, the apps in Apple store runs smoother and better sorted. I am not sure if this is a problem with fragmentation and/or Android code, but it needs to be fixed!

I played Modern Combat 4 last night on iPhone 5 and Note 2. Geez, the iPhone 5 screen is small...so, everything is so darn small compared to my Note 2!! But, damn it, the gameplay is so buttery smooth! Running is smooth, gyroscope moves the crosshair with ease, etc.. On my Note 2, there are lagging and slight stuttering as if the GPU can keep up with the frames. But, the gameplay is better in some sense because the screen is bigger. But, you can see my frustration...no matter how much horsepower Androids have (specs), the actual apps need improvement!

Maybe i will keep my Note 2 until Apple comes out with a 5" screen iPhone! But, definitely, Android platform provides more flexibility, such as customization and the ability to put ripped movies onto the phone.

 

[fish0281]

... I did not want to try HTC X One and Galaxy S3 because they are yesterday's news in Android world...

I'm not sure where you got this idea from, aside from the size and dual vs quad core as their biggest differences they're almost the same phone; not to mention they were both released around the same time (July vs October in the US). If you wanted the latest and greatest, why not wait for the GS4?

As for the screen, my GS3 works awesome in the sunlight. Granted, if there is direct sunlight on the screen it's tough, but otherwise I have no issue (and that's with auto brightness turned on). Furthermore, the PPI of the Note is actually slightly less than the GS3 (265 vs 306)... so the only difference really is the stylus thing.

At the end of the day, I could really care less about this stuff, but I'm a little unclear why you're bashing the GS3 when it's no different from the Note 2 for all practical intents and purposes. Regardless, I tried the iPhone and just did not enjoy the experience, partly because of the interface lacking some features I had become accustomed to and prefer, but primarily because of the screen size. On another level, I'm getting a little tired of Apple's tactics and their strict control over all things apple (which drives prices up); I am all for open source development and Android clearly offers that.

 

[Thai]

I'm not sure where you got this idea from, aside from the size and dual vs quad core as their biggest differences they're almost the same phone; not to mention they were both released around the same time (July vs October in the US). If you wanted the latest and greatest, why not wait for the GS4?

As for the screen, my GS3 works awesome in the sunlight. Granted, if there is direct sunlight on the screen it's tough, but otherwise I have no issue (and that's with auto brightness turned on). Furthermore, the PPI of the Note is actually slightly less than the GS3 (265 vs 306)... so the only difference really is the stylus thing.

At the end of the day, I could really care less about this stuff, but I'm a little unclear why you're bashing the GS3 when it's no different from the Note 2 for all practical intents and purposes. Regardless, I tried the iPhone and just did not enjoy the experience, partly because of the interface lacking some features I had become accustomed to and prefer, but primarily because of the screen size. On another level, I'm getting a little tired of Apple's tactics and their strict control over all things apple (which drives prices up); I am all for open source development and Android clearly offers that.

Fish,

The heart and soul of a smartphone is the processor. CPU and GPU are vastly different b/w GS3 USA and GS3 International. And this is seen in the benchmarks. Despite a larger screen, Note 2 with Exynos 4 kills GS3 USA...both having the same amount of RAM (2GB). So, yeah, there is a huge difference.

I could not wait because i was down to a flip phone...so, i needed a smartphone ASAP. My job depended on me having a smartphone. GS4 may not make it to our shores until May.

Not sure if you know this, the GS3 (and GS4) display technology is based on PenTile arrangement. You won't find many folks in the know who likes PenTile screen, high resolution or not. Samsung is using PenTile only because of the SAMOLED technology and the need for efficiency. But, quality wise, PenTile leaves a lot to be desired, esp. when compared with the top end LCDs out there.

See this post: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1223602-post113.html and http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1204627-post79.html

It is likely that Samsung knows that on a bigger screen, PenTile technology may not look good...and thus, went another route with Note 2. The Note 2 layout is more energy consuming (but looks better!), which is OK since Note 2 has a relatively big battery. I assume that with the increase resolution (1080) and slightly bigger screen, GS4 had to be stuck with PenTile to keep battery life in check.

Although GS3 has higher PPIs (pixel density), the Note 2 screen is significantly bigger diagonally...and thus, you hold Note 2 further away from your eyes...which in essence, eliminates GS3's PPI advantage. The bigger the screen, the less important PPI is. Why do you think iPad has Retina Display yet has lower PPI than most smartphones?

You must have good eyes...but SAMOLED screens are well-known to washout in sunlight...then you add in Samsung's ultra-conservative brightness management. Even at max brightness, SAMOLED screens are dim when placed next to top end LCDs. This is just facts dude. I am not hating on anything Samsung. I love my Note 2, but sunlight reading sucks. I have to use my hand to cover it so that i can read.

If you think that the stylus is the ONLY difference b/w Note 2 and your GS3, then you have been misinformed. Processor, display technology, and software. All different! The ONLY things that are the same are the camera, plastic design, and overall shape. If you think that equates to being the same, then so be it.

To be fair, Apple tight control over everything also leads to superior quality control and customer service. Yeah, Apple can be costly...trust me, i know! Everything has to go thru iTunes. But, you know what...quality has its price, right? Again, i am not hating on Android, but Android needs to improve its Play Store quality, from its apps to its movies. Remember, i am going to be with Android for a long time. I just got my son a Nexus 7. But, i am also not blind to its faults...as i am not blind to how expensive iTunes can be!

 

[fish0281]

Fair enough.

 

[LTDSC]

i switched from the iPhone (former Apple fanboy) to a Note2 on Verizon. BEST android phone i have ever owned.

 

[Thai]

i switched from the iPhone (former Apple fanboy) to a Note2 on Verizon. BEST android phone i have ever owned.

Yup, agreed...by far!

 

[westwind77]

Hey all,

About 3 weeks ago, I gave up on my iPhone 5(s).

:wacko::wacko::jaw drop::jaw drop::faint::faint:

I never thought I would see this! Not after the Iphone 5 thread you started!

 

[LTDSC]

Its believable. Apples bubble has popped IMO. I used to be the biggest fanboy there was.

 

[Thai]

:wacko::wacko::jaw drop::jaw drop::faint::faint:

I never thought I would see this! Not after the Iphone 5 thread you started!

Once you get to know me, you will see that I am pretty level headed. :hello:

 

[4RunnerSeth]

I have a note II too and love it. Honestly I think your problem with apps is using the exact same app you used in iPhone. Most those devs were iPhone guys first and put their major efforts into iPhone versions which are more lucrative. Most simply ported their apps over in a hurry to appease the people switching over from iPhone to Android. Find a similar app that was not ported over from iPhone, but was developed from the ground up to be an Android app and I think you will have a different experience with them.

 

[Thai]

I have a note II too and love it. Honestly I think your problem with apps is using the exact same app you used in iPhone. Most those devs were iPhone guys first and put their major efforts into iPhone versions which are more lucrative. Most simply ported their apps over in a hurry to appease the people switching over from iPhone to Android. Find a similar app that was not ported over from iPhone, but was developed from the ground up to be an Android app and I think you will have a different experience with them.

That is a good point! The problem is that some of my smaller apps are specific to my needs and/or profession...so, there aren't other choices.

 

[fish0281]

came across this the other day, thought this would be a reasonable place to share it. Seems like a pretty cool idea - I use swype for typing on my phone, but the size of the keyboard is relatively huge (I like the point they make by holding up a regular keyboard in front of a regular monitor). I haven't tried it out yet, but am anxious to give it a shot!

The Minuum Keyboard Project - YouTube

 

[Thai]

came across this the other day, thought this would be a reasonable place to share it. Seems like a pretty cool idea - I use swype for typing on my phone, but the size of the keyboard is relatively huge (I like the point they make by holding up a regular keyboard in front of a regular monitor). I haven't tried it out yet, but am anxious to give it a shot!

The Minuum Keyboard Project - YouTube

Wow. I like Swype, but this thing is awesome!!

 

[Thai]

so the only difference really is the stylus thing.

Just for those who want to know more, there is actually a Samsung app that talks about all the features of Note 2 in a very interactive easy to understand way: Galaxy Note II User's Digest

It's in the PLAY Store. Actually, i just learned about it today! It has taught me a lot more about my Note 2, including the different gestures that you can use with the S-Pen to basically avoid ever using your fingers to navigate the phone! No mess on your screen from your fingerprints!

I think that even more than GS4, Note series is a gold mine for Samsung! This partially explains Note 2's strong resale value, a first among Android phones! Note resale value easily rivals that of iPhones!

 

[-JD-]

I just find the size ridiculous. Sure there are situations where a bigger screen would be nice, but for me the smaller size that can be used easily with one hand on the go trumps the occasional wish for more screen size. For things like watching video and playing games an iPad makes more sense to me.

 

[Thai]

I just find the size ridiculous. Sure there are situations where a bigger screen would be nice, but for me the smaller size that can be used easily with one hand on the go trumps the occasional wish for more screen size. For things like watching video and playing games an iPad makes more sense to me.

I agree...the size initially was shocking!! I got the BestBuy Platinum hard case (w/ holster) for the Note 2 because anything thicker will look weird! In fact, when i first got it, i also got a BT headset because it looked really weird holding this brick up to your head.

But, like anything i guess, i got used to the size. It is huge for sure by iPhone standard (or any standard for that matter). Not just games, but reading Pulse app is easier on my eyes. For example, my eyes would get fatigue playing BIG WIN FOOTBALL because i was concentrating so much on the iPhone 5 screen. With N2, i get much less eye fatigue.

Another major bonus is with navigation. With the big screen, i can see roads and upcoming exits easily. This was one place where i did not like iMaps...because the sign to tell you the next turn covers up major real estate and thus you can't see upcoming turns or intersections.

The problem with iPad is that you still have to carry your iPhone with you. With this N2, i have it on my hip and can watch movies, play Modern Combat 4, or take a call from one place. No carrying anything else extra.

And the S-PEN is just devilishly useful now that i read the instructions! You keep your screen fingerprint free!

But, JD, i agree...it is BIG when compared with iPhone 5. I have not found any discomfort in carrying it around. Remember, i had to use Otterbox Defender on my iPhone 5 to get the best signal...and that thing was a brick in its own right!