Update 12.23.09
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Link to all pics
Well after two more prototypes and a lot of hard work, I feel that Prototype 4 was the winner. I made a little more adjustment to the top where it wedges in, and of course some coloring for asthetic reasons, and I am through with this project. I have a great final piece, thank you to everyone who helped with advice along the way, and I hope my work helps others save time on their creations.
Project result: a great little gamepad that hides in my wallet until time to play some games! Buttons respond great, have the tactile feel I was looking for, and no longer slides during heavy button mashing! Not easily replicatable but worth the time.
Update 12.9.2009
Hey everyone!
Thanks for all the input! Here is the newest prototype, Prototype 4!
I still think it needs refinement, but i think I made some huge improvements!
After destroying another original housing in trial and error sanding, I have decided against waiting another month for $20 housing.
In this application you will need:
1 CD Case
1 Original Keypad (Some have one, otherwise lets think of some substitutes)
Optional:
Dremel Multitool
Paint
Clear Enamel
Link to the process
Plans for the final prototype 5:
Add quick load and save buttons
Change background to black with grey and red buttons
Try to add a Nintendo logo somewhere
Hope this helps all your efforts out there! People see this and hide their iPhone games!
Edited by wakeupkeo; 18th November 2009 at 08:58 PM:
Link to Prototype 1
OK I have frankensteined a useful gamepad hack for NES, GBA and all the rest. This hack is a DIY craft, and you can customized your version to suit you. This was only my first version after many attempts to crate a workable thumbstick hack for the G1. I actually hope this design will get repeated and improved upon, I have another set of parts on order to do this better the second time.
Hope I can explain what I did well enough to start everyone on improvements...
On to the version one hack. My big problem before was my fingers getting lost on the keyboard during emulators so much that a fast paced game was almost impossible. I tried hacking up nes and xbox controllers to creat a handle that could clip onto the phone and hit the right buttons. No dice after alot of trial and all error. Somewhere along the way after I had already cut up this piece from a white housing, I tried this. I got the idea from old school intellivision, that had interchangable slides over the buttons for each game.
So i figured out which button config I liked, (although now I would do this with eight right hand buttons instead of six) and got to work. Cut out unneeded buttons except some that would stay and get glued for stability of the keypad to the faceplate. On the faceplate, I sanded all the protrusions off, so it was credit card thin and smooth.
Next, I put glue stick glue (the blue stuff) in the underside and pressed my keypad on. this would hold the keypad on for now, and still hardedn to a slick surface and not leave glue on the actual phone.
Then, after it dried, I flipped it over and began the enamel work. I got some nail polish from the drug store, a clear, quick-drying version, and put a coat over the buttons I don't use, to hold the keypad to the faceplate for good. Next, I put thin coats on each game button and let it dry, over and over, until I had a thick bump that was strong, slick, and tactile.
Works great, but the plate as a whole does slide a little on the craziest of games, but now I can play fighting games! So on the next version, I will leave alot more plastic on the top part of the faveplate to make a more secure connection there.
Thoughts? I expect the new parts for my revised faceplate in a few weeks, so I hope to see improvements before then!
Edit: Ok, maybe just hear about some improvement thoughts? Figured this would interest someone, but I guess by the silence that I was wrong... I do plan on moving the directional buttons one over, the select and start one over, and add two more action buttons. And add more to the top part so stay in place a little better. But this version works so well right now, no mis press of buttons, no losing center of direction buttons in a quick game like Tekken and Street Fighter 2 Alpha. I figured I would get some advice for my next and last version, and since the usb host to controller coding seems impossible without technical info from quallcom, this is the best solution to the game controlling buttons I can think of, does anyone have a better idea?
This is actually a really great idea, but not feasible for most people, where do you get an extra G1 keypad?
But, if you could cut a piece of plastic or something to the size of the G1 keyboard (so it would sit snugly) you could just punch holes and/or put buttons on the spots over your selected keys.
Hmmm, I bet even something like a credit card would work.
Just cut the bottom off so it sits perfectly on the keboard, poke holes over the keys you want to press...
The hard part is figuring out how to make buttons.
Thanks for the feedback!
I think you definitely need buttons as opposed to simply holes.
There are two bolts the screen swings to. When I get my next keypad, I am planning on turning that part of the plastic piece into hooks that secure the gamepad. Should be here soon, $20 from hong Kong on ebay. I had the first spare keypad from my Stormtrooper Mod. Others might have one lying around for one reason or another, these are hackers after all.
Credit card idea is perfect, I initially carried the gamepad in the stock g1 padded case but nowadays I keep it in my wallet. Its not bigger than a credit card, and even with the securing improvements still should be smaller than than my id. Iths thin and flexible to handle the wallet no problem.
Once I finish the final version, I will diagram the exact measurements for you all to build your own out of whatever with assurance the buttons will line up!
Edit:
I found the top part that was originally cut off. Its separate but shows layout above the keypad. This is the cut I'm thinking to allow the gamepad to slide into a stationary position. Here is where I'm hoping for more advice on how to cut this just right.
kinda jumping in here. i tried doing it with a credit card, and it works amazing.
i did this for gameboid. it works amazing, actually. better than i expected. i tried it with mariokart (gba), a game where u constantly are moving your thumbs, and so far it was great... ill upload a video when im done with my lab :/
anyways. my tools were: Sharpie, swiss army knife, multiple scissors, tape, and a subway eat fresh rewards card >:]
first i fit the card onto the g1. it slides in pretty nice already, just had to cut off excess...card. marked it with a sharpie, fit to size. try not to make a mess of what you cut off, it comes back. i figured out the buttons i wanted to use. i started with the "dpad." i took the needle thing on the back of the swiss army knife and stabbed it through the card. made it big enough to start cutting. cut out to size. did this for the rest of the buttons as well. i then took the excess card stuff and started cutting out buttons that would fit. started with everything around the same size as the keyboard buttons. i put them in the wholes of the card that was cut out previous, made sure they werent touching the wall, and put a single piece of tape over the top. did that to the bottom too. then, since the dpad felt awkward, i cut one out that imitated the regular gba keyboard, and doubled it on top of the current dpad. i doubled therest of the buttons as well, to have them pop out a bit. put a single piece of tape over the top, none on the bottom. just used some tape to help it stay on the g1, not much is needed, its pretty snug.
as you can see, it isnt great looking, but it works really well
I've always been curious about making use of the mini usb drive the g1 has.
Imagine a shell casing around the phone that mounts into the port and has buttons that can be key mapped into apps for dpads and abxy buttons.
Icebergxx said:
I've always been curious about making use of the mini usb drive the g1 has.
Imagine a shell casing around the phone that mounts into the port and has buttons that can be key mapped into apps for dpads and abxy buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i wouldnt get your hopes up. ive tried stuff like that...didnt work out so well. the drivers in the phone only allow the usb driver to do certain things... same goes for the export...it just wouldnt work that...for the normal person. if u have alot of time on your hands and phones you can risk breaking (like HTC, but they have no reason to do this), then go ahead
Nice Credit Card Hack- I think we're onto something here. Easily a way to match the two and offer people diagrams with exact measurements to make their own. Personally I would have kept the L button to the right, so you don't need to leave the directional pad to press it, but whatever your preference.
As for the USB hack, I have done extensive research into this area, and it seems without some code from HTC directly, no one has been able to break into this or a bluetooth hack. Seems easy, usb or bluetooth 12-15 keyboard buttons and we'd be set. But no one has been able to break it, so I have gone to this hardware hack. Any breakthrough news would be greatly appreciated on this thread, but up until now it seems we are at a wall software-wise.
On another note, in doing GBA game research, I noticed a big part of the games were ported from SNES to GBA, so I bought the SNES emulator and gave it a chance. Wow, what a difference. Honestly, the gameplay is so much faster and responsive, the library of games is so much more diverse, I hardly play GBA games anymore until I finish the SNES library. I'm currently working my way through Super Punch Out, and love using Prototype One. When people see me playing the SNES library, they hide their iPhone. Everyone I have encountered admits a separate gamepad is preffered over touching the screen and losing some visibility, and are amazed at the dexterity the Gamepad Prototype One offers. Please keep experimenting people!
Still waiting on my parts from hong kong to make the final design, its taking forever!
wakeupkeo said:
Nice Credit Card Hack- I think we're onto something here. Easily a way to match the two and offer people diagrams with exact measurements to make their own. Personally I would have kept the L button to the right, so you don't need to leave the directional pad to press it, but whatever your preference.
As for the USB hack, I have done extensive research into this area, and it seems without some code from HTC directly, no one has been able to break into this or a bluetooth hack. Seems easy, usb or bluetooth 12-15 keyboard buttons and we'd be set. But no one has been able to break it, so I have gone to this hardware hack. Any breakthrough news would be greatly appreciated on this thread, but up until now it seems we are at a wall software-wise.
On another note, in doing GBA game research, I noticed a big part of the games were ported from SNES to GBA, so I bought the SNES emulator and gave it a chance. Wow, what a difference. Honestly, the gameplay is so much faster and responsive, the library of games is so much more diverse, I hardly play GBA games anymore until I finish the SNES library. I'm currently working my way through Super Punch Out, and love using Prototype One. When people see me playing the SNES library, they hide their iPhone. Everyone I have encountered admits a separate gamepad is preffered over touching the screen and losing some visibility, and are amazed at the dexterity the Gamepad Prototype One offers. Please keep experimenting people!
Still waiting on my parts from hong kong to make the final design, its taking forever!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
looking forward to it.
my hack is ok, but it looks like it would break over time. kinda a cheap hack i guess, cost nothing. urs shows promise. engaget worthy
alexjzim said:
i wouldnt get your hopes up. ive tried stuff like that...didnt work out so well. the drivers in the phone only allow the usb driver to do certain things... same goes for the export...it just wouldnt work that...for the normal person. if u have alot of time on your hands and phones you can risk breaking (like HTC, but they have no reason to do this), then go ahead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reminds me when I had iPod Linux on my iPod video 5.5g. We would solder the cables of a nes controller to the board and run it out a hole in the side where there was room -.-) and mounted it in a rough mount on top of the controller.
Worked decent :3 but we couldn't do it through usb as stated because we didn't know how to 'awaken' the usb for such use.
alexjzim said:
i wouldnt get your hopes up. ive tried stuff like that...didnt work out so well. the drivers in the phone only allow the usb driver to do certain things... same goes for the export...it just wouldnt work that...for the normal person. if u have alot of time on your hands and phones you can risk breaking (like HTC, but they have no reason to do this), then go ahead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forget, driver installers? The softwear that makes plugging something into the computer readable and usable?
Anywho I feel as if we devoloped an app to read the modded usb port for it it might work?
Especially with root user.
But I really am more of a concept sort of guy
Hmm, I'm kinda diggin the credit-card thing... I might use an old expired library card or something xD
Can you go a little bit more in-depth on how you made it though? How did you get it to pop up and not hit other buttons when you push down on it?
amgupt01 said:
Hmm, I'm kinda diggin the credit-card thing... I might use an old expired library card or something xD
Can you go a little bit more in-depth on how you made it though? How did you get it to pop up and not hit other buttons when you push down on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. ive been slacking off posting everything. what i did was cut a whole in teh credit card where i wanted the buttons. make it bigger, doesnt have to be perfect. i then cut tiny peaces to the size of the button, so it would only press one. put a single piece of tape over the top and bottom.
then i cut out more of the remaining card to make the buttons bigger, and to make the "dpad" easier to use . put them over the original buttons, so it pops out.
if u dont get it, ill post a video using paper to show what i did. while im at it, if u need that, ill just make a video on usage
AWESOME!
alexjzim said:
kinda jumping in here. i tried doing it with a credit card, and it works amazing.
i did this for gameboid. it works amazing, actually. better than i expected. i tried it with mariokart (gba), a game where u constantly are moving your thumbs, and so far it was great... ill upload a video when im done with my lab :/
anyways. my tools were: Sharpie, swiss army knife, multiple scissors, tape, and a subway eat fresh rewards card >:]
first i fit the card onto the g1. it slides in pretty nice already, just had to cut off excess...card. marked it with a sharpie, fit to size. try not to make a mess of what you cut off, it comes back. i figured out the buttons i wanted to use. i started with the "dpad." i took the needle thing on the back of the swiss army knife and stabbed it through the card. made it big enough to start cutting. cut out to size. did this for the rest of the buttons as well. i then took the excess card stuff and started cutting out buttons that would fit. started with everything around the same size as the keyboard buttons. i put them in the wholes of the card that was cut out previous, made sure they werent touching the wall, and put a single piece of tape over the top. did that to the bottom too. then, since the dpad felt awkward, i cut one out that imitated the regular gba keyboard, and doubled it on top of the current dpad. i doubled therest of the buttons as well, to have them pop out a bit. put a single piece of tape over the top, none on the bottom. just used some tape to help it stay on the g1, not much is needed, its pretty snug.
as you can see, it isnt great looking, but it works really well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what I had in mind but was too lazy to actually try. Now you've inspired me to actually try it though!
One of the coolest thing about this is you could do whatever button layout you wanted! You could even carry a few with different layouts for different games.
Heres a question for you all:
I finally received a new body to make a final gamepad, but I have a question for all you gamers- is a simple four-way directional button layout better than eight different directional buttons? Experience in games so far don't seem to show much need for diagonal buttons if pressing the the two buttons it combines is just as good. The credit card hack has only the four directions, so in designing my final, what you you think is better in terms of gameplay? SNES is my favorite emulator, so answers partial to that are preferred!
Bump. Is that allowed? Just posted new prototype...
Here's my super low-rent, quick and dirty (literally) version so far. This is the prototype before i make the better one.
I've only done the d-pad, I'm playing around to see which buttons I want to use for a b x y or whatever.
It actually works REALLY well.
Once I finish this one, I'm gonna cut up another card, but this time cut a section out of the right side of the card (if you've holding it horizontally) so it wraps around the "chin" of the phone to stay in place better.
Nice!
Yes, these designs work REALLY well...
Think I will try to do a credit card one, the plastic is more flexible that the CD case plastic. I want to keep the piece in my wallet, and I know a credit card can take the pressure and flex. Not sure about the cd case plastic yet...
cheap source of plastic for these mods....
Grocery stores.
Alot of them have the area for phone cards and prepaid cards.
None of those cards have any value until they are activated.
They have some that are thinner plastic and some that are thicker. Most are paper with a plastic coating.
I grabbed a bunch when I did my phone stand prototypes.
(Which reminds me...I never posted that.)
your #4 seems to be really nice. i like the color and design. it seems to hook around the g1, which im pretty sure you were aiming for. how exactly does it work in terms of force for the keys?
and if ur gunna go for a credit card, if u put a thin layer of take over both sides, and leave the button in a "hole," it works pretty nice.
im gunna try some new ideas in my #2, thought ide share them in case you want to take them
for the buttons, ill take apart my old gameboy, or SP ( i remember those days ) and use them, if they fit. for force in the actual keyboard, i was thinking of actually using springs, not sure exactly how it would work ... maybe cut a small one from a pen up. for stability, it just popped into my mind.. idk about you but i can easily slide a piece of paper through my g1s screen. not a credit card, but deff. at least movie stud thickness. what im getting at is, you could probably make a "hook" thats straight, and once it pops under the screen, you can bend it, or maybe its meant to pop (i like this word) to hook onto something, like a hairclip. a spring might work here too. hell, when you open the screen and it moves out, theres definitely room to slip a thin wire through. just tie a "knot" on the end of the wire, slip it through, and when its closed, the wire cant come out. just have to make sure its a tight fit. then, if the plastic can curl around on the other side, you'd be good to go.
just giving my 2 cents. ill prob try this stuff sometime over the weekend, maybe sooner.
also, you can set the camera button to something, not really sure if thats helpful, but you could prob make it start, and have room for other stuff.
also, on my dpad thing, i noticed that lets say if i set an UP+LEFT key, it only goes up, if i have two different keys for up and left, and press them at teh same time, it still only goes up. anyone else having this problem? gets annoying after a while
EDIT: improvising on myself, i came up with how it could work. might need more plastic than there is on a credit card :/. anyone know that type of material, but in a bigger...card? doesnt need to be exactly the same, just close enough.
Has anyone attempted this?
I saw this thread and was wondering if anyone has tried installing wminput or lswm to get a wii remote working with bluetooth under Debian or Ubuntu? I just started playing with it myself.
[Q] Tactile stickers/decals for non-illuminated standards "android" buttons?
Hello,
I find it really annoying that I can't feel or see the standard four "android" buttons at night. Has anyone found aftermarket stickers or decals that I can place over the buttons to provide some tactile feedback in the dark? I can't find anything like this anywhere.
Thanks
I like the idea of some type of vinyl decal or something. Put that on and then put a screen protector on top of it maybe... Anyway, seems like someone would make something.
I also like the idea of making them backlit.
Other people have dealt with this various ways including glueing stuff to the android buttons.
And another person superglued some tubing to the side of the tablet...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=948313
And someone else used glow in the dark puffy paint...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12306949&postcount=9
I wish there was a mod to add some kind of LED underneath.
Or install button savior. Not as convenient, but very easy to use.
I'm using TnT Lite and it has soft buttons on the screen, which definitely are convenient. I was mainly wanting this for the tactile feel.
If we were to scratch the paint off of the back if the buttons and then punch a little hole in the seal around the screen maybe that would allow enough light to bleed through to light em up.
but what would I know. Haven't even got mine yet. :'(
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
I was at Office Max tonight and I picked up some clear hole reinforcements. These are the little sticky rings you put on paper when the punch hole has torn out but you want them to stay in the binder. Turns out they are just the right size to go over the buttons and cheap so you can mess up and put them on many times over.
The button labels are a little to the right of center. From a foot away you can't see the rings at all (probably even less if I had cleaned the tablet good before sticking them on). And you can "feel" the buttons very easily. Now on the other hand, feeling them can push them if you aren't careful. Running your finger up the screen edge (not the device edge) seems to work best.
Cheap to try and simple to reverse if you don't like it.
that idea looks like a winner to me, unless someone is making glow in the dark stickers resembling those icons
I was in a computer store the other day and saw "glow in the dark" keyboard stickers. They were in a few florescent looking colors.
Not cheap, but I was in a mood to spend money so I bought them. I figured an arrow key on the back button, the "Home" button on the home key and then use two generic keys for Menu and search.
Unfortunately, they don't really glow in the dark! They "catch" light off the monitor the keyboard is sitting in front of. Of course, on the tablets on a plane the monitor is shooting the light in the right direction. So if there is any ambient light you can see them. But if you really are in the dark, nada.
Also they look kind of tacky. Part of that is that I'm not artistic and so I didn't get them as lined up as someone crafty would. But even then they look tacky. On top of that I am now afraid to give it a good spray with cleaner. So I think they are coming off but thought I'd take a picture first.
The clear hole stickers I mentioned earlier are not very useful either because you have to "feel" them and if you feel the buttons you've pressed them so too late.
By the way the picture also shows a Skinomi screen protector on. Crystal clear except for one blemish on the far left side off the visible part of the screen
Picture is a little fuzzy but you get the idea.
http://www.myglowkeys.com/
Of course, I didn't read the FAQ online in the store (smart phone, duh). It clearly says there that they don't really glow. You'd think the packaging would have to reflect that.
My solution was to take a razor blade and make an ever so slight cut into the plastic bordering the screen. I made two, one next to the home button and one next to the back button. Now when I need to find a button in the dark I just slide my thumb down the side and feel for the nick in the plastic. The "damage" to the plastic is imperceptible and it doesn't limit the cases I can use down the line (the way gluing those buttons on the side would).
wd5gnr said:
The clear hole stickers I mentioned earlier are not very useful either because you have to "feel" them and if you feel the buttons you've pressed them so too late.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not stick them on the side next to the buttons instead over the buttons ?
Why not just get the glow in the dark stars package?
LEDs backlight for the Android keys
cobrast6 said:
I wish there was a mod to add some kind of LED underneath.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A user here modded his Gtablet (which is now my Gtablet) to include LED backlighting.
His write-up on the mod is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=899132&highlight=LEDs
- Michael
Button Savior placement
I've been pleased with using Button Savior, not for it's buttons, but for it's placement. I position it in line with the menu button, which makes it very easy to know where the Home, Menu, and Back are. Free and clean, though I do sometimes inadvertently trigger the Button Savior menu.
I would prefer a way to disable these buttons because i am always touch the search button by accident
adam714 said:
I would prefer a way to disable these buttons because i am always touch the search button by accident
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search Button Remapper on market.
Just looking for some opinions here. I currently have a Samsung Focus which was my first true smartphone. I've used a bunch though including the S2 and the iPhone 4s. I honestly think windows is the best OS out of the 3. But the 2nd gen of windows phones don't have much to offer above the focus, so I don't see it being worth it to grab a new windows phone. Also the weak marketplace is a killer especially when my friends are constantly usings apps like ptt and various *** 'with friends' games.
But I had every intention on probably sticking with a new Windows phone until I heard of this phone. Just because it offers something regular phones don't.
Advice? I'd also like opinions on the size. Not how it feels in your hand, I could care less. But how it fits in pockets, the weight... whether or not you can carry it around like you could carry your old phone.
How's the music integration? Zune wasn't fantastic but I quite liked it. I use my phone every day as my mp3 player at the gym. Does it function well? And back to the last question on size... could I fit it in a pair of gym shorts? (not cardio)
How much better is browsing on it? Do you find yourself using the internet much on it, or still always using a laptop if you have it? I thought I'd be using it all the time with my focus, but with the 3.7" screen i never do unless I'm not around a computer.
And are there any integrated bonuses that this phone has that the SII or other similar smartphones don't have? (aside from the notes app).
Thanks a lot guys. I don't expect you to answer everything but just looking for as much advice as I can get.
Its a big phone, if you gonna wear it with gym shorts, depending on the activity it could slip out of you pockets. Phone is super light, easy to fit in pockets unless you wearing skinny's. Besides the s pen options, internet looks great on it, i use it often.
Music is like any other android, but i use power amp which i recommend. As far as advantages....SIZE...the screen is just bliss and typing on it is just great for big or little fingers. Hope this helps.
I went from a Samsung Captivate to a Focus and now the Note. Honestly you might be dissapointed with the Note. Not because the phone is bad but the Windows Phone 7.5 is just soo smooth. When I used the Focus that phone never crashed, battery life is awesome and everything it did it did well.
The only knock on Windows was the lack of app support. I really missed the apps and games that I had on Android that is why I went back. In the end I might go with Galaxy S2 or Skyrocket. The only reason I will leave the Note is that it is difficult to work the phone with one hand.
If you get passed that and the size the phone is great.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
blazablaz said:
Its a big phone, if you gonna wear it with gym shorts, depending on the activity it could slip out of you pockets. Phone is super light, easy to fit in pockets unless you wearing skinny's. Besides the s pen options, internet looks great on it, i use it often.
Music is like any other android, but i use power amp which i recommend. As far as advantages....SIZE...the screen is just bliss and typing on it is just great for big or little fingers. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'd use it for weight lifting only, so I won't be running around or anything. I weighed my focus and its over 5 ounces and supposedly the Note is about 6. So as long as it physically will fit in my pocket I think it should be ok.
What do you mean by 'aside from the pen options internet looks great'? Or were those two statements unrelated.
jev3gs said:
I went from a Samsung Captivate to a Focus and now the Note. Honestly you might be dissapointed with the Note. Not because the phone is bad but the Windows Phone 7.5 is just soo smooth. When I used the Focus that phone never crashed, battery life is awesome and everything it did it did well.
The only knock on Windows was the lack of app support. I really missed the apps and games that I had on Android that is why I went back. In the end I might go with Galaxy S2 or Skyrocket. The only reason I will leave the Note is that it is difficult to work the phone with one hand.
If you get passed that and the size the phone is great.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely noticed the lack of 'smoothness' when messing around with the Galaxy 2 compared to my windows phone... and this is one reason I believe windows is superior... or at least has the potential to be. But there are so few things I actually do with my focus aside from text and listen to music. Screen is too small to browse, no apps to mess with. I also love customization and miss that factor with windows, so that might be fun to have an android.
Also I'm not a traveler or on the go user, so using with one hand shouldn't be an issue.
Can you guys fit the phone in all 4 jean pockets? Or only front, only back?
Think I'd get odd looks if I got a 4 point chest harness and secured it right in the center of my body? or is it not that big..
Really? You come to a Note forum and ask if you should get a Note. What is your expectation? Think we will all tell you NOT to get it?
Hell YES! Even without ICS on this phone it crushes everything. Pending you know how to mess with it a bit with a root/overclock/rom yada yada yada. Ive already gotten into 5 convos with people about it since ive gotten it last week. And all 5 after getting it in their hand said they want one .
kimtyson said:
Really? You come to a Note forum and ask if you should get a Note. What is your expectation? Think we will all tell you NOT to get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
notice how others gave useful info and answered some of my questions
i'm not necessarily looking for you guys to decide for me but i had a few key questions and also was wondering if there are any main points i'd be missing leaving windows, or strong points i'd be gaining going to the note.
also i watched a video where the guy was using the stylus for writing and his finger for everything else. i'd imagine you can use the stylus to click on anything you could with your finger, right?
My opinion, the primary reason to move to the Note from the Focus is simply if you want the larger form and access to more apps. As you know, the Windows OS is very efficient and functional, aimed at getting the job done with some flair but not having to constantly fiddle with the the UserInterface. It is quicker and if you like it, I'd stick with it.
My college son has owned the Samsung Focus for over a year now and he really likes it...so do I. In fact on my prior Samsung 4'5" Infuse I often used the "launcher 7" app on my 'droid to simulate a windows phone. I'm playing with it now on my Note.
I can't carry my Note like my prior phones. But that is ok with me. I do put carry it in my front left/rear pockets but when I get it the car it comes out and sits in my car. But that's ok.
Gym shorts? it would probably fit but I certainly wouldn't exercise with it...although you could job/run with it using one of those armbands.
Browsing? I use the browser all the time, it's great. Rarely use my laptop.
The pen is cool...and I use it often to take notes, draw ideas, etc. However, I think an update is needed (and supposedly coming) to help smooth out the interface.
kimtyson said:
Really? You come to a Note forum and ask if you should get a Note. What is your expectation? Think we will all tell you NOT to get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
This is the best phone ever and Android is the best OS, period.
Opinions on size? Nothing but good, here's the highlights to spare you some time:
I have beg hands, fits me perfectly. Wife has tiny baby hands, she can hardly hold it.
You feel a little weird holding it to your head the first day or so, after that you dont notice.
Splitscreen...oh yea, one of my favorites. Go to landscape and some of your comms go split screen. Email is way easier when you have the lest on left and preview panel on right. Same for you text message screen. Theis is a great way to skim through.
Usability - The white model is a little slick on the back, can cause to slip out of your hand. Solution is a case that most use, but if your like me and like the naked look most of the time then the easy solution is full body skin. I applied a "armor Suit" which is a wet application. This typically leave a grippier almost rubber like feeling left. Awesome for the back, I can lay mine on my flat hand and almost stand it straight up and down before it slides. Some don't like the feeling on the screen but I don't mind it at all and actually prefer it now.
Pocketability- Easy, very easy actually. It's a very flat phone so I carry in back or front pocket with no problem at all. Folks that may have problems would be women who typically have smaller pockets on jeans and slacks and guys who wear skinny nut huggers.
Everyday use - Every app seems easier to use. Games are a blast since you have more room to use virtual sticks without covering most of the screen up (some awesome games on sale right now for $0.50)
Accessories - Suprisingly alot for as new as it is. Lots of metal back plates (got a green one on the way), leather cases, holsters, things of this nature. It helps that the international version has been out a little longer and there are accessories such as the dock that work perfectly fine with out AT&T version. Plus generic slips and pouches made for the Dell Streak 5 often fit our device, sometimes with very slight alterations. Generic batteries, docks, and chargers are out too. Most of these accessories are cheap. I bought a silicon cover, full film protector, 3 batteries, charger, and metal back cover, all for under $40 off amazon from several vendors and thats with shipping.
Development - It's quite slow at the moment, but it almost always is. We're all waiting for ICS (Ice Cream Sandwhich) wich some say is coming soon and others say its not. The phone functions fin with Gingerbread, it's just most of us Android addicts demand the newest OS by any means possible. It'll pick up, it always does.
hope this helped some!
---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------
PS the S-Pen will make you a master at "Draw Something" game.
Draw something was what initially gave me the idea for the phone Then I started looking into it and now I'm really thinking I'm going to get it. I definitely have to go into my local store first and try it out and put it in my pockets, etc. Hopefully I can get a deal too.
I actually hope ICS doesn't come out for a little while. I like change and being able to mess around with new updates. So since this will be my first droid it'll leave me plenty of time to mess around with it, then when ICS comes it'll feel like a whole new phone once again.
And with some android devices, can't you actually load windows 7.5 on it?
I throw iron all the time wearing basketball shorts aka Gym shorts or sweatpants using my note. I will time to time use my old ipod touch that has a cracked screen being i can toss it around without worry.
But i can easily use my Note without problem in my shorts while working out. I also am a goalie for a mens ice league and have it in my pocket while i dress.
As far as carrying it around normally. Its cold by me currently so i always am wearing one of my bubble zip up vests with a zip pocket i put it in.
I also have a bad habbit of actually holding my phone in my hand wherever i go like to the store etc, etc. So i have a bad habbit of putting it down and not grabbing it and walking away . Luckily i have my GF with me most of the time to "Re-trace" my steps or ask "Do you have your phone" lol. But ive put it in my Nike swishy pants before without a problem.
Some/most people mostly those who don't actually have the phone or have even held one make it out to be like its a foot long and 3"s thick lol. Out of 5 people that i have let hold the phone. Normal sized people not Giants lol. The first words out of their mouth are either wow is so nice or wow is so light and thin.
Its even getting to the point with me the phone is starting to look normal sized!!! 5.8" screen on the Galaxy Note 2? HAaha. there is a tiny bit of room to expand the screen and not the actual device itself it seems. Like for example a good 1/4" or so if they got rid of that ugly ugly AT&T stamp on the top!
Awesome man, that's great info.
A question on the physical glass for the screen.. how is it? I'm not a fan of screen protectors. My focus had what I think they called gorilla glass. It's two years old and theres maybe one minuscule mark on it. Will the note hold up like that or will it need a protector with long term use (long term s pen use as well)?
According to everything I've read - it has gorilla glass. But it's not nearly as good for being anti-scratch as say an iPhone 4s from what I've seen. I've had mine less than a week and have tiny scratches all over the screen. I had my iPhone 4 for a year and had barely anything noticeable.
I set it down (face down - stupid I know) on my desk at work once. Scratched the heck out of it. It's a smooth desk surface so I'm not sure WTF happened. Other than that just into an otherwise empty pocket.
So either I have one with a faulty display - or a screen protector should be considered a pre-purchase item.
Ok. I'll just get one and have them put it on in store. think the main reason i hate them is i always F them up.
SGP GLAS-T
cgibsong002 said:
Awesome man, that's great info.
A question on the physical glass for the screen.. how is it? I'm not a fan of screen protectors. My focus had what I think they called gorilla glass. It's two years old and theres maybe one minuscule mark on it. Will the note hold up like that or will it need a protector with long term use (long term s pen use as well)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
netsyd said:
According to everything I've read - it has gorilla glass. But it's not nearly as good for being anti-scratch as say an iPhone 4s from what I've seen. I've had mine less than a week and have tiny scratches all over the screen. I had my iPhone 4 for a year and had barely anything noticeable.
I set it down (face down - stupid I know) on my desk at work once. Scratched the heck out of it. It's a smooth desk surface so I'm not sure WTF happened. Other than that just into an otherwise empty pocket.
So either I have one with a faulty display - or a screen protector should be considered a pre-purchase item.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cgibsong002 said:
Ok. I'll just get one and have them put it on in store. think the main reason i hate them is i always F them up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get an SGP GLAS-T screen protector they work better than anything out there. I had a SGP oliophobic film and after a week it was all scratched up from the S-pen I went an complained and they returned my money and told me about pre-order for Glas-t and it is the best screen protector ever. It is crystal clear, hard surface ( so s-pen works well with no scratching), I get alot less face oil and finger prints than other protectors (don't know why but stays cleaner) and it self installed just made sure screen was clean and droped it on by accident and it came out with no bubbles it is th most expensive protector I got but well worth it.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...0PTkDw&usg=AFQjCNEQuEHZN7W18XKdkXZchjZgmdngXg
Just an FYI on the SGP GLAS-t -- they sell them through their Ebay store with free shipping. They also sell through Amazon - so if you have Prime you get free shipping there too. It was over $40 to buy through their site - $35 from Ebay.
JGuinan007 said:
Get an SGP GLAS-T screen protector they work better than anything out there. I had a SGP oliophobic film and after a week it was all scratched up from the S-pen I went an complained and they returned my money and told me about pre-order for Glas-t and it is the best screen protector ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got mine in yesterday. I was definitely a little pessimistic about how good a glass protector would be not to mention very concerned about the one chance to get it right install. Happy to say that the install was super simple (I have a couple tiny bubbles but nothing worth crying about) and so far it's excellent for writing on the screen.
We'll see how it lasts over time - but my initial impressions are very good!