Life after the iPhone 5, hello Note 2

cowasaki

cowasaki

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Well I've been getting somewhat bored with the iPhone for ages and as my contract was due on Friday I spent a few hours during the week looking at alternatives. Then on thursday I rang up an ordered a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in grey for delivery on Friday to replace my iPhone5 ....

Basically my issues with the iPhone were:

  • Who gives a monkeys that it's 1-2mm thinner, nobody looked at the iPhone 4S and thought "No I don't like it, it's too thick!"
  • The "lovely aluminium body" it too easily scratched
  • The "lovely aluminium body" is like trying to keep hold of a wet bar of soap in the shower.
  • There is nothing that I've seen since the 3G that makes me feel "Oh I need that one"
  • SIRI is carp and doesn't understand me plus I feel silly talking to myself
  • The 4G is pointless as it doesn't actually work on my provider or in this area (the iPhone 7 will probably be out before we get 4G round here!)
  • The IOS wallet app is pointless
  • The new connector is of no advantage to me.
  • The new larger screen is still only twice as wide as my thumb which makes typing an absolute pain in the butt especially passwords.
What I did like:

  • Seamlessly syncs with my laptop, desktop and iPad.
  • High quality OS with few bugs.
  • Good screen
  • Very good sound quality
  • Reliable
  • Apps that are compatible with desktop and iPad equivalents such as numbers, iPaint, garage band.

So I thought to myself, I'll get the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and if I like it I will keep it and if not I'll either return it and save a few pounds on my contract then upgrade to the iPhone6 in Augustish.....

Things I liked about the Note 2

  • LARGE screen
  • micro SD cards so I can upgrade from 16Gb to 80Gb for £40
  • Stylus so I can draw diagrams and type accurately with my fat fingers.
Things I was worried about

  • Lack of Syncing
  • Reportedly poor OS
  • Paying again for stuff I've already paid for

Friday came.....

Well the phone arrived and I opened the bag. The packaging was very Apple like and after removing the phone and it's plastic coverings I then tried to remove the back of the phone to install the SIM and micro SD card. There is a flat screwdriver like slot on the back into which I inserted a plastic prising tool. The back didn't want to come off and after a little careful pulling it came away at that side but didn't want to come off further. Not wanting to break it I looked in the instructions but they just said "remove the back" so I realised that it had to just pull off.... So a little more pressure and away it came. I then installed my iPhone's SIM into an adapter and fitted it into the new phone then installed the battery and a 32Gb micro SD card before refitting the back and switching it on.

First impressions.

Well it came on and the new screen looked much larger. It detected my network and connected without issue. I had a play but SMS messages were not appearing on my new phone but were appearing on my iPhone which didn't have a SIM in it !

I then installed the two pieces of software onto my rMBP running Mountain Lion ie Kies and Android transfer software.....

Android transfer software failed to run so I tried Kies (which is the desktop sync program). This appeared to have two modes of operation, one which synced the phone to an iPhone backup and one which synced the phone to desktop applications such as iCal and Contacts. I tried syncing to iCal and contacts but the software crashed at 59% over and over despite restarting the phone and computer. I then tried to use the sync to device option and selected "Apple" to which it brought up a greyed out screen with an old iPhone backup of my wife's iPhone from last year and a spinning circle. I couldn't change the backup and the circle just kept going. After messing around for an hour I located the folder containing the iTune's Iphone backups and removed all but the current one for my phone. After restarting I had the same issue as previously but it at least showed my backup rather than my wife's...... I left it running whilst looking elsewhere and it eventually finished "thinking about it" after ten minutes! So now I had the option to sync contacts, calendar, pictures, music etc. I chose to sync contacts and calendar and after a few minutes it finished and I could look on the phone.

Unfortunately I had 2-3 copies of each contact and 2 copies of each calendar entry. Anyway I realised that the software was syncing the iCloud version and local version of all the calendars and the iCloud, local and facebook versions of all the contacts. I couldn't find a way to delete all the calendars so ended up having to do a factory reset and turning off the iCloud calendar on the laptop so that the sync only gave me one copy. Having synced again I had all the calendar entries but 2 sets of birthdays. Anyway to cut a long story short I then stumbled across "SmoothSync for Cloud (contacts)" and "SmoothSync for Cloud (calendar)"....... So after another wipe I installed the two apps and logged in...

Hey presto my iCloud calendars were synced to my Note 2. I looked into the Contacts but still had 2-3 copies of each entry... Then I found a brilliant little option, you can select a contact and inside click on "link" and select multiple other contacts then the phone shows them as a single merged contact with the image of the original contact.......

After a bit of further messing I now have a Note 2 synced with all my Apple devices and set up how I like it.

What do I think about it?

Well I am impressed, the screen size is brilliant and gives me far more space to do things. The Stylus is actually a Wacom stylus and is "detected" by the screen even before it touches it and is able to detect how hard you are pressing. Using the stylus makes typing passwords far more accurate and I can draw diagrams which I can then email or store. I like the "typing" of words using the keyboard and going from one letter to another before lifting the stylus and starting the next word - this is as fast but far more accurate than typing. The device can also understand my writing VERY well including joined letters.... I am mightily impressed.

The OS is FAR more flexible than IOS and allows a great deal of customisation. I have found Apps to do everything I want and even though IOS has 10 or 20 times as many apps most of them are duplicates of other ones anyway so in reality it is the same as MacOS/Windows but reversed :D

So, is it a hit? Yes, I much prefer it over my iPhone 5

There are a few things that are not as good:

  • The speaker is not as good as the speakers on the iPhone.
  • I am going to loose the stylus and at £15 each that's going to work out expensive.
  • The sync works but it is not quite as seamless as on the iPhone
  • One of the display processes crashes on occasion with Android's implementation of folders. When you open a folder and run and application within then exit the application using the home button the screen locks about 1 in 5 times for about 3-4 seconds then an error message appears which once accepted disappears and everything works again.
  • The option to manually sync all email mailboxes is in setup rather than in the mail program!

I don't want this thread turning into a fanboy bun fight so please don't let it. I have said over and over that I use the best device (for me) at the time.
 
I've avoided the slippery soap feel by getting mine a snugg rubbery case. First thing I thought when I picked it up was that I didn't want to pick it up or attempt to hold it!

Not had an iPhone before so can't comment on its relative differences to other iPhones.

Consistently disappointed with the camera. N8 would focus in low light without fuss and it had focus assist that worked so you could see what you were doing. Get endless unfocused and uselessly composed shots with the iPhone. It's mince. Seems much harder to hold steady and no hardware shutter button is endlessly annoying.

What's the camera on the Samsung like in comparison?
 
srichards said:
I've avoided the slippery soap feel by getting mine a snugg rubbery case. First thing I thought when I picked it up was that I didn't want to pick it up or attempt to hold it!

Not had an iPhone before so can't comment on its relative differences to other iPhones.

Consistently disappointed with the camera. N8 would focus in low light without fuss and it had focus assist that worked so you could see what you were doing. Get endless unfocused and uselessly composed shots with the iPhone. It's mince. Seems much harder to hold steady and no hardware shutter button is endlessly annoying.

What's the camera on the Samsung like in comparison?
Click to expand...

I've not really messed with the camera yet but the 5-6 quick shots I've taken are probably equivalent of the iPhone 4, I'll see better tomorrow but I've spent most of my time messing with everything else on it.
 
srichards said:
I've avoided the slippery soap feel by getting mine a snugg rubbery case. First thing I thought when I picked it up was that I didn't want to pick it up or attempt to hold it!

Not had an iPhone before so can't comment on its relative differences to other iPhones.

Consistently disappointed with the camera. N8 would focus in low light without fuss and it had focus assist that worked so you could see what you were doing. Get endless unfocused and uselessly composed shots with the iPhone. It's mince. Seems much harder to hold steady and no hardware shutter button is endlessly annoying.

What's the camera on the Samsung like in comparison?
Click to expand...

The volume up button on an iPhone acts like a shutter button when using the camera.
 
Sync your contacts to a platform agnostic provider like Google that uses standard APIs, no iCloud faffing about. I can switch between iphone/android/winpho phones as simply as configuring a Google account on the new device....2 minutes later you're done :)
 
To the OP, does it not look a bit silly when held up to your head when taking a call? Or it it an earphones only scenario?
 
Very interesting read ...


Some of the issues you raised with the iPhone 5 were the main reasons I haven't upgraded to one - hopefully the next incarnation will be a change and worth looking at.

Does the note not feel a little large to use as a phone - I often look at the S3 and think it looks a little big as a phone ?
 
andyred said:
Very interesting read ...


Some of the issues you raised with the iPhone 5 were the main reasons I haven't upgraded to one - hopefully the next incarnation will be a change and worth looking at.

Does the note not feel a little large to use as a phone - I often look at the S3 and think it looks a little big as a phone ?
Click to expand...

Ricardodaforce said:
To the OP, does it not look a bit silly when held up to your head when taking a call? Or it it an earphones only scenario?
Click to expand...

I don't actually use it as a normal phone all that often to be honest. I mainly send SMSs/emails so it's not that much of an issue really.
 
Don't try to update the software on your lovely Samsung! I had an S2 and it proceeded to wipe both my SIM card and micro sd. The phone was never the same after that so I got rid and got an iPhone.
 
mid_gen said:
Sync your contacts to a platform agnostic provider like Google that uses standard APIs, no iCloud faffing about. I can switch between iphone/android/winpho phones as simply as configuring a Google account on the new device....2 minutes later you're done :)
Click to expand...

This looks like a good idea that I had not thought about....

I've just done that with iCal on the mac and the Note2 and they are in sync for new entries. Do you know if it is possible to have multiple calendars for google. At the moment I have one for home, one for work etc (5 in total) and each appears in a different colour.
 
My S3 gives the option on which Calendar to select so I guess so :thumbs:
 
mrgubby said:
My S3 gives the option on which Calendar to select so I guess so :thumbs:
Click to expand...

That question was in relation to google calendars. I have just been having a play and I would do with 2 separate calendars 1 for work and 1 for home. I suppose I could create a second google account....
 
Yep, that did it......

created a second google gmail account with ".work" after the name so now I can sync two separate calendars. Unfortunately they are currently both dark blue on the note2 so need to work out how to change the colours.
 
When I log into my Google account (via PC) I have a two drop downs "my calendar" and "other calendars"

The "my calendar" drop down has the optiuon to "create new calendar" so that would imply multiple calendars on one account :thumbs:
 
cowasaki said:
That question was in relation to google calendars. I have just been having a play and I would do with 2 separate calendars 1 for work and 1 for home. I suppose I could create a second google account....
Click to expand...

Open up your goggle calendar in your browser, go to the calendar settings, calendars tab, click create new calendar.
 
mid_gen said:
Sync your contacts to a platform agnostic provider like Google that uses standard APIs, no iCloud faffing about. I can switch between iphone/android/winpho phones as simply as configuring a Google account on the new device....2 minutes later you're done :)
Click to expand...
until Google locks out any new (not Android) devices trying to access its Exchange server.

I was royally ****ed off when I tried to setup my new iPad and found that out. It's best to avoid rely on Google services, it's good to use alternatives.


Great write up, as an iPhone person myself since the very original iPhone, I have been considering other platforms since release of the "me too" LongPhone 5. Although different from you, my requirement is a small but powerful device, which was only offered by Apple up until 4S. I've looked at Android, but all their fastest devices are massive, Windows Phone also have this problem with the small Lumia 620 lacking processing power, no faster than 4S.
 
TriggerHappy said:
The volume up button on an iPhone acts like a shutter button when using the camera.
Click to expand...

Only in some apps. Luckily the smugmug one I use the majority of the time (because you can pick different points for exposure/focus) has just added that. :thumbs:

A dedicated light to say you have a notification is also missing from an iphone. This is a real annoyance as you have to check it each time you wander away. With the nokias there would be a notification light just glowing away so you'd not need to if it wasn't there. Why the home button doesn't glow is beyond me. The repeat notification option is just annoying. It just encourages OCD :D
 
srichards said:
Only in some apps. Luckily the smugmug one I use the majority of the time (because you can pick different points for exposure/focus) has just added that. :thumbs:

A dedicated light to say you have a notification is also missing from an iphone. This is a real annoyance as you have to check it each time you wander away. With the nokias there would be a notification light just glowing away so you'd not need to if it wasn't there. Why the home button doesn't glow is beyond me. The repeat notification option is just annoying. It just encourages OCD :D
Click to expand...

Is there one on the Note2? The LED does change colour but I thought that was in relation to charge. Will take a look and see.
 
cowasaki said:
Is there one on the Note2? The LED does change colour but I thought that was in relation to charge. Will take a look and see.
Click to expand...

If it's the same as the S3 you can set different colors & flashing using an App :)
 
mrgubby said:
If it's the same as the S3 you can set different colors & flashing using an App :)
Click to expand...

Another thing for the look list. Still haven't found an easy way to sync all email accounts manually. (other than going into settings..email accounts.. sync all) - would have thought an option in the email client program would have been more reasonable.
 
cowasaki said:
Another thing for the look list. Still haven't found an easy way to sync all email accounts manually. (other than going into settings..email accounts.. sync all) - would have thought an option in the email client program would have been more reasonable.
Click to expand...

Email..settings....account....sync schedule

I've set my 3 accounts to never sync, they only sync when I open that particular account in the email App
 
I have been a bit uninspired with phones recently. I came out of contract with my iPhone 4 in June 2012 and couldn't see anything then that appeared any better so went to sim only. Sadly I have no idea what I thing the next big thing should be - but all the iPhone / Samsung updates appear just tweaks rather than steps forward. I'll wait until the 4 really breaks then make a choice.
 
mrgubby said:
When I log into my Google account (via PC) I have a two drop downs "my calendar" and "other calendars"

The "my calendar" drop down has the optiuon to "create new calendar" so that would imply multiple calendars on one account :thumbs:
Click to expand...

:plusone:
I have 5 calendars for personal and work on my google calendar just use different colour for each one for easy viewing. And you can share with other people if you so wish
 
Well two new features I've found on the note 2 which are really useful......

1 - Scheduled messages, which allows you to send an SMS at a particular time and is ideal if you remember something that you want to text to someone but it's too late or early to send them. You can type it in and set the time for it to go.

2 - Phone reject list, you can setup your very own telephone spam filter :) Any of those companies that keep ringing you to harass you.... Just add their number to the list and they get rejected automatically without the phone even ringing.
 
And one thing I don't like....

The calendar icon has "31" on it rather than the actual day of the month.
 
Phone reject list is a very useful feature.

If you get a spam text and forward it on to the network provider does it copy the original text with the original sender's number or fail to do it like the iphone does? That drives me mental as I have to write down a spammer's number and send a second text to the short code every time one of these bell ends sends a spam text. My old phone would forward the original sender number when doing a forward. There is no way of copying the sender number on an iphone either. Or I haven't found it.
 
mrgubby said:
I use the Business Calendar App / Widget, gives me a full agenda on one of my home screens.

I liked it so much I bought the paid version :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I'll have a look.

O2 have a buy one get one free on Samsung covers promotion via their O2 promotion app so going to get a cover on Monday/Tuesday.
 
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