Note 3: Noticeable Differences with KitKat - Good and Bad

[clitrenta]

I just got my update last night so still haven't figured out many differences but I do have a couple to share so far:

1. Much louder (I thought I was on speaker phone for a minute )

2. S Note updated from vs 1.0 to 3.1

Please post anything you have noticed, good or bad. This will help others to better evaluate their update

 

[seventeenseconds]

Re: Noticeable Differences with KitKat - Good and Bad

Downloaded and installed on ATT Note 3. Initial impressions:

- Upgrade was uneventful and went smoothly. Haven't noticed any issues so far, but still very early
- I like the white status icons, looks more polished IMO. I swear some of the notification shade alerts have a different font and cleaner look? Could be my imagination.
- Phone does seem more snappy and it was already fast
- Several apps I've tested definitely have less "jank" (stuttering issues when quickly scrolling) and are much smoother. G+, Play Store and Facebook are all noticeably better
- Haven't been able to test/confirm the GPS issues. I live where we have good LTE coverage, so I didn't encounter it a lot to begin with
- I could pretty frequently crash the camera app before when opening in landscape mode or quickly moving back/forth between landscape and portrait modes. Haven't been able to do that yet since the update.
- I've noticed no difference at all in battery usage yet. I typically lose 6-8% overnight (mostly due to various apps like BeyondPod syncing and downloading content) and was the same last night. Went to bed at 98% and woke up at 92%. We'll see how the first whole day goes today, but so far, so good.

I was worried having read all the issues others were having on different carriers after the upgrade, but it seems like ATT might have gotten additional fixes and/or testing being one of the last ones to roll out. Overall so far, great update and initial impressions are good, but it's still maybe too early to tell for sure.

 

[clitrenta]

Re: Noticeable Differences with KitKat - Good and Bad

My biggest test will be when I go somewhere with WiFi (besides home). Befoer the update, it was very iffy with "Unstable connection" messages constantly. This is my biggest issue and perhaps only really, with this phone so I hope that's improved.

 

[Spencerdl]

Re: Noticeable Differences with KitKat - Good and Bad

The AT&T KitKat update for the Note3 appears to be more stable than the other carriers from what I've read so far. It seems as though AT&T did their homework and improved the update. Just what an update and carrier should do. I hope Verizon follows in their footsteps.

 

[clitrenta]

Re: Noticeable Differences with KitKat - Good and Bad

Also, based on threads in other boards, looked a battery consumption as it seemed to be going down faster than normal. Lookout was gobbeling up 32% ! This was also noticed on other boards as well. I went in an turned that thing off just now so we'll see how it goes. I can live without it.

 

[Spencerdl]

I've been waiting to use these wallpapers. Thought I would share.
Sent from MY BLACK G'NOTE3

 

[anon8380037]

I updated specifically because a fix was reported for that wifi unstable carp (a fish). Initially I thought it was cured. It is better, but I have been getting those fussy warnings again less frequently, in 2 coffee shops I use, where my other phone does not. Home wifi has always been stable, as per past threads, but limited in range for me. I think it's partly an aerial thing.

Interested in a consensus on actual wifi improvement on KK. (another thread?)

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Pro

 

[clitrenta]

I updated specifically because a fix was reported for that wifi unstable carp (a fish). Initially I thought it was cured. It is better, but I have been getting those fussy warnings again less frequently, in 2 coffee shops I use, where my other phone does not. Home wifi has always been stable, as per past threads, but limited in range for me. I think it's partly an aerial thing.

Interested in a consensus on actual wifi improvement on KK. (another thread?)

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk Pro

Works for me and i'll have more on that this weekend as I get out more and try it out around town.

 

[clitrenta]

I'll have to agree with you Madd54. WiFi issue is better but the jury it's still out. I need to get a bigger sample before I pass judgement one way or another

Posted via Android Central App

 

[conanheath]

I've notice android os is using over twice as much juice as my screen in stats. I almost always have screen at the top. Haven't really noticed huge drain but it's also the weekend. Need to see it during a workday to compare battery usage.

ATT N3