First few days with my Galaxy Note

[planoman]

I was given approval to get the Galaxy Note for Christmas this year I currently have a Skyrocket and live in an LTE area. (DFW) I have owned the OG Atrix and the Atrix 2 so I am familiar with higher resolution screens than my skyrocket has which is 800 x 480. I was looking at the LG Nitro but the battery life killed that idea. I was also thinking of the Galaxy Nexus but would have to get it unlocked and it is not really unique, hardware wise. I came across this forum and was intrigued and caught the Note fever!

My first impression was it looks like a larger Galaxy S II! I then charged it to 100% and when I turned it on, I was blown away be the resolution! It comes with 5 pictures and a video on it and they absolutely show off the 1280 X 800 resolution! Since I received it on Christmas Eve, I did not get a lot of time with it due to Christmas, children, family visiting etc. I have been setting it up and playing with it over wifi and today gave it some extensive testing with my SIM card in it. I set up the APN and am getting HSPA+ speeds (5.2 down and 1 up) and MMS is working fine.

What I like better-(as it relates to my Skyrocket)
Screen resolution is unmatched!
Large screen real estate allowing 5 icons across. I am using stock touch wiz instead of launcher pro for the first time on a device.
No Bloatware!
Stock browser. Maybe just the larger real estate but I like it! Zooms in and out very smoothly.
Superb battery life after only two recharge cycles. 2500 mAh battery is great!
Bluetooth is great with my car again! My skyrocket has an absolutely crappy bluetooth operation with my car. (Audi Q5)
S pen and related apps. How cool is it to take a screenshot of something and then mark it up and send out! I see lots of potential uses for this application.
Taking a screenshot by using the side of your hand is too cool!

What is like less so far-
Very limited cases and screen protectors etc. I have ordered them but they will take some time. I bought a universal screen protector for now (2 pieces on the screen) I am also using the neoprene sleeve from my Sony PSP to store the Note in. I did use it in my car but I did not walk around with it.
Wifi is not as fast or sensitive. Speeds are not as fast as my skyrocket on wifi in the same spot. Signal is not as good in same spot.
Takes two handed operation. Feels like I will drop it when I use one hand.

Have not figured how I would carry it when using as a phone. I usually use a holster. I have seen a vertical sleeve from Pdair on Amazon with a belt clip but have not decided yet.
Overall, I am very impressed with this device. It is very versatile and offers several things that not many single devices can offer. I decided not to wait for a possible LTE version on ATT since I already have an LTE device and the battery life will be much less with LTE and it will be loaded with bloatware.

Anyone else recently get a Note? What are your thoughts and impressions?

 

[mark62nc]

Thanks for your comments on the initial days!

My GN arrives tomorrow, but like you won't have time to really get acquainted with it until the weekend. I am also in search of a holster or case with a clip. Saw the one you referenced, but the only review said the interior was very "screen soft". If you find one you like please let me know.

Have you received any of those nasty ATT texts? Hopefully they have the IMEI # thing figured out.

Did you get your GN from Global Mobiles?

Thanks again,
Mark

 

[planoman]

Yes global mobiles. The box is sealed and will have a paper in the ups box telling you how to switch the language to English from default German.

No nasty text from ATT. I set up the apn and get hspa+ speeds and mms is working fine. I did check my online account while my sim card was in the note and it did not have any phone identified. I switched back to my skyrocket until I get the case etc.

You will love it! Sounds like you have already seen the xda threads. The tips and tricks thread is helpful!

Congrats!

 

[planoman]

I also emailed Seidio to see if they planned to make a surface combo. Will report back when I hear back.

Edit: My skyrocket feels tiny after using my G.Note for most of the day! lol!

 

[glassmanstan]

I too have a Skyrocket but I'm trying to convince myself to "spring" for the Note as a backup. Please keep up your posts, your "GN Fever" is contagious.

 

[Nchaka]

Does your G Note look like the one in the ads? On Amazon it looks like it has a single button with a capacitive button on either side. I like this look.
I'm just curious because the GS2 looked like that. But when us carriers got it it had 4 cap. Buttons

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

 

[planoman]

Yes, the only version available currently is the international version which has an actual home button and a menu capacitive on the left and back key on the right. I always thought I would not like the home button but it is fine. Long pressing the home button brings up last 6 apps and task manager. Double pressing the home button brings up voice commands. Long pressing the menu key brings up Google search.

 

[kwilsonjr]

I just received the KL7 update. Not sure what was in it. It was 71.16mb - I think it enables wifi calling.

 

[planoman]

I just received the KL7 update. Not sure what was in it. It was 71.16mb - I think it enables wifi calling.

I saw that on xda. Was it ota? I have not had my sim in and have not received the update. Look like a good update according to xda. I will pop my sim in to see if that prompts the update. Thanks!

 

[planoman]

I just received the KL7 update. Not sure what was in it. It was 71.16mb - I think it enables wifi calling.

Thanks for the heads up. I read all the posts about this update on xda and it seems like a good update. I updated ota and it went fine. I got this phone Saturday and it has already updated twice! So much for waiting on the carriers to release updates!

 

[gallardoseggrollshop]

Thanks for the heads up. I read all the posts about this update on xda and it seems like a good update. I updated ota and it went fine. I got this phone Saturday and it has already updated twice! So much for waiting on the carriers to release updates!

The update contains fixes for mostly the lag between turning it on and just the overall speed and performance of the phone. If your planning to root however do not upgrade be ause KL7 is not easily rootable as of yet. As for ATT thinking it's a tablet, that issue has been resolved and no one will recieve nasty texts about it . I have also had mine for only a few days and I am in love. Best smartphone I've ever owned.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

[gallardoseggrollshop]

Well had enough of the Galaxy note ..... Idea have launched thier latest smart phones with 3G connections. Have a Look

Lollerskates

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

[planoman]

So one week with the GNote and it has been a great experience! This is such a versatile device.

When I received the GNote and turned it on it prompted me to update to a new version. It was a small 15MB update. Another, larger (71MB) update came out on on December 26 which really improved any lock screen lag and contained some other bug fixes. To have two updates inside of a week directly from Samsung is great. I guess that is an advantage to having a carrier unlocked device, no need to wait on the carriers. I decided to insure this phone with Ensquared insurance. It was $58 for the year. I figured spending $650 for a phone warranted insuring the phone. Anyone have any experience with Ensquared? Hopefully I will never need it, but the $58 spent gives me a bit more piece of mind

I have really enjoyed this experience. The things I like most are the screen, it is amazing! I also like the size of the screen and typing on the device. It is really easy to text and email on! I have seen some reports on handwriting apps etc, but I prefer to type. I do like the S memo and S planner. I like looking at the entire month calendar and being able actually see appointments on it and of course it syncs with google calendar. Taking a screen shot of a picture or pdf and then marking it up is useful feature. Handwriting reminder memos is useful as well. These can even be imported into your calendar very easily. Browsing is also a pleasure. The browser is fine and can zoom and see websites very well. The resolution on the screen makes reading very enjoyable.

I still have not figured out my preferred case combo yet. I ordered the TPU S line case which arrived today. It covers well and the cutouts are all fine. It is a great TPU case for 7 bucks. I also ordered an SGP screen protector which arrived today also but I have not installed yet. Still looking for a way to attach to my belt. I have never been a pocket guy and do not think I will be starting with the note.

I have no doubt that the GNote will be gaining in popularity in the US. It will be interesting to see who brings it to the US.

Updated to show my case and screen protector: The case is the TPU S Line from Amazon and the screen protector is the SGP Ultra Oleophobic screen protector also from Amazon. You receive two in the package but I was satisfied with the first application. I have two specks of dust under it but I was pretty happy with the result. It is a clean install despite what the picture looks like as much of those dust particles are on the outside. You can see the screen protector if you look at the front facing camera, which is cut out.

 

[linzgeneral]

I just received the KL7 update. Not sure what was in it. It was 71.16mb - I think it enables wifi calling.

How did you see the update? Thanks.

 

[linzgeneral]

Well had enough of the Galaxy note ..... Idea have launched thier latest smart phones with 3G connections. Have a Look

You are kidding right? Do you have shares in that company?

 

[planoman]

How did you see the update? Thanks.

Settings, about phone, update. Make sure you are connected to wifi.

 

[mark62nc]

How did you see the update? Thanks.

Under "Settings", "About Phone".......very top "Software Update"

 

[gallardoseggrollshop]

That's why I loled hahahaha cracks me up. I hope the poster was kidding hahaha

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

 

[bangnbounce]

I REALLY want a case with a kickstand!!!!

 

[linzgeneral]

Thanks for the heads up. I read all the posts about this update on xda and it seems like a good update. I updated ota and it went fine. I got this phone Saturday and it has already updated twice! So much for waiting on the carriers to release updates!

Can you guys tell me what version of the note you have? I have been checking incessantly but this update is still not available for my note. Mine is the AUT model - someone said that's Switzerland though I would have thought Austria. I am currently on XXKK5 firmware which I updated to immediately after buying the phone through an OTA update.